Stuck In the Middle Without Glue
August 30, 2020 2:51 PM Subscribe
I have a nearly full can of Elmer's spray adhesive that suddenly stopped spraying mid-project. How can I get it the nozzle to spray again?
Things I've tried:
-- using a pin to scrape out both the openings on the nozzle
-- soaking just the nozzle in very hot water
-- spraying the bottom and opening of the nozzle with WD-40.
-- I saw a suggestion online for putting the spray adhesive nozzle onto the WD-40 can and then spraying through it to clean it out, but in my case the spray adhesive nozzle didn't fit on the WD-40 can.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Things I've tried:
-- using a pin to scrape out both the openings on the nozzle
-- soaking just the nozzle in very hot water
-- spraying the bottom and opening of the nozzle with WD-40.
-- I saw a suggestion online for putting the spray adhesive nozzle onto the WD-40 can and then spraying through it to clean it out, but in my case the spray adhesive nozzle didn't fit on the WD-40 can.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Can you do a reverse fit...do you have any nozzles on other spray products that fit the elmer's can? Even if the nozzle is bigger than the glue can, if it can depress the elmer's valve you would at least know if the clog is in the nozzle or the can (put some rag around the nozzle if it is oversize, it might be messy). If the can, it's junk, unfortunately.
Do you have a more aggressive solvent than WD-40, like brake cleaner?
posted by maxwelton at 3:09 PM on August 30, 2020
Do you have a more aggressive solvent than WD-40, like brake cleaner?
posted by maxwelton at 3:09 PM on August 30, 2020
Ugh I have been there. Buy another can of the exact same adhesive.
Were you flipping can upside down and spraying till clear after each use? That’s the preferred way to keep this from happening, though sometimes it still happens.
If you buy the same can, you can swap tips. The tips have different sizes and patterns for different products so while you might get away with swapping for hairspray or paint, it might not work.
So the new can with clean tip can be put on the old can and might work.
Just remember to flip upside down after use! Spraying until only propellant comes out is the only reliable way to get the adhesive out of the top. If you religiously clean tips you might make one tip work for both cans.
posted by sol at 3:11 PM on August 30, 2020
Were you flipping can upside down and spraying till clear after each use? That’s the preferred way to keep this from happening, though sometimes it still happens.
If you buy the same can, you can swap tips. The tips have different sizes and patterns for different products so while you might get away with swapping for hairspray or paint, it might not work.
So the new can with clean tip can be put on the old can and might work.
Just remember to flip upside down after use! Spraying until only propellant comes out is the only reliable way to get the adhesive out of the top. If you religiously clean tips you might make one tip work for both cans.
posted by sol at 3:11 PM on August 30, 2020
The MSDS says it is 10-20% Acetone... might try soaking it in that overnight. The container should be sealed to prevent evaporation.
Re: putting the spray adhesive nozzle onto the WD-40
Try inserting the the clogged nozzle stem into the hole for the WD-40's red straw snoot. I've only done similar using canned air to clean a nozzle after soaking & soon after use (my clog risk: not glue, water soluble and $80/can).
I've had luck getting bag of free nozzles from Dow Corning (dry lubricant) and Rust-Oleum (Fluorescent orange paint). Rust-Oleum may have had extra sympathy as the nozzle clogged within seconds of first use.
posted by tinker at 4:31 PM on August 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Re: putting the spray adhesive nozzle onto the WD-40
Try inserting the the clogged nozzle stem into the hole for the WD-40's red straw snoot. I've only done similar using canned air to clean a nozzle after soaking & soon after use (my clog risk: not glue, water soluble and $80/can).
I've had luck getting bag of free nozzles from Dow Corning (dry lubricant) and Rust-Oleum (Fluorescent orange paint). Rust-Oleum may have had extra sympathy as the nozzle clogged within seconds of first use.
posted by tinker at 4:31 PM on August 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
A soak in brake cleaner or acetone might work. Try searching online for spray paint nozzle, they are consumable items for graffiti artists and you can buy them for a buck or two at art stores that service that market.
posted by dudemanlives at 6:33 PM on August 30, 2020
posted by dudemanlives at 6:33 PM on August 30, 2020
https://spraypaint.shop/rusto-fats.html
I've never bought from these guys, but this should fit.
posted by dudemanlives at 6:38 PM on August 30, 2020
I've never bought from these guys, but this should fit.
posted by dudemanlives at 6:38 PM on August 30, 2020
Soaking the nozzle in either acetone or rubber cement thinner should help.
In the future, after using, one should always invert the can of spray glue and spray it until no glue comes out. This is the traditional method for clearing spray glue nozzles after use.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:07 AM on August 31, 2020
In the future, after using, one should always invert the can of spray glue and spray it until no glue comes out. This is the traditional method for clearing spray glue nozzles after use.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:07 AM on August 31, 2020
Response by poster: Nothing I tried got the old spray bottle working, so I bought a new bottle. The nozzle from it does fit the old one, but I still couldn't get a good spray from it -- I think the adhesive may simply be too old.
Anyway, I just finished the project with the new can of adhesive, and I was definitely careful to clear the new nozzle by doing the "hold the can upside down and spray" trick whenever I was done using it for the time being, so all is well.
posted by orange swan at 12:08 PM on January 14, 2021
Anyway, I just finished the project with the new can of adhesive, and I was definitely careful to clear the new nozzle by doing the "hold the can upside down and spray" trick whenever I was done using it for the time being, so all is well.
posted by orange swan at 12:08 PM on January 14, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:06 PM on August 30, 2020