DIY spray paint

Making your own custom spray paint is easy and produces some interesting results. Maybe they don't sell the exact colour you're looking for, or you just want to a use for all those old almost-empty cans of paint you have hidden in your garage. Time to put them to good use and make your own spray paint!

Using the spray mechanism found in standard spray cans and some common discarded items you can make your own spray paint. This project uses a bicycle pump to pressurize a small PET pop bottle, and by varying the amount of pressure you pumped into the 'can' and the types of paint added you can produce different effects. The style I got based on the paints I used and the pressure applied is reminiscent of a graffiti mop style.

Enough talk, let's make our own spray paint!

_{*Inspiration for this project was drawn from the short movie splay}

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Step 1 Tools + materials

tools: hobby knife drill and bits hacksaw bike pump .

materials: bicycle inner tube Sugru (or other elastic binding agent/adhesive) empty PET bottle empty spray paint can assorted paint

Comments

[ASCAS]

Thanks for the idea!!! I find it pretty useful.

[macboy98]

instead of the spray can nozzle, can we use axe spray nozzle!!!!!! pls reply ASAP!!!! ur kindly me "lol"

[cekpi7]

yes but "output" wont be that thick

[ANDY!]

Aha did you just videotape yourself doing something illegal? ;)
Thats a cool project. Looks like I can make one of those and not have to worry about dozens and dozens of spent spray cans anymore!

[AndaleTheGreat]

I'm gonna do this for a 2 liter and then see if i can find a way to do it with a hose.

[totszwai]

Is there a way to improve the spray pattern? It looks like a water gun spray. Would increasing the pressure help with a more even/spread-out pattern?

[AndaleTheGreat]

i would try mixing it with a little water for acrylic/latex or mineral spirits for oil base.
I have a large airless sprayer and on most paint cans there are instructions as to how to mix it for spraying. something like 1/2 a cup to a gallon for primer i think.

[pedrobedro]

I saw your artwork and came to the conclusion that you are Red John :) It looks handy for spraying lubricant and it would be handy to have an aerosol of cleaning fluid like brake cleaner which can be refilled.

[AndaleTheGreat]

agreed, especially since buying your garage lubes/sprays are MUCH cheaper in larger containers that are not compressed.

[Mr.1911]

Is that a Mikeasaurus you painted? Cool 'ible too.

[mikeasaurus]

yes, it's s self portrait, the likeness is spot-on!

[Mr.1911]

;)

[Asmalldharma]

What about an old super soaker bottle? I have no idea what kind of pressure they can take, but I know I've got 3 or 4 in the basement...
Or a cheap aluminum water bottle with a plastic lid?

[mikeasaurus]

You should try it and found out, then post your results here!

[El Colombiano]

Thanks Mnieto2. Now i have some ideas to make a pain granade. presure + paint. Excelent..

[dfuller1]

Cleverly designed and built, an interesting read. Thank you! You may also be interested to know that you can buy something similar commercially made of aluminum and rated up to 90 psi for around $20 US.

[noahhauser]

I like your idea I will have to try this

[pastprimitive]

Really neat idea.

You could use denatured alcohol to thin the latex paint, and it would dry considerably faster as compared to using water as a thinner. At least that is what I read.

This reminds me of beverage carbonators I have made. Essentially the same thing, but no spray paint nozzle. The schrader valve is bought new for $1 per valve at Ace Hardware, and you install them in the cap of the bottle like you did with the spray can nozzle.

Just fill with food safe CO2 that can be bought online or through local restaurant supply shops. I used the disposable CO2 canisters with a CO2 bike pump. All in all about $30 for a system to make whatever carbonated beverage your heart can desire. Plus you get to control the sugar content. A big plus if you care about that kind of stuff.

Hmmm... I am thinking I am going to get egged on to post an instructable about this.

[Broom]

Lots of good ideas there; thanks!

[Hexabus]

PLZ post and instructable on the C02 beverage carbonators , I have wanted one forever.

[lbrewer42]

please do - I have been looking for the most cost effective (read - I am a cheapskate :) ) way of doing this.

[pastprimitive]

I see from the number of people asking that this may be helpful to some. I'll try to get to it as soon as possible.

[static]

I believe a similar instructable exists, to make soda water.

[higginbo]

I'd like to add my eggs to the basket!

[omalachowski]

I for one would like to egg you on for this instructable. I've tried doing this sort of thing in the past with minimal results. Please let the world know your methods!!
-Olaf
Some eggs:
()()()()()()()()()()()()

[apender]

couldn't you just as well mix seltzer water with such beverages? or the soda water like fountains use and choose your own concoction for the syrup component?

[pastprimitive]

Yes you could do that. But you will settle for whatever carbonation level is in the seltzer water. But I like doing it this way because it's fun, and I think the carbonation is more potent. I like my eyes to water when I drink a carbonated beverage.

[apender]

i bet dropping some dry ice in the liquid and then sealing it would also work.

[apender]

ha, lol.

[mikeasaurus]

Egg, egg..build, build!

[sevenplymaple]

would viscosity of the paint play a part...........?

[Broom]

He says so in the instructions. When he mixes water in, he's reducing viscosity.

[#OccupyInstruct]

in kinda getting the idea that it comes out in a stream because of the running, i would probably go up to at least 30-35 maybe even 40 PSI for a more even and lighter spray pattern instead of the stream.

[kurshiukas]

would not suggest over 35 PSI on plastic bottle. Unless it is hardened with ducktape - lots of it.

[#OccupyInstruct]

actually, thats not a bad idea... or you could use an aluminum bottle instead and pump it up to 50 if you figure out how to attach the spray cap to a metal lid or bolt that will fit inside the bottle to make it refillable

[Broom]

A tight-fit hole for the tube + epoxy/rubber cement would work. The force acting on the spray cap is proportional to the area exposed to the can contents, so a tight fit would only produce slight pressure, and the glue would hold.

[irmab]

a little off topic but can anyone tell me how to re-pressurize a metal spray can? I often find I am only half-way through a product (hair spray, clothes spot cleaner, shaving foam, etc.) when the pressure disappears and I can't get the can to spray anymore. Can this be done? Thanks.

[Broom]

You could make one of these, and when you have a depressurized product, empty the remaining gas, tap a hole with a can opener, and pour the contents into the DIY spray can. Pressurize & use up.

Since you are talking about products that clean up easily, the sprayer should be easy to reuse.

[fuhgawz500]

All I can think is, Paint grenade. Perhaps an old, small, metal canteen would do well. It is a great idea i'm just weary of dropping a plastic bottle that has been pressurized. Now we should start thinking about interchangeable sprayers for different streams.

[kitten66]

This is absolutly brilliant , others would say it looks like a bong lol