Best way to get rid of almost empty rattle cans

[Andy Greene]

At least this is how I do it -

 

[hball55]

I watched a video once where a guy made space art using spray paint and a few household items.

Me, I use a pellet gun or a pitch fork to punch holes in the cans and when the paint is dry I can then throw them in the garbage.

 

[teepot]

I set them next to exploding rifle targets. They make a nice fireball. Colors the air too. Don't try this at home. I'm what you might call a Professional.

 

[RocketT.Coyote]

I could take the empties to the local rifle range, but then would have to deal with fumes and mess in transporting the remains.

 

[Funkworks]

I have a can of of Dupli-Color clear coat that sprays actual droplets and dries spotty. Yuck. It's been sitting on a shelf for months because I haven't yet figured out the best way to dispose of it.

 

[GlueckAuf]

I keep them on hand.

When they're close to empty, the cans of Rustoleum enamel spray paint I typically use tends to fling large droplets of paint as Funkworks describes. Useless. But if well-shaken and sprayed into a cup, these near-empty cans provide a great source of liquid touch-up paint that can be applied by a small brush to the inevitable scrapes and chips my rockets accumulate with every launch.

Good skies,
GlueckAuf

 

[jqavins]

I have a can of Rusto enamel, not the 2X I usually use, that's hopelessly clogged. It's pretty much full, and I have to assume pressurized. It has a date in the woods with the .22.

 

[kyle]

Before I moved I had about 10 cans of various spray paints and adhesives. The moving company wouldn't touch them and I didn't have time for a trip to the range.

I made a fire in the in-ground fire pit and one at a time put the cans in right side up. After a minute the nozzle would melt and a jet of flame shoot skyward until the can was empty. Good times.

 

[jqavins]

Gee, all I did was put them in a box and transport them in my car, along with the can of acetone, open bottles of liquor, and the other things the movers wouldn't take. Your way sounds like more fun.

 

[trialsguy]

When we moved a few years ago, I had about dozen half full spray cans that I no longer wanted. After my wife hauled them to the local hazardous waste disposal site and paid a large fee for this service - I learned this method of disposal - Just get an empty cardboard box, cut a 1” hole in the side, spray the contents of the can into the box. Put the empty spray can in the trash.

 

[jqavins]

When the can is empty of paint but still pressurized, I flip it over, hold a nail against the bottom, then cover the nail and can with a cloth or some such before driving the nail through. The cover keeps the last little "death throws" of paint contained. Then the depressurized can goes into the trash.

 

[Rmowens54]

I like to go out to a remote area and do some target practice. A literal explosion of color.

 

[MClark]

I put them in a box by the street when the city does hazardous pickup.
What's wrong with me?

 

[boomtube-mk2]

Always giftwrap the garbage; that way someone will steal it and it becomes their problem.

 

[jqavins]

And you can get rid of used wrapping paper at the same time.

 

[Steve Shannon]

Once no paint remains I invert the can and press the button until the pressure is gone.
Then I throw it in the trash.
We don’t have hazardous pick up.

 

[dr wogz]

I remember at summer camp, we al got a good talking to. Its seems that at one of the group / cabin's outdoor excursion, a near accident was narrowly averted. Someone had tossed an empty can of Off into the fire pit. I cant' remember if it was while teh fire was going, or before it was lit. But a spray can in a fire pit does have some 'explosive' results..

another suggestions for old paint:
(works better on FG rockets. Carboard tends to... well..)
https://www.instructables.com/Hydro-Dip-Painting/
and yes, I have a 2.6" FG V2 from WM that I've been meaning to do this to for .....

 

[jqavins]

Once no paint remains I invert the can and press the button until the pressure is gone. Then I throw it in the trash.

Damn, Steve, you're such a grown-up.

 

[AfterBurners]

funny you guys brought this up. I went through my garage and collected all the old paint cans, spray cans, weed killer (expired) flammable fluids that have been laying around etc. I just boxed them up and put them in the back of truck and took them down to the hazardous waste facility and dropped them off. It's like a drive through where you stay in your vehicle and they will unload everything for you. Pretty simple. I feel a lot I don't have all that stuff laying around that has been in the garage for way too many years.

 

[DES]

If the can is useless but still full, I set it aside and eventually take it to the landfill hazmat receiving bldg. Great service and completely free.

But if the can is mostly empty, I wrap it in a couple of plastic shopping bags, and pop it with an automatic center punch in the side. Instant zero pressure, and any residual is caught in the bags.

 

[JoePfeiffer]

I like to go out to a remote area and do some target practice. A literal explosion of color.

I had one once that developed enough thrust to come back and nearly put some paint on my truck. So I stopped doing that...