wd-40 out of propellant?

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I had a can of WD-40 that had lost all it's propellant. I could tell that some liquid remained because it sloshed around when i shook the can, but nothing came out when i depressed the nozzle. So I thought: how can I pressurize it? First thing I tried was: while depressing the nozzle I pressed the rubber tip from the blowgun on my compressed air, and blew air into it. And to my surprise, it worked great. It doesn't spray like a new can but it comes out just fine. This is so simple that I'm sure other people have done it before, but it's new to me.  Attached ImagesIan TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I've had a few cans like that....it only seems to happen on wd40 for some reason
Reply:I don't know about that I've got several different brands of lubricant on the shop shelves that might be salvagable using that trick... I'm sure it only takes a short shot of air or the can will get real large real quick... Thanks for the tip...I thought I was going to have to stick a hole in them and pour the contents into a jar or something.I know it was my fault some ran out of propellant because of the angle I used to dispense the contents...couldn't be helped under the circumstance..
Reply:Steel aerosol cans can rust and form pinhole leaks.  I've seen a couple over the years do this.  Even found one, a can of "Honda Spray" for detailing motorcycles.  It rusted along the seam weld.  I found it peeing on the shop floor one afternoon...Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:With most spray cans, paint for example, the ingredient is supposed to have the propellant dissolve in it so that when it exits the nozzle, it will atomize. The propellant also needs to not react, to not carry in any water, and not produce too high a pressure. A common propellant used to be R-12, then a mixture of various other freons, and now often a hydrocarbon like a propane/butane mix. Some use R134a which is also sold by itself as a "duster".While somewhat dangerous and not recommended,  I have occasionally recharged paint and similar spray cans using propane (and rarely, other things instead). As is often said, "necessity is the mother of inventions".
Reply:Id throw it out. If you pressurize that thing with the pictured air nozzle somehow, and it explodes, itll do some serious damages. A couple bucks for a new can doesnt seem that bad.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Poke a hole it it near the top and use a q-tip....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2While somewhat dangerous and not recommended,  I have occasionally recharged paint and similar spray cans using propane (and rarely, other things instead).
Reply:Ive even seen car AC systems charged with propane! pretty interesting for the shop to explain why the car blew up after hitting a dog with the only other damage being a punctured condenser and a cracked grille
Reply:wd-40 3.99......down time for stupidity...115 Hr. ambulance ride. insurance going up. hospital bill = unforseen amounts of money...i will just go buy new cans...I forgot how to change this.
Reply:I buy the stuff in gallon cans and use a pump sprayer.
Reply:Originally Posted by stevewmI buy the stuff in gallon cans and use a pump sprayer.
Reply:Originally Posted by stevewmI buy the stuff in gallon cans and use a pump sprayer.
Reply:Have poked many a hole in spray lube cans and dump them into a spray bottle. Like others have said now I buy as much as possible in gallon cans. Did see a guy that was going to poke a hole in a either can with a busted off nozzle. Didnt wait to see the result just ran like he11.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:just hold it upside down and it will come right out 350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:Propane runs about 200 psi in the can, most air compressors run far les than that. you are pretty safe recharging them with air
Reply:hmmm... this reminds me of my first job at Baskin Robbins when I was still young enough to know everything. One night we had a new can of whipped cream that would not work (jumbo size). I volunteered to "fix" it and proceeded to work a knife down into the center of the discharge hole on top. I am probably the only person here that has seen first hand an entire can of whipping cream discharge in two seconds. I won't go into details.Last edited by bigb; 08-05-2011 at 11:37 PM.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerPropane runs about 200 psi in the can, most air compressors run far lesl than that. you are pretty safe recharging them with air
Reply:get your torch and burn a hole in it
Reply:Originally Posted by dstevens+1If you use it very often it pays for itself in no time flat.
Reply:Buy a sure shothttp://www.sureshotsprayer.com/They're a little expensive, but last a lifetime if used properly (buy the brass, not steel, one for water based liquids)Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Originally Posted by ironmangqIve even seen car AC systems charged with propane! pretty interesting for the shop to explain why the car blew up after hitting a dog with the only other damage being a punctured condenser and a cracked grille
Reply:Just re-reading this way old thread, and I have a new perspective I should mention.Has anyone noticed that most spray cans have a mark (usually a small black line) on the collar?  It is there for a purpose.You are supposed to line the nozzle's hole up with that mark, because the mark indicates which way to hold the can so that the siphon tube reaches the lowest part.  In this picture I borrowed from Wikipedia, the mark would be on the right side (in the direction of the nozzle)You generally get more out of a can, if you pay attention to that mark, and don't spray upside down. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by AndyABuy a sure shothttp://www.sureshotsprayer.com/They're a little expensive, but last a lifetime if used properly (buy the brass, not steel, one for water based liquids)
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanJust re-reading this way old thread, and I have a new perspective I should mention.Has anyone noticed that most spray cans have a mark (usually a small black line) on the collar?  It is there for a purpose.You are supposed to line the nozzle's hole up with that mark, because the mark indicates which way to hold the can so that the siphon tube reaches the lowest part.  In this picture I borrowed from Wikipedia, the mark would be on the right side (in the direction of the nozzle)You generally get more out of a can, if you pay attention to that mark, and don't spray upside down.Originally Posted by stevewmI buy the stuff in gallon cans and use a pump sprayer.
Reply:In the first place WD40  is mostly some mild solvent like Kerosene.  It is the lowest and the poorest penetrant on the market, but pretty good as a moisture inhibitor. Quite a few scientific tests have been run on which Penetrant is best,  The one that beats them all is a One to One mixture of acetone and power steering Fluid. I rebuild old things and this penetrant works wonders, But you must keep it shook up while using it because the two substances only stay homogeneous for a short time  Mac
Reply:Originally Posted by DaveWPropane is a legitimate refrigerant.  In highly refined form it carries the designation R290 and can be substituted in systems designed for R134a.  Unlike R134a, the most commonly used refrigerant in automobiles today, propane doesn't produce hazardous gases when exposed to open flame.  If you should have an engine compartment fire in a vehicle equipped with R134a refrigerant, you should move upwind of the "carbeque" at least one hundred feet as quickly as possible, since R134a decomposes into phosgene gas; one good whiff and you're dead.  Propane, on the other hand, decomposes into carbon dioxide and water, and there's not enough of it in a typical refrigeration system to create a serious fire hazard.  Qualified shops can remove R134a and replace it with R290 for you, although performing the swap may void the car manufacturer's warranty on the air conditioning system.  This is of no concern on older vehicles that are out of warranty.  Due to lower operating pressure, R290 should make the compressor last longer.  Also, R290 is not considered a "greenhouse gas" and can thus be purchased in the U.S. by persons without a license.