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Rustoleum spray cans - absolute garbage

S

stickshift

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northeastern US
I'm restoring a few parts cabinets. After getting all the rust off the outside, and knocking down most of it on the inside, blowing off, and wiping down, I finally got to the fun part - spray painting. I went to spray with Rustoleum Clean Metal Primer, brand new can, purchased today. Shook the can for over a minute after the mixing ball was freed. Sprayed a little onto cardboard to get that first bit of liquid out and not on my project. Sprayed one side of cabinet and that went fine; went to spray next side and it spits out a few large droplets then clogs. Removed spray nozzle and put a little mineral spirits in to clean out the nozzle. OK, back in business, spray a side of cabinet, go to next side and it spits some large droplets and clogs again. Tried mineral spirits again, but it's just not spraying at all. Tried the nozzle from another can of Rustoleum I have sitting around, that has the same style nozzle. Sprays a brief burst and then clogs.

Cleaning the rust out of the nooks and crannies on the inside of the cabinet with a wire brush was less painful and frustrating than using this spray paint. Was hoping to get this primed today, but now it's only partially primed and I have to wait 48hrs before I can finish priming.

I've never had this issue with Rustoleum before, but this is my first can since the pandemic and supply chain/inflation issues. Maybe they have resorted to inferior ingredients in the paint or the nozzle?

GARBAGE: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ol...te-Clean-Metal-Primer-Spray-7780830/100143442
And you'll see that there are reviews of people experiencing similar problems.

Is current day (i.e., post-pandemic) Krylon good?
 
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Jinks

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Daytona Beach
I use Rustoleum & Krylon, which ever fits the project. I seldom have a problem with either, but every manufacturer will have a failure from time to time. I don't get angry & throw a rant on the internet. If it's important enough I might take the product back for a refund, but most likely will just buy another. Several failures of the same product would cause me to change brands but I still wouldn't rant on the internet.......... :dunno:
 
I

isb cornbinder

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Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I use both RUSTOLEUM and TREMCLAD. I understand they are the same company, now. I understand your frustration. I have had this happen with different brands of rattle-can paint other than the two mentioned. My most frustrating was a similar situation with a STARRETT lay-out blue dye. This stuff is very expensive. The seller had a no return or exchange policy, back in the day. I bought two new spray lay-out dye cans at KBC Tools. Even though I did not buy the Starrett from KBC, they offered to take it in exchange for one of their brands.
I painted a set of expensive BBS wheel centers with Tremclad. I am very pleased with the finish. I did not have a problem with any of my rattle-can paint jobs in the last decade.
I was given a new SATAjet spray gun and I forgot to give it a clean-out spray with a solvent before the first use. What a mess. The paint bubbled and fish-eyed. I thought it might have been surface prep. I sanded the paint off with my Hutchins R/O and had the same results on the second try. I got my brain back on leash and the third time was OK.
WE/I plan to paint out next truck project with Tremclad, yellow, like the pictured truck. TRemclad offers a paint hardener. I was told there is a compatible clear-coat.
Don't give up.
 

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C

CraigStu

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Blacksburg, Va
Crowbarman55 said:
The paint is good, the primer I don't use. The Hammered paint is fantastic and durable.
Todd
Click to expand...
I agree, I really like the 'Hammered' paint but we got a new can this week and it had the old style cheapy nozzle. Plain black that just sprays a cone. Next time I will check nozzles be cause hammered seems to be available in at least two different types of cans. I much prefer the fan pattern nozzle that can be rotated to have a fan in either vertical or horizontal orientation. OP you might try the 'Self Etching' primer which I have a much success with.
 
OP
S

stickshift

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northeastern US
WordMan said:
Whether the ball was loose or not, it obviously has thick, unmixed paint on the bottom of the can.

I use an attachment for my Sawzall to shake spray cans.

MixKwik Tool - Reciprocating Saw Accessories - Amazon.com

MixKwik Tool - Reciprocating Saw Accessories - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Click to expand...
Could be. Unmixed paint on the bottom would explain the clogging. I shook it pretty good for over a minute after the ball got going. But could be that wasn't enough (never had this problem with other rattlecans over the years). I was so irritated by the sputtering and clogging, and that I couldn't get the cabinet primed before the rain moved in that I returned the can, so can't test this theory out.

I like the idea of using a power tool to shake the cans; at the very least, it eliminates a potential failure point. I'll try sixtyfiveford's drill version.
 
P

PugetDude

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Mar 13, 2013
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22,264
Location
Superstition Mountains, AZ
stickshift said:
I'm restoring a few parts cabinets. After getting all the rust off the outside, and knocking down most of it on the inside, blowing off, and wiping down, I finally got to the fun part - spray painting. I went to spray with Rustoleum Clean Metal Primer, brand new can, purchased today. Shook the can for over a minute after the mixing ball was freed. Sprayed a little onto cardboard to get that first bit of liquid out and not on my project. Sprayed one side of cabinet and that went fine; went to spray next side and it spits out a few large droplets then clogs. Removed spray nozzle and put a little mineral spirits in to clean out the nozzle. OK, back in business, spray a side of cabinet, go to next side and it spits some large droplets and clogs again. Tried mineral spirits again, but it's just not spraying at all. Tried the nozzle from another can of Rustoleum I have sitting around, that has the same style nozzle. Sprays a brief burst and then clogs.

Cleaning the rust out of the nooks and crannies on the inside of the cabinet with a wire brush was less painful and frustrating than using this spray paint. Was hoping to get this primed today, but now it's only partially primed and I have to wait 48hrs before I can finish priming.

I've never had this issue with Rustoleum before, but this is my first can since the pandemic and supply chain/inflation issues. Maybe they have resorted to inferior ingredients in the paint or the nozzle?

GARBAGE: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ol...te-Clean-Metal-Primer-Spray-7780830/100143442
And you'll see that there are reviews of people experiencing similar problems.

Is current day (i.e., post-pandemic) Krylon good?
Click to expand...
Well, the good news is regular Rustoleum takes a year to dry so you'll have plenty of time to wipe it all off with lacquer thinner.
The Hammered Rustoleum does seem to be a little better quality.

I've had good results ( luck?) with ACE brand paint- adjustable nozzle and less clogs. Dries quicker and smoother. Krylon would be my second choice. Tractor Supply Majic implement paint has also performed well for me.
YMMV
 
N

neverdone

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Jan 1, 2019
Messages
72
Location
PA
Unfortunately rustoleum spray cans have sucked for several years now. I love the paint but getting only a few shots out of a can isn’t worth it.
 
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Crowbarman55

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May 22, 2021
Messages
1,074
I agree with putting the can in hot, out of the tap water. It really helps. I have had good results with Rust-Oleum. In fact, I painted the engine compartment of my 55 BelAir with it. And have won multiple awards with it. But anyone can get a bad can now and then.
You can get pro results with rattle cans. It's all in the prep and application.
Todd
 
A

American Locomotive

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Rhode Island
Rustoleum has made me so mad over the past couple of years. The product is just terrrible, and the "spray any direction" cans constantly clog. Any spray paint that requires 3 minutes of mixing and running under hot water is a failure.

I switched to Belton Molotow from a reccomendation on Garage Journal. It only costs a dollar or two more per can, but there's no comparison. It sprays much nicer, no clogged tips, no big globs ever, you can modulate the spray, it dries faster, and leaves a nicer finish with less orange peel.
 
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jrsavoie

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Jun 4, 2013
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Location
North east Illinois
Jinks said:
I use Rustoleum & Krylon, which ever fits the project. I seldom have a problem with either, but every manufacturer will have a failure from time to time. I don't get angry & throw a rant on the internet. If it's important enough I might take the product back for a refund, but most likely will just buy another. Several failures of the same product would cause me to change brands but I still wouldn't rant on the internet.......... :dunno:
Click to expand...
That's good for you. Sometimes a good internet rant is a wonderful thing.

Saves others time, money and aggravation.

If people had posted about the Kubota LX2610 before I bought, I would never have bought it.
 
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OP
S

stickshift

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northeastern US
American Locomotive said:
Rustoleum has made me so mad over the past couple of years. The product is just terrrible, and the "spray any direction" cans constantly clog. Any spray paint that requires 3 minutes of mixing and running under hot water is a failure.

I switched to Belton Molotow from a reccomendation on Garage Journal. It only costs a dollar or two more per can, but there's no comparison. It sprays much nicer, no clogged tips, no big globs ever, you can modulate the spray, it dries faster, and leaves a nicer finish with less orange peel.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I appreciate the tips about hot water, leaving can out upside down in the sun prior to use, and several minutes of mixing, and I will make sure I mix the next can I use so well that the mixing ball dents the can. But if that's what's required for reliable operation, they should ******* write that on the label.

Instead, this is what the instructions state:
"Shake can vigorously for one minute after the mixing ball begins to rattle."

I guess Belton Molotow isn't something I'm going to find locally?
 
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PoorUB

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Fargo, ND
I have gone through roughly 15 cans of Rustoleum since the first of the year. Not one bad one.
 
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engineer2

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Chicago burbs
I agree that Rustoleum *****. Complain to their customer service department and get a refund. I've taken their paint back to Menards and gotten a refund too. I used their hammertone paint for my Sun distributor tester. Even with good primer you could scrape the Rustoleum off with your fingernail after it dried. Absolute garbage paint. If you only need a partial can, you may as well throw it in the trash when you are done because it won't work the next time. I spend a lot of time swapping nozzles to keep Rustoleum spraying. The overspray gets everywhere too, so forget about spraying it in your garage. I'd much rather use Krylon, but I'm in Rustoleum's corporate HQ's back yard, so that is the only brand available in stores around here.
 
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ScottsGT

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Lake Wateree, SC
Wasn’t shaken enough. Keep shaking and then shake some more. Then take an old rag and a trim nail. Cover top of can with the rag and press nail down into the valve where the spray nozzle goes. It will clear out any chunks of paint that got sucked up earlier. Wrap the can good and wear gloves and safety glasses. It can get messy.
An old friend told me a Krylon rep showed him this trick years ago.
 
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Michigan Mike

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Kalamazoo Mi.
Be somewhat careful mixing with a sawzall. I have done it and it works well but one time mixing a can of bed liner paint I must have shook it too much and shook something inside loose. After I shook it it would only spray if the can was upside down. And not well then. Pure aggravation.
 
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Alienbaby17

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Jan 27, 2014
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Minnesota
I 100% feel your pain. I have experienced the clogging issues countless times with Rustoleum spray paints over the last several years. Unfortunately they seem to have the local market covered to the point that they occupy 90% of shelf space at local retailers and there aren’t many other easy options. They do have an incredible variety of colors and products though.

There is nothing more frustrating then spending hours fixing and prepping a project only to have the paint start spitting out globs and ruin a finish, or to have a near full can suddenly just stop spraying half way through a paint job.

My many failed projects in the past have led me to soaking the cans in warm water prior and shaking for at least two minutes prior to spraying. I still get the complete clogs periodically.

I have seen other threads on this topic. It’s incredibly common and Rustoleum is certainly aware of it. It has been happening for years. Some people suggested it was the result of switching to the newer nozzles but I haven’t found that to be the case. At one point I contacted Rustoleum about this and they sent me a baggie of new nozzles. Unfortunately switching them has never worked to get a can back to spraying for me.

One thing I have done which seems to have potentially helped has been to spray the nozzle off with a little brake clean and wipe it when I’m done spraying. Then I tip the can on it’s side and let some more cleaner sit in the nozzle tip. I haven’t had 100% success with this technique but it seems to help,
 
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Sumboodie

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Hubmonkey said:
Pretty sure that "Good Luck" statement applies to all shipping to Alaska and Hawaii... Profile says your in Alaska.
Click to expand...
Nope. Hazmat is just a PITA to ship so most vendors don't deal with it to mon commercial accounts
 
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CraigStu

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Blacksburg, Va
For most of my 74 years when finished spraying I have always turned the can upside down and sprayed until no paint came. Just the propellent. That seemed to be a good way to clean out the nozzle. Now most of the cans just keep spraying no matter how I turn them. I am sure there can be advantages to this but the tradeoff may be problems like the OP is having. 4-5 years ago I ordered a dozen each of the plain black and red nozzles. I figured when they clog, put a new nozzle on. Unfortunately those nozzles aren't on most of the cans I have.
 
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Jagmandave

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I agree with using the self etch, I buy dozens of cans of it and use them all the time, sometimes a used one sits for a month or more before I use it again, all I do is scrape the paint off the nozzle opening, give it a good shake and off we go. I also sit the can in hot water for a few minutes, then shake it some more.
 
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mikedodge

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I've had a bunch of junk rustoleum and tremclad cans. Usually works the first time then either clogged up or spits and jambs the second time it's used no matter what you do with the nozzle. Sometimes the can didn't work from the start. I heard the new cans are better.
 
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