Dented Spray Can Safety?

[Ferbz]

I recently ordered a can of 100ml Tamiya spray lacquer online and it arrived with a dent in it a little larger than the size of a dime. I looked up safety concerns online about using dented aerosol spray cans and the info I discovered was enough for me to not risk using it. The dent is near the bottom seam as well as near the side seam (both of which apparently are high risk areas for potential problems). The seller has kindly refunded my payment for it and told me not to bother returning it but to dispose of the dented spray can. I will likely do what he suggested but I'm curious: Have any of you had any problems with using dented spray cans, particularly with dents in these areas? I've used spray cans of various and paint types for many, many years but I don't have any experience using dented cans since I almost always buy my spray cans in person at a store and have never come across a dented can on the shelf:

Edited February 8 by Ferbz

[Tabbysdaddy]

Sometimes when I have a can that doesn't want to spray I'll stomp on the side to make it spray. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 

[NOBLNG]

It might be just fine. Maybe put it in a nitrile glove or ziplock baggie while shaking it? If it doesn’t spring a leak…use it.

[Can-Con]

Me 3. I'd use it. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

If it was canned food, eating it might be a little risky. 

Paint? Nah.

[slusher]

I spray outside and have used dented cans. You will be taking pressure of while spraying it in use..

[yh70]

wrap it with duck tape it will be ok. you can fix everything with duck tape..😎

[dmthamade]

Have had a few dented cans, used them up fine...

 

Don

[Dave G.]

If there is no sign of weeping/leaking now after shipping and getting tossed around, Enjoy your free can of paint. It's not gonna blow up if that's what you're thinking.

[Hi-Po]

In looking at the second picture, it appears that the can is not only dented but the painted label on the can has bubbled up.  To me this would indicate that there is a possibility that the can has corrosion in that area.  If it is actually just the clear plastic wrapping that is making it look that way, then I would take the advice of others and wrap the can in duct tape and if possible, spray your project outside, just to be safe.

Or toss the can and move on with your project - it was free after all.

[Ferbz]

5 hours ago, Dave G. said:

If there is no sign of weeping/leaking now after shipping and getting tossed around, Enjoy your free can of paint. It's not gonna blow up if that's what you're thinking.

Bursting was one of the things mentioned online about damaged cans. I would think something like that would be the worst case scenario, but also not out of the realm of possibility. Yeah, there's no sign of leaking at all which is a good thing 👍 I was also considering decanting it by spraying it into a jar then using my airbrush to apply it. I still might do that. Thanks for the advice!

[espo]

I would think if it's going to burst or leak that would have already happened. As for the effects on the paint and propellent. How different would this dent be different from warming the can in warm water before using?

17 hours ago, Tabbysdaddy said:

Sometimes when I have a can that doesn't want to spray I'll stomp on the side to make it spray. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 

Nothing like living life on the edge. 

[rattle can man]

I would try it. If it hasn't leaked yet, it probably won't. As a non-engineer, I would say spraying it would reduce pressure and decrease the likelihood of failure if anything. plus releasing the compressed gas inside the can actually cool what's inside (look up auto-refrigeration effect), again reducing pressure

[James2]

If your set on not using, is it, I'll take! 

[Dave G.]

1 hour ago, Ferbz said:

Bursting was one of the things mentioned online about damaged cans. I would think something like that would be the worst case scenario, but also not out of the realm of possibility. Yeah, there's no sign of leaking at all which is a good thing 👍 I was also considering decanting it by spraying it into a jar then using my airbrush to apply it. I still might do that. Thanks for the advice!

If you're gonna spray all that paint through the nozzle anyway, might as well just paint the model, if that was your original intent.

[TonyK]

On 2/7/2025 at 6:02 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

If it was canned food, eating it might be a little risky.

I've always heard/read that a dented can of food is ok. It's the bulging ones you don't want to eat. Something bad wrong is going on inside the can.

[Ace-Garageguy]

20 minutes ago, TonyK said:

I've always heard/read that a dented can of food is ok. It's the bulging ones you don't want to eat. Something bad wrong is going on inside the can.

Yes...however, a dented can with a split seam could conceivably vent the pressure and not bulge.

One would like to think that people are smart enough to not eat something from what would probably be an obviously leaking can, or that stank as badly as the contents probably would...but you know...Tide Pods.

 

[peteski]

Yes, unlike aerosol cans which contained pressurized propellant, canned food is vacuum packed.   As far as dented food cans go, supermarkets in my area have a rack with price reduced items and dented cans can often be found there.  As Bill mentioned, as long as the can is still airtight, the food is good to eat. And yes I know that when food in a can goes bad the reaction inside the can can build up pressure.  Bacteria can produce gasses.

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, peteski said:

 As Bill mentioned, as long as the can is still airtight, the food is good to eat. And yes I know that when food in a can goes bad the reaction inside the can can build up pressure.  Bacteria can produce gasses.

Not necessarily...though as long as a dented can isn't swelling, it's probably OK.

Contaminated or improperly processed canned foods, even in airtight cans, can harbor clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacteria that produces both the gas that causes can swelling, and the botulinum toxin that causes potentially fatal botulism.

Never even try to taste food from a swollen can, or one with a top that "oilcans". Ingesting even a small quantity of the toxin can be deadly.

Interestingly, it's the self-same toxin that people have injected into their faces to reduce wrinkles. Botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin that inhibits release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. Injection of minute quantities of botulinum toxin into specific overactive muscles causes localized muscle relaxation that smooths the overlying skin and reduces wrinkles.

[peteski]

Bill, looks like I didn't compose my post correct way, as my second sentence read "And yes I know that when food in a can goes bad the reaction inside the can can build up pressure."  You are correct.

[Dave G.]

Hmmm, I find myself wondering if the OP is going to use the dented can of paint or not ?

Edited February 9 by Dave G.

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 hours ago, Dave G. said:

Hmmm, I find myself wondering if the OP is going to use the dented can of paint or not ?

Just as long as he doesn't eat it...

[Bugatti Fan]

What the heck?    The can turned out to be free in the end as you did not have to return it and probably a replacement sent anyway. So look at it as a useable bonus spray paint Ferbz and enjoy using it !

Edited February 10 by Bugatti Fan

[Dave G.]

8 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Just as long as he doesn't eat it...

😊 

[Ferbz]

9 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

What the heck?    The can turned out to be free in the end as you did not have to return it and probably a replacement sent anyway. So look at it as a useable bonus spray paint Ferbz and enjoy using it !

Indeed 👍 I did neglect to mention that it arrived in a bubble wrap envelope 🤪 The seller might have benefitted from sending it in a small cardboard box to protect it better during shipping maybe....