How to Airbrush 55-Gallon Galvanized Garbage Cans

Turn your trash can into a work of art with an airbrush.

An airbrush is a painting tool that combines paint with air to produce a colorful spray. It is similar to a can of spray paint but offers much more precise control. There are many types of airbrushes available, from smaller units designed for detail work to large industrial airbrushes that spray a large volume of paint. Both of these are useful when painting a 55-gallon galvanized garbage can. Before you can paint, however, you must prepare the can.

Things You'll Need

• Soapy water
• Abrasive pad
• Powdered cleanser
• Spray primer
• Pencil
• Painter's tape
• Scissors
• Airbrushes
• Air compressor
• Air hose
• Airbrush paint
• Matte sealer (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash the surface of the trash can with soap and water to remove any dirt, grease or other debris. Allow the can to dry.

2. Scour the trash can with a powdered cleansing product and an abrasive pad, working in small circular movements, until the entire surface is scuffed. This will help the paint to adhere.

3. Wash the can again with more soap and water to remove the scouring residue. Allow the can to dry.

4. Spray two thin coats of primer onto the can and allow each coat to dry fully. Use primer that is sold in a spray paint can; do not spray primer through your airbrush.

5. Sketch the design that you want onto the trash can with a pencil.

6. Cut any shapes that you don't want painted right away out of low-tack painter's tape. Use the tape to cover those areas on the can. This is called masking.

7. 

   A high-capacity airbrush is designed for spraying a large volume of paint.

   Load your background color into a high-capacity airbrush. Only use paint that is designed for an airbrush.

8. Connect the airbrush to an air compressor via an airbrush hose.

9. Spray on the base coat of paint in several thin layers, and allow each to dry fully before adding the next. Move the airbrush back and forth in smooth passes as you paint, with each pass slightly overlapping the last for even coverage.

10. Gently peel off the masking tape.

11. 

    A standard airbrush is a smaller unit for detail painting.

    Remove the high-capacity airbrush from the air hose and attach a standard model.

12. Add airbrush paint to the reservoir and paint the areas of the can that are still exposed, and allow each color to dry before adding the next. Work from your lightest paint to your darkest to make layering the colors easier.

13. Allow the paint to dry. Spray on a matte sealer if desired.

References

• How To Airbrush; Scuff It; Don Johnson
• RC Airplane Advisor: How to Airbrush