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I’m really tired of buying oil spray cans. I know that there are relatively inexpensive misters out there, Misto currently being the most popular, it seems. But I’m seriously strapped at the moment, so even sixteen bucks is a lot!

Is there any reason two dollar supermarket plant misters won’t work with oil? Will they clog, or is the pressure not sufficient for thick fluids like oil?

Just Joel
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    Why is misted oil so important to you? As the spray cans are also expensive, maybe pouring the oil or wiping/brushing it on for the time being would save you money. – Chris H Mar 22 '18 at 09:20

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No, they don't work well. I've tried them.

First, the viscosity of the oil seems to be wrong for them. Instead of producing a cloud of oil particles, they produce a stream which exits with some force, like a mini water pistol. Second, the plastic of mine got softer with time, and I had the feeling that it also lost some color, so I suspect that something from the plastic leached into the oil.

It might be that I had unusually bad luck with mine, but I suspect that the physical properties of oil and water require different pump head parameters and the problem will apply to any water-intended model. If you are really strapped for cash, it makes no sense to make such a risky investment, since the chance it will work is not good.

rumtscho
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  • Thanks! I was pretty sure that they’d be unusable with high viscosity liquids. And the plastic leeching into the oil is not a pleasant thought at all! I’ll break open my penny jar and scrounge up some loose change and get the real thing! – Just Joel Mar 22 '18 at 09:00
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    If that's what you want - personally, when I had little money, I wouldn't spend it on such a thing, given that simply pouring oil works well. But maybe you value misted oil more than I do. – rumtscho Mar 22 '18 at 09:03