Crossword Genius

At one point, I ask you inside to examine painting equipment (5,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spray can

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'at one point' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'i ask you inside to examine painting equipment' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'i' could be 'a' and 'a' is found within the answer.
'ask' could be 'pry' (prying is a kind of asking) and 'pry' is found within the remaining letters.
'examine' could be 'scan' (scanning is a kind of examining) and 'scan' is present in the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spray can that I've seen before include "Aerosol" , "Graffiti artist's equipment" , "one to provide cover with jets" , "put on coat?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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