See, a  4 year old post that does have validity and is relevent. 

I haven't done this in years but as a kid I would always get the testors tops off by pouring about a 1/2 inch of really hot water into a cup and then place the jar upside down in the cup.  The warm water expands the metal in the lid.  10 minute soak and off they come!

When I was really in a hurry I'd hold a cigarette lighter to the lid for a few seconds.  I would NOT recommend this though. 

Gamera

ps1scw:

When I can't open paint bottles I:  

Fly to Thailand and hang out on the beach for awhile....find a nice girl, see the sights...

 

Can't afford it. I can drive to the local Thai resturant and check out the waitresses though.

They know me as the freaky old guy...

 

ps1scw

When I can't open paint bottles I:  

Fly to Thailand and hang out on the beach for awhile....find a nice girl, see the sights...

Can't afford it. I can drive to the local Thai resturant and check out the waitresses though.

They know me as the freaky old guy...

All joking aside I've always used hot water myself. Thanks folks- I'll have to give some of these tricks a whirl.

Manstein's revenge

...explosives...

'When in doubt- C4...' - Jamie Hyneman

ThomasfrmPA

Seriousl !, Is there any way to safely open a paint bottle without breaking it?

I have a few acrylic , as well as enamel 1/2 ounce glass bottled that are quit stubborn and I really don't want to break them while trying t open

 

 

Its normal, happens all the time. Turn bottle upside down and you only have to tap it on some wood etc gently a few times then unscrew.  

After using the colour just be sure to make sure no extra paint is sitting around the thread, damp cloth- wipe- done.

When I can't open paint bottles I:  

Fly to Thailand and hang out on the beach for awhile....find a nice girl, see the sights...

CallSignOWL

troublemaker66:

Owl-

The top tool is an adjustable wrench and the other one is  adjustable gas pliers...

Len

 

 

I am not good with tool-names. I just know they work!

troublemaker66

Owl-

The top tool is an adjustable wrench and the other one is  adjustable gas pliers...

Len

I am not good with tool-names. I just know they work!

Owl-

The top tool is an adjustable wrench and the other one is  adjustable gas pliers...

Len

jschlechty

Mr. Bottle Openener looks like a good idea, but they need to make an Uncle Bottle opener that works on the Model Master and little square Testor's bottle's metal lids.

I use the little testors enamels almost exclusively for brush painting. IF I find a stubborn lid, dipping my brush in thinner and running it around the screw area helps loosen it. A few taps on the table dont hurt either....but every now and again I get one thats really really stuck. Then I bust out the hardware!

First I take a tool that looks like this (I think its a wrench?):

and size it the same as the bottle. The square shape keeps the jar from running away as I grab the lid with a tool (pliers?) that looks like this:

 and twist in opposite directions. So far, Its worked every time!

...explosives...

Mr. Bottle Openener looks like a good idea, but they need to make an Uncle Bottle opener that works on the Model Master and little square Testor's bottle's metal lids.

If it's Tamiya/Gunze, use the aptly named, mr. bottle opener.

You guys are seriously behind in times..

As others have stated, I also turn the bottle upside down and put a few drops of thinner in the threads and let it sit a few minutes.

For Tamiya bottles, the quickest and first thing I usually do is turn it upside down and give the lid a quick, hard rap or two flat against the table top. This is usually enough to break whatever seal has formed and allow me to remove the lid.  If not, I go to the thinner in the threads route.

I know somebody mentioned airbrush lube already - has anybody ever tried putting Vaseline on the threads before reclosing the bottle?  I've thought about it, but not sure if it would somehow contaminate the paint or not.  Anybody else have experience with this?

qmiester

Hans, I usually use a lighter but as you noted, the "Safety-Gehiemestatspoletzei" would probably descend upon me in full force  so I didn't mention it - (Aren't they the same folks the push the line that if 1 part per quadrillion of metthyl chloride or a like chemical is any where within 10,000 klicks of me I'll die immediatly if not sooner?)

Only in California.

Eric

Hans von Hammer

If I was a Marine, I probably woulda just chewed it open...

Or shot it?

The Hammer hammer -chuckle -chew it off -big chuckle ... you guys are killing me now my face hurts --Thanks !

Try dipping the enamel bottle cap down into lacquer thinner and let it sit for a while.  I've never used acrylics but, I'm guessing the same treatment as the enamel bottles but using denatured alcohol would work.

Good luck

Ray

I know my ball cap is too small to read in my avatar on here

It says "once a Marine, always a Marine"

That is why I make so many dumb Jarhead jokes

but, on this topic, all kidding aside,,,,,,I have actually broken paint bottles trying to get them open,,,,,and even cut the "holding hand" once, while prying the cap off with pliers

Now, in my old dotterage,,,,,,,,,if a cap is that stuck,,,,,,that paint is probably as old as my son, lol (he was born in '79, the year I got out of the Corps)

So,,,,,I just don't play with it if it wants to be that stuck,,,,,,I use it for "shooting a basket" into the ole round file,,,,,,and either pull out another bottle with a newer date on the office dot I put on top of them all,,,,,,,,or get a new one soon at the paint store

as expensive as hobby paint is,,,,,,,it reallllllllllly stings if you get that paint carrier fluid in a fresh glass cut on your hand

When I do get a stubborn cap that won't come off, I just place the paint jar in a small glass or a coffee cup, and run the tap water till its steaming hot and let the jar sit in that for a few minutes.  Then just use the pliers and twist it off.     Then clean the lid out before I close it back up.

quit a few years ago my kids got me a set of Sear Craftsmen strap wrenches for a fathers day gift these are great for forzen jar caps. Put the rubber strap around the cap get a good grip on bottle push handle cap off.    ACESES5                       ON BENCH ACADEMY 1/35 M3 GRANT

Hans von Hammer

If I was a Marine, I probably woulda just chewed it open...

Yup, that's what I'd do.... I love the feel of metal between my clenching teeth.....

If I was a Marine, I probably woulda just chewed it open...

now, where is the fun in that??

not to mention the satisfaction,,,,,,,"I am Jarhead,,,,,thump,,,,,,,me got paint open"

TarnShip

haha,,,,,,,yup

thump!!!,,,,,and filter out the glass particles with old nylons,,,,,,,into a new bottle and cap

for some reason,,,,,I can picture this very clearly, Hans

Actually, I just punch a hole in the cap, Tarn, lol..

Starting with a new bottle, first thing I do is wipe the lid clean. After that, I stir with a "T" shaped bit of sprue in the Dremel....never shake....never have a stuck lid.....never have wasted building time!

haha,,,,,,,yup

thump!!!,,,,,and filter out the glass particles with old nylons,,,,,,,into a new bottle and cap

for some reason,,,,,I can picture this very clearly, Hans