Trouble with opening testors paint?

Good idea, I usually use plyers to open stuck paint lids.
John

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfrejo Good idea, I usually use plyers to open stuck paint lids. John

I keep a pair of old pliers on my workbench, just in case.

i use to use pliers, jsut never worked for me

cool, another novelty tool to add to the pile!!LOL only problem is, i don't use those small jars that often, but i could get me some nuts for the bench. later.

HEY,
Tats great. Up to now ive been using pliers and a bit of thinner on the edge of the lid to loosten it up. I think i may have one of those in the kitchen drawer i can "borrow"

Randy

A word of caution!!!

When I was about 14 (or so), I had a bottle of Testors Red Enamel that had decided to seal itself shut. The fact that I never used to clean the threads off probably had nothing to do with it. Anyway, I grab a pair of my Dad's pliers and decide to have a go.

As I applied all the pressure I could, the pliers abruptly turned, and I knew - I just knew - that there should NOT have been the crack of breaking glass when the lid came off!

Pulling the pliers away - still holding the Testors lid with four, 1/8" long glass shards that used to be the bottle top - I noticed that there was a slightly thinner red substance beginning to float in the now wide open paint bottle. This was of course, my blood.

Let me tell you this, not only does water NOT remove enamel paint from an open wound, it actually helps the paint set up. I can also tell you that paint thinner in an open wound hurts like...well...like...a LOT!!!

To this day I have a very pretty 1 1/2" scar running from my index finger knuckle back the top of my left palm.

Please...be careful out there!

Enjoy your modeling...

Good advice Robert!
If it is stuck that bad I just turn it upside down and put a few drops of lacquer thinner with an eye dropper in the lid area where it meets the threads.
I use this tool from Micro-Mark to remove stuck lids and it is on sale right now for $4.75.


Mike

If pliers won't open them with a moderate amount of force I just run hot water over the outside of the lid. It softens the paint enough that pliers will open them easily.

Robert, I don't have the scar and I didn't get cut, but I can relate to your broken bottle incident.

That tool is impressive. I wish I could get one, but I'm broker than broke right now. Who'd have thought that buying a house would take all your money? I usually just put some rubber bands around the lid, that gives me enough grip to break it loose. In the few instances where that doesn't work, I run it under the hot water for 5 minutes or so and it comes right off. I'll have to keep that laquer thinner trick in mind, thanks for that one Mike.