Opening stuck "twist-off" paint lids...

[Timmy C]

I have this bottle of Pollyscale acrylic paint that just won't twist open! I've tried heating the lid, various grips, and even scraping the dried paint between the lid and the bottle. Can anyone offer any other options? Thanks.

[Devin]

Set the bottle on the workbench upside-down. Then take an eye dropper and place lacquer thinner in the gap between the cap and bottle. Fill up that area and let it set for hours, maybe even a couple of days. Eventually that will break down the paint and allow you to open it.

-Devin

[Timmy C]

Will the thinner get into the paint inside the jar?

[ARH]

Will the thinner get into the paint inside the jar?

I very much dought it. the last one I had like that, I put the lid in the vice and put a cloth round the bottle and turned it, but be very carefull

[ArizonaBB39]

I just use a pair of pliers. Make sure you have a good grip on the bottle.

[Timmy C]

The thinner did it; thanks guys!

[Ron Smith]

Carefully help channel-locks on the bottle and standard slip joint pliers on the lid, if that doesn't work the paint gets pitched. Rarely do I need to go to that extreme, simply remembering to wipe the lid where it meets the jar and the jar lip with a q-tip works for me.

[spikesliew]

Hey, Timmy!

The last time I had such a problem with my Tamiyas i turned it upside down in a small dish, and poured hot water into the dish such that it covered just the plastic cap (but didnt reach the glass bottle)

That seemed to have worked for me back then, without me having to use THAT much brute force


Chin Wen, Liew

[Rod Ackers]

If the cap is stuck on that hard why not chuck the bleeder away and get a new one?

If it is that long since you used it to allow the cap to be that stuck I would imagine the contents would be crap.

[Timmy C]

Because each bottle costs more than four bucks, and it'd be a shame to chuck it after just two uses

[mike mccabe]

I guarantee this will open it -

1) Put on running shoes.

2) Place problem bottle in microwave

3) Turn on full power for five minutes

4) Run away a reasonable distance

When you return the bottle will have miraculously opened.

Mike

[HMAS]

I guarantee this will open it -

1) Put on running shoes.
2) Place problem bottle in microwave
3) Turn on full power for five minutes
4) Run away a reasonable distance
When you return the bottle will have miraculously opened.
Mike

5 buy new house & microwave, well after the fire that follows.