problems opening bottles of paint??

[mobilman44]

Hi!

I have wrestled with this problem for years and years. I’ve done the nutcracker, the pliers, and yes even channel locks. Most of the time they worked, but I’ve broken a couple bottles and had no success a few times too.

About three years ago a bought a small pair of Sears Craftsman RoboGrip “pliers”. The thing is, I got the one with the curved jaws, which allows a larger surface contact area on the bottle top. It has successfully worked EVERY time for me since purchased.

As an aside, last week I had a small square shaped bottle of testors paint that was totally stuck. I ended up using a crescent wrench on the bottle and the robogrips on the top. I got the thing opened, but really don’t recommend that approach.

I guess the best thing to do is to wipe of the threads on the bottle and inside of the cap before you close them - but who will do that every time???

ENJOY,

Mobilman44

[StillGrande]

I switched a few years ago to the acrylics you can get at Michaels and craft stores. There are about a million colors and you can match just about anything. They are usually under $2, on sale for under $1 often, and come with a plastic bottle and cap with a flip top. Easy to mix, you can get any color you want if you experiment a little. Once they are dry they are on. I haven’t had one chip or need touch ups since I started. I have never had another stuck lid, that is for sure. They also never seem to dry out.

[Medina1128]

I keep a small pair of channel locks just for this purpose.

As said, keeping the threads clean and not shaking the bottle to get the paint coating the lid will help. I always stir the paint.

When I reseal the bottle, I place a small square of plastic over the top and screw on the lid. The plastic forms a new seal and allows the lid to twist off easily next time.

Micro-Mark also sells a nice paint stirrer that runs on AA batteries. I bought one and I love it. Just remember to let it stop before removing it from the paint.

[Autobus_Prime]

I guess the best thing to do is to wipe of the threads on the bottle and inside of the cap before you close them - but who will do that every time???

m44:
That really is the way to do it, however. I’m not a conscientious or meticulous person by any standard, but I eventually got tired of wasting paint.

Testors bottles are nice because they are square, and you can grip them in a vise while twisting the cap. This doesn’t break them…as often as it seems like it would.

[train_lover12]

I keep a small pair of channel locks just for this purpose.

As said, keeping the threads clean and not shaking the bottle to get the paint coating the lid will help. I always stir the paint.

When I reseal the bottle, I place a small square of plastic over the top and screw on the lid. The plastic forms a new seal and allows the lid to twist off easily next time.

Micro-Mark also sells a nice paint stirrer that runs on AA batteries. I bought one and I love it. Just remember to let it stop before removing it from the paint.

did you learn from experience?[(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Rotorranch]

I use heavy leather welding gloves to hold the bottle, and a pair of curved jaw Channelock pliers, set wide enough to grip the lid, but not apply too much pressure on the bottle. No cuts to the hand, but I do have a bright blue left hand glove now. [:-^]

Rotor