Paint Jar Problems

Just picked up some tamiya acrylic paint jars. one problem though. the lids don't come off! they have never been opened and are on there extremely tight. can someone give me a tip to loosen the lids so i can get them off.
thanks
Brandon

Put the lid of the jar in some running warm water. That should expand the metal enough to get the lids off.

These are metal lids right?

Run them under hot water for a few minutes. Use a shirt or towel to twist them off later. If you have a small enough one, you can use an oil filter remover. A pair of pliers might also do the trick, but use caution.

Never had a problem with my new Tamiya paint bottles before. :confused: They come off real easy when new, it's after you've used them for a while that they start to get hard to open. Maybe your bottle was a returned one that someone had used? :confused:

Also, to avoid the problem in the future, stir your paint instead of shaking it. That way the paint can't get into the top of the bottle where it dries and makes it hard to open.

Originally posted by 64 Chevy
Put the lid of the jar in some running warm water. That should expand the metal enough to get the lids off.

These are metal lids right?

No, they're plastic. Tight lids in Tamiya's case are usually caused by dry paint sticking between the jar and the lid. The warm water sort of 'melts' the paint.

you ever see that neat wrench that is like arubber belt. use on of those and use it to hold the bottle then twist the lid with hand. thats how me and my friend got it off. btw it was a plastic lid

-GTi-VR6_A3

mine are plastic. i'll try the hot water. the ones that i have opened and used i've had no problems getting them open months later. it's the ones i haven't been able to open since i bought them that i'm having trouble with.

Its happends to me too, with my Testors Acrylic Paint. Just get a cup of HOT water and put the paint jar upside down into the water for a couple of min, then take it out and it should open easly.:)

Vise Grips do wonders on stuck lids,but set them carefully or you can crush the jar.

Try putting a few drops of thinner into the seam of the lid and jar. Then turn the jar upsidedown. After a few minutes, the thinner should help loosen the dried paint.

To prevent this from happening again in the future. Always wipe the rim clean before putting the lid back on. Also, covering the jar with a piece of cellophane before putting the lid on helps.

Originally posted by Shorty4859
Its happends to me too, with my Testors Acrylic Paint. Just get a cup of HOT water and put the paint jar upside down into the water for a couple of min, then take it out and it should open easly.:)

That's because testors lids are metal.

I tried a vise on a Tamiya bottle, the cap slipped. I just put all my strenght (did I spell that right?) into it and after about 5 seconds of giving it full stenhgt, the bottle opens. GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT !!!
If that does'nt work, hit it from the bottom with the face of your palm while the cap is wet like recomended before. If all else fails, slam the paint on the ground ans scoop up as much paint as you can! :D

Try using rubber gloves - you know, the ones for household chores, etc.

Works for me.