I got some model master paint but have a problem with the one can.

It appears that they put to much paint in it and some ran out the top. Now the lid is stuck on pretty tight and I don’t know how to open it.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Hi Redneck,

A couple of things. Put jar in a bowl upside-down, fill with water to the level of the lid. Microwave until it is hot, but not burn-yourself hot, Put jar lid back in. The heat will make the metal lid expamd different from the glass or plastic jar, loosening the paint bond.

BE CAREFUL opening the thing, as there have been some cases of the glass breaking. I suggest NEVER using a wrench or pliers. Use kitchen grippers.

At hardware stores there is a neat device--a handle with a big rubber band that you can put around the lid, tighten, and twist--works everytime. But always protect your hands from potential bottle breaking.

All you need to do is turn the jar of paint upside down and pour a little lacquer thinner or paint thinner into where the cap meets the bottle. Let it sit for a few minutes. Try to remove the cap by hand. If this doesn't work, try with a pair of pliers.

I use a coffee cup warmer to keep decal water warm.

This same device is also very good at helping stuck paint bottles become unstuck. Place the bottle of paint cap side down on the warmer, and let it sit there for a few minutes. The heat will soften the paint residue inside the cap, making it easier to open up the bottle of paint.

Especially good for Tamiya, Gunze, and MM Acryl paints. Works pretty good on MM enamels as well.

Good luck.

I use pliers or a wrench all of the time to open paint jars. I haven't broken one yet. I just make sure to only grip the cap tight enough so that the pliers don't slip. I also have done the upside down jar with thinner thing before and it worked well. Good luck.

Now I find out abut the coffee cup warmer.... I just threw one out..... never kept my coffee warm enough....

I use the good old rubber strap wrench, and rubber gripping pad, haven't met a bottle I can't open yet, and the rubber strap wrench does no damage or distortion to the cap.

Thanks guys.

I’ll try heating it in warm water and if that doesn’t work the rubber strap. Then if that still doesn’t get it I’ll try the thinner.

I’m afraid that if I use the pliers I’ll bend the lid and then have to use them every time. I’ve done that before.

jacob, a good pair of big pliers, and big guns work fine for me.... but heating hte lid is always usefull, i never need to do it very often tho.

Frank

I wonder if the paint solvent works only on enamel paints?

What I use is a combination. I just put the lid area under warm water (trying to avoid the lower part of the bottle as warm water dissolves the adhesive of the label). I then use pliers to unscrew the lid. This works and only in the worst cases of having paint stuck on the entirity of the threads of the lid.

Jeff

I donmt know your age, but a good ole bic lighter, heating the lid does the trick

Hi Dave,

Yeah, that's exactly what I am talking about. It is a great tool!