Finally figured out how to unstick a dried out acrylic cap without ruining the paint underneath

I had this tube of deep navy blue acrylic that I barely used, maybe a third of it left. The cap was glued on with dried paint for like 2 years. I tried hot water, pliers, even brute force and just stripped the plastic. Then a painter at a job site told me to put a drop of rubbing alcohol around the rim and let it sit for 60 seconds. Popped right off. The paint inside was still good too. Anyone have a better trick for this that won't damage the tube?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahbaker1mo ago

Tbh I just started keeping my acrylics in a ziplock bag with a damp paper towel after a similar disaster. But honestly your rubbing alcohol trick is gold, I've been prying caps off with channel locks like a caveman. Ngl I'll take a mildly damaged tube over chasing a dried out cap around my garage any day.

simonmoore1mo ago

Lost a whole tube of cadmium red to a seized cap before I learned the alcohol trick.