Help! How To Open Stuck Ink Bottle Cap?

[cnjackson]

I'm having trouble opening a relatively new bottle of Aurora Black. I've opened it before, but the cap has been stuck for the last few months...

 

Help!

Edited July 21, 2014 by cnjackson

[cnjackson]

Ah! just managed to open it! not sure why it worked this time!

[Komitadjie]

Chanel lock pliers with some vacuum tubing over the jaws, over the sink, run the cap under warm water and don't squeeze too hard! At least, that's handled it any time I've had trouble. Go EASY on it with the pliers, it's quite easy to apply enough force to shatter cap and bottle! It only takes a little bit with that much leverage.

[Charles Rice]

Ah! just managed to open it! not sure why it worked this time!

To open, turn counter-clockwise.

[inkstainedruth]

Ignore Charles -- he's a smart*ss.

Before going to the channel lock plyers route I would have

a) gotten one of those rubber grip thingies to give yourself a bit of leverage; and/or

tried the trick used for stuck jar lids: take a knife and tap at three different points around the edge of the cap (this helps to break the vacuum without doing a lot of damage to either cap or bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Komitadjie]

Ruth undoubtedly has the better look at it than I do, she's opened about a million more bottles than I have.

 

Personally, I seem to have poor luck with the rubber things, if my hand slips, they tend to also. No harm in giving them a shot, though!

[Charles Rice]

Ignore Charles -- he's a smart*ss.

 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

One more pointer - be sure to hold the bottle while you are turning the cap.

[AustinMalone1999]

I turn my bottles upside down in a cup (to keep things like Iroshizuku from tipping over) and use an eyedropper to dissolve the ink on the threads, wipe it off, and it should open.

[ac12]

Once you get it open, put a sheet of plastic or wax paper over the jar before you cap it.

That way, the ink won't be able to cement the cap on.

But if you put it on too TIGHT you could still have a problem getting it of. Although the wax paper will help.

[SkylarKnight]

Ignore Charles -- he's a smart*ss.

Before going to the channel lock plyers route I would have

a) gotten one of those rubber grip thingies to give yourself a bit of leverage; and/or

tried the trick used for stuck jar lids: take a knife and tap at three different points around the edge of the cap (this helps to break the vacuum without doing a lot of damage to either cap or bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I only do this with food jars, but sometimes tapping on the bottom (turn it upside down and tap with the handle of a knife) works

Also, try taking a knife and instead of taping it on the lid, stick the sharp end right underneath the cap and push a bit in 3-5 spots, should get the work done.

[serpent]

i just put a little warm water in a sauce pan turn bottle upside down and let it soak for a minute.

[View from the Loft]

I second the suggestion to run the join between cap and bottle under warm water as this dissolves any ink that is "welding" the bottle shut. Having opened the bottle, clean the threads on the cap and bottle before closing it once more, and your troubles should be over.

[martinbir]

One more pointer - be sure to hold the bottle while you are turning the cap.

 

Now I know where I've been going wrong all these years!

 

Thanks Charles

[Charles Rice]

 

Now I know where I've been going wrong all these years!

 

Thanks Charles

Glad to be of service.

[Tojusi]

All of the suggestions here were so sensible, makes me ashamed of my initial thought: Do it outside, do it naked, you're going to spill ink every which way in any case.

[amberleadavis]

All of the suggestions here were so sensible, makes me ashamed of my initial thought: Do it outside, do it naked, you're going to spill ink every which way in any case.

 

 

Are you saying ... FPNers do it with ink?

[inkstainedruth]

 

 

Are you saying ... FPNers do it with ink?

Ewww. Think of the SITB....

On a more serious note I'm not sure I'd try the trick of sticking the bottle upside down in warm water, unless it was then well dried before you attempt to open it. While some inks would *maybe* benefit with being a little diluted, I'd worry about water getting inside the cap. Particularly if it's warm, and even more particularly if it's not distilled water.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[amberleadavis]

Bertrams ink well, gave me hint when I was having difficulty with a Stipula. Rubberbands around the cap.