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Stupid Question: Opening the Primer/Cement Cans...

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:00 pm
by chubster
How do I open those cans, im not sure if you're supposed to twist or what. The cans don't say anything on them about how to open it.

thanx.

p.s. - go ahead and make fun of me as long as u answer my question

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:14 pm
by Velocity
Heres how I do it

First I take a flat-head screwdriver, and bend up the sides of the top. I do this all the way around. Next, I just take a monkey wrench and twist the top off. Yeah, it is actually harder than you would think, but this method works (you could skip the first step and go straight to the monkey wrench)

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:16 pm
by Pete Zaria
Assuming you're talking about the regular metal primer/glue cans with the raised round metal lid, yes, you just twist them off. Counter-clockwise. Use pliers if needed.

Since you gave me permission to make fun... HAHAHAHA! ROFLMAO.
No, just kidding. Everybody has to start somewhere; there's no such thing as a stupid question. Except for the idiots that don't search before they post their n00bish questions. Damn, I'm starting to sound like pimp.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:40 pm
by chubster
yea, i ended up just twistin the first one off and usin a screw driver for the second one. im done, ill post pics l8r. THANX!

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:00 pm
by CS
Good thing your mom didnt leave you in charge of pouring your cereal every morning...

If the cans are new, simply twist with hands just like any other bottle. If you can open a brand new can I declare you offically as a "wimp". Old can are harder to open because some residue gets stuck making the bottle harder to open. Generally I can brake the residue simply with my arms, if not I simply put on the pipe wrench and twist. Never has failed to this day... "hoe i putz de cpa un mi lancher?"

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:58 pm
by chubster
yea, i just twisted like a manly man, but i wasnt even sure if it was a twist-off. plus there was primer and cement on the lids when i took them off.

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:13 pm
by M3NT4L
I use some clamps :P They are cheap and are very usefull.

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:18 pm
by sgort87
Hey, Tony, you must not go through as much PVC welding solvents as the rest of us. :wink: The brand new cans are by far the hardest to open. I almost always need a pair of channel-locks to get it started. Don't feel bad.

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:40 pm
by Mihlrad
I usually buy oatey brand pvc stuff at home depot, they are pretty much impossible to hand open brand new, they will rip your skin off if you try to hand open them. I take a hammer and lightly tap around the edge, and then it opens right up, no leaks when closed. I think theres glue on them when brand new that you need to break.

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:23 pm
by chubster
well i must be superman then, i use the oatley stuff and open it w/ just my hands. thanx 4 the tips

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:38 pm
by CS
Possibly your a bunch of coach potatos that got arms skinner then my pinky finger?

Gort, are you pulling this "crap" straight out your @ss? Ive gone threw many o' cans for potato gun construction. Not to mention many more are and others irragation systems ive worked on. We fricken have a ~2 acre lot that is all covered with sprinkler lines, has about ~20 sprinkler valves. All of which are equiped with check valves and ball valves. Ive done a hella-lot of solvent welding.

I also get Oatey glue/ primer. Possibly my statements might have been wrong in solely underestimating your strength. You guys open your milk with a wrench to?
:wink:

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:41 pm
by SpudStuff
Ohhh a buff pimp

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:12 am
by CS
I thought Id throw Gorts little trolling fetish trying to correct me all the time for a loop ;-)

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:44 am
by M3NT4L
It isnt a matter of strength, sometimes glue dries in between the cap and the can and it is harder to open than usual. Besides that do any of you know how to remove purpple primer stains because yesterday i was going to use the primer and the shty can fell on top of one of my house apliances and the primer leaked (i hate those cans) i cant seem to get it off. I tried the goof off thing and nope. I thought that maybe i could buffer it off with my dremel but no... My mom is so pissed and i dont know how to get it off, so if you know anything please help!

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:37 am
by boilingleadbath
Mental, seriously, you fail.

It quite clearly IS a matter of strength. Or maybe I should reword that; a matter of TORQUE.

Someone, apparently, is strong enough to generate the torque required to open the container using their bare hands.
Others, apparently, need a torque multiplier (AKA a wrench) to generate that much torque.

Oh, and mental, you are probably screwed - alot of appliance housings are PVC, and we all know how hard it is to get primer stains off of PVC...

And seriously, do you f'ing solvent welding outside, and not in your f'ing kitchen.
There are PROVEN CARCIOGENS in the damn stuff, votile ones at that.