Odd Question: How to open stubborn ink bottle

[Ondina]

Do you have a white rug?

 

Put the bottle in the middle of the rug with a toddler. Tell the toddler not to touch the bottle. Turn your back.

 

When you turn back around, the bottle will be open.

 

:roflmho: There we go, James is wise beyond his ears!. And what he says is a universal truth, by the way, in case anyone was doubting it.

 

The thermal expansion is the way to go, either running hot water or strong sunlight. I had this very problem 2 days ago with a Waterman bottle and this time the trick was both, sunlight exposure and pushing the cap down and twisting at the same time.

[Bayes]

Do you have a white rug?

 

Put the bottle in the middle of the rug with a toddler. Tell the toddler not to touch the bottle. Turn your back.

 

When you turn back around, the bottle will be open.

 

:roflmho: There we go, James is wise beyond his ears!. And what he says is a universal truth, by the way, in case anyone was doubting it.

 

The thermal expansion is the way to go, either running hot water or strong sunlight. I had this very problem 2 days ago with a Waterman bottle and this time the trick was both, sunlight exposure and pushing the cap down and twisting at the same time.

 

I love the toddler idea. I'm sure it would work.

 

In the end, hot water was enough. Thanks for the advice.

[Snowcap]

I use the "elastic band trick".

 

Get hold of a wide elastic band, the cheapest you can find.

Get the elastic band around the cap. That is: Leave the band intact.

Place the cap on the inside of the band, and wrap the rest of the band around it.

It will have a reasonable amount of band left, but keep on winding it around.

When it is completely wound around, place the bottle on a flat surface, hold it firmly in place and twist the lid off.

 

Works like a dream for me.

 

Good luck!

[encremental]

Put the bottle in the jamb of a door you don't much care about, and then twist (quite carefully, ... and not very far). The pressure exerted in this way does tend to leave scars on the edge of the door, so don't get carried away.

 

The hot water trick is undoubtedly the best for any recalcitrant top, but a door can be a good backup if you can't quite get the purchase on it that you would like.

 

John

Edited March 5, 2009 by encremental

[coldman]

I just tried opening my Visconti bottle. The cap didn't want to open, so I took a firm grip around it with one hand, and the other hand gripped the bottle firmly. I then slowly tried to twist it to open the cap without spilling -- and the plastic foot popped off. :bonk: Not very firmly stuck on, either - some kind of gel glue (with text apparently printed on).

[Sailor Kenshin]

I just got a bottle of Quink washable blue. The problem is that the cap is on so tight I can't get it off. I'm reluctant to use too much force because I don't want to splash ink all over the place. Do any of you have suggestions for getting it open safely?

 

Thanks

 

Run the lid and bottle under hot water for a few moments, then use some grippy stuff like those rubber jar lid openers, or even Rubbermaid shelf liner on both bottle and lid, and do it over the bathroom sink wearing old clothes.

 

If this doesn't work, try again in a while.