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replacement oil paint tube caps

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Brian Keen

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Anyone know if these are obtainable in the UK? I can only find supplies of 3D printed replacement caps in the US.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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If caps are broken on recently bought oil paint tubes, some manufacturers will replace them.  It'd be no use trying this with 50 year old tubes, of course.  There are also some suggestions for cap replacement on YouTube, if you Google it. You would generally need to go to the manufacturer to get an appropriate cap, because they all make them in different sizes or dimensions.  The Gamblin company sells replacement caps; Michael Harding did, and may still, offer replacements for caps for his paints when a batch was faulty.  I don't know of any 3D printed versions.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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https://www.etsy.com/market/paint_tube_cap Several offerings here. 

Brian Keen

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https://www.etsy.com/market/paint_tube_cap Several offerings here. 
Robert Jones, Napa on 10/02/2025 19:57:54
I found 3D printed ones on Etsy but they are based in the US so the delivery cost would be too high:- https://www.etsy.com/shop/IDEX3D I couldn't find anything similar on the Etsy UK web site. I inherited a large quantity of oil paint after my mother passed away in 2011. Most are still useable - although the caps are often difficult to remove, even when using pliers with a curved jaw recess. Gripping the top of the tube in the hand using an old rubber cycle inner tube helps the grip and prevents twisting of the metal tube itself. However, in some cases the plastic caps can still get damaged because of the force needed on the pliers.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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A seized on cap is a devil to remove just with pliers, the danger being that you rip the tube in half and end up with three quarters of its contents on your hands, sleeves, under your fingernails, spattering your favourite cardigan - and it's nearly alway a colour like Pthalo blue, which is notoriously hard to remove. However!  You do not need to suffer in this way.  Fill a cup with boiling water; immerse the cap-end of the tube in it; then use the pliers: nearly always it will then be easy to remove.  If it still won't shift, I'd give up on it: although you can access the paint when all else fails through the crimped end: cut it off, squeeze out the paint you need, then roll up the vandalized end of the tube to seal it.  
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Carol .

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Do you think a small drop or two of WD40 might work? Prop tube on its cap, add a few drops, wait, see what happens.
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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I’m with Robert here. I do both - hot water or cut off the end of the tube.

Tessa Gwynne

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Hot water definitely. I had to do this only last week to release a couple of welded on tops! Quick and easy solution.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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WD-40 might work, if you happen to have any; expensive stuff, though, as I discovered when a screw/nut on my easel seized  up and nothing else would free it.  I think the hot water would work just as well if not better; there's nothing in WD-40 that has any better chance of softening paint.