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Help! Tube lid stuck, can I rescue the paint?

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Amanda Sperritt

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Hi, I have a large tube of artist quality watercolour (daler-rowney green gold), hardly used, but the lid is stuck fast! I have tried various ways to get it off but the metal is twisting without shifting the lid itself so I will have to cut the tube I think. If I buy an empty watercolour pan to squeeze the paint into (after cutting the end off the tube!) would I be able to then use the paint as a pan colour? Would that work better with some kind of additive? Thank you for reading and thanks in advance if you can help!
michael

Michael Edwards

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I use tube paint in exactly this way all the time. Only yesterday I topped up the small wells in my palettes with the tubes so they won't need topping up again for some time now. At the start of each session I drop a little blob of water into eack well to soften them and then I'm away. So cut the tube, pop it the paint in the palette and use it whenever you need it - no additives required - just a drop of water to bring it back to life whenever you need to use it. I'll raise the matter of the palettes I use in a new topic which some may find of interest.

Keith Orange

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Hold the top of the tube under the hot water tap, turn it on and let hot water flow over the screw top for a few minutes. This usually softens the paint and top can then be unscrewed.
michael

Michael Edwards

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Yes - forgot about the hot tap treatment (or simply dropping it a bowl of really hot water for a while) - it's worked for me in the past.

Jacki Larcombe

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I agree with Syd. I find that running them under the hot tap - really hot - for a few minutes and then gently twisting the cap with a towel always works. I use this method on my watercolour paints, gouache and acrylic - never had to throw a tube away yet.

Amanda Sperritt

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Thanks for your help - I'll get an empty pan next time I'm treating myself to some art-related shopping. I have already tried the hot water method but the lid won't budge - the metal has twisted but the lid is still stuck fast so I don't think there's much chance of loosening it. I might try the pan-refilling method for my half-used pan colours too, to reduce that mini-crater effect! I use the same method as Syd, moistening the pans to make it easier to get at the pigment - I also try to reduce wear on my best brushes by using cheaper ones to scrub at pans and mix larger washes. Thanks again. This was my first visit to these forums and I will definitely be back!