A stubborn RustSeal lid is normal, not a defect. RustSeal's primary resin is an adhesive, and shipping vibration works small amounts of coating into the seam between the lid and the can. Use a paint can opener with a curved or L-shaped tip, and work gradually around the whole perimeter instead of prying from one spot.
Protect the lid, not just your patience. A flat-head screwdriver warps the lid, and a warped lid will not reseal. Since RustSeal has roughly a 6 month life once opened, a can that cannot be sealed properly is a can that goes off early.
Step by Step
- If the lid has a plastic ring, remove it first.
- Set the curved tip of the can opener under the lip and lift the lid gently in one section. Do not try to pop the whole lid at once.
- Rotate the can about 10 degrees and lift again.
- Repeat all the way around the can.
- Go around a second time, lifting a little more on each pass, until the lid comes free.
Keeping the Can Usable
- Do not paint directly out of the can. Pour a working amount into a separate steel or glass container and reseal the original immediately.
- Never return unused paint to the can. It shortens shelf life and can build pressure that pops the lid.
- Keep the can groove clean using a scoop or the KBS Paint Spout.
- Use plastic wrap between the lid and the can rim so RustSeal does not permanently seal the lid shut.
- Use KBS Paint Saver before resealing: 2 seconds for quarts or less, 4 seconds for gallons, sprayed toward the side of the can to avoid splashing.
Frequently Asked Questions: Opening and Storing RustSeal
Because most RustSeal is shipped, some coating material can work its way between the can and the lid during transit, which makes the lid harder to remove than ordinary paint. On top of that, the primary resin in RustSeal is an adhesive, which contributes to the lid sealing tightly. This is normal and is not a sign of a defective can.
Remove the plastic ring if there is one. Use a paint can opener with a curved or L-shaped end. Lift the lid gently in one section, rotate the can about 10 degrees, and lift again, repeating all the way around. Then go around a second time lifting a little more each pass until the lid comes off.
Prying from a single point concentrates all the force in one place and bends the lid. A flat-head screwdriver does the same thing. A warped lid will not reseal properly, and RustSeal needs an airtight seal to last in storage.
Keep the can groove clean, lay plastic wrap between the lid and the rim so the lid does not seal itself shut, and use KBS Paint Saver before closing it: 2 seconds for quarts or less, 4 seconds for gallons. Store in a cool, dry place. If the lid will not reseal tightly, transfer the RustSeal to another properly sized can or a glass jar.
About 6 months when stored cool and dry, compared with 2 or more years for an unopened can. Never pour unused paint back into the original can, since that shortens shelf life and can build pressure that pops the lid.
Lid still will not budge? Contact us before you force it.
