Sealer question

W

wrndln

Well-known member
I have a can of Copper Coat gasket sealer I used on an engine head 4 or 5 years ago. Like a dope, I must have gotten some sealer in the threads of the lid and I have tied to unscrew it several times, with no luck. I don't want to use spark plug pliers that might really mess up the lid. I was thinking of using a propane torch and mildly heating the lid to see if it would loosen it. I think the head sealer is still OK, but I can't tell until I get the lid removed. If I can get the lid off, I will remember to clean the can and lid threads so I don't have to go through this again. Any useful suggestions would be appreciated.
Rusty Nelson
 

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A little heat may help but I had to get out the channel locks to get the lid off the can I have after it sat for a while.

Chris W.
 
If that stuff withstands the heat a head gasket is subjected to, I doubt heat will help you move the lid. I clean up a head and block with acrylic thinners before reapplying and re installation of the head. Maybe, just maybe, a good soaking in thinners might soften it enough, otherwise you will just have to spring for a new tin.
 
Heat Is Not Your Friend

I would be reluctant to use heat as it is very flammable with a flash point of 30°F. It also has a working temperature of over 400°F.

I'm with CW - Use channel lock pliers.
 
Hold the can with one of those jar opening rubbers that your wife has in the kitchen. Channel locks in your other hand and presto? Then take it to the vice and snug it up there gently with the rubber in the jaws, channel locks in both hands. Bury the rubber thingie when done and buy her a new one at the household supply at the grocery store. Squirrel it back into the drawer and everyone is happy. You can then go to the auto parts and buy a new can to replace the one you just crushed, (Clean up immediately, it's a ***** later.)
 
I have also used channel lock pliers and my vice to open a stuck lid on a small can of sealer . I didn't worry about bending the can . I figured if I could get one more use of the sealer I would be good . Buying another can later wouldn't hurt my pocket book enough to be concerned about . Trying to clean the sealer filled threads on the can would be way more trouble than it would be worth .
 
wrndln said:
I have a can of Copper Coat gasket sealer I used on an engine head 4 or 5 years ago. Like a dope, I must have gotten some sealer in the threads of the lid and I have tied to unscrew it several times, with no luck. I don't want to use spark plug pliers that might really mess up the lid. I was thinking of using a propane torch and mildly heating the lid to see if it would loosen it. I think the head sealer is still OK, but I can't tell until I get the lid removed. If I can get the lid off, I will remember to clean the can and lid threads so I don't have to go through this again. Any useful suggestions would be appreciated.
Rusty Nelson
Click to expand...

Hey Rusty,
Do you have a vise ? That and both of your hands, or large channel locks.
Put the lid into vise and just clamp as much as needed to stop lid from turning when you turn the can. Works every time and is cheap too :)
 
I had an old can of permatex whose lid I couldn't budge with my channel locks , so I broke out the heat gun about 60 seconds later it came loose.
 
Use a can opener to take the entire top off the can. You'll get one more use out of it then throw it away.
 
Drive Shaft Dave,
I tried your idea, and it WORKED! I heated the lid with my wife's hair dryer on high for a few minutes and with an oven glove, I broke the tight seal loose. Thanks for the suggestion. I never thought of using a heat gun or hair dryer on the can. The Copper Coat appears to be OK, but is the Copper Coat supposed to be a greenish color? I haven't stirred it up, so maybe that is why it is a greenish color. I can't remember what color it was 5 years ago when I used it.
Rusty Nelson
 
wrndln said:
Drive Shaft Dave,
I tried your idea, and it WORKED! I heated the lid with my wife's hair dryer on high for a few minutes and with an oven glove, I broke the tight seal loose. Thanks for the suggestion. I never thought of using a heat gun or hair dryer on the can. The Copper Coat appears to be OK, but is the Copper Coat supposed to be a greenish color? I haven't stirred it up, so maybe that is why it is a greenish color. I can't remember what color it was 5 years ago when I used it.
Rusty Nelson
Click to expand...

Copper domes on buildings turn green when aged and they are still good. :D

John
 
Can you turn it upside down and use a can opener to remove the bottom?
If you can then put the rest of it in a small glass jar to preserve it.
 
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