1st Encounter of the problematic kind

[llanago]

Today's the day to check my rocks and I've encountered a problem I've never had before. Hope somebody can tell me what to do.

I cannot get the lid off one of my 6 lb. barrels! I have used the washer between the lid and barrel to try to pry it up, no luck. I tried using one of my flatware knives, no luck. I have pushed and pulled, screamed, cussed and shouted, no luck!

Any other time when something gets stuck, I grab for the WD40, but don't think that will work here. Or maybe it would, but I sure hate to get WD40 all over the barrel.

Any helpful hints anybody?

llana

[Cher]

Ooooo Llana, that's terrible that you can't get the rocks out. I use the same thing, the washer between the lid and barrel, sometimes I have to keep rotating around till it pops but I've never had it stick completely. I'm sure you've tried that already, maybe running it under cold water for a bit? Wish I had an answer for you.

Cher

[Tweetiepy]

I'M assuming you have a lortone bbl right? Try prying the lid & kinda squishing the bbl a bit under the lid to have it let go- couldn't hurt

Good luck

[deepsouth]

Hi Llana , sorry to hear about your problem.
I wonder if it would help you to put the barrel in hot water for a while and that way increase the pressure inside a bit so that the lid would come off easier. It works with jamjars.
If your load went in under hot conditions and cooled since, that may be the problem.

Good luck

Jack

[sandsman1]

yea id let hot water run on the top and then under the lip for awile it should make it come loose

[llanago]

I have pryed and squeezed with no luck, so will try the soaking methed - as soon as I stop reading/posting to the forum and wash the dang dishes so I'll have a sink to soak it in.

Sands, forgot to mention in the thread where we talked about juicing. The blade is the pits to clean if you don't at least put it in some water immediately if you don't wash it right away. Don't let it sit and all the remains of the veggies get dry. I sometimes take it ouside and spray it will the high pressure nozzle on the gardenhose to get the junk off before I wash it. LOL!

llana

[phoenix1647]

Llana...what I would do is put the barrel in the freezer...for a while anyway...as cold may shrink the barrel enough to break it loose form the lid...just my opinion.
(so we go from hot water to freezing....)
Pho

[WarrenA]

is there a dent in the lid? especially on the side where it fits over that would make it put extra pressure around the rest of the lid and make it stick. If it doesn't come off and is bent when it does you may have to buy a new lid otherwise it will stick again. I don't want to recommend taking a hammer and a big screwdriver and tap the lid all the way around only as a last resort then plan on getting a new lid

[rockyraccoon]

squirt it with warm soapy water or maybe dunk the whole thing in a bucket of soapy water.

kim

[puppie96]

Take it outside and use a water jet from the hose around the seam where the barrel and lid hook up.

[stefan]

Hmmm No matter what you do- Be careful- When the lid comes off- stuff is gonna fly all over the place! Good luck!

[Duckbean]

O k I'm hooked! did you get the lid off, and did you figure out what happen to freeze it on like that? If not I'd try useing the claw on a hammer and pulling it off by hooking it under the edge and moving around the top a little at a time, but do it outside!

[knave]

When my 3 lb barrel is pressurized with rock gas it gets way harder to take the lid off.
(wakey wakey, 15 year old thread!)

[joshuamcduffie]

I've been "conditioning" the Lortone style lids on my old barrels with silicone spray. It seems to make them more supple. They were hand-me-downs so I was worried about them dry rotting or cracking with age.

[mohs]

ya rolled out the barrel Evan
right on !

those rocks metamorphed by now
but petrification will take another
15 years

nonetheless like wine
the rocks will

[fishnpinball]

Heat the lid with hot water, then pry with the washer or something else around the same thickness. Work your way around the lid as you pry.

[fernwood]

I carefully use a dull wood chisel when that happens. Work my way around the edge.

[greig]

Set it gently on your most expensive rug for a few minutes. It will probably fall over and open up on its own...
Otherwise, the heat idea is probably your best bet. I think I would set it into a bucket with about 3" of boiling water from the kettle, barrel lid side down. If that doesn't work fairly quickly, then let it soak overnight. Another thought is to bang the barrel bottom (not lid side) on a hard surface, like your basement floor (in a spot that can handle a spill if that occurs).
For sure, let us know how you love this problem.

[stardiamond]

Pretend it's a jar of pickles.

[Pat]

I’d use my trusty can opener. It’s a biggish plastic prying tool. Best I’ve ever had.... in other words, it works.