How to Open a Paint Can

Grab yourself a paint-can-opening tool and get to work. Smaller cans are a breeze, but five-gallon buckets take a little more effort. There are, typically, three different types of lids for five-gallon buckets, all of which have flanges.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint-can Openers
• Old Scissors
• Carpenter Knives
• Pry Bars
• Screwdriver Sets

Five-Gallon Buckets

1. Open plastic lids by removing the thin plastic strip that holds the flanges together, pulling the starting tab. Insert your screwdriver or paint-can-opening tool under the flanges and pry upward around circumference of lid.

2. Open plastic lids that don't have a plastic strip by carefully cutting the flanges apart with sharp scissors or a carpenter's knife. Insert your paint-can-opening tool under the flanges and pry upward around the circumference of the lid.

3. Open metal lids by inserting your paint-can-opening tool under the flanges and prying upward around the circumference of the lid.

Quarts and One-Gallon Paint Cans

4. Insert a screwdriver or a paint-can-opening tool between the lid and edge of the paint bucket.

5. Pry downward around circumference of the can.

6. Remove the lid.

on 11/22/2005 Once opened, take a nail and poke some holes in the lip of the can. It allows paint to drain back into the can.