Remove a silver top from glass container?

Question

I have an antique sugar cube glass container that has a silver plate lid. I put the lid on and now I can't get it off. I have had a few young strong men try - no luck. Is there a way I can manipulate either the glass or the silver to expand or shrink? Just looking for some idea........ Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not sure if this will work or not, but it's worth a try.  Solids (glass and metal) will shrink when they are cooled, expand when they are heated.  Without a picture, and without knowing if this is a s***w-top lid, or if this is just a "pop" top, I don't know if this will work, but it's worth a try.  First get the glass very very cold - use Ice + Salt + Water to get water that is colder than 32 degrees fahr.  Then use something to heat up the silver.  One idea is to put a pan onto a stove-top burner for a while to heat it up, then after it is heated, place it on the silver top.  The silver should expand, and the glass which is in salt+ice+water should contract allowing you to remove the lid.  

If this is a s***w top lid, then I suggest you use a strap wrench.  A strap wrench is a bar of plastic or medal that contains a rubber tube that can be wrapped around a lid (or more commonly, an oil filter) to give you torgue to give you more twisting power.  They are cheap and available at Home Depot, Menards, Lowes.

Answer 2

Have you tried sticking just the lid in hot water for a few minutes? That might get it to wiggle.

My only other suggestion is to spray some of the bold loosener on the jar just at the lid area and allow it to seep in under the lid.

WD-40 works fairly well, will not harm either the jar or the silver. I heard of something else on DIY channel the other day, and for the life of me cannot remember what it was they said to use.

Answer 3

Run it under some very hot water for 30 seconds and it should come off!