Help me get caffeine back into my life...

October 16, 2008 1:55 PM

I can't unscrew my stove top Italian espresso maker!

So it's the kind the unscrews in the middle. I've had this happen before, but I've never not been able to unscrew it for this long before. Part of the problem is that both the top and bottom are round with no edges to really grip onto. So far I've tried putting it in warm water, freezing it, and WD-40. Nothing has worked. Any ideas?

posted by whoaali to home & garden (8 comments total)

Try alternating between immersing in hot and cold water
posted by timmow at 2:13 PM on October 16, 2008

Try doing it with rubber gloves on.
posted by subtle-t at 2:13 PM on October 16, 2008

Have you tried heating the side with the outer portion of the screw-pattern (to expand it), and cooling the side with the inner portion (to contract it)? You could put the one side in hot water, and icing the other. Also, when I need to unscrew a particularly difficult jar, putting a thick rubber band around the lid helps to get a better grip on an otherwise smooth surface.
posted by Greg Nog at 2:17 PM on October 16, 2008

Rubber Strap Wrench
posted by Confess, Fletch at 2:22 PM on October 16, 2008

Seconding the strap wrench solution... You can get a set of them for a couple of bucks if you've got a Harbor Freight store near you.
posted by foodgeek at 2:33 PM on October 16, 2008

When mine does that I fill the top portion with hot tap water and let it sit for a few minutes, then run cold tap water over the bottom and it usually loosens up. Also if yours is the kind that has a weighted release valve in the top portion (so the coffee is forced out under pressure) make sure to lift it with your fingers to release any remaining pressure.
posted by bizwank at 3:04 PM on October 16, 2008

On mine - there is a little pressure relief valve on the side of the bottom. Pull this outward with your fingernails. You need to release pressure in the bottom part before you can unscrew it.
posted by clarkie666 at 3:11 PM on October 16, 2008

I was just coming in here to suggest what clarkie666 said. Check for a pressure valve and release the pressure.
posted by dryad at 7:29 AM on October 17, 2008