Help. Tops of Cocktail Shakers Stuck

January 31, 2014 10:28 AM

I have two cocktail shakers with the tops stucks. I am unable to twist off and I have stuck them in warm water to see if this will loosen the metal away from the glass. No go. Any suggestions?
posted by goalyeehah to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

Have you tried freezing them?
posted by Mr Stickfigure at 10:39 AM on January 31, 2014

I think you are probably on the right track with the warm water, but I'd go HOT water on the top, and then plunge the bottom into ice water (assuming they mate in a way where the top surrounds the bottom).

Also: strap wrench?
posted by dirtdirt at 10:39 AM on January 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

dirtdirt may have a better answer provided that the glass can stand the shock of the temperature change. If I recall correctly, the behavior while freezing/warming in this situation depends heavily on the relative properties of the materials at hand.
posted by Mr Stickfigure at 10:46 AM on January 31, 2014

Depending on if the top surrounds or fits into the bottom heat the part you want to expand and freeze the part you want to contract.
posted by edgeways at 11:00 AM on January 31, 2014

You want to heat the top and cool the bottom, so I suggest filling them with cold water then wrapping the top in a heated cloth.
posted by justkevin at 11:06 AM on January 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Ex-barman seconding the tap against a wooden edge, usually near the join.
posted by Caskeum at 11:09 AM on January 31, 2014

These are Boston shakers, right? In that case, seconding the advice to heat the metal part with HOT water (as in, nearly boiling) for a minute or so, then twist the halves in opposite directions while tugging. Rubber gloves will be useful for getting a better grip.
posted by brianogilvie at 11:21 AM on January 31, 2014

To clarify: Generally hot expands cold contracts, so if it is Boston Shaker, where the glass is inside the metal, you want to cool the glass and heat the metal. If it is a shaker like this one where the metal is inside the glass you want to heat the glass and cool the metal.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:33 PM on January 31, 2014

Mr Stickfigure: " If I recall correctly, the behavior while freezing/warming in this situation depends heavily on the relative properties of the materials at hand."

No, it's pretty generic: almost everything expands when it gets warmer and shrinks when it gets cooler. Different materials have different rates, but if you're heating the outer piece and cooling the inner piece, you are loosening the fit.
posted by IAmBroom at 12:39 PM on January 31, 2014