How to get rings off jars 2+ years old

[FISH4BUGS]

I made some pickles a few years back and didn't eat all of them. I would like to reuse the jars but I can't get the rings off the jars.
I have tried the tool that grasps the rings, but they still won't move. They have some rust on them, and I will not reuse them...the jars, yes....the lids and rings, no.
Any thoughts on how to get them off short of explosives?
I am really afraid of hauling on them too much because I once had one shatter on me and I got cut rather badly.
Your thoughts?

[MT Gianni]

I am guessing you tried hot and cold water on it. I have had more luck with a plumbers strap wrench, use a cheap one with a rubber strap and a nylon base, not the metal and braided straps that are $$$. Have someone hold the wrench and lid while you wrap the bottle in a towel and turn.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/wrenches/2399913?store=11455&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtTTGKa_vfCDSl9V4O6RQ 2guPiGAaYCUPtTCojxWYCT_80OsbPmbFTxoCnvAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Option two might be cutting the lid with a dremel tool and emptying the bottle. You could then empty it and put it in the freezer for a real hot cold treatment.

[Dusty Bannister]

Sounds like you have some metal reaction due to the acid in the pickle juice between the ring and the jar. Set ring side down in a shallow plastic pan with mild solution of Lemi-shine to reduce the rust oxide under the ring. Then try the strap wrench and protection from possible glass cut.

[M-Tecs]

Tap around the rim with a butter knife hard enough to leave dents. Never had one fail to come off with that method.

[WILCO]

Tap around the rim with a butter knife hard enough to leave dents. Never had one fail to come off with that method.

Old mechanics trick. :)

[Rapier]

If you lightly heat the ring only with a propane grill lighter, it should break free while hot and expanded, gripped with a doubled towel. then use a “church key” to pop the top if needed. We just used straight hot tap water.when the water was actually hot pre nanny state.

[Winger Ed.]

If nothing works, ya still have some pretty good targets.

[Froogal]

Channel lock pliers. We have a pair as everyday kitchen tools.

[BLAHUT]

All else fails, you can put some penetrating oil on and let sit for a day or so ?? Lids are toast anyway and bottles can be washed !

[TribunusSanGeorgii]

I am guessing you tried hot and cold water on it. I have had more luck with a plumbers strap wrench, use a cheap one with a rubber strap and a nylon base, not the metal and braided straps that are $$$. Have someone hold the wrench and lid while you wrap the bottle in a towel and turn.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/wrenches/2399913?store=11455&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtTTGKa_vfCDSl9V4O6RQ 2guPiGAaYCUPtTCojxWYCT_80OsbPmbFTxoCnvAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Option two might be cutting the lid with a dremel tool and emptying the bottle. You could then empty it and put it in the freezer for a real hot cold treatment.

I came to say rubber strap wrench. I keep one in my kitchen now.

[36g]

Invert the jars in a shallow pan and add enough Evap-o-rust to cover the lids. Let soak for a day or so and spin them off.

[gwpercle]

An ounce of prevention.... after making your pickles , (or whatever you are "canning") and after the jars have cooled and the jars have sealed ... unscrew the bands and then under cool running water , wash clean the jar threads , tops and bands ... rinse off any / all pickle , jam , jelly whatever residue that some how ends up on the inside bands and jar threads during the processing ... these residues cause rust and promote sticking ... cleaned off , no rust and much easier opening .

Not all jar opening wrenches are made equally ... my favorite is a big cast iron model with teeth , probably 100 yrs old , found at flea market ... but the Norpro Jar Opening Wrench or the Cookwise Mason Jar Opener are about as good as you will find in the newly made category , try one or both of them ... but the best are cast iron with teeth to grip ... maybe E-Bay !

I found by washing clean the band and jar threads , drying and replacing bands . they would come off easy .
My Mom would just remove the bands and store the jars without a band on it , just sit them on the shelf , sealed lid , no band .
After opening a jar she would then put a band on ...but I was never that hard pressed for money and preferred to store jars with a band ... but mom was 1930's Depression Era - Dirt Poor raised .

Gary

[ulav8r]

My mother removed the rings and used them on the next batch.

[1Papalote]

The problem is in the interface of the ring and the lid. Use a thin tool to get under the ring on top of the jar. Turn the jar after inserting the tool between the ring and the lid. This should reduce the surface area held by the ring.

[jaysouth]

This year, store your jars without the bands. Not necessary and prevents corrosion on the bands

[MaryB]

An ounce of prevention.... after making your pickles , (or whatever you are "canning") and after the jars have cooled and the jars have sealed ... unscrew the bands and then under cool running water , wash clean the jar threads , tops and bands ... rinse off any / all pickle , jam , jelly whatever residue that some how ends up on the inside bands and jar threads during the processing ... these residues cause rust and promote sticking ... cleaned off , no rust and much easier opening .

Not all jar opening wrenches are made equally ... my favorite is a big cast iron model with teeth , probably 100 yrs old , found at flea market ... but the Norpro Jar Opening Wrench or the Cookwise Mason Jar Opener are about as good as you will find in the newly made category , try one or both of them ... but the best are cast iron with teeth to grip ... maybe E-Bay !

I found by washing clean the band and jar threads , drying and replacing bands . they would come off easy .
My Mom would just remove the bands and store the jars without a band on it , just sit them on the shelf , sealed lid , no band .
After opening a jar she would then put a band on ...but I was never that hard pressed for money and preferred to store jars with a band ... but mom was 1930's Depression Era - Dirt Poor raised .

Gary

Your mom did it the right way! A bad jar can pop the lid off, if it has a ring it may only partially lose vacuum or if the temp drops in may reseal. And fake you into thinking the product is good...

[gwpercle]

Your mom did it the right way! A bad jar can pop the lid off, if it has a ring it may only partially lose vacuum or if the temp drops in may reseal. And fake you into thinking the product is good...
You are absolutely right ... I never thought of that and Mom never explained why she did it . And when I was helping her , we didn't have a freezer so she canned a lot of vegetables , corn , peas , beans , tomatoes things that needed a good vacuum seal to keep properly ... and without the band the lack of a seal would be obvious ...
I just assumed she was saving money on bands ... Oh No , there was a good reason ... food safety !

Thanks MaryB ... I learned something new today !
Gary

[GhostHawk]

Always for us stubborn rings fell to a combination of soaking in very hot water, loosening with a butter knife to break the seal between ring and glass, and a strap wrench.

Worst was some tomato sauce we canned, that glued rings on really really tight. But they will come off.

A sink with about an inch of boiling water, place the jars in upside down, let them soak a while.

[PhilC]

Tap around the rim with a butter knife hard enough to leave dents. Never had one fail to come off with that method.
I remember my mom doing that 60yrs ago and I've done it many times since. Like you, never had one fail to come off.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

When the neighbors moved, I helped clean out the basement and got some canning jars...some were full and maybe a couple decades old. Some lids were rusted. I used a wirecutter (Dykes) to cut and peal off the ring...be careful to not cut your hands on the sharp metal.

I've always done as Gary suggests, so I've never had a problem with my canned products.

An ounce of prevention.... after making your pickles , (or whatever you are "canning") and after the jars have cooled and the jars have sealed ... unscrew the bands and then under cool running water , wash clean the jar threads , tops and bands ... rinse off any / all pickle , jam , jelly whatever residue that some how ends up on the inside bands and jar threads during the processing ... these residues cause rust and promote sticking ... cleaned off , no rust and much easier opening .
EXCEPT: I use warm soapy water, just like washing dishes.