Is there any safe way to open aerosol cans?

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Lets see if I understand what you have. Is there no more pressure in the can? Or is the nozzle clogged up so you can't get anything out of it and can not tell about the pressure?
I'd say there is no safe way to open a can like that, they are not supposed to be opened. The insurance would not want to cover any damage or injury incurred from trying such a thing. None the less, I do it all the time. I like to get the marbles out of paint cans. Now then. You want to be able to preserve the can in tact as much as possible? Like, you want to dispense the liquid out of the can without putting it in another container with a tight cap? Remember there is a possibility that there is still some pressure in the can, the worst job I got on my face was spray adhesive! I had my nostrils and eyelids glued shut, not good. I used vegi oil on my face to cut the stickiness. Then soapy water. Well, you want to be careful, I use a can opener that is part of the collection of blades on my camp knife. They used to be called Camp King. That opener is the best for this kind of job. These cans are thicker metal than vegi cans so beware, you could break off the tip of your opener. Just make sure the pressure applied is even and straight down and with no sideways pressure. When you poke the tip of the opener into the edge of the can, you want to go in only a slight distance, like and eight of an inch and slowly bring the tip back out to relieve the potential pressure very slowly. You could even cover the hands with a rag to slow down any potential spray, but then you would have a hard time seeing what you are doing. The liquid would be staying near the bottom of the can and the gas would be at the top, thus the gas would come out first and maybe only. Be sure the can is vertical, or upright, with it's bottom held tightly against the table top or bench, porch rail or whatever. If you intend to pour the contents into another container you will want to open the hole a bit more, like a half inch and then turn the can 90 degrees and put the tip of the opener into the same slot and press down till it makes the slot open about one eight inch wide or so. then make a slit on the other side of the can, straight across from the first opening so as to let the air in as the contents comes out while you are tipping the can to pour.
Be sure you have plenty of ventilation and a partner to see that you are OK, to call for help if needed.

Just in case you don't have an opener like I use, you can use a small screw driver. Be sure that it has a tough enough handle to handle a blow from a hammer and be sure that the can is held tightly so it doesn't tip over while giving the blow. A nail could be used too, but be careful, the can tends to want to tip over when doing it that way. Be sure to remove the screw driver or nail slowly so as to relieve the potential pressure slowly.
Blessings on you and do be safe!...Show more

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