1/2/21
ACME definition
From Merriam-Webster
ac·me|\ˈak-mē\
Definition ofacme:the highest point or stage the acme of his fame:something or someone that represents perfection of the thing expressed a system that is the acme of efficiency
In Greek, acme meant a mountain peak, but in English we hardly ever use it in the physical sense. Instead we speak of someone's new job as the acme of her career, or of a certain leap as the acme of classical dance technique. In old Road Runner cartoons, the Acme Company is the provider of every ingenious device imaginable.
The ACME paint can tool was all that. It is simply the best can tool. It opens a can with very little distortion, punches holes in the gutter to allow the paint to drain back in to the can (while not compromising the lid seal), and gently closes the can.
12/28/20
How does a paint can lid seal?
The lid of a paint can goes into what is called the gutter. Just like a house gutter, liquid gathers there. Poking a few holes in the gutter allows the paint to drip back into the can.
Notice there is an area below the lip of the can lid. In this cutaway drawing the edge of the lip is in red. The paint can gutter is in white. The green is an area where the lid does not touch the gutter bottom.
So poking a few holes in the bottom of the gutter will not change how well the paint can is sealed when the lid is pushed into the gutter. It is the sides of the gutter and lid lip that form the seal.
