This gallery features our combination paint can tool. It is a redesign of the original Acme tool. See more about that here.
The combination tool does several things.
Of course it opens paint cans. The two ends are curved. It works equally well on pints, quarts, and gallons. Making the ends and the lift tabs curved where they contact the can reduces the distortion of the can. If you open a can once or twice it really doesn't matter if the lid or rim gets bent. But if the can is opened and closed many times, after a while the lid won't close well and it is difficult to find a new place to pry it open.
The second function is to punch holes in the gutter. The gutter is where all that paint gathers when you pour the paint or wipe your brush off. Punching holes in the gutter allows that paint to drain back into the can. This avoids the mess that can happen when the lid is closed while paint is still in the gutter. Punching a hole is much easier than using a nail or ice pick and hammer.
The third function is to gently pry the lid closed.
There is a teardrop shaped opening that is good at pulling small nails out of the wall.
There is a hook opening on one side. This is to pry those steel safety devices that some paint ships with. Oh, it also does a great job opening bottles of your favorite beverage.
