Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Oil Can Collectors

I really appreciated the help I got earlier about shipping the cans that I am selling. I have another question for can collectors. Do can collectors prefer full or empty quart cans? Or is that all it is- preference. Are there those that like full and those that like empty or is it a majority one or the other? Thanks in advance!

Scott

Some only collect Full while others like myself prefer empty cans. When a Full can falls or it is dropped a lot of Damage will happen and they tend to seep oil if the temperature fluctuates. I would say more prefer empty cans.

The value is in the can not in the oil. That being said, I have found that many people prefer them full as I do. They do seem to bring a little more if they are full also but I will buy them either way.

I am newer to collecting cans, but I buy the cans that I really like, if it happens to be full I keep it that way. At least for now.

This is good to know because I do have some that leak. I will just empty them and sell them that way and maybe attract different buyers. By the way, I'm the guy selling the Dixie and Merit cans on eBay right now, just in case you run across them. Thanks for the responses!

That same damage can happen if a full can isn't packed right and it falls during shipping.

I prefer empty as well but take them either way and just empty them myself.

IF it's not a $500 qt & in a 8+ condition now, Empty it.
99.5% of all collector cans are Empty [oil, beer, food, etc].

We collect oil cans not oil. Condition of can is more important then whether it has contents or not.

Always empty from the bottom. Empty cans with the top intact are worth more as they can be displayed in a oil can rack with the illusion of still being full.

I like to collect oil cans,not air cans.
I'll walk by 5 empty cans & pay more for 1 full one.
I'll never be guilty of personally draining an oil can.
If you must drain,don't empty from the bottom.
Cans with holes on the top are more cherished & better for display purposes because they won't weep as they sit over time.
With so many draining them today,the full ones are getting harder & harder to find.Keep them full as long as you can.

and I thought I was doing something wrong reading this thread, I too like my holes in the top, if the can is empty, what does it matter where the hole is.

Well, there you have it! Its all a matter of personal preference!

I like my cans and outboard bottles full or with partial contents, especially on the bottles as it adds to the visual display.
I have received partial leakers, complete leakers on occasion but not to often for the amount I have purchased. It help's if it is shipped in a large zip lock bag. Wrapped in newspaper it is a mess. Soaks right into and thru the box. My rural postal carrier has never complained to me when they are a little oily however.As long as you love em it does not matter .Full , empty ,mint, toasty,wrinkled they all have a place. Just build strong shelf's and put the full ones on the lower and the lightweights on the higher.
That way when they fall and hit you in the head , the hickey won't be so bad !

I take my cans empty and with the holes in the bottom.
If a can is cleaned properly, seepage is a non issue.

I plug the holes sometimes with a little wax and haven't had a seeping can yet.

When I empty my quart cans, I put a plastic lid from a 1 pound coffee can on the bottom of the quart. It fits like a glove on quarts, and acts as sort of an oil can coaster!