Can opener – the holy grail in engineering?

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

Over the years we have bought countless can openers, the type you squeeze in one hand and turn with the other. Quite quickly they all fail. Can it be that difficult to design onethat doesnt fail? And now the big question – are modern can openers designed to cut the lid from the inside or the top off the can from the outside? Wife says outside, I say inside (of can lip).

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by fizzy on 03/03/2019 18:54:13:

. . . . . . . . . .And now the big question – are modern can openers designed to cut the lid from the inside or the top off the can from the outside? Wife says outside, I say inside (of can lip).

We've had both type in recent times and concur, they're mostly junk.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

the battery operated one I have, originally bought for a friend who had had a stoke and only had one working hand, sits on top of the tin and then forces a wheel cutter into the side of the tin just under the rim and then rotates the tin – a strong magnet holds it to the top but you do need to slightly lift the can off the surface but is easily operated with just one hand.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I think part of the problem is the design of the can. They have managed to make the rim thinner and smaller so some cans work like a breeze but most don't with the same opener.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The manufacturers don't want them to last too long. The cheapie ones probably have an expectancy of one year.

A Stainless Steel, one from John Lewis (£6), despite "tuning" does not work as well as a slightly cheaper Brabantia, which has served us well for years.

We could make tin opener than would last for a century, but it would be much heavier than those on offer, with a stouter frame, and heftier gears. No one would want to manufacture and sell it, 'cos each one would be a one time sale. Sadly, once the market was saturated, they would go out of business, having almost no one left to whom it could be sold.

But, Yes I would love really good, durable tin opener.

Howard

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

This one in the picture served me well during my National Service very simple to use but no good for arthritic fingers, it cut the lid from the inside.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Roundabouts and swings, I reckon.

Buy cheap chinese steel pressings and expect them to last – no chance!

I bought a Brabantia can opener well over twenty years (probably thirty) ago and it is still going strong. A bit stiff to use (prolly needs some lubrication) – particularly after going through the dishwasher cycle as it has a long plastic bearing. My wife avoids using it because it is 'too stiff' on some cans.

Regarding inside or below rim – cans are getting ever thinner, so the can may not be as rigid, as one would like, when without the rim to stiffen it. cans will pour better without the rim, but may have spillage if full of liquid.

One has to open the can with under-support, if removing the rim – not necessarily so if retaining the rim.

The can opener on the early Kenwood Chef was good but needed regular attention. Most battery ones seem a bit of a gimmick – wife bought one but it looks like it has been thrown out…. She tends to try out the 'modern' alternatives with little thought as to whether they might be no better than the well-proven designs.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

double posted – not used to this windows laptop

Edited By not done it yet on 03/03/2019 20:02:05

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

We've got one we've had for several years with what look like fine-blanked gears and the hand key and pressed-steel shear handles embedded in thick plastic – looks like ABS. It works well and looks as if it'll do so for some time.

It cuts the lid out inside the folded rim, which I think is the right way to do it – it's safer to handle the empty can for recycling and easier to re-use it for whatever purpose because its shape is properly supported.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

My first tin opener was a Bonney brand as sold by Sainsbury’s this lasted many years. Our current tool is a Culinare safetycan which cuts the bead to leave a lift off lid, works very well but with the popularity of ring pull cans does not get very heavy usage, an impressive tool but it’s longevity has yet to be proven, about 3-4 years of relatively light usage so far.

Mike

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I prefer the heavier plastic handled ones that 'slice' off the top from the outside to the useless old-school metal ones that are nowhere near as good as they were in the 60s/70s.

Our electric one is ace and has (touch wood) lasted years.

A penknife or even simple metal tab one usually works well.

Neil

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by MichaelR on 03/03/2019 19:36:09:

This one in the picture served me well during my National Service very simple to use but no good for arthritic fingers, it cut the lid from the inside.

Have not seen one of those for years, I worked at a place that tin plated them by the thousands

H

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

The above opener is either a P-38 or a P-51 over here.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Mechanical openers are OK but I'm holding out for a 1.2 kW focused laser can opener once they are commercially developed and sold at Lidl and IKEA.

Laser can openers were patented in 2004 apparently – see link below.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060037948

When commercialised I'm hoping they will include a feature to enable laser etching of photo images on toast. Better yet, they could etch the headlines from the BBC or CNN on the toast with perspective correction so you could get the news while eating it. The butter micro-spray system would prevent obscuring the content.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I'm surprised at all these complaints! Just slap the tin in the 4 jaw and part it off!

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by John Haine on 04/03/2019 07:44:55:

I'm surprised at all these complaints! Just slap the tin in the 4 jaw and part it off!

But what about corned beef

Mike

[J HancockParticipant @jhancock95746]

Ultra-thin discs in an angle-grinder do it, every time.

[Andrew EvansParticipant @andrewevans67134]

Kitchen tongues seem to fall into the same category. You just can't seem to get a quality item that lasts.

There is a market for expensive kitchen gear, our Kitchen Aid stand mixer has been used most days for 15 years now and looks and works like it's brand new. Seemed expensive when new but it has paid off.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Posted by Mike Poole on 04/03/2019 08:19:01:

Posted by John Haine on 04/03/2019 07:44:55:

I'm surprised at all these complaints! Just slap the tin in the 4 jaw and part it off!

But what about corned beef

Mike

Slitting saw, CNC mill.

[HevansccParticipant @hevanscc]

Still have one of these in the cutlery drawer for when all else fails . . .

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Karen came back from a "Pampered Chef" party (Sort of Tupperware but rather better) with a can opener. It's excellent as it cuts the side of the can and forms it over so that there are no sharp edges. Absolute gem of a design.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

You need a Bonzer. They are indestructable. Trouble is you really need a farmhouse table to mount it on.

Martin

 

https://www.mitchellcooper.co.uk/kitchenware/utensils/bonzer-ez40-can-opener-10081

Edited By Martin Kyte on 04/03/2019 09:45:04

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by John Haine on 04/03/2019 07:44:55:

I'm surprised at all these complaints! Just slap the tin in the 4 jaw and part it off!

Not a lot of good if it is a can of soup!

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by not done it yet on 04/03/2019 10:55:43:

Posted by John Haine on 04/03/2019 07:44:55:

I'm surprised at all these complaints! Just slap the tin in the 4 jaw and part it off!

Not a lot of good if it is a can of soup!

Perfect excuse for urgently buying a BIG milling machine, ideally CNC…

[Author]

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