Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
doesn't work properly.

This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
changed slightly.

Tim Decker wrote:
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.
> 
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.

We have a Culinare SafetyCan 2 opener. Has an interestingly slightly 
different mechanism - works OK. Not noticed anything very different 
recently. Mind, the rims of cans seem a bit neater/thinner than they 
used to be - are they welded rather than soldered these days?

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

"Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
doesn't work properly.

This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
changed slightly.

Forget the new fangled gimmicks and use an old fasioned "stab and cut" maual 
one.
You'll prolly find them in a pound shop or chandlers.

Tim Decker formulated the question :
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.

Our seem to work at first but they soon stop working.

>
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.

The folded over lip does seem to be thinner. As a standby I keep a 
really simple tin opener which is intended for camping etc. and fits on 
a key ring. It is made from two bits of flat metal, one hooks onto the 
rim of the tin, the other is the blade hinged onto the first. I have 
had it for over twenty years on my car keys and it never fails to work. 
They might be called 'The Little Nipper' or similar. Most camping type 
stores will probably have them.

-- 
Regards,
        Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

The message 
from Rod  contains these words:

> Tim Decker wrote:
> > Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> > really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> > fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> > another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> > John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> > doesn't work properly.
> > 
> > This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> > changed slightly.

> We have a Culinare SafetyCan 2 opener. Has an interestingly slightly 
> different mechanism - works OK. Not noticed anything very different 
> recently. Mind, the rims of cans seem a bit neater/thinner than they 
> used to be - are they welded rather than soldered these days?

Many (but not all) cans are now made so that you're expected to to make
a horizontal cut just under the rim, rather than a vertical cut inside
the rim.  

Buy an appropriate design of modern opener, make sure it's a quality one
and use it in accordance with the design of the can.

Tim Decker  wrote:

>Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
>doesn't work properly.
>
>This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>changed slightly.


I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
driven cog wheel.  

I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.

I wish I had bought two, because I cannot remember where I bought it
from and will need a replacement one day.

"George"  wrote in message 
news:5OWyk.57331$E41.47696@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> "Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
> news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.
>
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.
>
> Forget the new fangled gimmicks and use an old fasioned "stab and cut" 
> maual one.
> You'll prolly find them in a pound shop or chandlers.
>
>
>
Then cut yourself on the jagged edges!

"John"  wrote in message 
news:enXyk.27683$2f5.7478@newsfe18.ams2...
>
> "George"  wrote in message 
> news:5OWyk.57331$E41.47696@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>>
>> "Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
>> news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
>> doesn't work properly.
>>
>> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>> changed slightly.
>>
>> Forget the new fangled gimmicks and use an old fasioned "stab and cut" 
>> maual one.
>> You'll prolly find them in a pound shop or chandlers.
>>
>>
>>
> Then cut yourself on the jagged edges!
>

Are you accident prone then?

"Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
doesn't work properly.

This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
changed slightly.

Faultless opens a tin every time had one like this for 16 years,twas my 
mothers...few and far between now this type.

http://tinyurl.com/66ex9u

On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:59:47 +0100, Rod 
wrote:

>Tim Decker wrote:
>> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
>> doesn't work properly.
>> 
>> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>> changed slightly.
>
>We have a Culinare SafetyCan 2 opener. Has an interestingly slightly 
>different mechanism - works OK. Not noticed anything very different 
>recently. Mind, the rims of cans seem a bit neater/thinner than they 
>used to be - are they welded rather than soldered these days?

Not AFAIK 

Like everything else just made thinner / cheaper. 

derek

On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:13:08 +0100, Harry Bloomfield
 wrote:

>Tim Decker formulated the question :
>> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
>> doesn't work properly.
>
>Our seem to work at first but they soon stop working.
>
>>
>> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>> changed slightly.
>
>The folded over lip does seem to be thinner. As a standby I keep a 
>really simple tin opener which is intended for camping etc. and fits on 
>a key ring. It is made from two bits of flat metal, one hooks onto the 
>rim of the tin, the other is the blade hinged onto the first. I have 
>had it for over twenty years on my car keys and it never fails to work. 
>They might be called 'The Little Nipper' 

That was a mouse / rat trap.   ;-)

>or similar. Most camping type 
>stores will probably have them.

Derek

"Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
doesn't work properly.

This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
changed slightly.

Maybe you have a bit of a weak wrist!  I use an electric tin opener for the
tins that don't have a ring on them.  The only problem I see is for left
handed people.
I'm amazed you think a £7 one with a name is better than any other.
I bet you have been ripped off so many times!

> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?

I bought a cheap Ikea one a few months ago - works great, although a 
little bit fiddly to locate on the rim until you get used to it.

George wrote:
> "John"  wrote in message 
> news:enXyk.27683$2f5.7478@newsfe18.ams2...
>> "George"  wrote in message 
>> news:5OWyk.57331$E41.47696@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>>> "Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
>>> news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>>> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>>> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>>> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>>> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>>> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (�7) and have now found this
>>> doesn't work properly.
>>>
>>> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>>> changed slightly.
>>>
>>> Forget the new fangled gimmicks and use an old fasioned "stab and cut" 
>>> maual one.
>>> You'll prolly find them in a pound shop or chandlers.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Then cut yourself on the jagged edges!
>>
> 
> Are you accident prone then? 
> 
> 

Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid 
just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin), we 
are expected to rinse off both lid and can and bin them separately.

I certainly have cut myself on cans due to this method of opening. 
Accident prone? Maybe. Trying where sensible to avoid wickedly nasty 
sharp edges? Yes, definitely.

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

In article ,
	Bruce  writes:
> I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
> cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
> better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
> driven cog wheel.  
> 
> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.

When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
in spill over and possible dropping.

-- 
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Derek Geldard wrote :
>> They might be called 'The Little Nipper' 
>
> That was a mouse / rat trap.   ;-)

You are correct.

The opener I had in mind was one of these...

Ebay item 280263482172


-- 
Regards,
        Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

> When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
> I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
> the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
> couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
> in spill over and possible dropping.

Yes, if you just try to grasp opposite sides of the tin.

You could eg place the tin on a plate, perhaps a largish soup-plate first,
and plan to upset it as soon as it is open.

Or place it on a chopping board, open it, then slide it off the board so one
can get one's hand under it as well as gripping part of the side of the can.

-- 
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

Tim Decker wrote:
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.
>
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.

Hi Tim

Not planning on performing 'Pineapple Surprise' or 'Peaches' are you :-)

I had trouble finding ours, most cans seem to be ring pulls nowadays.  Ours 
is a cheap white plastic jobby marked 'WL Housewares' no idea where it came 
from but it seems to work OK.

Lakeland do one appropriately called a 'Magician Auto' which has a good 
write up and a lifetime guarantee for £8:99 - worth a try, most of their 
stuff 'does what it says on the tin' so to speak.

There's a Lakeland at Bluewater.


-- 
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Jeremy Nicoll - news posts  wrote:

> andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
> 
> > When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,

I forgot to suggest looking at shops that sell things for disabled / elderly
people...

-- 
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

"Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
doesn't work properly.

This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
changed slightly.

I very rarely use canned foods but on the one occasion I did and there 
wasn't a ring pull (which I have difficulty with) the main problem was 
finding the tin opener.

When I did neither of us could remember how to use it ...

Mary

andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

>In article ,
>	Bruce  writes:
>> I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
>> cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
>> better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
>> driven cog wheel.  
>> 
>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>
>When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
>I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
>the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
>couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
>in spill over and possible dropping.


Perhaps I wasn't clear, because it doesn't take off the rim.  It cuts
*through* the rim.  Slightly less than half of the rim goes with the
lid, leaving slightly more than half of it in place on the can.  There
is therefore no significant loss of rigidity.

I think the one you bought was probably a "lift off" type, which makes
a cut below the rim and leaves an unsupported edge.  I have a couple
of those, but I don't like them because they tend to encourage
spilling some of the can's contents through making a cut lower down.

Tim Decker wrote:
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.
>
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.

I've used an electric can opener for about 15 years now, I think it cost 
around £6.

It's a kenwood, like this one:
http://www.spb-holdings.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6017¤cy=GBP

If you type electric can opener into google and click 'shopping', you will 
have loads of them starting from about £8.

No effort, hands free, clean edges, magentic lid holder, it's a no-brainer 
really


-- 
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

"Appin"  wrote in message 
news:313030303636313048CC4A4C45@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message 
> from Rod  contains these words:
>
>> Tim Decker wrote:
>> > Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
>> > really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
>> > fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
>> > another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
>> > John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
>> > doesn't work properly.
>> >
>> > This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
>> > changed slightly.
>
>> We have a Culinare SafetyCan 2 opener. Has an interestingly slightly
>> different mechanism - works OK. Not noticed anything very different
>> recently. Mind, the rims of cans seem a bit neater/thinner than they
>> used to be - are they welded rather than soldered these days?
>
> Many (but not all) cans are now made so that you're expected to to make
> a horizontal cut just under the rim, rather than a vertical cut inside
> the rim.

So you can have a sharp can rather than a sharp lid.. no thanks.

>
> Buy an appropriate design of modern opener, make sure it's a quality one
> and use it in accordance with the design of the can.

If you buy one of the cheap lidl/aldi safety can opener they slice through 
the actual rim at the top.
This leaves a lid without sharp edges and a can without sharp edges.

You can even put the lid back on if you only use half the can and it seals 
quite well.

"Andrew Gabriel"  wrote in message 
news:48ccc6b4$0$510$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk...
> In article ,
> Bruce  writes:
>> I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
>> cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
>> better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
>> driven cog wheel.
>>
>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>
> When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
> I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
> the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
> couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
> in spill over and possible dropping.

You have the wrong type.. the ones that cut through the rim leave half the 
rim on the lid and half on the can.

There are a lot of so called safety openers that claim to leave no sharp 
edges on the lid, but leave them on the can instead. The proper ones don't 
leave sharp edges on either.

However for someone who is frail you need an electric one.

"Andrew Gabriel"  wrote in message 
news:48ccc6b4$0$510$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk...

> When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,

Maybe ebay item 120170467565

>Derek Geldard wrote :
>>> They might be called 'The Little Nipper' 
>>
>> That was a mouse / rat trap.   ;-)
>
>You are correct.
>
>The opener I had in mind was one of these...
>
>Ebay item 280263482172

P-38.

Bruce wrote:
> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
> I wish I had bought two, because I cannot remember where I bought it
> from and will need a replacement one day.

It sounds like one sold on QVC, usually with a German bloke guest 
presenting.

Owain

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:08:02 +0100, Owain
 wrote:

>Bruce wrote:
>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>> I wish I had bought two, because I cannot remember where I bought it
>> from and will need a replacement one day.
>
>It sounds like one sold on QVC, usually with a German bloke guest 
>presenting.
>

It's on the website now with a video demo. At least i think he's
German (they definitely avoided mentioning the war).

House-Ware 4 Piece Complete Kitchen Opener & Pourer Set

Item Number 828233

Introductory Price  £16.45

reduced from £18 .

Derek Geldard  wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:08:02 +0100, Owain
> wrote:
>
>>Bruce wrote:
>>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>>> I wish I had bought two, because I cannot remember where I bought it
>>> from and will need a replacement one day.
>>
>>It sounds like one sold on QVC, usually with a German bloke guest 
>>presenting.
>>
>
>It's on the website now with a video demo. At least i think he's
>German (they definitely avoided mentioning the war).
>
>House-Ware 4 Piece Complete Kitchen Opener & Pourer Set
>
>Item Number 828233
>
>Introductory Price  £16.45
>
>reduced from £18 .


That isn't the same opener I have - mine looks more like the "lift
off" type, but the QVC one cuts in exactly the same place, leaving a
still-rigid can with no sharp edges.

The other items are nice too, but the whole lot is quite expensive at
£20.40 including P&P.  QVC is rarely cheap.

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:21:02 +0100, in uk.d-i-y "Mary Fisher"
 wrote:

> 
> "Tim Decker"  wrote in message 
> news:7ed3115e-a5d6-4801-adfd-5a077292bdcf@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> doesn't work properly.
> 
> This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> changed slightly.
> 
> I very rarely use canned foods but on the one occasion I did and there 
> wasn't a ring pull (which I have difficulty with) the main problem was 
> finding the tin opener.
> 
> When I did neither of us could remember how to use it ...

Do you have anything to contribute to the question to hand? We really
aren't interested in your memory problems.

Phil

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:35:43 GMT, in uk.d-i-y "Phil L"
 wrote:

> Tim Decker wrote:
> > Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> > really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> > fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> > another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> > John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> > doesn't work properly.
> >
> > This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> > changed slightly.
> 
> I've used an electric can opener for about 15 years now, I think it cost 
> around £6.
> 
> It's a kenwood, like this one:
> http://www.spb-holdings.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6017¤cy=GBP
> 
> If you type electric can opener into google and click 'shopping', you will 
> have loads of them starting from about £8.
> 
> No effort, hands free, clean edges, magentic lid holder, it's a no-brainer 
> really

No *not* really. I have one of those and it leaves sharp edges on the
lid, not *that* sharpe, but still requires care with the lid. However,
the worst thing about it is that the magnet attachment and the blade are
a bugger to clean; loads of nasty crevices. Surely there must be a
better make? oh, and this one has a gadget on the back for grinding away
your kitchen knives. 

Phil

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:34:46 +0100, Bruce wrote:

> That isn't the same opener I have - mine looks more like the "lift
> off" type, but the QVC one cuts in exactly the same place, leaving a
> still-rigid can with no sharp edges.

We have and ancient "lift off" type. It cuts the side of the can below the 
rim but the top edge of the can is sharp. How does this QVC deal with the 
top edge of the can to leave "no sharp edges"?

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:04:35 +0100, Rod wrote:

> Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid 
> just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin),

Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 

> we are expected to rinse off both lid and can and bin them separately.

What? Can't you put the (metal) lid in with the (same metal) tin for 
recycling? A 2l ice cream tub takes our tins and tin lids, tins a rinsed 
and flattened before be placed in there.

> I certainly have cut myself on cans due to this method of opening. 
> Accident prone? Maybe. Trying where sensible to avoid wickedly nasty 
> sharp edges? Yes, definitely.

So have I both from the fold out type of opener and our lift off one. I'm 
intrigued by this "cut through the rim" type. We sort of need a new tin 
opener as I said earlier it is ancient (20 years or more old) and the 
surface of the plastic handles is starting to fail.

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:13:08 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

> It is made from two bits of flat metal, one hooks onto the rim of the 
> tin, the other is the blade hinged onto the first. I have had it for 
> over twenty years on my car keys and it never fails to work. 

As you say always works but you do have to be careful as fingers are 
rather close to sharp bits of tin, especially when the lid is nearly off. 

In todays nanny state I'm surprised you can still get them as there must 
be figures showing that 2 people a year get a nasty cut (not requiring 
stitches) when using one.

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

"Phil Addison"  wrote in message 
news:f30rc45g3essd2ccem1atho1r7qj1kbk56@4ax.com...

> No *not* really. I have one of those and it leaves sharp edges on the
> lid, not *that* sharpe, but still requires care with the lid. However,
> the worst thing about it is that the magnet attachment and the blade are
> a bugger to clean; loads of nasty crevices. Surely there must be a
> better make? oh, and this one has a gadget on the back for grinding away
> your kitchen knives.

How very interesting.
>
> Phil

Dave Liquorice wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:04:35 +0100, Rod wrote:
> 
>> Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid 
>> just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin),
> 
> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 

Sure. Shve it in the landfill bin.

Let nature take care of the yuk, and then when we need the metal, we can 
mine the landfills.

"Dave Liquorice"  wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:34:46 +0100, Bruce wrote:
>
>> That isn't the same opener I have - mine looks more like the "lift
>> off" type, but the QVC one cuts in exactly the same place, leaving a
>> still-rigid can with no sharp edges.
>
>We have and ancient "lift off" type. It cuts the side of the can below the 
>rim but the top edge of the can is sharp. How does this QVC deal with the 
>top edge of the can to leave "no sharp edges"?


It cuts through the rim, not the side of the can.  

I'm not sure exactly how, but it seems to exploit a line of weakness
in the rim which is presumably the joint where the lid is put on when
the can has been filled.  But I'm only guessing.

There certainly isn't even a trace of a sharp edge left behind, either
on the lid or on the rim of the can.

If I hadn't bought one of these can openers and seen how it works,
leaving no sharp edges, I think I would have found it very difficult
to believe.  But it does work exactly as claimed.

(At least mine does.  It is slightly different to the QVC version but
obviously uses the same principle.)

Dave Liquorice wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:04:35 +0100, Rod wrote:
> 
>> Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid 
>> just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin),
> 
> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 
> 
If it's collected frequently enough, is the food left on a can any worse 
than the other stuff that ends up in the bin? I used to make a token 
effort - but with fortnightly collections and being not supposed to wrap 
things in the can bin, more thorough effort is required.

>> we are expected to rinse off both lid and can and bin them separately.
> 
> What? Can't you put the (metal) lid in with the (same metal) tin for 
> recycling? A 2l ice cream tub takes our tins and tin lids, tins a rinsed 
> and flattened before be placed in there.
> 
Hands up! I should obviously have phrased that to be "separately to 
other (non-can) rubbish)". I have never made any effort to squash cans 
because the collecting box we have is ample for the containers we 
collect without doing so. (And will still last four weeks, i.e. allowing 
a forgotten-to-put-the-damn-thing-out week.)

>> I certainly have cut myself on cans due to this method of opening. 
>> Accident prone? Maybe. Trying where sensible to avoid wickedly nasty 
>> sharp edges? Yes, definitely.
> 
> So have I both from the fold out type of opener and our lift off one. I'm 
> intrigued by this "cut through the rim" type. We sort of need a new tin 
> opener as I said earlier it is ancient (20 years or more old) and the 
> surface of the plastic handles is starting to fail.
> 
I have never had any significant problem with the camping type opener 
(as described earlier). And no problem at all with the 'cut through the 
rim' styles. Some are much better on the small cans (tomato paste, 
pilchards) than other types of opener.

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

On Sep 14, 10:28 pm, Phil Addison  wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:35:43 GMT, in uk.d-i-y "Phil L"
>
>
>
>  wrote:
> > Tim Decker wrote:
> > > Has anyone else been having problems with opening tins?  We found it
> > > really hard to open tins with a previous tin opener. So I got an old
> > > fashioned butterfly one and this didn't work very well, so bought
> > > another from Asda (35p) and found this didn't work. Finally went to
> > > John Lewis and paid for an expensive one (£7) and have now found this
> > > doesn't work properly.
>
> > > This made me think that maybe the manufacture of tinned goods has
> > > changed slightly.
>
> > I've used an electric can opener for about 15 years now, I think it cost
> > around £6.
>
> > It's a kenwood, like this one:
> >http://www.spb-holdings.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products.> > If you type electric can opener into google and click 'shopping', you will
> > have loads of them starting from about £8.
>
> > No effort, hands free, clean edges, magentic lid holder, it's a no-brainer
> > really
>
> No *not* really. I have one of those and it leaves sharp edges on the
> lid, not *that* sharpe, but still requires care with the lid. However,
> the worst thing about it is that the magnet attachment and the blade are
> a bugger to clean; loads of nasty crevices. Surely there must be a
> better make? oh, and this one has a gadget on the back for grinding away
> your kitchen knives.
>
> Phil

Although I'm not generally a fan of bloat, and an electric motor on a
can opener 10x the size does at first sight look like bloat, reality
is these things do make opening cans much easier. Cleaning the handle
part is effortless if you have a dishwasher, if not then a hot soak is
wanted. If not cleaned now and then the mank gets into the handle
mechanism and jams the cutter in the up position so it wont open
anything.

The built in grinder is a waste of time, not that I expected
otherwise.

Some people seem to have truoble with getting the tin in the right
position, if its too far over one way it wont work.


NT

PS the manual type that slice through the side take less work than the
top cutters, as the metal's thinner. But the result is a wobbly can
with sharp edges and no drip edge - so basically for people with mild
hand problems.


NT

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:32:59 +0100, Rod wrote:

>> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 
> 
> If it's collected frequently enough, is the food left on a can any worse 
> than the other stuff that ends up in the bin? 

Well nothing goes in our landfill bin that will rot, *anything* that will 
rot goes to the composter out back. Tins, paper and glass end up in the 
green box for the council recycling truck. Plastic bottles and films are 
taken to a recycling bank when we go shopping, same with card and juice 
cartons.

There is very little going into our landfill bin most is metalised plastic 
films as they can't be recycled and other household waste like the hoover 
contents. If we managed to get 1/2 a bag full in a week we have thrown a 
lot of stuff out...

>> What? Can't you put the (metal) lid in with the (same metal) tin for 
>> recycling? 
>
> Hands up! I should obviously have phrased that to be "separately to 
> other (non-can) rubbish)". 

B-)

> I have never made any effort to squash cans because the collecting box 
> we have is ample for the containers we collect without doing so. 

The green box lives outside and 2l ice cream tubs sit nicely in an old 
vegetable trolly thing for tins, small hard plastic bits (caps, ring pulls 
etc) and foil.

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:32:59 +0100, Rod wrote:
> 
>>> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 
>> If it's collected frequently enough, is the food left on a can any worse 
>> than the other stuff that ends up in the bin? 
> 
> Well nothing goes in our landfill bin that will rot, *anything* that will 
> rot goes to the composter out back. Tins, paper and glass end up in the 
> green box for the council recycling truck. Plastic bottles and films are 
> taken to a recycling bank when we go shopping, same with card and juice 
> cartons.
> 
> There is very little going into our landfill bin most is metalised plastic 
> films as they can't be recycled and other household waste like the hoover 
> contents. If we managed to get 1/2 a bag full in a week we have thrown a 
> lot of stuff out...
> 
>>> What? Can't you put the (metal) lid in with the (same metal) tin for 
>>> recycling? 
>> Hands up! I should obviously have phrased that to be "separately to 
>> other (non-can) rubbish)". 
> 
> B-)
> 
>> I have never made any effort to squash cans because the collecting box 
>> we have is ample for the containers we collect without doing so. 
> 
> The green box lives outside and 2l ice cream tubs sit nicely in an old 
> vegetable trolly thing for tins, small hard plastic bits (caps, ring pulls 
> etc) and foil.
> 

Understood about "nothing goes in our landfill bin that will rot", my 
reference to not washing cans out was really prior to the recycling systems.

I guess it is individual household arrangements. We find it easier to 
take stuff out more or less as we go.

(Really helpful these council systems - our cans/plastics container is 
black, green is for paper/card! Isn't there a BS colour coding?)

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

"Dave Liquorice"  wrote in message 
news:nyyfbegfubjuvyypbz.k790xo2.pminews@srv1.howhill.net...


> There is very little going into our landfill bin most is metalised plastic
> films as they can't be recycled and other household waste like the hoover
> contents.

Vacuum waste usually goes on the compost heap, maybe you don't have wool 
carpets?

On 2008-09-14, Phil Addison  wrote:

> However,
> the worst thing about it is that the magnet attachment and the blade are
> a bugger to clean; loads of nasty crevices. 

On ours (a Kenwood, I think - purchased for elderly M-I-L, who didn't like it,
which is why we have it) it comes to pieces and you can put all the horrid
grubby bits in the dishwasher.


-- 
          "Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain
                 and presumptuous desire for a second one."
               [email me at huge {at} huge (dot) org <dot> uk]

On 2008-09-15, Dave Liquorice  wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:04:35 +0100, Rod wrote:
>
>> Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid 
>> just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin),
>
> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 

You waste drinking water on rinsing your rubbish? Why?


-- 
          "Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain
                 and presumptuous desire for a second one."
               [email me at huge {at} huge (dot) org <dot> uk]

"Huge" <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote in message 
news:gao4tt$40s$8@anubis.demon.co.uk...
> On 2008-09-15, Dave Liquorice  wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:04:35 +0100, Rod wrote:
>>
>>> Which is much more likely nowadays. Instead of touching the cad and lid
>>> just once (to pour out the contents and drop the empty in the bin),
>>
>> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin?
>
> You waste drinking water on rinsing your rubbish? Why?

Because you get pests if you drop unwashed tins in the recycling box.

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:30:25 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

> Vacuum waste usually goes on the compost heap, maybe you don't have wool 
> carpets?

Don't know what they are, they came with the house. More to the point most 
of the contents of the hover wouldn't make it into the composter, the wind 
would grab 'em and distribute them over me and the fells. As it is I have 
to pick a calm day to empty the thing or you end up covered in your own, 
and the rest of the families, skin again...

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

On 16 Sep 2008 11:22:37 GMT, Huge wrote:

>> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 
> 
> You waste drinking water on rinsing your rubbish? Why?

I wouldn't like to drink the water I use to rinse cans etc, it's just been 
used to do the washing up and is about to tipped down the drain...

Reason? So you don't get a house full of fruit flys or 'orrible stench of 
rotting food?

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:49:51 +0100, Rod wrote:

> I guess it is individual household arrangements. We find it easier to 
> take stuff out more or less as we go.

If we did that it wouldn't stay there, the wind would have it away. The 
green box even with a brick in it has been known to take a walk down the 
road and thats starting from one of the most sheltered spots on the lee 
side. There is nothing loose lying around up here, loose stuff simply 
doesn't stay put.

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

On 2008-09-17, Dave Liquorice  wrote:
> On 16 Sep 2008 11:22:37 GMT, Huge wrote:
>
>>> Yuk, not even rinsed so it goes all manky in the bin? 
>> 
>> You waste drinking water on rinsing your rubbish? Why?
>
> I wouldn't like to drink the water I use to rinse cans etc, it's just been 
> used to do the washing up 

Ah, OK. You didn't mention that it was "used" water.

-- 
          "Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain
                 and presumptuous desire for a second one."
               [email me at huge {at} huge (dot) org <dot> uk]

Bruce  wrote:

>andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
>
>>In article ,
>>	Bruce  writes:
>>> I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
>>> cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
>>> better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
>>> driven cog wheel.  
>>> 
>>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>>
>>When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
>>I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
>>the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
>>couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
>>in spill over and possible dropping.
>
>
>Perhaps I wasn't clear, because it doesn't take off the rim.  It cuts
>*through* the rim.  Slightly less than half of the rim goes with the
>lid, leaving slightly more than half of it in place on the can.  There
>is therefore no significant loss of rigidity.
>
>I think the one you bought was probably a "lift off" type, which makes
>a cut below the rim and leaves an unsupported edge.  I have a couple
>of those, but I don't like them because they tend to encourage
>spilling some of the can's contents through making a cut lower down.


At last (!) I have found one like mine on eBay:

http://tinyurl.com/4tz5px
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120298863766

I recommend it very highly.

Bruce wrote:
> Bruce  wrote:
> 
>> andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
>>
>>> In article ,
>>> 	Bruce  writes:
>>>> I think it probably has.  The "lift off" style of can opener which
>>>> cuts the side of the can under the rim with a circular blade seems
>>>> better suited than a traditional opener with a fixed blade and a hand
>>>> driven cog wheel.  
>>>>
>>>> I have both these types, however my favourite can opener is one that
>>>> resembles the lift off type in form, but has a safety cutter that cuts
>>>> through the rim itself.  It only ever takes one go to open the can,
>>>> and the top is easily lifted off leaving no sharp edges at all.
>>> When I was looking for an opener suitable for a frail person,
>>> I though one of these looked ideal. It wasn't though. Removing
>>> the upper rim loses the upper rigidity of the can, and she
>>> couldn't then pick up the can without squashing it, resulting
>>> in spill over and possible dropping.
>>
>> Perhaps I wasn't clear, because it doesn't take off the rim.  It cuts
>> *through* the rim.  Slightly less than half of the rim goes with the
>> lid, leaving slightly more than half of it in place on the can.  There
>> is therefore no significant loss of rigidity.
>>
>> I think the one you bought was probably a "lift off" type, which makes
>> a cut below the rim and leaves an unsupported edge.  I have a couple
>> of those, but I don't like them because they tend to encourage
>> spilling some of the can's contents through making a cut lower down.
> 
> 
> At last (!) I have found one like mine on eBay:
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/4tz5px
> or
> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120298863766
> 
> I recommend it very highly.
> 

Always found Kuhn Rikon stuff to be pretty well made.

Due to this thread, I decided to test my can opener (branded Culinare) 
by opening the small end of a corned beef can. The very small radius 
corners are a real challenge. Worked perfectly. Close examination of the 
cut showed, exactly as reported by Bruce, that the cut leaves a bit of 
rim on the main can and a bit on the removed lid.

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

Rod  wrote:
>Bruce wrote:
>> At last (!) I have found one like mine on eBay:
>> 
>> http://tinyurl.com/4tz5px
>> or
>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120298863766
>> 
>> I recommend it very highly.
>> 
>
>Always found Kuhn Rikon stuff to be pretty well made.
>
>Due to this thread, I decided to test my can opener (branded Culinare) 
>by opening the small end of a corned beef can. The very small radius 
>corners are a real challenge. Worked perfectly. Close examination of the 
>cut showed, exactly as reported by Bruce, that the cut leaves a bit of 
>rim on the main can and a bit on the removed lid.


Thanks Rod.

On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:49:47 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Rod
 wrote:

> Bruce wrote:
> > Bruce  wrote:
> > 
> 
> Due to this thread, I decided to test my can opener (branded Culinare) 
> by opening the small end of a corned beef can. The very small radius 
> corners are a real challenge. Worked perfectly. Close examination of the 
> cut showed, exactly as reported by Bruce, that the cut leaves a bit of 
> rim on the main can and a bit on the removed lid.

Is it this one?
http://www.culinare.com/products/detail.asp?category_ID=1&index=6

Phil

Phil Addison wrote:
> On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:49:47 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Rod
>  wrote:
> 
>> Bruce wrote:
>>> Bruce  wrote:
>>>
>> Due to this thread, I decided to test my can opener (branded Culinare) 
>> by opening the small end of a corned beef can. The very small radius 
>> corners are a real challenge. Worked perfectly. Close examination of the 
>> cut showed, exactly as reported by Bruce, that the cut leaves a bit of 
>> rim on the main can and a bit on the removed lid.
> 
> Is it this one?
> http://www.culinare.com/products/detail.asp?category_ID=1&index=6
> 
> Phil

Yes, that looks to be the one we have got.

Generally works very well. Just occasionally I have to cut round a bit 
of an overlap - i.e. full circle plus a quarter. It clamps onto the can 
well.

-- 
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious 
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>