Manual can openers working poorly

I own several can openers, of manual style with a star wheel, including "USA made" and such.

They all work poorly and the wheel does not want to cut, and the star wheel does not provide traction.

After realizing that "USA MADE EZ-DUZ-IT" also does not work, I looked closely and realized that the particular can does not have much of a "lip" on the outside and that there is barely any surface for the star wheel to grab on.

Looking at that can (Carnation condensed milk), I doubt that any similar can opener can actually open them reliably.

My question is, which is it:

1) I am having bad luck with the openers 2) There is a magic star wheel opener that works well 3) The cans are really made such that they need to be opened differently.

I just bought the bayonet style Russian can opener, which I remember always worked and never needed replacing. It does not require a lip around the top.

This question bothers me.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus28209
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Most people in the US don't open condensed or evaporated milk cans with an opener that removes the whole top. We generally just punch two holes in the lid, using a beer-can opener. Even then, the cans generally have a narrower-than-normal lip that's hard to hold. I just push the beer-can opener down into the lid, without using the lip for a pivot point.

As the old ad jingle goes:

Carnation Milk is best in the land; it comes in a little red-and-white can. No teats to pull, no hay to pitch; just poke two holes in the son-of-a-bitch.

Reply to
Ed Huntress

It's the cans. The metal is so thin, the wheels can't pinch the rim and the cutter can't nestle in the corner.

Trying to open a can of tuna has turned into a real chore.

Paul K. Dickman

Reply to
pkdickman1

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I saw these on TV 6-7 years ago and tried them out, and really like them:

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They work by breaking the solder joint between lid and can (that's the metal working content :-)), and do not have a cutting wheel and don't leave any sharp edges. They have little pliers jaws to get the lid off easily, and you can press the lid back on and get enough of a seal to keep partial cans of stuff in the fridge for a few days. Haven't opened a condensed milk can with them, but have opened lots of cans of tuna and other stuff without any failures. The link is for the Oxo Good Grips version, they were the top brand tested by America's Test Kitchen back then.

----- Regards, Carl Ijames

Reply to
Carl Ijames

Ignoramus28209 fired this volley in news: snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Wait... 'evaporated milk' has the oddball cans with almost no lip. The condensed milk (sweetened condensed milk) has a pretty normal can with a substantial ring at the top, and can be properly opened with a rotary can opener.

But to your general question -- lips on metal cans have gotten thinner over the decades. Only pretty-good rotary can openers can get a grip on most of them.

Lloyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

This manual Swing-A-Way I bought around 1980 still works fine.

-jsw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

I remember the no-lip cans, but I have Carnation cans of both evaporated and condensed in the cupboard, and I see that they both have lips. But the lips are thin and a little shallow.

Again, "just punch two holes in the son-of-a-bitch." (As if there should be any question, that was not a real ad jingle.)

Reply to
Ed Huntress

Yep, you beat me to it, although the one I had from the early eighties finally gave up the ghost a few years ago. It's replacement, another swing-a-way, is still working just fine (I think over 25 years years for a can opener is a decent enough lifespan).

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

Obviously.

  1. I've been noticing smaller steel rings on some cans, too. I wonder if the new sideways can openers are designed for these. They cut the steel ring from the side, leaving a less sharp lip. I believe they're called "soft edge" style. Never used one.

Got pics? Never heard of it.

My favorite can opener of all time is the Amco Swing-a-Way cabinet mount.

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They make short time of #10 cans, and even the weak or infirm can use one, with the long crank.

Reply to
Larry Jaques

"Jim Wilkins" fired this volley in news:n7t6ur$f9f$1 @dont-email.me:

Mine, too. I've bought two, only since marriage 45 years ago. We just wore out the first one about two years ago, and the new one was identical down to the last file mark.

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

From their listing "Durable stainless steel cutting wheel does not touch can contents and stays clean."

OXO stuff is very good, and quite ergonomic. Pricy, though.

Reply to
Larry Jaques

I will give it a try

Reply to
Ignoramus16462

OK, thanks. I tried to think about your and Ed's comment last night, I believe that I have problems with other cans also.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus16462

I wonder too

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Reply to
Ignoramus16462

Well, buy from a high-end kitchen and appliance retailer, like Williams Sonoma. Tell this problem to the store's buyer too, to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Reply to
mogulah

From their listing "Durable stainless steel cutting wheel does not touch can contents and stays clean."

OXO stuff is very good, and quite ergonomic. Pricy, though.

Reply to
Carl Ijames

I like the Fissler (german brand but no country of origin marked) side-cutting can openers. you can sort of re-use the lid on the can and they do not pierce the top of the lid or touch the contents. The only catch is the edges of thin cans can be sharp anyways, and if for some reason you keep going around the can, it can make a sharp sliver on the side of the can. I don't like rusty, uncleanable wheels in food.

It does seem like cans have gotten thinner over the years. The contents have shrunk for sure.

Reply to
Cydrome Leader

Ignoramus16462 fired this volley in news:H7GdndHvopl70D_LnZ2dnUU7-Y snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

HEH! That's HARDLY a "Russian" (style of) can opener! That's been around since day-one of metal-canned food! I've got one in my camping pack, and it's not Russian, I can assure you!

Lloyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

We have one. It works better than the old style, at least with new-style cans. As an added bonus, it leaves a lid that can be placed back on the can, so if you don't need an airtight seal you can eat half a can of beans or soup or whatever, then put the lid back on (loosely, of course), and put it in the fridge for later.

Reply to
Tim Wescott

On my can opener of this style you can open the hand grips slightly (so it isn't squeezing the rim so hard) and avoid this issue. Crunch down on the can and then stick your index finger in between the handles and open it back up some. It takes a little practice but the crank turns easier then too. You don't need no where near the pressure on aluminum cans that the design can deliver.

Otherwise this will happen almost every time on aluminum cat food cans with pop top lids (which I despise). Makes turning the crank easier on most other cans too. They need an adjustable stop on them for this :)

I'll make/post a youtube video if you don't understand...

Reply to
Leon Fisk

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