Over the last little while, and today in particular, I have had trouble with opening tins with our can opener - wasn't a cheap one either! So I went down to our caravan and pulled out the one I keep there, but also without any results. Pete had a go with a reasonable amount of luck. Well, he would, wouldn't he? He wanted the fruit cake made to take away with us! What we both feel is that the 'lip' around the top of tins is not like it used to be (yeah OK, I'm like a teddy bear - falling apart at the seams and the stuffing coming out) and there is not enough 'grip' for the can opener, but has anyone else had problems with opening tins - it was a can of crushed pineapple and also a can of condensed milk. Would be interested to hear if others have had any problems.
Thanks
Happywanderer said
02:44 AM Sep 19, 2013
Yes I do and have an electric can opener. Unfortunately I can't take it on the road with me so only ever buy cans with pull tabs. No plain lids.
Cloak said
02:45 AM Sep 19, 2013
Yes we have purchased and thrown away at least 7 can openers in the last 2 years. Currently we only have an electric one.
I want to drop in to a Salvos Store and see if I can find an older one which were made bigger and not so flimsy.
The other option is a blade type from a military ration pack I believe you can get them at Aussie disposals...
rockylizard said
02:52 AM Sep 19, 2013
Gday...
I have one of these ... works very well - I have had it for years.
Perhaps you could seek out one these ... they used to work well
Cheers - JUohn
2foot6 said
03:45 AM Sep 19, 2013
Maybe we have to buy a South African can opener to open the South African fruit in tins that Woolworths now sells
Gerty Dancer said
04:25 AM Sep 19, 2013
Check both ends of the cans Pejay...I've found that I often have to turn a can upside down, then the can-opener will "grip the lip" properly. I wonder if they are making the cans different at each end to make them stack better?
We have problems opening tins as well - I think it's because the tinplate they use nowdays is thinner and more tensile - not as soft as before. This means the rolled edge that the serrated wheel grips is not large enough for the wheel to grip causing it to slip etc. When you do get the tin opened, the cut edges are razor sharp.
Dougwe said
02:35 PM Sep 19, 2013
NeilandRaine wrote:
Can't beat a good old P38
Goodness me, memories just came flooding back with that one N&R. They worked well too.
Cruising Cruze said
03:26 PM Sep 19, 2013
they used to supply them to us when I was In the army in the 70's
Plendo said
05:03 PM Sep 19, 2013
I hope I can shed some light on this matter, as I have worked for a company that makes metal packaging (cans).
Cans have changed over the years, with the biggest change being the introduction of easy open ends, thus you the user should not need a can opener.
The second change that may affect the performance of the can opener is the trend towards thinner steel for the cans. As the quality of the steel improves the can makers strive to reduce costs by making cans from thinner steel.
When the can manufacturer suppies cans to their customers, they supply the can with one end already fitted (usually the complex end, which is usually the top), the customer then fills the can, and fits the other end. Of Course the equipment they use to fit the second end is different to the equipment the can maker used to fit the first end, thus the ends will be different.
Yes it is likely that some can openers will perform better on the other end.
Mobi Condo said
05:46 PM Sep 19, 2013
Have one of those old boy scout thingy's on the Tug Key Ring! Just in case!
-- Edited by Mobi Condo on Thursday 19th of September 2013 05:47:28 PM
jules47 said
06:03 PM Sep 19, 2013
As Gerty Dancer says - sometimes turning a can upside down enables you to open it easier - worth a try anyway!
herbie said
08:45 PM Sep 19, 2013
Funny how a post can trigger memories ,after reading re the army issue can opener went into annexe and opened a tool box and bugger me there was my army issue can opener, So now it is in the utensils draw in the van.
Would love a $ for every can opener we have throwen out over the years, but the wife went to one of those Tuppa ware parties and now she recons she has brought the bees knees of can openers,so time will tell if it stays or gets the flick.
Who would think some thing as simple as a can opener could almost bring a grown man to tears .
Gerty Dancer said
08:49 PM Sep 19, 2013
Thank you Plendo, now I understand how/why this is happening. No worries, as long as one end of the can is open-able
Pejay said
08:57 PM Sep 19, 2013
Oh wow!! Thank you all for your responses:
Rocky Lizard - it was one like your top photo that ended up being slammed into the rubbish bin!
Gerty Dancer - yeah, dumb one here, never thought to turn the can upside down!!
Cruising Cruze - yep, just fronted up 'His Lordship' (aka Pete) and requested a search for his army issue opener, and would you believe he found it (now in the van) along with a couple of water bottles, his army issue sleeping bag, oh and just for the hell of it, our small barbie fits neatly into one of his old duffle bags!
Bought a new thing this morning whilst out shopping, so will try the upside down trick too.
Again ta and thank you all
Cruising Cruze said
12:07 AM Sep 20, 2013
@ Pejay
I've been stupid , I send it all back when we came to Australia
before I left the army I changed everything to brand new supply
wish I still had most of it ( but than I was 75 kg then and now over 100 oops )
must be the good life in Aus
cheers John
Ontos45 said
02:43 AM Sep 20, 2013
N&R.........
Can't beat a good old P38
====================
(Last P38 I used was made by Walther and carried 8 x 9mm rounds.)
Cannot agree more about bloody new cans. Sue always complaining about not being able open cans but after trying about 6 manual can openers found, as others have here, that an electric can opener that sits on a bench works best. Other than that, a small cold chisel and hammer always works.
Peter
Sheba said
03:43 AM Sep 20, 2013
I found this old one in an Op-shop years ago. Have found another that works as well, so have one in the C'van too, but you can't always pick them just by looking. Luckily they only cost a few cents where I get them. [ The Red one in the Background is not mine.]
Fruit cake packed and ready to go. But some friends brought around some of their fruit cake for m/t this morning and yum!!!! He used a mix of rum and chocolate rum in it - oh man was it n-i-c-e!!! Hmm, I only put brandy in mine.
neilnruth said
06:01 AM Sep 21, 2013
HW - watch the video and it will show you. Very clever. But I want to know will we always find a slab of concrete for the second way to open the can?
Over the last little while, and today in particular, I have had trouble with opening tins with our can opener - wasn't a cheap one either! So I went down to our caravan and pulled out the one I keep there, but also without any results. Pete had a go with a reasonable amount of luck. Well, he would, wouldn't he? He wanted the fruit cake made to take away with us! What we both feel is that the 'lip' around the top of tins is not like it used to be (yeah OK, I'm like a teddy bear - falling apart at the seams and the stuffing coming out) and there is not enough 'grip' for the can opener, but has anyone else had problems with opening tins - it was a can of crushed pineapple and also a can of condensed milk. Would be interested to hear if others have had any problems.
Thanks
I want to drop in to a Salvos Store and see if I can find an older one which were made bigger and not so flimsy.
The other option is a blade type from a military ration pack I believe you can get them at Aussie disposals...
Gday...
I have one of these ... works very well - I have had it for years.
Perhaps you could seek out one these ... they used to work well
Cheers - JUohn
Maybe we have to buy a South African can opener to open the South African fruit in tins that Woolworths now sells
Goodness me, memories just came flooding back with that one N&R. They worked well too.
I hope I can shed some light on this matter, as I have worked for a company that makes metal packaging (cans).
Cans have changed over the years, with the biggest change being the introduction of easy open ends, thus you the user should not need a can opener.
The second change that may affect the performance of the can opener is the trend towards thinner steel for the cans. As the quality of the steel improves the can makers strive to reduce costs by making cans from thinner steel.
When the can manufacturer suppies cans to their customers, they supply the can with one end already fitted (usually the complex end, which is usually the top), the customer then fills the can, and fits the other end. Of Course the equipment they use to fit the second end is different to the equipment the can maker used to fit the first end, thus the ends will be different.
Yes it is likely that some can openers will perform better on the other end.
Have one of those old boy scout thingy's on the Tug Key Ring! Just in case!
-- Edited by Mobi Condo on Thursday 19th of September 2013 05:47:28 PM
Funny how a post can trigger memories ,after reading re the army issue can opener went into annexe and opened a tool box and bugger me there was my army issue can opener, So now it is in the utensils draw in the van.
Would love a $ for every can opener we have throwen out over the years, but the wife went to one of those Tuppa ware parties and now she recons she has brought the bees knees of can openers,so time will tell if it stays or gets the flick.
Who would think some thing as simple as a can opener could almost bring a grown man to tears .
Rocky Lizard - it was one like your top photo that ended up being slammed into the rubbish bin!
Gerty Dancer - yeah, dumb one here, never thought to turn the can upside down!!
Cruising Cruze - yep, just fronted up 'His Lordship' (aka Pete) and requested a search for his army issue opener, and would you believe he found it (now in the van) along with a couple of water bottles, his army issue sleeping bag, oh and just for the hell of it, our small barbie fits neatly into one of his old duffle bags!
Bought a new thing this morning whilst out shopping, so will try the upside down trick too.
Again ta and thank you all
I've been stupid , I send it all back when we came to Australia
before I left the army I changed everything to brand new supply
wish I still had most of it ( but than I was 75 kg then and now over 100 oops )
must be the good life in Aus
cheers John
Can't beat a good old P38
====================
(Last P38 I used was made by Walther and carried 8 x 9mm rounds.)
Cannot agree more about bloody new cans. Sue always complaining about not being able open cans but after trying about 6 manual can openers found, as others have here, that an electric can opener that sits on a bench works best. Other than that, a small cold chisel and hammer always works.
Peter
I found this old one in an Op-shop years ago. Have found another that works as well, so have one in the C'van too, but you can't always pick them just by looking. Luckily they only cost a few cents where I get them. [ The Red one in the Background is not mine.]
Cheers,
Sheba.
Why not just do it one of the easy ways:-
Joking of course