Aibu:To want to buy a tin opener that works

[Hmmmm2018]

I appreciate there are many more worrying issues at the moment, but having had our cheap old tin opener for over a decade during which it successfully did it's job of opening tins, AIBU to be fed up that after buying three replacements not one of them can actually do the job of opening a tin, without some extra effort or wiggling or just not do it. Have tried expensive, have tried cheap but neither have actually been any good at opening tins!

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MNHQ

I'm with @Penners99 on this one - the simple solution is often the best.

Search Amazon or ebay for a military grade P-38 or preferably the larger P-51 can opener. There are similar models available, both folding and non-folding. They cost as little as a quid each. In my experience they're fool-proof, which is what they are designed to be.

Poundland. Still going after 7 years

Left hander here. I've given up after up nearly losing fingers opening a tin of corned beef after the key snapped! If it's not a ring pull, DP is tasked with opening tins.

Just to add, a better and more attractive version of the P-51 concept is the similar opener from Raadvad (Danish) or Sveico (Swedish) - if you are lucky enough to find one.

@Katinski

Y'know those Oxo Good Grips ones? Y'know why they have those soft handles? It's cos they target the elderly/arthritic market, is why - nothing like a bit of insider information to make you feel good about yourself My US Best Friend designed that, btw. I've a drawerful of her stuff.

Why is that funny? I have arthritic hands and unstable joints. The good grips stuff has been a game changer for me, ever since it was first launched - when I was in my 30s.

our brabantia one manual twist one is five years old and still opening tins as well as it did when it was new

@BananaPie

I got this one on Amazon a year ago after going through loads of fancier ones. It’s not failed yet.

I have that can opener from 1996 it still works and I love it all the more 😀

I’ve had this one for 15 years too!

I ordered the Lantana off the back of this thread yesterday and it came today. I’ve had to put it away so I don’t open every single tin in the house.

Never did I know I could be made quite so deliriously happy by opening a can

So it seems I am not alone in my tin opener challenges. I had considered if I had some bad technique but since the old one lasted over 10 years without an issue and the replacements get thrown away in frustration after a few weeks I was pretty sure it was the tin openers not my tin opening that was the issue. I will look into all the great suggestions, are the simple ones those folding ones you use for camping expeditions which are essentially a sharp knife you stab the tin with. And to the previous poster who mentioned garlic presses, you are spot on, I also had a trusty garlic press for over 10 years, replacement just didn't actually press the garlic, bought a second replacement, slightly better than the first but not much. My mum has a garlic press that has worked perfectly since she got it I presume in the 70s.

The folding ones use leverage to puncture and then open the tin - stab it and you'll risk stabbing your hand.

I have a Raadvad* one, which is like the folding P-51 military/camping ones except that it has a fixed blade that doesn't fold. I've had it for over 25 years and it works perfectly once you've got the hang of it. If you're trying too hard you're doing it incorrectly!

• A quick search on ebay reveals that these are no longer made by Raadvad, but are now branded Fiskars and are still available.

@Havanananana

The folding ones use leverage to puncture and then open the tin - stab it and you'll risk stabbing your hand.

I have a Raadvad* one, which is like the folding P-51 military/camping ones except that it has a fixed blade that doesn't fold. I've had it for over 25 years and it works perfectly once you've got the hang of it. If you're trying too hard you're doing it incorrectly!

• A quick search on ebay reveals that these are no longer made by Raadvad, but are now branded Fiskars and are still available.

Hadn't used one of those for about 25 years, so the memory of how you use them was hazy, I just recall struggling to get them going smoothly but every now and then would get the hang of it. With no moving parts to go wrong maybe it is time I have them another go!

@Ostryga

I ordered the Lantana off the back of this thread yesterday and it came today. I’ve had to put it away so I don’t open every single tin in the house.

Never did I know I could be made quite so deliriously happy by opening a can

Hahaa I was exactly the same when I got mine.

@Havanananana

The folding ones use leverage to puncture and then open the tin - stab it and you'll risk stabbing your hand.

I have a Raadvad* one, which is like the folding P-51 military/camping ones except that it has a fixed blade that doesn't fold. I've had it for over 25 years and it works perfectly once you've got the hang of it. If you're trying too hard you're doing it incorrectly!

• A quick search on ebay reveals that these are no longer made by Raadvad, but are now branded Fiskars and are still available.

So glad you recommended the Fiskars one. I've grown up with that type and have one now. Honestly, no other can openers compare.

I've now ordered the Lantana one because of this thread. I'll still keep my Joseph Joseph one but I'm hoping I'll get the best of both with the two of them.

I have a 25 year old magican and a six month old one. I bought that in case the old one packed up.

As for ring cans - I reckon one fails every couple of weeks