What's the deal with Can Openers

[xraytech]

Iwas wondering if anyone else has noticed or had a problem with the low quality of can openers.

We usually use a manual can opener, We had my great-Aunt Thresa's mid 1950's Swing-A-Way can opener for about 15 yeras, when the gears ended up being stripped we have went through several can openers in less than 2 years.

We have had ekco, farberware, swing-a-way, OXO good grips, kitchenaid manual can openers, but after a few months the gears would be stripped if the handles didnt break off first. So I finally in Decemberhad enough and bought a $10 Proctor Silex electric can opener, which is about what I woas paying for manual can openers. It has lasted longer than the manual can openers, but ti is starting to fail now also.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent can opener that will actually last?

Sam

 

[maytagbear]

Good luck!

I think most of the new ones are S***!

There have been times when I have been tempted to use a CLEAN chisel!

Look around at Goodwill/Salv. Army/Savers......

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[joelippard]

Look on ebay

and find yourself a vintage Hoover can opener. Here is a picture of mine, it works wonderfully.

 

[lordkenmore]

These days, it's good luck buying almost anything that lasts. If you can find a can opener that lasts longer than it takes to heat up the contents of the first can it opens, you may be doing as well as you can hope.

It's sad about your Swing-A-Way experience. When I got my present can opener, I was tempted by Swing-A-Way. That's what my family had when I was growing up, and they lasted and lasted, even though the can opener was used pretty heavily.

Currently, I'm using some Oxo. I've had it 1 to 1 1/2 years. It's older than that--I got it used at Goodwill. So far, it's working OK, but then I don't use it that heavily.

I think buying used like I did makes sense (and for many of today's lousy quality items). You might find a GOOD Swing-A-Way. Even if you end up with a piece of junk that works OK now, but breaks in a month, at least you've spent far less than new retail. Only problem buying used: good can openers aren't in thrift shops every day. (And when they appear, they sell fast. At least here.) But since I go through many times a week, I'm there to grab that (and any other treasures I can't live without!).

 

[xraytech]

Nice can opener Joe, love the formica counters too

 

[austinado16]

Ditto on the Hoover and the counter top!!

The estate where I scored the 3 vintage irons had a very cool electric can opener and I walked away from it. Still kicking myself. It had a knife sharpener that stuck out the lower back side and a cool gold front panel similar to that Hoover.

Here's our Oster and I have the meat grinder attachment for it too.

 

[bugsyjones]

Sunbeam can opener

I got this neat 60's style Sunbeam at an estate sale for $2!

It works perfectly. The blade is nice and clean. No rust.

I mostly got it for mom. She has trouble with manual openers. This one replaces a somewhat inferior performing Rival Can-O-Matic.

Lookout! Big pic.

~Tim

 

[tolivac]

I have an old Swing Away hand held can opener my Mom gave me years and years ago-from when I moved out of her house to an apartment-still use it on cans that don't have that pull tab.It still works after all of those years!Don't know how old it was.

 

[alr2903]

I have scored 3 NIB Sunbeams off e bay, still in the original boxes. I gave my Mom a white one. I have 2 in avocado, one with woodgrain trim. No doubt unwanted gifts stored in an attic or inaccesible cupboard. arthur

 

[rp2813]

Joe, that Hoover is a beauty. I had a Can-O-Mat that looked a lot like it, only without the glitz.

My hand-held is not your average type. I think it may be an "As seen on TV" item and rather than puncturing the lid with a blade, with this one you turn the opener 90 degrees so it's flat, grip top lip and start cranking. It undoes the lid cleanly at the seam so there are no sharp edges. It also has a handy little pliers type of arrangement to pull the lid off. I use that one unless I'm wanting to drain the contents of whatever I'm opening. Then I'll use the conventional type.

You can't go wrong with a vintage Swing-A-Way if you can find one at a garage/estate sale. I have an ancient but never used Swing-A-Way that's just plain dull metal with a red crank handle. I don't have a mounting assembly for it, or it would be in use in my kitchen.

My mom was visually impaired but she was able to use an 80's Norelco undercounter mount type quite easily. If you can find a complete one of those and if undercounter is an option, get it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I bought my mom a couple of good manual openers with all of the improvements to be easy on arthritic hands after she moved up here into retirement living. I don't know what she would do with them, but both became almost impossible to turn even though they were clean, so I sprayed a tiny bit of food grade silicone in the works and they turned freely. I buy the silicone in aerosol cans at the appliance parts store. It is used, among other things, on ice maker molds hence the food grade of the mineral oil vehicle. Silicone used to be available with an alcohol or other quick drying vehicle, but I have not seen it for years.