Recommend a decent made in US/Canada can opener?

[Red Squirrel]

It seems hard to find a decent can opener now days, quite ridiculous for such a simple device. I've gone through at least 3 since I got my house, they just stop working after a while and don't open properly.

I currently have this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Kuhn-Rikon-22...F8&qid=1463881238&sr=8-33&keywords=can+opener

But it recently stopped working it just partially opens the can then I still need to try to pry enough of the can open with a large flat screwdriver while trying not to cut myself or make a mess.

It seems most can openers sold try to be all fancy in the way they open the can so it does not produce sharp edges, and I think this is what makes them suck. I just want a standard can opener that has an actual blade, and makes a nice clean cut on the top of the can (some do it on the side, but then you end up with bits of paper in your food depending on the can and how far up the paper is glued), I don't care if it's sharp, the can goes in the recycling after anyway. Not all cans are created equal and these fancy openers assume a specific design. I'm willing to spend upwards of $50 if it means it will actually last. Electric is also not out of the question, are those better as far as actual ability to open?

 

[pete6032]

Saturday night, time to make an ATOT thread about can openers.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I wanted to post this earlier actually, then I got side tracked. Two cans in a row now that I end up spending more time than I should trying to open. Almost need to get the dremel out, but I don't really want aluminium shavings in my fish. The mercury is enough.

 

[Kaido]

I have this dude:

http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KC130OHOBA-Can-Opener-Black/dp/B000HPS73U

If you do an Amazon search for "can openers", there are similar designs with better-looking ergonomics. But after going through crappy can openers (with the thin, hard metal turn handles or the electric ones that break or do terrible jobs), this one with the fat handle has held up the longest & done the best job without making my fingers hurt.

 

[Strk]

You will probably have a hard time with the made in Canada/USA part. I have a Zyliss one and it has done the job quite well. I'm pretty sure it was made in China though.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I have this dude:

http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KC130OHOBA-Can-Opener-Black/dp/B000HPS73U

If you do an Amazon search for "can openers", there are similar designs with better-looking ergonomics. But after going through crappy can openers (with the thin, hard metal turn handles or the electric ones that break or do terrible jobs), this one with the fat handle has held up the longest & done the best job without making my fingers hurt.

Had that one and thought it was great. One day the handle simply fell off in my hand.

So it goes.

The classic swing-away is reasonably reliable and completely un-ergonomic. I would happily pay a lot more for an exact replica made of better steel but that seems to be impossible.

 

[PottedMeat]

or this one ( made in china )

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-87051-Sof...qid=1463883978&sr=1-2&keywords=oxo+can+opener

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

http://www.amazon.com/Excellante-Table-Mounted-Opener-Heavy/dp/B00O8N7F1C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463884367&sr=8-1&keywords=Commercial+Can+Openers
$39 and you'll never buy another.

 

[Rumpltzer]

I was going to say that this one is an easy winner (it's the one I have), but I guess they offshored the manufacturing...

http://www.amazon.com/Swing--407BK-Portable-Opener-Black/dp/B001CDEFK0/

 

[sdifox]

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=16759

 

[Jaepheth]

I bought this one 4 years ago.
http://www.amazon.com/Made-USA-Can-Opener-Black/dp/B007DK6SG0

No complaints so far.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow do we ever get gouged here in Canada, most of those suggestions were like 5x the price after shipping. Don't mind paying more for quality but not when I know it's literally price gouging.

Ended up going with this one:

https://www.amazon.ca/Amco-407BK-Swing-Portable-Opener/dp/B001CDEFK0?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Think I had one similar and it died within a year but at that price I guess it's worth trying to see if this one is better.

 

[MongGrel]

or this one ( made in china )

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-87051-Sof...qid=1463883978&sr=1-2&keywords=oxo+can+opener

Heh, a Chinese made John Wayne, that's great

Still use one of these I guess from over 20 year ago we received as a wedding present.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Spacemaker-Under-Counter-Opener/dp/B000067DW9/ref=sr_1_2?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1463940790&sr=8-2&keywords=Black+%26+Decker+under+the+counter+can+opener

They are higher priced than I thought they were apparently, had never looked them up.

 

[lxskllr]

The P38 is excellent, and I can use one as fast as anything else, but probably not good if you're arthritic. I have an old US made Swing-A-Way, but if that died I'd use a P38, or my Swiss army knife.

 

[TwiceOver]

I've had the same Swing Away style opener for 20 years. No idea where it was made.

 

[Iron Woode]

It seems hard to find a decent can opener now days, quite ridiculous for such a simple device. I've gone through at least 3 since I got my house, they just stop working after a while and don't open properly.

I currently have this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Kuhn-Rikon-22...F8&qid=1463881238&sr=8-33&keywords=can+opener

But it recently stopped working it just partially opens the can then I still need to try to pry enough of the can open with a large flat screwdriver while trying not to cut myself or make a mess.

It seems most can openers sold try to be all fancy in the way they open the can so it does not produce sharp edges, and I think this is what makes them suck. I just want a standard can opener that has an actual blade, and makes a nice clean cut on the top of the can (some do it on the side, but then you end up with bits of paper in your food depending on the can and how far up the paper is glued), I don't care if it's sharp, the can goes in the recycling after anyway. Not all cans are created equal and these fancy openers assume a specific design. I'm willing to spend upwards of $50 if it means it will actually last. Electric is also not out of the question, are those better as far as actual ability to open?

this is what I bought 2 years ago: http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/mightican-can-opener/6000048123998

works like a charm.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Swing-A-Way used to make them in the US starting in the 1930s, but they have shipped all manufacturing over to China.

Dazey went out of business in the 90s, but they made good stuff

 

[Banana]

If a manual can-opener stops working in one direction, it should still work well in the other direction, so start going clockwise (or counterclockwise)! This applies to the "Swing-Away" style of can opener linked by Rumpltzer.

 

[Centauri]

http://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-3028-D...1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Mine's been a trooper

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Epic!

 

[WelshBloke]

Don't all your cans have ring pulls now?

 

[Torn Mind]

The grand age of the grocery store can opener ended some time in the 80s or 90s.

I have a "conventional" Ecko can opener that has been in the family for years, likely before I was born(late 80s), and even to this day, it can firmly pierce the metal and retain its form.

The metal is clearly thicker gauge and better processed on such old can openers.

The cause of the degradation is simple and on a macroeconomic level. The Chinese are pursuing numbers every year, namely GDP growth. Thus more units sold can keep numbers up every year and more dollars flow over there every year. GDP is merely a number and does not capture quality, so making 150 pieces of metal that looks like a can opener that sells for $5 is more beneficial for their goals than making 75 real can openers for $7.

 

[lxskllr]

Since this thread was made, I've switched to a Swiss army knife. I had broken a couple tools in my Champ; most notably the pliers, and frivolously bought a new knife. That left me with a spare knife, so now it's primary duty is opening cans. Works great.

 

[Torn Mind]

Well, the store the necrobot mentioned DOES have a commercial can opener.

Iron Can Opener - Table Mounted Screw Down - Silver - 11" - 1 Count Box

Open cans without hand fatigue using our Met Lux Iron Heavy-Duty Table Mounted Can Opener. This heavy-duty can opener features an ergonomic handle. Sold in a 1 count box.

www.restaurantware.com

That'll be a Benjamin and 36 Washingtons.

 

[BoomerD]

In Restaurantware Store Commercial Can Opener you can easily to use. Its works very good with any issue. This Can Opener have heavy duty and dependable. Perfect for all fast-paced commercial kitchens. This can opener is perfect for most cans of all sizes at 11 inches.

gotta love some chinglish spam...