On Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 5:35:29 AM UTC-10, notbob wrote:
> I've tried 'em all. Mounted Swing-Aways, hand-held Swing-Aways,
> electric, hand, etc. I even hadda old style hand can opener that had
> both church key and bottle opener as part of the handles. But lately,
> I'm reduced to using a P38 style opener fer any kinda efficacy.
> Chinese-made swing-aways are useless. I've bought 2-3 from the local
> thrift store. Tossed 'em all.
>
> I'm starting to wonder if it is NOT the opener's fault, but the cans
> now being used. One old opener I had worked great on several cans, if
> not somewhat difficult to operate, it having a small butterfly handle.
> The handle is a direct connection to the notched wheel that turns the
> can. Well, I noticed on the last can I failed to open, the can seemed
> to be made of aluminum and the notched wheel jes chewed the rim up and
> did very little turning. This is true of the Chinese made
> Swing-Aways. The cutting wheel does indeed pierce the can lid, but
> the iffy notched drive wheel lets the cutting wheel ride up outta the
> pierced groove and I end up with two un-pierced (un-cut) sections of
> the lid. Soft metal on rims?? Perhaps.
>
> I tossed the old openers and dug out my only p38 style opener on the
> handle bottem of a pair of kitchen shears. Slow, but completes the
> job.
>
> I asked a non-cooking buddy what he and his lady-friend use. He
> related how they use a side-cutting (Zyliss, etc) opener with no
> problems. Izat what I need to buy? One of them newfangled
> side-cutting do-dads?
>
> nb

They ain't newfangled - I've been using side cutters for over 30 years. I originally got them because I wanted a cutter that allowed me to make metal containers with replaceable lids.

The trouble with regular can openers is that they allow too much play between the cutter and drive gear i.e., they're too flimsy.

My favorite side cutter is shaped like a whale - it's operated by turning the spout. It looks like a kid's toy but it's solidly built of ABS. I'm the only one in the house that knows how to use it. It works 100% of the time.

I don't know if you should use one or not. The problem with these openers is that the cutting wheel and pinch roller is hidden from view and some people may find them too difficult to use. A lot of folks try these openers and just give up - they don't want nuttin' to do with them. My wife hates my whale opener. That's the breaks.