Manual Can Opener - Recommendations ?

[Cheechako]

When My last Swing Away got too rusty after a couple boats and a house, I bought an expensive fancy Cuisinart. It wouldnt open a can! But man it looked good! It didnt cut the metal. I took it back and got another Swingaway. Only time will tell if your newbie openers are still working years from now! :>)

[Astrid]

The sharp edge is fine, except, as I say for kids.

Of course, the sharp edged empty tin, once washed properly, can now be a good biscuit or cookie cutter.

[zeehag]

p-38.
my side cutting one decided to quit working after a coupla yrs--came with boat-- so it went out of boat--i use a goood one with NO plastic on it-- plastic ones die quickly, i found. stainless or nothing. p-38 works as well as anyhting....went thru 3 can openers in gulf in just less than one year..lol.. plastic ones strip easily and do not do the job reliably.
i thunk p51 was a airplane.....???

SWINGaway---that is the one--cheap and good-- if gets rusty-- use coca cola and soak it overnite..LOL.... wont be rusty in am...

[bobsadler]

oxo good-grips

[JanetGroene]

The folding military opener takes up no space and can save the day in emergencies. The important thing is to look for an opener with two gears, one on the cutting wheel and one on the turning wheel. Cheaper ones are just friction drive. Openers do rust eventually and I like the previous suggestion of coating spares with goo and sealing them up for the future. When I lose the key or otherwise can't get into a can of corned beef, I can open the wide end with a double-gear opener. Also good for rusted cans and I can usually get at least a bite on a sardine can that won't open with the key, enough of a bit to grab with pliers.

[evm1024]

Originally Posted by bobsadler

oxo good-grips

+1 in locking

[JanetGroene]

A good grip on the can is a big help. I open a can, leaving a little of the lid still attached, and use the still-attached can opener as a handle while I drain the can or drain and rinse beans. Saves having to wash a sieve.

[KestrelBuck]

For decades we used my Boy Scout pocket knife. The ex- took it in our divorce settlement!

The swing-away style opener can be defeated by the newer cans with less lip on them. No matter how many gears there are, you need to be able to get a grip on the can.

It's back to the pocket knife for me: indestructible, always works, takes little effort to use, and is always handy.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Forget the fancy ones...the ones I've bought for home are terrible...but look great! Buy a "Swing A Way" at the local grocery store. Best out there and for cheap.

I have a Swing-Away that I've been using regularly for the past 3 months (I always carry backups!) But, It's starting to rust. It still works OK, and it's a very good manual opener, but it's rusting....

The victorinox I mentioned, is still in the drawer, 'exposed', and is doing fine. Same time frame, same conditions.

Tossing out the Swing-Away tonight, moving on...

[zeehag]

the rust wont kill you but trying to find a can opener that will last as long at all in a functional mode might just. swingaway is not plastic, clean it and rust is minimal. oil it with mineral oil and let it sit. dont leave a lot of oil on it.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by zeehag

the rust wont kill you but trying to find a can opener that will last as long at all in a functional mode might just. swingaway is not plastic, clean it and rust is minimal. oil it with mineral oil and let it sit. dont leave a lot of oil on it.

This rust doesn't wash off... The Victorinox is Stainless Steel. Might rust eventually, bot not within 3 months (already) and not anytime soon.

Now, my victorinox Chef's knife is a different story. Sharp as Sh*t, but is already developing surface stains. I can almost clean them off, but not entirely. I suspect it won't last much more than a year (don't worry, I always carry a backup!). But, its NOT stainless steel, like the can opener. So we'll see..

My victorinox can opener has been in the same drawer with the swing-away. I use the swing-away, and keep the victorinox as backup. So they have been equally exposed (always clean with fresh water after opening any can). So, no, it's not equal.

[Amapola]

The Swing-A-Way handheld is the best we've ever used.

[Mexdon]

Swing-a-way without a doubt.

Leave a little oil around the sprocket and if used a lot will not rust....had one on board for years never showed a sign of rust. In my case it was almost never washed, just wiped "clean".

[s/v Jedi]

And while y'all are using oil to protect against rust, my nifty Fissler keeps opening cans with 0 maintenance and smooth edges :-) Stainless steel rules.



ciao!
Nick.

[CruisingFan]

This is my preferred can opener for everything. And it fits in a pocket so you are never without it...