Spyke
lemmy.world

The hell are you doing that shreds your fingers

84
aussie.zone

Seems like it's been a while since pull tabs in Australia didn't want to rip off your fingernails when you try to use them to open a can.

5
Tolookahreply
discuss.tchncs.de

Fingernails? When young, I sliced my finger with the lid itself and have the scar to prove it.

8
hddsxreply
lemmy.ca

What is a side cutting opener? If it really does cut the side of the can, won’t it still be sharp just like the lid

4

The one I have I bought long long ago and it does indeed cut without leaving any sharp edges. I'm not sure if that's universal or just the type I have, I purchased it without any research.

I don't want to suggest any specific brand because fuck corporations. But the one I have is "Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener with Easy Push Down Lever" so that smooth touch might be the keyword to look for or they could have some ridiculous trademark on the term.

I didn't know this was an option until I bought this one and it appears I'm not alone on this. Such a simple device no one thinks about and the default option is primitive.

4
aussie.zone

Apparently some side cutting openers cut in a way that there are no sharp edges either on the lid or the opened can. Someone linked a video about it in crossposted thread.

2

Yes, the top just lifts off cleanly with no sharp edges or metal cutting debris. It still feels like magic every time... and/or I am easily entertained.

1
Azzureply
lemm.ee

I'm scared to ask... what... are you using your fingernails for here?

6
aussie.zone

How do you pry these open? The tab in the picture is really tight against the lid of the can. Is there are trick to loosening these without picking at them with my nails?

4
Azzureply
lemm.ee

No, I don't think there is a trick... I just thought you did something weird, because I've literally never hurt myself opening these or even had any problems at all.

I just opened one of these to test. What I do is I use my fingernails to get below the tab, which is extremely easy. The harder part would be to lift it up with my fingernails, which I don't do, instead, after lifting the tab up just a tiny bit with my fingernails, I push my finger further in so that a bit of my flesh goes in between the tab and the lid, which gives me a bit more leverage to lift the tab. I then repeat this one more time, after which my whole finger is in the hole. I can then just remove the lid by holding the can with one hand, then pulling the lid in a 45° angle with the finger through the hole.

I just never thought about that there could be a problem opening these and I wondered what exactly you were doing to make it hard.

23
curiousaurreply
reddthat.com

You put your flesh under there!?

I get what you mean, I do the same, it just sounded weird.

How do you open a jar? Oh, I just use my hand meat.

8

How do you open a jar? Oh, I just use my hand meat.

Uh. I would never use my raw handmeat to open a jar. I use the power of my mind!

Jars are at less than ambient pressure. There is a constant external net atmospheric force pushing the seal down. I find it most convenient to simply remove that force. I first don a pressure suit. Then, I take the jar and walk into a large walk-in hypobaric chamber I've built right off my kitchen. I enter the chamber, and then wait approximately 20 minutes for the vacuum cycle to bring the chamber to a partial vacuum. The air pressure in the chamber now matches the air pressure in the can. Once the cycle is complete, I effortlessly remove the lid with a gentle twist. Then I wait 20 minutes for the repressurization sequence. I doff the pressure suit and I then continue my cooking.

6
lemmy.today

You press down on the middle of the tin can with your thumb first, then pull with your ring finger.

2

Push down on the short side of the tab and just behind the two lumps on the lid, it should go "kathuck" and the top comes up off the lid so you can pull it free.

2

it shouldnt be that tight but if it is you can use a butter knife to lift up the first 19 degrees and then use your finger.

1

I use my fingers but have never had any sort of "shred" occur

27

Press down on the metal with your thumb to give it a bend, then pull on the other end with your ring finger. I don't recommend ripping it all the way off. If you can't open this, you need to get a physical job.

14
lemmy.ca

I play the banjo and not the guitar, so I finger pick these open instead of shred.

14

Since OP uses spoons, you only need to find warshboard and jug players to round out your quartet!

5
lemmy.world

OP needs to hit the gym or something. I've always pulled them with my hand and never had a single issue.

13
lemmy.world

One attempt with fingers, then butter knife.

spoon seems too wide

13
lemmy.hogru.ch

I came to say the same because the spoon sounds like a bigger problem than using fingers.

1

True, but the tip of a knife can also be a fulcrum

class 1 vs class 2 leverage

3
lemmy.ca

I'm not a total pussy so I jam my buck teeth in there and pry it open with that.

9

Teeth? What you too good to slide the flat side of your dick under there and think of england like the rest of us?

5

I never ever seen anyone use anything else than their finger to open them. It hurts a little bit I guess but at least for me, it's more convenient than getting a spoon first

8

Can opener every time. It sounds strange but it doesn’t leave a lip for things to get caught on when you empty the can

8

After watching Technology Connections' video on YT about those weird can openers that cut under the rolled lip and don't leave any sharp edges on top, I bought one and use that on every can even if it has a pull tab.

7

I ignore the tab and use an edgeless can opener, in case it gets lost in transit to the recycling plant and a critter finds it.

7

Depends on the can, if I can press the top in to get the tab to pop up a little, then I will just to that. If that doesn't work, then a spoon or knife it is.

5

I have rather long and nimble fingers, but also my fingernails are really thin and soft so I keep them short (otherwise they will break at every opportunity) which is not a good combination to get a hold of can tabs.

4

I often shape and paint my nails and these things chip polish like nothing, so I'll use the teaspoon I have lying out from the last time I made tea, probably.

5
lemm.ee

I'm a surgeon, I always use my fingers to open. Been eating canned tuna & sardines for so long, never injured my fingers.

4
LapGoatreply
pawb.social

im not a surgeon and i have also never shredded my hands on these. who is injuring themselves on pull tabs???

12

The finger shredding would happen as an result of opening the can and remain shredded after until healed so during and after. Dunno about the spoon.

2

I think I misunderstood your question earlier. It's before the can is opened. The can in that picture has a tab that sits very firmly against the can lid. It's hard to get a grip on it without using your fingernails and the tab also has little sharp bits so its very easy for the tab to cut the sensitive fleshy tissue under your fingernails as you pull the tab up. So I switch to using a spoon to jimmy it up before switching to using fingers to finish the job.

2

Wish more people here understood people's bodies are different including hands, I have trouble with these things too. Fucking hate them. I don't use a spoon though, just whatever that works. Like wtf do they have to have them so tight and no room to actually get under them and when you do open then they have extremely sharp edges to slice you up. Make it more accessible ffs

3

I think a lot of the comments about my fingers are in jest. Even if they're not it's all water of this ducks back.

Your experience is the same as mine. Perhaps when tabs came into fashion they were just flimsier but these days they're all so tight.

1

Depends on the tab. Some are not soldered onto the can so I can work with that. For the ones that do, spoons it is.

3

With fingernails. Else, it hurts and smth like a fork, knife can be used

3

I will use my fingers to prepare for the situation where you cannot use spoons

2

I most frequently encounter these when feeding the cat, so in that case I have a spoon out already.

2

I use these all the time, no issues.

You pry the tab up to a 45 degree angle. Then insert a finger. While firmly holding the can with one hand, pull back with the other hand on the tab, the can should open smoothly. At the very end there is a chance the lid will spring off the can, so you should use less pressure when the lid is almost totally detached.

If you have trouble getting under the tab (like you just cut your fingernails), use any flat thing to give you leverage, a spoon, toothpick, screwdriver, etc

2

I use a table knife. If I had long nails I'm sure they would do the trick though; they aren't that strong

2