Stuff that lasts

[christopher_wolf]

I have and still use sliderules that are quite a bit older than I am, by about a decade. It always makes at least one student turn their head when I show up with a slide rule instead of a calculator.

It is pretty amazing how well some of the older sliderules held up over time; all of my collection seem *very* high quality (most of them are now collector's items) as compared to the newer ones today.

For can-openers, well....I don't know; does Oxo have some good ones that aren't too expensive? Really...It is only a can opener; how hard is it to make one durable and sharp that lasts a long time? Doesn't have too many features to break or worry about.

[GomJabbar]

Really...It is only a can opener; how hard is it to make one durable and sharp that lasts a long time? Doesn't have too many features to break or worry about.

Maybe it's operator error.

Come to think of it, I didn't bother to read any instruction manual. I won't repeat what is oft said on the forums.

[AlphaKilo470]

Over here, I've pretty much given up on electric can openers. They are convenient for the three weeks they work. I just buy the stainless steel generic el-cheapo can openers you get at the grocery store.

I don't beleive in can openers or other basic kitchen objects that require a user manual. What's going to be next I wonder; refridgerators that have boot-up times?

[JHEM]

I've got about a dozen of these around the house, on the boats, even in my sail kit.

Clean the cutting wheel and the gears occasionally (trip through the dishwasher) and they'll last forever.

Best part of all is that they WORK!

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

I've got about a dozen of these around the house, on the boats, even in my sail kit.

I almost missed your link. "First can opener in space" - hmmm....
I see it has a 4.5-star rating (out of 5). It will be the next model I try.

Come to think of it, I believe my Mom's was a Swing Away (I had forgotten the brand). Looked a little different though.

[JHEM]

[I almost missed your link. "First can opener in space" - hmmm....
I see it has a 4.5-star rating (out of 5). It will be the next model I try.

Can't go wrong!

Regards,

James

[AlphaKilo470]

That's the can opener I've been buying now I think of it. I can't believe I've been able to go a full five or six years without noticing something as big and important as the brand name of my can openers.

That thing has outlasted several can openers around here; definitley a good buy and worthwhile investment.

[christopher_wolf]

Right on JHEM, I took a look at the can opener that my Mom had always used and now I use and it was, indeed, a Swing Away just like that. Perhaps that is why I was blissfully unaware of the can-opener brands

Seriously though, now that I take a good look at what is out there, it doesn't seem to me that anybody is much concentrating on can-openers that do their job well and last long. The design process probably isn't that long, but it is mundane so the actual design aspects might get lower priority based on something like, say, the user grip comfort and material costs.

[GomJabbar]

I think most of them are designed more with "Planned Obsolescence" in mind. Sell more that way.

The can openers I've been using are the cheap ones in the grocery stores that my workmates buy, and the cheap ones in the grocery stores that my wife buys. I don't do hardly any cooking myself, but I do open cans of Bustelo coffee and cans of Tuna fish from time to time. About one time in ten I get around the can in one pass and the lid comes off!

[JHEM]

Seriously though, now that I take a good look at what is out there, it doesn't seem to me that anybody is much concentrating on can-openers that do their job well and last long.

The "latest" iteration is for openers that unroll the crimp where the lid is attached to the can's body, rather than cutting the lid.

Makes for a reclosable can and I understand is a big seller among cat owners.

Regards,

James