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Who owns an ELECTRIC can opener?

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yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:03 AM
Original message
Poll question: Who owns an ELECTRIC can opener?
Many people have claimed not to own this 'ordinary' item. I think it's a myth that these are commonly owned. The only person I can recall owning one is the home economics teacher from my high school.

I can see their usefulness if you have arthritis or need to open LOTS of cans each day but for the most part, I think they just use up valuable space.
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:06 AM
Response to Original message
1. I have one and I love it.
:hi:
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tjwmason Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:07 AM
Response to Original message
2. Certainly not.
I probably open 2 tins per month - but even if I did so more frequently, it's almost the ultimate in naff gadgetry (except, as you note, those with arthritis &c.).
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. Hey...
:cry: Now my feelings are all hurt. I love my can opener. It's the most used gadget in my kitchen. :cry: :cry: :cry:
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tjwmason Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:49 AM
Response to Reply #4
13. I certainly don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.
I was only speaking for myself.

You're talking to the man who still uses a wooden spoon to cream butter and sugar together when making a cake.
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #13
21. I was kidding! Although I will always maintain that electric can openers
are wothwhile. I've gone through several maunuals and the teeth give out. Must be the having to feed a family "constantly" thing. :hi: I was just teasing you. I still mix cake batter by hand too! :thumbsup:
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yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:10 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. You couldn't possibly sound more British in that post.
I love the phrase, 'naff gadgetry'. :hi:
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tjwmason Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:49 AM
Response to Reply #5
14. That's the sweetest compliment I've had all day.
:hi: :loveya:
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China_cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #2
33. No, that accolade belongs to the
office machine that pulls labels off the page for you.
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eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:07 AM
Response to Original message
3. I finally sucked it up and spent the $18 on a Good Grips manual, after my
third or fourth cheapy broke.

It was worth it.
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kedrys Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:13 AM
Response to Original message
6. I have a white industrial-grade Black&Decker can opener
and with 7 cats and having to crack open at least 2-3 cans of cat food a day (they like tuna better than the stuff that comes in pop-tops), it gets plenty of mileage. It has a tiny footprint, sits next to the sink, and has never needed any maintenance/repair other than a cleaning every once in a while. I've had it for almost 10 years.
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yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:17 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. I have a postage stamp sized kitchen
I don't even have my microwave in there - no room.
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kedrys Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:28 AM
Response to Reply #8
11. Bummer!
My kitchen is, er, considerably larger. The can opener takes up less counter space than a 2-liter bottle of soda, which helps. I tend to run toward cluttered even on the best of days.
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ProfessorGAC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:15 AM
Response to Original message
7. We Have One
My wife has osteoarthritis in her right hand. Manual can openers just hurt her hand too much.

It doesn't take up too much space, btw. The thing is only about 4 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches deep. We don't have a big kitchen (a complaint reiterated to me by my wife at least twice each week). So, space is a premium for my wife too. But, the thing only takes up a third of the space of a coffee maker, so not so bad.
The Professor
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:20 AM
Response to Original message
9. Me too
I got one as a wedding gift and when an ice storm hit Oxford in 1994, there was no power at my house for 11 days and no manual can opener in sight. I now own both. I got a new one because I have limited strength in my hands now.
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Bassic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:22 AM
Response to Original message
10. I used to have one.
Manual or electric doesen't make much of a difference to me but I admit that I enjoy the little magnet they put on the electric ones so the lid wont fall into the friggin can.
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Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:30 AM
Response to Original message
12. Absolutely not.
Manual is just perfectly fine.

Though if I open more than a couple cans a month, it's a rare month.
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billyskank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 09:55 AM
Response to Original message
15. You are most inquisitive!
:hi:
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Blue Diadem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 10:05 AM
Response to Original message
16. I have one by Krups that doesn't leave sharp edges
instead it removes the entire can lid. My oldest son and his wife gave it to me several years ago. It's been used a lot over the years and is still working well..I'm very happy with it.

I suppose the usefulness depends on things like size of the family and what they eat..as well as if canned pet foods are used.
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donheld Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 10:06 AM
Response to Original message
17. Not for years
I don't need one.
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El Fuego Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 10:06 AM
Response to Original message
18. They won't work in a hurricane!
I think they take up too much space too, and the manual one works perfectly well.
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #18
22. Yes they will! If you have external hookup for a generator! Which MrG
did after the "Great Blackout"! :hi: I have busted a ton of manuals, and my electric one in about a 5 inch square space on top of my counter. The coffee pot is much more of a nuisance. ;)
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El Fuego Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:26 AM
Response to Reply #22
25. Ha ha! That's true.
I'm still not taking any chances since I live in S. Fl. I don't want to starve for the want of a can opener! :)
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #25
26. That happened to me once...! MrG ended up opening a can of coffee
with a knife and a hammer because I forgot to bring a can opener on a camping trip! If not for him, we would have died up in those woods. :D
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gollygee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 10:25 AM
Response to Original message
19. I've never understood why people use these
it isn't hard to open a can with a regular can opener. My parents had an electric one and I just didn't understand why. Then we'd get an ice storm and the power would be out for a few days and we'd have to search for a regular can opener.
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peekaloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 10:28 AM
Response to Original message
20. I do. Used to have one that crushed ice and sharpened knives.
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #20
24. Crushed Ice? how?
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peekaloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #24
28. Had this compartment built in back where you dropped cubes in
and by pushing the opening lever it crushed 'em. Kinda neat. Pretty cool but you had to be quick. :-)
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Blue Diadem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:50 AM
Response to Reply #28
30. I got one like that as a wedding gift..
way back..32 yrs ago. I didn't use the ice crusher feature very much, thought it was noisy but it did come in handy on occasion.
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peekaloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #30
32. I should have said it belonged to my parents but I used it as a kid.
It was a long time ago. :-)

Pretty neat for making snowcones.
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:23 AM
Response to Original message
23. My grandmother owned one, my family used manuals. It seemed impractical..
but grandma pointed out that her can opener had a built in rotating stone for sharpening knives, I could see the appeal of that.
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Patiod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
27. My friend the engineer had ONLY an electric
which proved problematic when we lost electricity one winter during a two-day ice storm. She had NOTHING in the house that wasn't in cans!

I understand having one, but you need a manual one for backup!!!
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:45 AM
Response to Original message
29. Manual for me.......
My hands are just fine, and even though we have a generator in case of a power outage, I still like my manual one just fine.....

The other thing I like about it is, you can take it to the cans......

But a lot of that is just what you're used to .......:shrug:

:hi: my dear yvr girl!
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texas1928 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 11:50 AM
Response to Original message
31. It is the only way to get the cats to come.
:shrug:
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Yollam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 12:07 PM
Response to Original message
34. My parents had both kinds, the hand one was easier.
I hated the little magnet thing that was supposed to keep holding the lid but didn't usually work, the can usually falls off, it makes a lot of noise, and using the hand opener is way faster and wastes zero counter space.
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kick-ass-bob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
35. I used to before it broke.
We use a lot of canned stuff, too.
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liontamer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-06-06 12:13 PM
Response to Original message
36. I have one
When I had cats I was always opening cans, and usually first thing in the morning. Like anything, once you get used to a convenience it's hard to go back. I remember during the blackout it took me awhile to even figure out how to use my manual can opener, and then it was a lot more difficult than I remembered the process being.
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