MIU France CanDo Safety Can Opener
by MIU
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.89 You Save: $3.10 (24%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Kitchen See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of MIU France CanDo Safety Can Opener
Customer Review: Might have found a fix for this
Summary: 3 Stars
It's a great opener when it works - the smooth edge means a spatula doesn't get cut up when scraping the can, and the lid makes a neat cover. However, like almost all of these, mine became a "Can't-Do" opener after a few months. I emailed MIU (admin (at) miufrance (dot) com), and they immediately replied that they'd replace the opener, that I didn't have to mail the old one back (just email a photo), and I'd only have to pay for shipping the new one. Since I didn't have to give back the old one so it didn't matter if I dinged it, I decided to see if I could find why it didn't work.
Since I had another new, unused one (it was going to be a gift, but when mine started to fail, I gave something else), I could compare the two. The only difference seemed to be that the old one had a little more distance (about 0.1mm) between the grip wheel and the plastic body when the knob was turned to engage the rotary cam that draws the wheel toward the body. Since this is what pinches the can rim between the grip wheel and the cutter, a small difference in standoff could result in inadequate depth of cut.
I took mine apart by removing the cap on the knob and removing the pin inside that holds the knob on the shaft, then pushing the shaft end to open up space between the grip wheel and the body (see blue arrows in the photo, if it posted). That let me see a little bit of black greasy gunk around the shaft and the inside face of the grip wheel, so I cleaned that off the wheel, shaft and plastic body, then reassembled it. After that, it worked perfectly again. Now that I know that, I think it could be cleaned without disassembly by rotating the knob backwards half a turn to back off the cam and make some space between the grip wheel and the body, then using a bit of cardboard to clean it all around.
We'll see how long it lasts, and if cleaning restores it next time. Since I'd have to pay for shipping to get another from MIU (I don't need three!), and they all seem to work and fail the same way, I told them "no, thanks" on the replacement, and what I'd found.
Customer Review: You Must Be Kidding
Summary: 2 Stars
The title is a bit harsh, but that's what I thought each time I opened a can. At first, this product seemed rather novel - almost fun. There are no instructions. By tinkering, you ought to figure out how to place this on a can correctly. After you place it on the can correctly, turning it causes it to grip the rim of the can and begin cutting around the edge. Besides figuring out how to place it on the can correctly, I had two other problems. The first problem is that one hand is needed to hold the handle as the other hand turns the "crank". Since I don't have a third hand, I had to use a couple of fingers of the non-cranking hand to steady the can as it rotates. If you don't do this, the opener could come off or the can might tip over.
The first time I opened a can, it took one pass. Problem #2: With each successive can, it took a little more until I found myself making two passes. With the last and final can, I found myself making three complete passes with no success. I had to use a paper towel to grip part of the lid and then pry it off by hand. That was dangerous.
I will not throw it away because I hate to waste things. It will remain in my kitchen gadget drawer only as a curiosity. Let me save you some money. Don't buy this thing. I gave it two stars because it "sometimes" works.
UPDATE: I took it out of the drawer for old times sake and had a go at another can. This time, no matter how many times I circled the can, I could not get the lid off. It left the lid at least 50% intact (not cut). I tried to pry the lid off with pliers but that only made things worse. I drained the fluid, flipped the can over, and removed the other side with my electric can opener. By now, my MIU CanDo is probably in some landfill or has been incinerated. Save your money...
Customer Review: not durable
Summary: 2 Stars
Used the product for about 4 months before I started having issues with it. I didn't use it very often. I imagine if I used it more it probably would have worn down even sooner. Like many of the other reviewers have said, it worked great in the beginning. Very cool the way the top just comes off like a lid. However, over time, it just doesn't open cans like it used to. It leaves some parts uncut. Even after multiple passes, it refuses to open the can now. It's done. Gotta find a new can opener.Customer Review: It works - most of the time.
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased this item with high expectations. My previous OXO can opener, you know, the one that won't tarnish, tarnished. I also wanted to try one of the smooth-edge openers.
In a nut-shell, when this can opener works, it works great. But I have discovered that it simply will not work on certain cans. Perhaps there is a different manufacturing tolerance involved. And when it doesn't work on these certain cans, then I have to resort to the old tarnished OXO can opener. Oh well.
Customer Review: Cutting tool rusts then stops cutting
Summary: 2 Stars
Just like all the other 1 star reviews, the item stops working. I use it very infrequently, never put it in dishwasher or kept it wet and now its cutting tool is rusted. I have to go around 3 or four times now, and even then I have to kind of pry the top off.
+1 star for actually doing what it said: no sharp edges.