Can you recommend a tin opener which works well and will last?

[vetuste_ennemi]

There are some things which never work properly, or, if they do, work well for only a short time. And it doesn't seem to make any difference how much you pay for them. Can openers is my current gripe. Another example is pepper mills.

[HowardKennitby]

I have always used the old butterfly type usually made by Squires. They work well enough for me.

[Kiki-frog]

Yes, old-fashioned butterfly tin openers are the best. I bought mine in Woolworths way back in the 80s and it's still going strong. Although most tins seem to be ring-pull now, to be fair. But pepper mills - bah! Dreadful things.

[mike11111]

I have had mine for 12 years and it still works fine every time. Don't know what it is called but it has a fixed arm and a movable arm. You close the two arms so that it bites into the top of the tin just under the rim then turn the knob on the top. This lifts the whole lid off cleanly. I bought it at John Lewis. My pepper mill is 14 years old and still going strong. I bought it at Woolworths!

[HowardKennitby]

I gave up on pepper mills, just use the bought stuff now.

[Davethedog]

after experimenting with various "automatic" can openers I must concur with you all manual is best.

We went back to that after despite numerous attempts and long research on the "net" We (I) couldn't get the battery cover off??

[EcclesCake]

I can't comment on the tin opener as I've tred many and usually end up back with the old fashioned butterfly style too.

I have gone through many, many pepper mills in search of the perfect one. One of the ones I bought was an absolute joke, the little reservoir that feeds the corns into the grinding mechanism was too small to take my pepper corns. I bought loads of different brands in the hope that some would be smaller, I even considered going shopping with a set of calipers to measure the pepper corns!

I now have a Peugeot pepper mill, it was expensive but it is brilliant.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Thank you all for your comments. We finally cracked the pepper mill problem by getting an electronic one from Coopers of Stortford.

[BlueScorpion]

I know I'm in the minority here but I've alwys had problems with the manual can openers, but my daughter bought me a Culinare One Touch about 3 years ago & I haven't had any problems with it.
And the battery cover comes off easily on this one :)

[Valeriea]

I've got a Kenwood electric can opener and I'm very happy with it.

[lardhelmet]

Bought a JML Hands free jobby on impulse and absolutely love it! No sharp edges, no aching wrists - it's the biz!

[atalanta]

For longevity, you need the German style tin-opener. Just a handle and a hinged spike. Thump the spike into the top of the tin, then wrench it round. My first one of this style lasted over 30 years, and I replaced it with a similar one which must have done about 8 years now, still going strong, no sign of wear or tear.

[paddywak]

We always used the butterfly tin opener, in fact Trish still does, but I now use a Kenwood electric, since the day some while after my stroke when I was in the house by myself and fancied beans on toast. I mean have you ever tried opening a can one handed, I can use my hand now but old habits and all that. With regards to the pepper mills Trish picked up a pepper and salt mill set on a car boot a few years ago and we're still using them.

[flitty]

Got one of qvc for about £15 but does other things as well, like ring pull, bottle opener etc and it also leaves the lids smooth and not jagged so you cant cut yourself

[msemma]

When I moved into my current home there was an electric tin opened. I am a bit scared of it but it does do a lovely job! I have heard that battery powered ones can pack in mid tin!