OpenX Dual Blade Universal Package Opener
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List Price: Our Price: $1.99 You Save: $7.98 (80%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of OpenX Dual Blade Universal Package Opener
Customer Review: INDISPENSABLE, but not for all box cutter (utility knife) applications
Summary: 5 Stars
I love it and am ordering several more to keep in various areas of our home. I reach for this instead of the box cutter ALMOST always (tough, thick jobs require the box cutter) The reason I love the OpenX: The cutting blade protrudes only a fraction when you press the blade lever. This prevents accidentally cutting into the CONTENTS of a box. I have had problems from my box cutter blade inserting too far into packages I wish to open and this has occasionally resulted in accidental injury to the item I ordered. The only way to prevent this with a box cutter is to go very slowly with great control. I have extremely arthritic fingers and such extended control is painful, aside from the fact that pre-arthritis I was in too much of a hurry to go so slowly.
Also useful for cutting open plastic bags in which some mail is sent.
Will even work as a letter opener.
There are numerous other uses I find for it.
For heavier jobs like cutting open the thick tough plastic clam shell casing of many electronic items, etc., I prefer the Open It! tool which is like a strong pair of scissors designed for such a purpose. I have much more control with Open It! than I have with a box cutter. Good description with photos of Open It! at Amazon: [...]
I still use a box cutter for cutting pieces of cardboard, or cutting cartons to change their size, etc.
Customer Review: Wanted to love these, but really, they kind of suck
Summary: 2 Stars
These are not very good at opening those absolutely insanely annoying plastic packages. There are two blades- the primary blade is the one between the plastic lips, and the secondary one is a retractable blade activated by the blue sliding button. You're supposed to use the retractable blade to make the first cut in the plastic, then you slide the plastic lip into the opening and try to slide the cutter around the perimeter of the package so the primary blade cuts it open.
The retractable blade works fine, but the primary blade is more or less useless. It only works when the plastic is completely flat, relatively thin, and you're making a straight cut. If you have a rounded package or one where there are changes in height, it's really hard to maneuver the blade. Even under ideal conditions the blade gets stuck often because either the plastic is too thick, the blade isn't sharp enough, of you're trying to turn a corner and the angle isn't good for cutting. 90% of the time I just use the retractable blade to open the package, which works somewhat, but if that's the case then just buy an x-acto knife?
I'm going to try and get one of those Zibra openers (which are basically heavy duty offset shears, which seem like a much better strategy). Disappointing purchase.
Customer Review: Nice little gadget for certain uses
Summary: 4 Stars
My mom often picks up gadgets and gives them to me and my two sisters as gifts. This was something that she figured that all three of us and our husbands could use--who doesn't hate opening those hard, heavy plastic packages? Unfortunately, I believe that my own husband gave up on this gadget the first time he tried using it on one of those types of packages. Frankly, this little gadget really did not perform very well for that purpose; a heavy-duty pair of scissors is more ideal.
Luckily, I rescued this gadget and brought it to the basement, where I exercise. There, I have found a perfect use for this tool: opening up new fitness DVDs! The typical DVD comes shrink-wrapped in plastic that is often difficult to get open, and even when I can get the plastic off, some of the DVD cases are then taped shut. The little razor function on this gadget works very wll for both of these purposes, helping me get the DVDs open much more quickly. Although it might be a more limited use of this item, I like knowing that it is available if I need it. Overall, I think it is a pretty cheap little investment to have around to save future aggravation.
Customer Review: The Better Mouse Trap
Summary: 5 Stars
If it's true that when you invent a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door, then the inventor of OpenX better fence of his/her porch quickly. Finally there's a way of getting things out of those annoying blister packs covered in what seems like bullet-proof kevlar. Given the fact that everything (it seems) that you buy in Home Depot, Office Depot, Staples, or CVS comes in a blister pack, this tool is just what the doctor ordered...literally! I don't know how man times I've cut myself--OK, maybe not e-room seriously, but bandaid seriously-- trying to open a blister pack without cutting what's inside or the directions on how to use what's inside. OpenX makes it easy and safe. This latter point is especially important because my two kids are no longer at risk when they open CDs or blister packs from CVS and the computer store. Slice open a small slit with one blade; enlarge it with the other, and pieces of packaging are no longer all over the floor. My only gripe with this tool as simple as it is, is that someone else and not I invented it. But then I'm shy and wouldn't want people beating paths across the lawn.Customer Review: OpenX Dual Blade Package Opener
Summary: 3 Stars
It works, but it's somewhat awkward to use. Part of the reason is the often difficult shapes and different thinknesses of package plastic covering it has to deal with. It has two blades- a fixed-in-place one on the front, and the second blade that slides out of the side near the front (see the blue plastic thumb slide knob in the picture of the item). You need to start with the spring loaded thumb-push-to-open sliding blade which works like a box cutter. At this point you're pushing the slidable blade forward with your thumb pushing the blue knob, while pulling the entire cutter toward you to make an initial cut or slit in the plastic. A real box cutter might be better for starters. Then you insert the front fixed blade along the slit you made with the initial box cutter like action. The front blade can cut along to open the package by pushing the entire cutter forward to extend the slit. It can take some muscle to do this, as the thick plastic doesn't always cut easily with the fixed blade. I wouldn't let young kids near this thing. They could easily cut themselves on the, box cutter-like movable blade.