Lefthanded or just not getting it?
October 29, 2008 9:43 PM Subscribe
I have an awful lot of trouble with 'easy open' packaging. I also have trouble with zip lock bags, sealed OTC medicines and just about any other kinds of packaging. My hands work just fine. Is this common for very left handed people? Everything I open looks like a dog did it with teeth.
I'm left handed and have no problems opening packaging like you describe.
posted by sugarfish at 9:57 PM on October 29, 2008
posted by sugarfish at 9:57 PM on October 29, 2008
Regarding human-proof clamshell packaging - there are a few purpose-built tools for opening clamshells, with shrouded knife blades and such, but I think the best option in most cases is compound-lever "aviation snips".
You can get dirt cheap Chinese-made snips in discount stores; the cheap ones may not be too great at cutting metal, but they make short work of even the toughest clamshell.
posted by dansdata at 10:07 PM on October 29, 2008
You can get dirt cheap Chinese-made snips in discount stores; the cheap ones may not be too great at cutting metal, but they make short work of even the toughest clamshell.
posted by dansdata at 10:07 PM on October 29, 2008
I'm left handed and do not have this problem.
I'm not sure it's much of a problem though - some people are just more graceful when opening things.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:07 PM on October 29, 2008
I'm not sure it's much of a problem though - some people are just more graceful when opening things.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:07 PM on October 29, 2008
I hate packaging. I just carry a pocketknife around and use that to open pretty much anything.
I do have a tool to open the clamshell packages, and that was a great investment. Makes those things really, really easy to open.
posted by DMan at 10:47 PM on October 29, 2008
I do have a tool to open the clamshell packages, and that was a great investment. Makes those things really, really easy to open.
posted by DMan at 10:47 PM on October 29, 2008
Response by poster: What is it you are all calling clamshell packaging? Is that the shape fitting heavy plastic welded to another piece of heavy plastic?
posted by Pennyblack at 11:02 PM on October 29, 2008
posted by Pennyblack at 11:02 PM on October 29, 2008
Yes. The stuff that cuts you when you try to open it. Very difficult to open, even with scissors.
posted by DMan at 11:45 PM on October 29, 2008
posted by DMan at 11:45 PM on October 29, 2008
clamshell packaging (i.e. that really thick blister packaging) is anything but easy-opening. I have to use a very sharp pocket knife to get anywhere. Usually make a small hole away from myself, then cutting parallel to the surface with the blade away from me. Long as I keep my holding hand well away from my cutting direction, I'm safe enough. Tin snips are great, but not exactly portable. I keep a pair in the office for the really evil jobs.
Medicine bottles are designed to be child proof, and I find them pretty adult proof too. I can get in them, but it's a struggle sometimes. Opening ziplock bags is not a problem. Closing them completely sometimes is. For what it's worth, I'm left handed. Getting a good sharp pocket knife or two, and learn how to use it safely makes it a lot easier to get into all sorts of packages - I can open strong envelopes and boxes now with a single clean slit instead of ripping the top to pieces with keys or fingernails for example. I'm in the UK, so needed to get non-locking ones (swiss army knife in my coat, small french folding knife in my trouser pocket) but they've been an absolute godsend for this exact purpose.
posted by ArkhanJG at 1:23 AM on October 30, 2008
Medicine bottles are designed to be child proof, and I find them pretty adult proof too. I can get in them, but it's a struggle sometimes. Opening ziplock bags is not a problem. Closing them completely sometimes is. For what it's worth, I'm left handed. Getting a good sharp pocket knife or two, and learn how to use it safely makes it a lot easier to get into all sorts of packages - I can open strong envelopes and boxes now with a single clean slit instead of ripping the top to pieces with keys or fingernails for example. I'm in the UK, so needed to get non-locking ones (swiss army knife in my coat, small french folding knife in my trouser pocket) but they've been an absolute godsend for this exact purpose.
posted by ArkhanJG at 1:23 AM on October 30, 2008
I'm not sure about zip-lock bags, but consumer goods and OTC medications have most definitely become harder and harder to open over the years. It's not you, it's a manufacturing decision.
posted by rokusan at 3:36 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by rokusan at 3:36 AM on October 30, 2008
Pro tip: if you're buying your OTCs at a pharmacy, you can ask them to transfer the meds to an easy-open bottle for you. They may ask you to sign something saying I Know It's Not Safe, I Just Hate Children.
posted by spaceman_spiff at 4:10 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by spaceman_spiff at 4:10 AM on October 30, 2008
As for the "easy-opening" packaging (the ones with the built-in zip tops)...I've found that some versions are just poorly designed or made. You usually have to rip open the top of the packaging in order to expose the zip closure. Many such packages, at least for me, end up ripping apart the zip closure itself, making the bag unsealable.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 AM on October 30, 2008
Clamshell packages are enough of a hassle that opening them was featured on Wikihow recently.
posted by TedW at 5:22 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by TedW at 5:22 AM on October 30, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! You didn't give me the genetic excuse I was hoping for, but I'm still happy to know it isn't just me. A little more patience, a tool or too, and my life will be neater. Lefthanded aviation snips anyone?
posted by Pennyblack at 5:56 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by Pennyblack at 5:56 AM on October 30, 2008
Clamshell packaging is designed to be difficult to open. The idea is that it stops shoplifters from opening the package and taking things. At home I just use a sharp pair of industrial scissors. I'm a lefty and manage fine with righty scissors. I use something similar to this.
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:04 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:04 AM on October 30, 2008
Sharp scissors kept with my kitchen knives. Clips to reseal the ziploc bags we were forced to tear open. Couldn't survive these modern times without those tools. It's not just you, and being a lefty has nothing to do with it.
posted by raisingsand at 8:30 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by raisingsand at 8:30 AM on October 30, 2008
You can use a manual can opener to open clamshell packaging. (I've never tried the electric one. Maybe that would work.) It's not easy, but it works, and safer than a knife. I'm left handed and spazzy and can make this work with a right handed can opener.
posted by artychoke at 9:07 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by artychoke at 9:07 AM on October 30, 2008
My wife is left handed and has similar problems opening various items. She also can't seem to get the lid back on the orange juice container. So when I grab it from the fridge and give it a vigorous shake, cap flies off, orange juice everywhere. For the promotion of marital harmony, I try and check if the cap is on right first, and she's in charge of mopping the kitchen floor.
I think lefthandedness is a bad excuse though, but I'm fairly ambidextrous so I don't quite understand how your one hand can't do what the other hand can do. It seems like quite a handicap.
posted by jrishel at 6:00 AM on October 31, 2008
I think lefthandedness is a bad excuse though, but I'm fairly ambidextrous so I don't quite understand how your one hand can't do what the other hand can do. It seems like quite a handicap.
posted by jrishel at 6:00 AM on October 31, 2008
Lefthanded aviation snips anyone?
I think the only handedness difference for straight-cut snips (as opposed to the kind that are made to cut a curve one way or the other) is which side of the blades the cut metal curls up from.
This doesn't matter if you're just hacking through plastic packaging, so just get a pair of cheap straight snips and you should be fine.
posted by dansdata at 4:48 AM on November 9, 2008
I think the only handedness difference for straight-cut snips (as opposed to the kind that are made to cut a curve one way or the other) is which side of the blades the cut metal curls up from.
This doesn't matter if you're just hacking through plastic packaging, so just get a pair of cheap straight snips and you should be fine.
posted by dansdata at 4:48 AM on November 9, 2008
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posted by Mael Oui at 9:54 PM on October 29, 2008