bit-tech Shopping: Hamilton Beach Smooth Edge Can Opener 76600

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: It leaves a nice smooth edge on the lid and on the can. If there is any dust on top of your can, it doesn't fall into the food.

Weaknesses: Can has to be positioned in an exact place before opener will operate.

Summary: We could not get this opener to work for quite a while. Then we finally discovered if you tilt the top of the can into the left of the opener, it will start. The instructions do not explain this at all. We kept trying to hold the can straight under the cutter and that doesn't work.

Rating: 2

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Used to be a great can opener.

Weaknesses: No matter how hard you try, it won't open the can.

Summary: We owned one of these for 3-4 years and worked great. When it stopped working we got on-line and ordered another one. It came and we couldn't get it to open a can. Thinking it was just defective we asked for a replacement which we just got this week. Guess what? I won't open a can either! There is something wrong with the place who is manufacturing them. We noticed these are made in China. If you're thinking about buying one of these, DON'T!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Year

Strengths: No metal shavings like top open models. Tall for the big cans and well balanced for the heavier containers.

Weaknesses: None.

Summary: Have used the opener for more than a year with no problems at all. Easily opens all cans without leaving those metal shavings behind like regular top opener models. Best opener I have used. Should be a standard item in all kitchens.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 18 Months

Strengths: Nice smooth edges on cans. No metal shavings in your food.

Weaknesses: The knurled metal that rotates the can is made out of metal that is too soft for its intended usage.

Summary: I've owned it for 1-1/2 years and it worked great for about the first 15-16 months. Now, enough of the knurls have worn off the metal wheel which rotates the can that it cannot rotate a can any more and is useless. With its very short life, I think it is greatly overpriced...it wasn't worth $2 a month to open an occasional can (we don't use very many canned items so it got very light usage). I think an average family would experience failure in less than a year.