Plastic packaging

T

Thomas_H

Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
22
You guys know those annoying packages that electric razors are packaged in? Children's toys etc?

What would be the best tool for opening these damn packages!? (maybe even shears?)
 
My brother works as an emergency room doctor and he says there are a lot of injuries from people trying to opening plastic packages. I can believe it. I would think that a knife is not the safest tool to use. Heavy scissors or shears would be better.
 
I use a pair of Fiskars scissors with short, strong blades. Cut off the edges where it's fused together.
 
I hate these packages. I really do. Usually I'm stuck using the knife I have on me when I buy something. I use the tip to get into the package and carefully slide the rest of the blade under the plastic, then cut around the item inside.

Or, if it's especially tough plastic, I use the part of the blade closest to the handle for more control.

Really though, heavy scissors really are a much better idea. If you really do need a pocket knife to cut these open, I use either a very small bladed folder or fixed, or one of the many folding boxcutters that are available that only have a small part of the razor blade exposed.
 
Spyderco cricket......I have a SE one. It was made for this task IMHO.

Just sink the front hook tip in and pull. The hawk shape front keeps the blade in the clam pack. It will also do a lot of other stuff well.
 
I second the motion on the Spyderco Cricket. It is the perfect shape for those anoying clam packs.

Bruceter
 
6" Durasharp, or Kershaw Taskmaster shears....don't screw around.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Whatever the EDC of the day happens to be.

Cutting plastic is safe if you cut away from your body and use a knife that is sharp enough to cut into the plastic instead of slipping.
 
acetylene cutting torch!:thumbup:

Serious: cutting plyers will work. I've used kitchen shears also.
 
Scissors are safer but a short blade is OK if you're careful. A small hawkbill is best, like the Cricket, Dodo, or SubClaw. A small wharnecliff like the Yojimbo or WharCom would be good. I generally use a small blade to slice one edge off and then tear the rest open.

Any way you do it is OK at home at a desk or workbench, but doing it out in the street may be under less controlled conditions. There are a number of small plastic openers, with tiny ceramic blades, that are designed for safe opening.

You can find them at sites like www.thinkgeek.com and http://www.x-tremegeek.com/ -- search for "opener".
 
I've had good luck using my Leatherman (usually a Blast, but sometimes a Core) to open those clam-packs. I use the wire/hard wire-cutter in the plier jaws to make the initial cut into the edge. I then use the knife blade to slice through. I actually volunteer to open clam-packs for family and friends as well. I've got it down to a science, and am pretty quick, too.

Regards,
3G
 
Good technique. Once you get the first cut, the rest is easy, and the wirecutters are a safe way to do it.
 
Thanks, Esav. I "stumbled onto it" through, how should I phrase it, "tiral and error" (the painful kind).;):D

Regards,
3G
 
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