Anyone know the trick to opening a Kitchen Mama can opener?

[Thomas Martinez]

Curious if anyone here has cracked one of these Kitchen Mama can openers open for a repair. These tend to be sealed looking units, but not realy all that sealed once you find the right order for opening them up.
The way in is to first remove the battery cover, then use a small screwdriver to pop the front cover off the unit. Under the front cover are two screws that hold the unit together. Once you remove those two screws, the back cover will open. This is common to many unit of this type.
I figured I'd post this in hopes of helping others who may be attempting to repair these. Many people online have given up on these models as being ones that can be opened because they are glued or ultrasonically welded together, when really it's the front trim panel that hide the two screws.
The only question I have is if the front trim panel is fragile to opening with a screwdriver. I've seen clips on many of these gadgets fail and snap off if someone goes too aggressive with a flat head screwdriver. A plastic spudger or even a guitar pick may be a better tool to use that does not risk damaging the unit beyond repair. Has anyone else been in one of these and found out how the front trim panel is clipped on the unit?

 

[Caesar's Bubble Returns]

yeah ive been in a couple of these, the front trim is clipped all the way around but the clips at the top and bottom are way stronger than the side ones. Start on a side clip with a pick and work your way around. Metal screwdriver will absolutely chew the edge.

 

[Save Yourself]

plastic spudger every time. Learned the hard way on a bunch of cheap kitchen gadgets.

 

[Tender Trout]

Wait so the screws are literally hidden under the cosmetic panel? Why do manufacturers even bother with that, it adds zero value to the product and makes it harder to perform repairs should there be any?

 

[Bright Bird]

honestly for what these things cost just buy a new one lol

 

[Caesar's Bubble Returns]

Wait so the screws are literally hidden under the cosmetic panel? Why do manufacturers even bother with that, it adds zero value to the product and makes it harder to perform repairs should there be any?

the clips snap. Dont go in cold either, warm the front panel with a hair dryer for like 30 seconds and the plastic will be easier to work with.

 

[Pixellated Han]

Cracked mine open last month. Brushes on motor are toast, not something I would of expected from a device that is only ever on for 20 seconds at a time. Replaced with brushes from an old electric toothbrush and it works again. Gearbox is problematic though as there is a small plastic gear that strips when the device attempt to turn on a particularly heavy can.

 

[Tender Trout]

the clips snap. Dont go in cold either, warm the front panel with a hair dryer for like 30 seconds and the plastic will be easier to work with.

Hair dryer trick is interesting, does that work for most ABS plastic or are there some types of plastic that it will not work on?