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?

 

[Rush]

these things are landfill fodder anyway

 

[Save Yourself]

guitar pick. Cheap, thin, wont mar the plastic. Its possible to buy a 50 pack for like $4 and they will last you forever as pry tools.

 

[Electric D]

OP nailed it. The trim on the front has 6 clips total, 2 on each of the long edges and 1 on each end. The clips on each end will snap on the side when you go to pry it open.

 

[Caesar's Bubble Returns]

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?

works on most abs and pc blends but you just want it warm to the touch not too hot. If your hair dryer is on high you can feel it through the plastic in about 20-30 seconds. Do not hold it in one spot or you will melt a patch in the plastic.

 

[Poor Panda]

i broke a clip on mine, superglued it back, you can’t even tell. Dgaf as long as it works

 

[Forbidden Plunger Babi]

Has anyone actually tested the motors to see if they are salvageable for other projects? I have seen a couple of these for sale at thrift stores for around $1. Wondering if the motor is worth anything for other projects.

 

[Pixellated Han]

Has anyone actually tested the motors to see if they are salvageable for other projects? I have seen a couple of these for sale at thrift stores for around $1. Wondering if the motor is worth anything for other projects.

Motor is fine for small hobby projects. The motor is a 130 size with a planetary gearbox. The high ratio of the gearbox allows for a lot of torque but a slow turn speed. I used it to turn a little display turntable.

 

[Bright Bird]

$15 on amazon. Why are we doing this