Russell Hobbs 14448 > Reviews (1)

Russell Hobbs 14448 Tin Opener

The 14448 is an electronic tin opener made by popular household appliance manufacturer, Russell Hobbs. The device also features a handy knife and scissor sharpener on the back of the product. The product was a good investment and opened cans efficiently but it does take a little bit of experience in positioning the can in the right orientation for it to pierce the lid to get started. I paid £15 from Sainsbury’s and it was a good investment.

Appearance

The product is completely white in appearance with a small grey Russell Hobbs logo to the bottom of the product. The tin opener can sit upright and has a good size in that it is not too small. The product features a predominantly plastic construction, which is smooth and to a good clean finish. At the back of the product is a raised around with grooves in it for sharpening knives and scissors which was a useful touch. There is a thin white power lead which extends from the back of this which just needs a standard UK plug to operate. The front of the design at the top has a magnetic surface which can hold suitable metal tins, which then with the tin opener and motor, collectively cut a tin open efficiently. The product felt quite light to hold but was of a good sturdy nature. Overall, whilst a bit simple and plain, the product had a good functional appearance and design.

Features

As mentioned the 14448 is actually a 2 in 1 device in that it both opens tins electronically and also sharpens knives and scissor or any other bladed object. The product was advertised as hands free due to the magnetic component at the top of the opener where the tin slots under. For certain cans this holds true, but for others they are too heavy for the magnetic resistance to hold it. The product has a 68W of power which is powerful enough for it to cut cans cleanly and efficiently. The powercord at the back can also fit into a hole near the bottom which offers space saving storage and was a good finishing touch.

Durability

I’ve had the product for around 2 months now and I’ve never thus far experienced any durability problems. The plastic is tough and sturdy, the motor on board works well and has not overheated, and the magnetic part at the top has not lost any of its strength. I think RH offer a warranty as well should anything mechanically go wrong, but the product is very good and is of a high standard which you would expect from such a popular UK manufacturer.

Ease of Use

The product can cut cans easily and efficiently with the electronic motor on board but there are some problems actually getting the product to pierce a tin lid. The tin has to be in a perfect orientation and the product will then pierce the lid and you can begin the opening process. This takes a little time and experience to work out where the can would pierce most easily and can be a little frustrating at first. If you have a large heavy can, I’ve also found you need to hold it because a few times the magnet has not been strong enough to hold it without needing manual assistance.

Small tins are however no problem at all and the magnetic idea was a great feature. Overall reasonably easy to use but difficult to pierce the can at first.

Pricing

I paid £15 for the product from Sainsbury’s and thought it was a reasonable price to pay given the quality of the product. I see the appeal of a motorised tin opener however more so towards disabled or elderly people who have trouble using manual can openers. I myself in future, would probably just buy a cheaper manual opener for a few pound and save myself some money. The product is also available on eBay UK and on Amazon where it sells for £15.99 including the free super saver delivery.

Drawbacks

As mentioned the product did have a few problems. It was difficult to position the tin so it pierces the lid easily but this becomes much easier with practice. The magnetic holder does not hold all weights and sizes of tin but does hold most effectively. The product is also a little noisy and on tough cans, you can hear almost a straining noise from the device.

Conclusion

The 14448 is a useful and fun to use gadget for opening tins and sharpening knives. The product is simple and clean in appearance, can cut cans open cleanly and efficiently with the 68W of power it puts out and would be great for disabled or elderly people. It did come with piercing problems, magnetic problems and maybe a bit too much noise but this could still be a better product to use than a manual opener for some people. I paid £15 for the product which was satisfactory but in future I think I will just stick to a simple manual opener since you can pick them up much cheaper. I’d recommend this gadget if you have difficulty using a manual opener or want a fun gadget to play around with, but I think for able bodied people in regard to a manual opener, manual openers are a cheaper and still functional tin opening tool. Thanks for reading my review.

© Revo9 (2011)
*Note, I am both a member of Ciao and Dooyoo.co.uk under the same username of Revo9*