I am sick of buying these things. And I don’t buy the cheapest, I buy what I think looks good and sturdy. And I keep them clean. But without fail, it may pierce the can, but won’t go around. WTF?
I don’t know how many cans you’re opening per day, but I’ve had the same one for the last two decades.
EZ-DUZ-IT, about $10
For powered models, my General Electric avocado green combination can opener/knife sharpener (and kittie attractor) works pretty well. Check eBay.
For emergency use the P-38 will do, fits on a key ring.
I don’t think I’ve heard of a can opener breaking. I thought it was something you didn’t replace unless you lost it in a move or something.
You aren’t the only one! I also had to buy one every few months for a while- my latest is holding up better though. I’ll check to see what it is.
Not break, just stop working. Pierces the can but won’t make the trip around
Yeah, they’re usually crap. The normal ones spontaneously disassemble at the wheel according to some manufacturer’s schedule, and the more expensive collapse eventually. The last one, about £5 lasted two years — and I don’t eat a lot of tinned stuff.
Then I bought a free-standing electric tin-opener. Like this Swan. No 3.
No problems since.
You mean electric, or manual? The same manual (two handles that open/close on hand, you turn a crank) was in use in house throughout my childhood. I still have them somewhere, and would still be using them if I could find them.
You need a nice swing-a-way. I’m left-handed and even I can get them to work properly. Get the portable size, not the compact, as it’s bigger and studier, and easier to use.
There are can openers with no moving parts; this is a classic design that dates back to the 19th century. There is one in my kitchen drawer for some reason. I don’t love them or anything, but I fail to see how one would randomly stop working. The sharp point and edge can dull out, of course.
I use an Oxo. It’s my 2nd lifetime can opener, the first being a crummy metal thing that’s now in my camping kit. I’ve owned my Oxo for 20 or 25 years.
I have a couple of manual side-cutting can openers, including one from Oxo, that work well. This design may have less stress on the device.
And the Q-38 will also effectively open most cans.
The one on my Swiss Army knife has never failed me!
The cheap can openers will begin to flex and won’t allow/provide enough torque and/or grip to get the job done. If you can, spend a little more $ and you’ll have it for ever.
Only good for one use, though. 
Has to be hand operated, my counter space is so limited a large cutting board over the sink doubles it.
Swingaway-darn, hadn’t thought of that in forever. Might be a thought.
And you know, I think the most recent fail is an OXO
Yeah, the last one to fail was of the Swingaway type.
I think I’ve had two can openers my whole adult life, the el cheapo that now retails for about $1.50, and an upgrade to the luxury model which looks like this. Never had a problem with either of them.
Try one of these. I’ve seen models older than I am still opening cans at restaurants Or just buy something of better quality or stop doing whatever it is you do to wreck the openers you get. I’ve got a cheap stamped metal can opener that must be at least 20 years old and will still open a can after a couple of slips. I have another one that’s a little better quality, maybe even older that works fine, and one like this OXO that works just fine with anything but some funny rounded rim cans.
It’s not that I don’t have sympathy for your plight, but it just doesn’t sound like the kind of problem people are having very often, so maybe, just possibly, there is some chance, that it’s something you’re doing.