# Ron Popeil and His wacky inventions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 1999, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799 "1999-12-21T22:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/1 "1999-12-21T22:05:00Z")
My girlfriend just sent back the rotisserie grill. She saw the ad on TV, and thought it was great! It was not-the chicken was burned on the outside, raw on the inside. Also, the chicken fat burned, and filled the kitchen with smoke. Of course, the TV adds show nice, golden brown chickens, and all the other thinks you can cook in this monstrosity. My question: how does this guy stay in business? Everybody I’ve talked to really regrets buying anything from Ron! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/2 "1999-12-21T22:20:00Z")
I had an uncle who bought a “glass-making” kit from a TV ad (don’re recall whether it was Popeil or not). The idea was that you could get bottles, cut off the tops, and make neat-looking drinking glasses out of them. It came with a glass cutter (not pictured in the add), and some “sanding clothe” to smooth down any rough edges. Well, wanna know what the “glass cutter” was? There wasn’t one–it gave you directions on how to _make_ one. It came with some “cutter” that you would place the bottle on–but it didn’t actually “cut” through the bottle. It simply scratched out a line around where you wanted to make the cut. Then–I’m not making up any of this–once you had the line “drawn” with the cutter, you went around the line **with a lit candle** heating it. Then you immediately go back with an **ice cube** cooling it. The sudden temperature change would presumably cause a fracture along the “fault line.” Don’t know if it could work. He just chucked it after he saw what it was. (I personally read the instructions. That is exactly the procedure you were supposed to use for cutting the glass.) On the other hand, though, my father did order the Ginsu knife. We never used it for cutting cans or anything that they showed in the commercials, but it was the perfect thing for cutting watermelons. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/3 "1999-12-21T23:14:00Z")
My favorite was the “pocket fisherman”. A complete rod & reel tackle box combination unit you could wear on your belt. This came in handy if you had an irrestible urge to start fishing at any time. ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/4 "1999-12-22T00:02:00Z")
Mjollnir, I don’t know where you or your uncle live, but I remember those ads - from a long time ago! - in Canada, and they showed the whole candle-and-ice-cube operation. (Maybe Canada had stricter truth-in-advertising laws?) But all glass “cutters” I’ve ever seen (admittedly not that many) did exactly what you describe - scribe a line in a pane that forms the weakness for the fracture. The only other choice I know of, besides grinding I suppose, is to cut glass with pincers while it’s molten. ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/5 "1999-12-22T00:08:00Z")
Let me clarify: the candle and ice part was unique in my experience to Ronco. But as far as I remember “regular” glass cutters just scribe a line, and then one taps - or whacks - the glass to break it at the weakness. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/6 "1999-12-22T00:17:00Z")
Ronco? Did you say Ronco? That was THE name in my childhood for irresistible TV commercials - I knew every one by heart. They sound would go up and this very fast talking guy would tell tall tales about shredders and grinders and every super-elastic-double-plastic thing…I couldn’t even guess what they were all for- At the end (?)there was a special “From RONCOOO” phrase or voice, my favorite part! * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![Sake\_Samurai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sake\_Samurai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sake_Samurai)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/7 "1999-12-22T00:28:00Z")
> [@](#): > > …how does this guy stay in business? Everybody I’ve talked to really regrets buying anything from Ron! That’s how! Many, many people buy $30-$300 items from him and others just like him. 4-6 weeks later they receive it. They maybe use it twice. It sucks and boy, do they feel stupid for buying it - most of 'em figure they’re just not using it correctly, because it sure LOOKED like it worked real good on TV. It ends up banished to some dark drawer, garage, basement or placed on top of the fridge to gather dust. Finally, it ends up in a garage sale or trashcan when that person moves. Few people ever return the items when they realize they’re junk. {:-Df is right about glass cutters. Cutting hardened glass is pretty simple: A sharp blade or roller is drawn across the glass surface to sufficient depth given the thickness of the piece (windows require barely a scratch) and then you apply force to one side while holding firm the other. The same principle applies to cutting through bottles. The fire and ice are extraneous, but add a nice ritualistic air to the whole cutting affair! * * * Hell is Other People. ---
**Author:** ![kylen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@kylen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kylen)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/8 "1999-12-22T00:29:00Z")
Caveat Emptor, anybody? If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is? I just like the option of seeing what I am buying before I go giving away my (sometimes) hard-earned cash. These guys (alas, Ronco is one of the more up-and-up of the lot)always come on sandwiched between used car ads, and look surprisingly like they belong in them… Now some of this stuff does work ( I have a convection oven that does wonders for chicken), but I let the buyers at my local department stores cull the crap from the quality items. And guarantee my purchases (much like my feelings on e-shopping). Kylen ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/9 "1999-12-22T00:41:00Z")
Mr. Popeil, I’m in trouble I need your assistance on the double Oh, now how am I gonna’ make my own vinyl car-top look like new? Tell me, what am I supposed to do? I want to shine some pennies I mend some leather I want Krazy Glue my head To the bottom of a biiiiiiiiiiiig steel girder It slices, it dices Just look at that tomato You could even cut a tin can with it But you wouldn’t want to ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/10 "1999-12-22T00:49:00Z")
Never bought anything from Ronco, but I did buy George Foreman’s Lean Mean Grilling Machine (at Target, not by mail), and it works great. Really does keep the meat juicy. Kinda over priced, though. My brother bought a glass cutter that used a heated wire to cut the glass and it worked ok, but he soon ran out of reasons to cut the tops off of bottles. This was probably 30 years ago, so maybe the newer one’s are different. Peace, mangeorge * * * Work like you don’t need the money… Love like you’ve never been hurt… Dance like nobody’s watching! …(Paraphrased) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/11 "1999-12-22T01:07:00Z")
What about _ **GLH** _ Great Looking Hair. I wonder if that even came _close_ to working? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/12 "1999-12-22T01:16:00Z")
Not a Popiel product, but great “As Seen On TV” item…Citrus Express…it works great! Love it! Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/13 "1999-12-22T17:11:00Z")
But wait, there’s more!!! ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/14 "1999-12-23T06:23:00Z")
How much would you pay?!!! ---
**Author:** ![torq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@torq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torq)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/15 "1999-12-22T19:03:00Z")
I’ve seen diagrams of devices to “cut” glass using a very hot wire; they look sort of dodgy to me. You can also cut glass with a tile saw. The little cutter wheels actually do work, though… at least somewhat. I used to have one, and the theory was that you could turn old bottles into glasses using it. The downside of this is that you now have a glass that is capable of holding most of a bottle of whatever it was, which is probably more than you really want to drink most of the time. Also, figure on ruining 8-10 of the first dozen you try, and at least one in three after that, as they crack when you whap them with the little mallet instead of seperating cleanly. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/16 "1999-12-22T21:11:00Z")
Hey Now, I purchased the Popeil Pasta Maker and it jams. I have experimented a lot with it and came up with a tasty lemon/pepper with fresh garlic pasta! I make a light fresh tomato sauce to put on top and I totally love it. The only thing I don’t like about it is how loud it is. That’s the only thing I have ever purchased from Ronco, oh and I purchased it via QVC. They have great money back guarantees and figured if one of the most respected cable shopping networks sells it, it should be good. I don’t have cable anymore, so I don’t buy from shopping networks… Who’da thunk, ME with my own Q number LOL ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/17 "1999-12-23T03:31:00Z")
I got one of those bottle cutters too. But you would scribe the outside of the bottle & insert in side a little itty bitty hammer and whack around. Left some sharp edges if you like your lips you probably wouldnt want to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/18 "1999-12-23T04:51:00Z")
Come to think of it, I don’t know what was going through my head when I decided to buy the Ronco In-The-Skin Tomato Juicer. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/19 "2000-02-03T15:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by techchick68: > **Hey Now, I purchased the Popeil Pasta Maker and it jams.** We, also, own a Popeil Pasta Maker. It was a wedding gift, as I recall. After working for a few days, it quit without explanation. We have exchanged it at the store twice. Knock on wood, the third one seems ok! But, what a failure rate! Popeil’s ideas are half-baked! ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799/20 "2000-02-03T15:23:00Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I fail to see the appeal of having glassware that looks like the bottom of an “Orange Crush” bottle. Now a table lamp made from an RC, well, that’s a different story! * * * Plunging like stones from a slingshot on Mars. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-popeil-and-his-wacky-inventions/6799.md?page=2)