You’re Using One of Your Swiss Army Knife’s Handiest Tools All Wrong

You’ll never open cans the same way once you learn this blazing fast technique from the king of SAK hacks.

Published December 12, 2024

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Updated December 12, 2024

What can you do in 10 seconds or less? If you’re world-class sprinter Noah Lyles, you can run 100 meters and bag Olympic gold.

And if you’re clever Swiss Army Knife enthusiast Felix Immler, you can use the can opener tool to remove a lid in record time.

So while it may be a bit of a stretch to say you are using your SAK‘s can opener incorrectly, there’s no question you can use it more efficiently. Here’s how.

felix immler work glove — Immler recommends throwing a glove on your non-knife hand for optimal grip and safety.

A can of soup in one fell swoop

The traditional method of opening a can with the tool — catching the hook under the rim and using the point to systematically puncture the edge of lid as you move around it — works just fine.

But if you’re looking to pop several lids in a hurry — or just one to impress your friends — you’ll love the technique Immler shares with his 244,000 YouTube subscribers.

felix immler can opening stance — Standing with a wide, stable stance is one key to Immler’s 10-second can opening hack.

The first important step is to slip your non-knife hand (the one that will be holding the can) into a sturdy work glove. Doing so not only improves grip but will protect your hand if the (admittedly not very sharp) tool happens to slip.

Next, place the can on a roughly waist-high surface, stand with a wide stance for maximum stability and securely grasp the can with your gloved hand.

Finally, hook in the can opener like you normally would, but rather than making a series of punctures, firmly push it down and forward, stopping every few seconds to twist the can and adjust the position of your gloved hand.

felix immler can opener angle — Keeping the tip of the tool right on the edge of the rim will help you pull off the hack.

One move Immler stresses is positioning the tool as close as possible to the inside edge of the rim. Practically angling the tip toward the rim, rather than alongside it, ensures precise and consistent cutting.

See a full breakdown of the hack — including Immler really opening a can in 10 seconds — in the video below.