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OpenX
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Vendor Commercial
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ASOTVI Review
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April 2, 2008
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 What is it? A tool for opening plastic clamshell packages.
Major claims – “fast, easy, and fun”
First of all, everyone wonders why manufacturers use those almost impossible to open clamshell containers. The answer is that they are “supposedly” an anti-shoplifting deterrent. That is, for some smaller products that would be easy to purloin into a pocket or purse, these near impenetrable enclosures make it very difficult to extract the product in the store without someone noticing, as well as the entire package itself being more difficult to conceal. The problem is that for all law-abiding citizens who happen to purchase these products, after getting them home, extracting them from their enclosures can be a nightmare without help. Enter OpenX to the rescue.
This product is made of heavy duty plastic and features two razor blades. One blade is an extendable triangular blade for both piercing and slicing; the other blade is set inside a set of plastic “jaws” or “teeth,” this blade specifically designed to slice open packages after the first blade has created an entrance incision.
The instructions for the product indicate for the first blade to be used to cut a one inch slit in the side of those hard plastic packages, then insert the bottom “tooth” or “jaw” into the incision allowing the other razor to slice open the plastic. Most of these clamshell type containers are constructed of two pieces of plastic sandwiched together and sealed along the edge. So slicing through at any point large enough to remove the item inside is sufficient for the exercise to be successful.
Many of these type packages are form-fitted to the product inside, and may necessitate a few strategic cuts to free the item inside. We observed that with the combination of the extendable box-cutter blade and the inset slicing blade, just about any twist and turn could be addressed. The extendable blade can also be used for any other box-cutting tasks. The other blade and lower jaw can also be used as a letter opener.
As to being “fast, easy, and fun” – It was observed to be faster than using one’s teeth (as the vendor’s video suggested) or even a pair of scissors. It was indeed easy to use, even when attacking very hard plastic. Fun? That’s a subjective judgment in the eye of the beholder, i.e. if cutting open plastic containers is what someone might deem entertaining or amusing. We observed this product to be an effective and useful tool.
Conclusion: Unlike scissors, which have difficulty negotiating hard plastic, or a standard box cutter or utility knife, which can potentially cut too deeply and possibly damage or scratch the product inside, this tool is specifically designed for this specialized task. It works as advertised and would be handy to have around the house, especially if you commonly purchase a number of products that often come in these type containers.
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Product: OpenX
Available From: Ranchmark
Summary:
- Easy to use
- Great for clamshells and cellophane-wrapped products
- Good to keep around the house if you buy a lot of products enclosed in hard plastic
$9.97 + S&H
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