Clamshell packaging - awful stuff

cheesefest

cheesefest

cheesefest

Soldato
Joined
18 Jul 2021
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Land of Gin (I wish)
Get this awful stuff when purchasing computer peripherals (mouse, memory sticks) toys, and things like scissors and knives. Followed the YT clips of how to open them without cutting yourself and tried without success. Who invented this stuff? Also you need a pair of scissors to open a clamshell pack with scissors. What happens if these are your only pair of scissors (in clamshell)? Surely there must be better stuff = safer and recyclable.

Opened a new power bank this morning and yep, cut myself on the edging.
 
Though I don't have much trouble with it - it has always left me scratching my head design wise - it is always so utterly stupid to try to open and any intended mechanism 99% of the time doesn't work. Or alternatively it is loose and semi-open in the box because the design doesn't work securely in the real world - sometimes held closed with some half-arsed use of staples.
 
Troubling as it is, I have to admit an affinity with quite a few of cheesefest's many moans, and clamshell packaging is certainly one I can get on board with.

I am still curious if cheesefest is a gentleman or lady member of the forum. cheesefest, what are you, is it a secret?? Feel free to tell me to mind my own bloody business, I can but moan.
 
I can't say I'm a huge fan of clamshell packaging, especially when they have those little 'welded buttons' so even after you've trimmed the edge (supposedly can opener will work but never tried..) you still can't open the damn thing. While I normally end up using a scalpel/blade of some sort to get in they do always seem to be made of the sharpest plastic known to mankind.
 
Generally best to attack it like a neanderthal while brandishing a sharp knife or pair of scissors, optional grunting and screaming usually aids in the endeavour.
 
just keep a scalpel in the kitchen (morton stanley blade) to dispatch clamshells ;

I do think that some of the tops on juice (tetrapack) and milk cartons now require an unreasonable level of grip&torque for older folks to initially take-off.
 
Rroff said:
Though I don't have much trouble with it - it has always left me scratching my head design wise - it is always so utterly stupid to try to open and any intended mechanism 99% of the time doesn't work. Or alternatively it is loose and semi-open in the box because the design doesn't work securely in the real world - sometimes held closed with some half-arsed use of staples.
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IIRC most clamshell packaging has 2 design criteria.
1: It's very cheap to make/assemble (no storing boxes, just either thin sheets of the plastic, or even just the plastic granules and make the sheet on site)
2: It's relatively obvious if it's been tampered with and secure.

Interesting fact, the original idea was thought up by Dr A.Cula and originally made in his eastern European facilities when he ran afoul of religious zealots who disliked his traditional line of work.


jpaul said:
just keep a scalpel in the kitchen (morton stanley blade) to dispatch clamshells ;

I do think that some of the tops on juice (tetrapack) and milk cartons now require an unreasonable level of grip&torque for older folks to initially take-off.
Click to expand...
I keep a couple of automatic retracting "safety" box openers for them (the blades only come out about 1cm and as soon as you take your thumb off the slide they pull back), and cutting the tape on boxes, although more than once I have raided my model making tools to get one open.
 
almost as frustrating as trying to open some diposable pump action soap dispensers - I've ended up unscrewing the pump from an old bottle to use on the new one sometimes rather than trying to figure it out...turn it, push it, screw it, **** it :p
 
Don't why people bother replying, if everyone ignored the waste of space she might go away
 
Werewolf said:
Interesting fact, the original idea was thought up by Dr A.Cula and originally made in his eastern European facilities when he ran afoul of religious zealots who disliked his traditional line of work.
Click to expand...
i've just spent far too long googling this fact only to realise the name should have been a give away......i hate you! :cry:
 
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