[Kraelis]

Whenever I have trouble opening a bottle with the kind of metal cap that twists/screws on-off, I've always resorted to using a technique I learned long ago. In fact I just opened my nth bottle a few minutes ago.

If I'm not mistaken, it was the African-American guy who showed Big Bird (?) that by tapping the edge of the stubborn metal cap a few times and giving the bottom of the container a couple of hits with your palm, it can be opened quite easily.

Pretty handy when you don't have the rubber thingy to help you. Of course, it won't work on sealed caps. I'm not sure if it works on the plastic kind either. Hey... I never thought it warranted a full blown scientific experiment.

So... the question now is... Why the hell does it work??? :???:

 

[Player-X]

can you show me some pics or a tutorial on doing that because I don't know that way of opening a bottle

 

[Dark Watcher]

Ah...we have been doing this way before Sesame Street..but an interesting reference

It works primarily with metal caps and glass bottles and jars. They are made air tight when the caps is applied. Tapping the outside slightly will relieve some pressure, and slapping the bottom uses the contents inside to push some airflow against the cap.

You can tell that pressure has been released because usually the top of the cap pops up...
common examples are Mayonaise and Spaghetti sauce jars...and the famous poppin Snapple beverage bottles..

For a more scientific (make your eyes bleed with specifics)..seek out the great Boltz and Proto

 

[Kraelis]

Haha! When you're only 3-4 years old back them, Sesame Street is as early as it can get.

I was thinking of the same thing. I just couldn't sufficiently confirm it. And since I've never had trouble with the popping kind, I always forgot to try it on them

Anyway, thanks DW!

Player-X: Er... I can't find any online references to it anymore. But trust us... just tap the cap edge with some hard silverware, like the back of a breadknife (10 times according to Sesame Street ) and slap the bottom twice. Chances are, the bottle will be much easier to open . If not, just do it again.

Admittedly, I forgot to mention that you use a hard object to tap it in my earlier post.

 

[Aided Onslaught]

I never watched Sesame Street...but I remember hearing this from my dad. Couldn't get the ketchup bottle open, so he started to hit it with a butter knife. Opened fine.

 

[Hannibal]

It has to be one of the most useful techniques around.

 

[Aided Onslaught]

that and tapping a bottle of ketchup on the side (when opened) with make it run down faster...just give a little tappy, tap tap tap a rue...

 

[Hannibal]

How dare do you compare that with the opening a bottle sesame street style. Just kidding. Another thing I hate is that when you can open those closed aluminun cans with fruits in it. My electric opener never seems to work and because that I never able to open the food. I am too lazy to opened with manual opener.