soda cans

soda cans

by James Denison Mar 30, 2010 10:30PM PDT

Anyone a fan of today's soda cans? I rarely drink from one, preferring to buy in a recapable plastic bottle. A few days ago however I wanted a soda and the only type available at the time were in vending machines and all cans. I had a chance to remember WHY I quit using canned drinks again. This particular can was so flimsy you couldn't even lift it without crinkling in the side some. I guess the carbonation pressure helped keep it from doing that before it was sold. Then there is the opener on them. Some stupid little tab that you don't pull off, but press in and then have to wiggle back and forth to make it pop off so it won't be irritating you when you slobber from the can. I say "slobber" because listening to others also, that's about the best description of the sound made by most drinking from the cans. After getting the stupid little figure eight metal piece off, you realize the metal tab it pushed down didn't go all the way back and is blocking the soda from coming out like I'd prefer, probably adding to the slobber sounds. Does the indignity end there? No, I realize the top of the can is beveled inward, so it's smaller than the circumference of the can. After some contemplation I finally decide maybe it's to add some strength to the top of the can for stacking in trucks to deliver, but not really sure why it's that way. For lip feel maybe? If so, it fails. Seems designed to allow some dribble to make it past the lower lip to run onto the chin. After being tired of hearing it crinkle every time I picked it up, I just poured it into a cup instead.

I began thinking how some things are not consumer driven changes. I remember the old steel cans with the metal pull ring that fully removed all the metal from the opening, which certainly seemed a better design to drink from. A drinking opening quickly cleared, a sturdy can, and for those so inclined, pull tabs they could save for various crafts. As for the old argument that the pull tabs were tossed out and affecting wildlife, I wonder how many do like me and wiggle the current metal piece off anyway?

Discussion is locked

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The way things were.

by James Denison Mar 30, 2010 10:50PM PDT

Some Australian cans similar to our old cans, except 13oz instead of 12.

http://67.18.219.83/image_hosting/web_pages/oman222/375mL__Regular_Cans/13oz_Melbourne_ThickSteel.JPG

http://67.18.219.83/image_hosting/web_pages/oman222/375mL__Regular_Cans/13oz_Its_The_Real_Thing_Bris.JPG

Showing a pull tab.
http://www.bootsnall.org/datw/archives/pulltab.jpg

Steel beer can
http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/992/173/92/5579_1.JPG

One so Josh won't complain about the competitor cans above.
http://www.usasoda.com/images/pepsi15.JPG

Was it really so bad? No, I don't believe so. Killed by "feel gooders". Bring it back!
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Beverage_pull_tab.jpg/120px-Beverage_pull_tab.jpg

I love the alibaba description of "easy open". Somewhere in the world, people still get to use these type cans with pull tabs.
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/271408563/206_Ring_Pull_Tab_easy_open_lids.summ.jpg

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Other "recycling" uses for pop cans

by Steven Haninger Mar 31, 2010 3:21AM PDT

When I was stationed in Texas, we'd save these for target practice. There was a nearby outdoor shooting range with a high dirt bank just past the 100 yd mark from the firing line. Glass wasn't permitted but we killed plenty of steel cans out there on a weekend afternoon. At least they got used several times before being tossed. Those cans brought us plenty of fun when we were younger folks.

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Rarely even buy it anymore

by Steven Haninger Mar 30, 2010 10:53PM PDT

I've discovered that water takes away thirst better. If I have a carbonated beverage it's probably going to be some kind of ginger ale. I prefer to drink from a glass or glazed earthenware cup of some kind. I agree with the flimsy design and push in tab. One can easily cut themselves. I remember I guy I worked with a while back that was phobic about the health hazards when drinking from cans. He'd always rinse the top and take a tissue to wipe the inside of that little groove on the top edge and then look at the tissue. If any dirt showed, he'd repeat the process. He showed me once how much crud gets into these things. It's been a while since I've purchased soda at all.

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Those old tabs were a litter hazard...

by EdHannigan Mar 30, 2010 11:09PM PDT

I used to see them on the ground everywhere. I like the "new" design better. The aluminum IS flimsy, but it doesn't bother me usually.

I drink too much (diet) soda, but I also cash in the cans so I'm glad they are lightweight.

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also darned dangerous

by jonah jones Mar 31, 2010 12:45AM PDT

i still have a scar on my foot where i trod on one at the beach

sand+salt water? big OUCH!

,.

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don't they pay recycle by the pound?

by James Denison Mar 31, 2010 2:53AM PDT

Wouldn't it be better if they were heavier, due to being thicker construction?

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They pay by the deposit amount...

by EdHannigan Mar 31, 2010 6:30AM PDT

nickel a can. We buy them in NH (no deposit law) and redeem them in VT. Aside from that, yes, it would be per pound.

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I like the way you think Ed

by JP Bill Mar 31, 2010 6:50AM PDT

We buy them in NH (no deposit law) and redeem them in VT

I also cash in the cans so I'm glad they are lightweight.

You're just like a Union/Government, but on a smaller scale.

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Recycling and cost factors

by Willy Mar 31, 2010 2:10AM PDT

I don't know if the bottled plastic canisters aren't getting flimsy too. They are made to be crushed in order to be recycled just like the metal. As for the older can type, well I still have them resurface here at the homestead on days long before recycling and means everything was dumped. The only parts remaining is the aluminum tops&bottoms and tabs plus some minor iron encrusted with the aluminum tops&bottoms. The whole idea was to make the can itself less costly, thus thinner sides(all one unit) retain tab and be easily crushed. Alot of thought went into the development of that soda can, so understand if things had to change. And yes, I have come home and found an empty due to punctured side or during cooler stay gets nicked. Its better than finding tabs all over the place and the cans as well. That trash pile I mentioned is still popping up items after 40yrs. of use. People are pigs, just walk along any well traveled road. Heaven forbid you walk a road only a 1-2mi. from a fast food place. -----Willy

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Money is the root of all evil

by C1ay Mar 31, 2010 2:28AM PDT

Stackable flimsy cans are cheaper than the alternatives...

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Sturdy cans had another use

by Angeline Booher Mar 31, 2010 2:58AM PDT

However, it was in the day when kids wore sturdy shoes.

Step on the can, then hammer those sides around the soles. Bilaterally.

The finished product was the source of good loud entertainment as we stomped along the sidewalks.

Disclaimer: Not for indoor use. Will not work on tennis shoes. A variety of cans can be used besides sofa cans.

Angeline

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(NT) Been there, Done That ;)

by JP Bill Mar 31, 2010 3:05AM PDT

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thanks

by James Denison Mar 31, 2010 3:07AM PDT

I'd forgotten about that bit of fun.

We'd also flatten them that way. Stomp on the sides to pull the tops toward each other, then on the tops to flatten completely. Made recycle bags a lot smaller, even if heavier.

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Made "shingles" for clubhouses.... or more?

by Angeline Booher Mar 31, 2010 3:49AM PDT

Then had to remove both lids. Then flatten by your method. Nail on a la shingles.

The old ones used to rust, but lasted for a good while.

I'd heard that even grown ups used them for emergency roof repairs.

Angeline

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Cast-offs get re-used

by Willy Mar 31, 2010 4:26PM PDT

Used soup can(any can) lids to seal against mice and the like. They seems perfect for the job. As for plastic, I use some milk jugs for yellow jack traps, etc. It's nice to know that another can befall a typical cast-away item, but usually that's few and far in between. What about old chewing gum re-uses? -----Willy

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