23 replies to this topic

[Emax]

Modern heat-sealed plastic blister packaging is a damned hazard. Due mainly to their sheer strength, serious tools - sharp ones - are needed to get at your brand new widget. Not only does unpacking require sharp tools - the severed plastic itself presents a variety of lethal edges.

In a world full of safety freaks who demand warning labels on simple hammers, seat belts and seven air bags in our cars, heat warnings on paper coffee cups, etc., etc., how on earth is this possible? Airport security allows one to carry blister packs aboard... Hell, I could hijack the damned plane using one as a weapon.

When I was a kid, there were no blister packs and shoplifters had a field day pilfering small items. I guess we can thank this sociological fringe for our trips to the emergency room with packaging wounds.

Someone recently told me about a blister pack opener that easily and cleanly opens these annoying modern marvels.
You guessed it - it comes in a blister pack.
That's cruel. It's like wrapping condoms in babies.

This post has been edited by Emax: 05 January 2008 - 03:44 PM

[Peter]

I have gotten so many cuts from those things, there must be a better way!

[lastchair_44]

That stuff can quickly ruin my day. It's worse than the sticker on top of new c.d. cases that you have to remove first to enjoy your music.

[EagleAce]

I hear ya! I friggin' HATE blister packs and those stupid 'security' stickers on DVDs and the occasional CD I buy.

[2milehi]

blister packs?

A search on the internet yields



OK...I know now and feel your pain.

[floridaskier]

I didn't know they had a name but I think everybody hates these too. One time I snapped plastic handle on a pretty beefy looking pair of scissors clean off trying to open one of those. There's gotta be a better way

[Lift Kid]

I absolutely cannot stand them. I always ponder why things are packaged in such a way.

[cjb]

The most frustrating thing about christmas used to be the wrapping and assembly of toys the night before, not anymore, it is the unpackaging of mulitple toys from blister backs or the removal of a thousand twist-ties or zip ties to free toys from said packaging. I am lucky that I had my tool pack in my truck on christmas because I needed them to open the kids presents.

[lastchair_44]

floridaskier, on Jan 6 2008, 12:42 PM, said:

I didn't know they had a name but I think everybody hates these too. One time I snapped plastic handle on a pretty beefy looking pair of scissors clean off trying to open one of those. There's gotta be a better way

Lift Kid, on Jan 6 2008, 01:13 PM, said:

I absolutely cannot stand them. I always ponder why things are packaged in such a way.

There are better ways, but unfortunately this packaging is the cheapest so I don't think we'll see it going away anytime soon.

[liftmech]

cjb, on Jan 6 2008, 02:27 PM, said:

The most frustrating thing about christmas used to be the wrapping and assembly of toys the night before, not anymore, it is the unpackaging of mulitple toys from blister backs or the removal of a thousand twist-ties or zip ties to free toys from said packaging. I am lucky that I had my tool pack in my truck on christmas because I needed them to open the kids presents.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Three kids+3 new toys each=10,000 twist-ties and multiple blister-packs=mounting parental frustration. Fortunately I didn't slice myself open trying to slice the packaging open.

emax- you damage any of your new widgets opening the packaging? I almost ruined a brand-new switch when the packaging suddenly yielded to my knife and the blade hit the component itself

[skierdude9450]

Instructions for opening: Cut along black line with table or band saw.

Attached File(s)

•  Blister_Pack.jpg (38.95K)
  Number of downloads: 25

[skierdude9450]

This:

 P1070170.JPG (1.41MB)
Number of downloads: 16

Was the packaging for this:

 P1070171.JPG (1.27MB)
Number of downloads: 11

(Same zoom and distance)

This post has been edited by skierdude9450: 07 January 2008 - 08:28 PM

[Jonni]

I would say "use a bigger hammer" for this one, but in this case I think a bigger knife or power tool as mentioned above would be better.

[Emax]

Maybe cutting fingers off shoplifters' hands would remove the need for these consumer-proof packages.

[SkiBachelor]

Some companies have made an effort of designing new blistering packs, making them easier to open. Rather than having the package completely sealed around the outside, two small holes are melted together so you only have to pull them apart for the package to open.

[Emax]

SkiBachelor, on Jan 9 2008, 10:46 AM, said:

Some companies have made an effort of designing new blistering packs, making them easier to open. Rather than having the package completely sealed around the outside, two small holes are melted together so you only have to pull them apart for the package to open.

I've seen some of these and have made conscious purchasing decisions based this packaging improvement.
I suppose we could lobby or boycott, but I prefer the finger-amputation method for creating change.

[SkiLift101]

My favorite blister packs are the old hotwheels from the 60s.
I'd buy some on ebay but they're too damned expensive, but I do collect them but only buy the ones that are opened.

Attached File(s)

•  cf73_1.JPG (38.59K)
  Number of downloads: 12

This post has been edited by SkiLift101: 10 January 2008 - 04:31 PM

[Emax]

SkiLift101, on Jan 9 2008, 06:06 PM, said:

My favorite blister packs are the old hotwheels for the 60s.
I'd buy some on ebay but they're too damned expensive! I do collect them but only buy the ones that are opened

And they expect(ed) KIDS to open these things.
Where's the safety gestapo when you need them?

[lastchair_44]

It looks like someone is trying to capitalize on this difficult to open packaging.
www.packageshark.com

[Emax]

lastchair_44, on Jan 12 2008, 07:02 PM, said:

It looks like someone is trying to capitalize on this difficult to open packaging.
www.packageshark.com

To Hell with the trick tools. I say declare these packages "dangerous products" and get rid of the damned things.
Them and "stink-finger" single-ply toilet paper.

This post has been edited by Emax: 12 January 2008 - 06:13 PM