No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

On Friday, 25 December 2020 at 13:43:29 UTC, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m
The results from nut crackers that work on leverage are very hit or miss as wether the nut survives whole, due to the pressure you put on it followed by the sudden lack of resistance as the shell succumbs. There are types available that work on a screw thread which I imagine would allow greater control at the expense of taking longer to operate.

Richard

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 06:38:55 -0800 (PST), Tricky Dicky
wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

The results from nut crackers that work on leverage are very hit or miss as wether the nut survives whole, due to the pressure you put on it followed by the sudden lack of resistance as the shell succumbs.

I was wondering if there was something with a compound (or ratchet)
mech that would allow you to apply the load but in a more controlled
way?

There are types available that work on a screw thread which I imagine would allow greater control at the expense of taking longer to operate.

That's what I was thinking (and getting the nut in / out etc).

It needs to be something like an engineers quick vice where it gets to
the nut (size) quickly (spring tension?) and then allows you to
provide the required force quickly but controllably (and easily).

The longer pair of conventional nut crackers I have here (170mm) only
open to 90mm at the end of the handle. It has three 'openings' and
whilst *I* could probably still get say an almond in the first 'jaw'
(near the hinge) and still be able to encompass the end of the handle
(large hands), I can't because the opening is restricted (and it's not
easy to adjust)?

The shorter pair (150mm) can be opened to any angle, only has two jaw
spaces but are lighter built and seem to be on the edge of breaking
when I grip them hard.

If they worked more like a pair of pliers but with longer handles that
limited the 'close' (without pinching) to the smallest likely for a
nut kernel and with a fast closing 'jaw' that coped with any sized nut
you are likely to find (excluding coconuts etc). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 13:43:27 +0000, T i m wrote:

No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

Mole grip works perfectly.

Ron

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 15:04:36 +0000, R Souls wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


Mole grip works perfectly.

But how much 'adjustment' do you need to go from a Brazil not to a
hazelnut?

I haven't looked but something like that had sufficient crushing force
of some large Mole grips but with a fast electric 'pre-load'
(solenoid) feature (and release)?

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 15:04:36 +0000, R Souls wrote:

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 13:43:27 +0000, T i m wrote:

No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along with
a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a pair of
'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some) but
neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

Mole grip works perfectly.

Ron

THat was going to be my suggestion. Adjustable for size of nut, too.



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On 25 Dec 2020 23:34:02 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 15:04:36 +0000, R Souls wrote:

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 13:43:27 +0000, T i m wrote:

No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along with
a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a pair of
'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some) but
neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

Mole grip works perfectly.

Ron

THat was going to be my suggestion. Adjustable for size of nut, too.

Exactly. You adjust the mole such that when fully closed the jaws are
open a bit less than the size of the nut.

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 17:58:16 +0000, R Souls wrote:

snip

Exactly. You adjust the mole such that when fully closed the jaws are
open a bit less than the size of the nut.

Whilst that might work for one type of nut (in repetition) probably
wouldn't work for different nuts or anything that can range in size
quite a bit, like the almonds I have here.

Plus, if you pick up a slightly smaller nut, go to use it and find it
only holds, not breaks the nut, you have to release it again, tighten
the adjustment screw before trying again.

If you then leave it set as is and the next nut (of the same type) is
a larger one, would you still have the crushing power and what might
it then do to the kernel?

I'm not suggesting Mole grips wouldn't work at cracking 'a nut', just
that they might be a bit clumsy at cracking a batch of nuts when done
individually and with a random selection of types.

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 16:05:23 +0000, Chris Hogg wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


Ratchet types work pretty well, like these
https://tinyurl.com/yayqfkvh .

That's sorta what I was working up to in my head.

Turns out they have been about for a while: ;-)

https://ehive.com/collections/3894/o...ck-nutcrackers

If you could restrict the amount they open between actions (so you
don't have to ratchet them back from a walnut to the hazelnut you are
about to crack), even only if only with your fingers etc, that would
be cool (like daughters hydraulic log splitter when you release the
valve but can stop it re-opening fully by closing the valve).

Or you could probably close them manually first (for speed), then
finish off with the ratchet handle?

Cheers, T i m

On 25/12/2020 16:39, T i m wrote:
On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 16:05:23 +0000, Chris Hogg wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


Ratchet types work pretty well, like these
https://tinyurl.com/yayqfkvh .

That's sorta what I was working up to in my head.

Turns out they have been about for a while: ;-)

https://ehive.com/collections/3894/o...ck-nutcrackers

If you could restrict the amount they open between actions (so you
don't have to ratchet them back from a walnut to the hazelnut you are
about to crack), even only if only with your fingers etc, that would
be cool (like daughters hydraulic log splitter when you release the
valve but can stop it re-opening fully by closing the valve).

Or you could probably close them manually first (for speed), then
finish off with the ratchet handle?

Cheers, T i m


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtVr1-DZ2bU

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

I bought a pair of these some years ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203208654976

--
Michael Chare

On 25/12/2020 16:18, Michael Chare wrote:
On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

I bought a pair of these some years ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203208654976

Brand name is Crackerjack, and Made in England.

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 16:20:46 +0000, Michael Chare
wrote:

On 25/12/2020 16:18, Michael Chare wrote:
On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

I bought a pair of these some years ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203208654976

Brand name is Crackerjack, and Made in England.

Or 'were', I wonder why they stopped?

I'm assuming you can close the jaws manually (against the spring) to
save having the ratchet the jaws closed onto a smaller nut ... and
only allow the jaws to open sufficiently for the next nut (after
releasing the remains of the last nut)?

eg. If you were only doing walnuts you could probably do one and then
just release the jaw fully and then not be to far away for the next
walnut but if you were doing a batch of hazelnuts ... ?

Cheers, T i m

On 25/12/2020 21:14, T i m wrote:
On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 16:20:46 +0000, Michael Chare
wrote:

On 25/12/2020 16:18, Michael Chare wrote:
On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

I bought a pair of these some years ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203208654976

Brand name is Crackerjack, and Made in England.

Or 'were', I wonder why they stopped?

I'm assuming you can close the jaws manually (against the spring) to
save having the ratchet the jaws closed onto a smaller nut ... and
only allow the jaws to open sufficiently for the next nut (after
releasing the remains of the last nut)?

eg. If you were only doing walnuts you could probably do one and then
just release the jaw fully and then not be to far away for the next
walnut but if you were doing a batch of hazelnuts ... ?

Cheers, T i m

There is no spring on the jaws. The jaw that moves is stiff enough to
move so that it does not drop dowm. Your 2nd paragraph is correct.

The lever that moves does have a light spring that tries to keep the
lever in the open position.

--
Michael Chare

On Fri, 25 Dec 2020 21:47:13 +0000, Michael Chare
wrote:

snip
I'm assuming you can close the jaws manually (against the spring) to
save having the ratchet the jaws closed onto a smaller nut ... and
only allow the jaws to open sufficiently for the next nut (after
releasing the remains of the last nut)?

eg. If you were only doing walnuts you could probably do one and then
just release the jaw fully and then not be to far away for the next
walnut but if you were doing a batch of hazelnuts ... ?


There is no spring on the jaws.

Ah.

The jaw that moves is stiff enough to
move so that it does not drop dowm. Your 2nd paragraph is correct.

So how do you release the jaw to be able to open it up then?

The lever that moves does have a light spring that tries to keep the
lever in the open position.

OK, I get that, it give you something to lever against (or you would
have to pull it open between strokes) so maybe it would be better for
you to describe how you would use it ITRW?

eg, I was assuming the 'ratchet' was part of a way of gaining
mechanical advantage, eg you worked the lever till it made contact
with the nut (like a manual hydraulic press) and then you might have
another two or three strokes to go from 'contact' to 'cracked open',
or is the ratchet mech simply a way of suiting the crackers to all
sizes of nut and then you only get one 'go' with the lever to crack /
open the nut?

Or is the jaw held from re-opening by the ratchet and a (releasable)
pawl on the body and the main lever also able to use the ratchet for
building up the load?

Cheers, T i m

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

I've used some Cricco ratchet nutcrackers for years, but they seem
difficult to get now. See
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricco-Ratchet-Nutcracker-Crustacean-Tongs/dp/B078WVPCYP.
They are very strong, but even they won't crack thick-shelled almonds.
For those I use a 4 or 5" G-cramp.

Many years ago I had a walnut in a packet which I could not break with
nutcrackers or even a G-cramp. I decided to saw through it to see why it
was so difficult to break. That took longer than I expected with a
hacksaw, but when the two halves separated I found the shell was 8mm
thick and incredibly hard! The kernel was edible, but there wasn't much
of it.

--

Jeff

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 08:11:40 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

I've used some Cricco ratchet nutcrackers for years, but they seem
difficult to get now. See
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricco-Ratchet-Nutcracker-Crustacean-Tongs/dp/B078WVPCYP.

Can you use the tips for a more focused grip / pressure?

They are very strong, but even they won't crack thick-shelled almonds.

I don't get this. If they are sold as 'nutcrackers' and almonds are
'nut's', why don't they deal with them?

For those I use a 4 or 5" G-cramp.

I have a 10 tonne hydraulic press but I wouldn't have to expect to
(have to) use that rather than my general purpose nutcrackers? ;-)

Many years ago I had a walnut in a packet which I could not break with
nutcrackers or even a G-cramp. I decided to saw through it to see why it
was so difficult to break. That took longer than I expected with a
hacksaw, but when the two halves separated I found the shell was 8mm
thick and incredibly hard! The kernel was edible, but there wasn't much
of it.

Yeah, I've had some almonds in this last batch where the shell_to_nut
ration was pretty bad but I'd still expect *any* tool sold as a
nut-cracker to be able to deal with them.

I'd also expect them to deal with any nut easily, such that a child or
weak person could use them.

In theory, if something had sufficient mechanical advantage and was
well designed it would be less dangerous (less chance of pinching your
fingers or the things snapping and sticking into your had). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

On 26/12/2020 11:30, T i m wrote:
On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 08:11:40 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

I've used some Cricco ratchet nutcrackers for years, but they seem
difficult to get now. See
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricco-Ratchet-Nutcracker-Crustacean-Tongs/dp/B078WVPCYP.

Can you use the tips for a more focused grip / pressure?

Yes, but of course the lever effect is less the further the nut is from
the pivot point.

There are some better photos - even though very small - at this website:
http://web.tiscali.it/cricco/

They are very strong, but even they won't crack thick-shelled almonds.

I don't get this. If they are sold as 'nutcrackers' and almonds are
'nut's', why don't they deal with them?

For those I use a 4 or 5" G-cramp.

I have a 10 tonne hydraulic press but I wouldn't have to expect to
(have to) use that rather than my general purpose nutcrackers? ;-)

Many years ago I had a walnut in a packet which I could not break with
nutcrackers or even a G-cramp. I decided to saw through it to see why it
was so difficult to break. That took longer than I expected with a
hacksaw, but when the two halves separated I found the shell was 8mm
thick and incredibly hard! The kernel was edible, but there wasn't much
of it.

Yeah, I've had some almonds in this last batch where the shell_to_nut
ration was pretty bad but I'd still expect *any* tool sold as a
nut-cracker to be able to deal with them.

I'd also expect them to deal with any nut easily, such that a child or
weak person could use them.

In theory, if something had sufficient mechanical advantage and was
well designed it would be less dangerous (less chance of pinching your
fingers or the things snapping and sticking into your had). ;-(

Sounds like you're almost into the realms of those trying to design a
better mousetrap! :-)

--

Jeff

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:37:43 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

On 26/12/2020 11:30, T i m wrote:
On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 08:11:40 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

I've used some Cricco ratchet nutcrackers for years, but they seem
difficult to get now. See
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricco-Ratchet-Nutcracker-Crustacean-Tongs/dp/B078WVPCYP.

Can you use the tips for a more focused grip / pressure?

Yes, but of course the lever effect is less the further the nut is from
the pivot point.

Yeahbut the point load might be greater/ sufficient for those nuts
that open easily and fall in half (like walnuts / hazelnuts).

There are some better photos - even though very small - at this website:
http://web.tiscali.it/cricco/

Cheers,

snip

In theory, if something had sufficient mechanical advantage and was
well designed it would be less dangerous (less chance of pinching your
fingers or the things snapping and sticking into your had). ;-(

Sounds like you're almost into the realms of those trying to design a
better mousetrap! :-)

Well, only if we had a working mousetrap in the first place. ;-)

It seems I'm not alone in observing that what many might consider to
be 'standard nutcrackers' simply don't work on many nuts and yet they
are still sold for the purpose (often alongside the nuts themselves)?

I'm sure I wouldn't be the first person with a pretty strong grip to
leave a selection of nuts in the bowl un cracked because we feel that
pushing any harder is likely to break the crackers or hurt yourself if
the nut suddenly 'gave'?

And I'm pretty sure there would be a load more undefeated nuts left in
the bowl if my Mrs was eating them (with her arthritic hands).

Cheers, T i m

T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m



These are the best type Ive come across. Easy to control the amount of
crush and to reduce flying shrapnel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077DZY4...g=UTF8& psc=1

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 26 Dec 2020 10:37:16 GMT, Tim+ wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


These are the best type I’ve come across. Easy to control the amount of
crush and to reduce flying shrapnel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077DZY4...g=UTF8& psc=1

I saw those in my searching but because it looks like the nut would be
gripped all round and therefore require even more pressure to break?
Or is it because few nuts are actually round so you still get 2 or 3
pressure points and the shells not that flexible (so they don't
contort to be 'rounder') it's gets them ok?

They do look like they have reasonably long arms (good leverage) and
I'm guessing you could put then into the cone to whatever depth still
gives you a reasonably comfortable grip span?

Will they also do a 'tough' almond and if so, which way would you
orientate them in the bowl (if you need to for the best result),
across the long edges maybe?

Cheers, T i m

T i m wrote:
On 26 Dec 2020 10:37:16 GMT, Tim+ wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


These are the best type IÂ’ve come across. Easy to control the amount of
crush and to reduce flying shrapnel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077DZY4...g=UTF8& psc=1

I saw those in my searching but because it looks like the nut would be
gripped all round and therefore require even more pressure to break?
Or is it because few nuts are actually round so you still get 2 or 3
pressure points and the shells not that flexible (so they don't
contort to be 'rounder') it's gets them ok?

They do look like they have reasonably long arms (good leverage) and
I'm guessing you could put then into the cone to whatever depth still
gives you a reasonably comfortable grip span?

Will they also do a 'tough' almond and if so, which way would you
orientate them in the bowl (if you need to for the best result),
across the long edges maybe?

Cheers, T i m


As long as you orientate your almond correctly theyre easy to open with
these. They really are the apians genua.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 26 Dec 2020 17:17:09 GMT, Tim+ wrote:
snip

These are the best type I?ve come across. Easy to control the amount of
crush and to reduce flying shrapnel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077DZY4...g=UTF8& psc=1

snip

Will they also do a 'tough' almond and if so, which way would you
orientate them in the bowl (if you need to for the best result),
across the long edges maybe?

As long as you orientate your almond correctly they’re easy to open with
these.

Thanks, and by 'easy', would that include for someone who didn't have
a gorillas grip?

They really are the apians’ genua.

Cool. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


Interesting. /Any/ manufactured device you buy will come with a carbon
footprint (from extraction of raw materials through to delivery to your
door). Given you have a wider range of tools and the physical strength
to use them I suggest all you need - and the better course - is to use
one or more of them. The site below has some ideas (but not my recourse
to lump hammer on the back step when faced with Brazil nuts).

https://www.familyhandyman.com/artic...th-hand-tools/


--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Robin wrote on 26/12/2020 :
Interesting. /Any/ manufactured device you buy will come with a carbon
footprint (from extraction of raw materials through to delivery to your
door).

If I had to, I used to use my bench vice in my workshop to crack nuts.
Absolute control and no squeezing to hard.

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 11:18:24 GMT, Harry Bloomfield, Esq.
wrote:

Robin wrote on 26/12/2020 :
Interesting. /Any/ manufactured device you buy will come with a carbon
footprint (from extraction of raw materials through to delivery to your
door).

If I had to, I used to use my bench vice in my workshop to crack nuts.
Absolute control and no squeezing to hard.

But not exactly practical when you might prefer to be sitting in front
of the TV?

My point is that we are supposed to evolved this massive brains but
have to resort to the action of Neanderthals to be able to break open
a nut?

I know many animals also use tools for such things but they don't
generally have access to CAD machines ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0

And use water displacement to get them in the first place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZerUbHmuY04

Clever creatures. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 10:50:47 +0000, Robin wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?


Interesting. /Any/ manufactured device you buy will come with a carbon
footprint (from extraction of raw materials through to delivery to your
door).

Of course.

Given you have a wider range of tools and the physical strength
to use them I suggest all you need - and the better course - is to use
one or more of them.

Yes, I *can*, but is it beyond the abilities of man to develop a
single tool that can 'easily' deal with all the nuts one is likely to
see for this sort of thing (the existing range of Brazil, almond,
walnut, hazelnut and pecan for example)?

Like ... I expected *every* telephone answering machine to record the
date/time stamp of every message, along with the message and display
the number of messages in a numerical form (not count-the-flashes). I
also expected the message to be recorded straight after the message
(no delays so twin tape in the early days).

Anything less was no use to me or anyone (really)?

The site below has some ideas (but not my recourse
to lump hammer on the back step when faced with Brazil nuts).

https://www.familyhandyman.com/artic...th-hand-tools/

Sure but the question wasn't 'how can I break a nut', it was 'can
anyone recommend a nutcracker that will crack all the nuts we are
likely to expect to get in a nixed nut selection'? ;-)

As mentioned elsewhere, my 10 tonne hydraulic press would probably
turn the hardest nut into a pretty flat nut / shell disk blend, but I
neither want that result nor to have to go down the workshop to do it.

If there actually isn't such a single tool made today (and there have
been some suggestions here that there might be), maybe there is a
earning opportunity for an engineer here?

Cheers, T i m

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

A sharp tap with a hammer does brazils nicely, but not on the table.

--
Cheers
Clive

On 26/12/2020 14:19, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m

A sharp tap with a hammer does brazils nicely, but not on the table.

Fine on the welding bench.

I have a hydraulic piston out of a lorry or something similar, about 100
mm diameter. If you put that on top of a good table mat or a bit of 6mm
rubber sheet you *can* use it on the dining table.

Surprised no-one has mentioned water pump pliers, the long handles and
simpler mechanism than a mole makes them suitable for the less
engineering minded (as long as they understand how to adjust the jaw gap).

Otherwise a selection of Moles. In the days when I went to that sort of
party I used to take a Leatherman Crunch which would produce amusement
and appreciation in equal measure at the "nuts" stage.

I did like the nut-splitter idea, though!

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 15:28:47 +0000, newshound
wrote:
snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

snip

Surprised no-one has mentioned water pump pliers, the long handles and
simpler mechanism than a mole makes them suitable for the less
engineering minded (as long as they understand how to adjust the jaw gap).

Yeah, they might be worth a go.

Otherwise a selection of Moles.

And them, on my remaining set of uncrackable almonds. ;-)

In the days when I went to that sort of
party

'That sort of party' ... ? ;-)

I used to take a Leatherman Crunch which would produce amusement
and appreciation in equal measure at the "nuts" stage.

;-)

I did like the nut-splitter idea, though!

Yeah, something like that but with a motor drive of some sort (as the
thread pitch is normally quite fine).

And they already do a thumbwheel / threaded style of nutcracker but
I'm aware how slow they can be.

Cheers, T i m

On Friday, December 25, 2020 at 1:43:29 PM UTC, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m


Something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Craft-Crack.../dp/B000YJ79DI

Jonathan

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

If you have the strength and muscle control then a simple lever based
one will do. Sometimes the shell will explode though.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Otherwise ratchet mechanism ones are expensive but hard to beat. Ours
was an Xmas present to my father from Langley Alloys many decades ago.
It was massively over engineered. It and they are still going.

https://www.langleyalloys.com/en/

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 20:00:14 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

If you have the strength and muscle control then a simple lever based
one will do. Sometimes the shell will explode though.

Or, as has happened to me twice (so far), the crackers handle snaps in
half across the weakest part of the section. [1]

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Otherwise ratchet mechanism ones are expensive but hard to beat.

Assuming they last, I don't mind spending the money on something that
actually does what it says on the tin.

Ours
was an Xmas present to my father from Langley Alloys many decades ago.

Nice gift (one that is useful and lasts).

It was massively over engineered.

So probably why they don't make them any more? ;-(

It and they are still going.

https://www.langleyalloys.com/en/

Good to hear (to both). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[1] After a time 'doing' engineering you (hopefully) get a feel when
you might be pushing things beyond a safe limit. An example of that
happened when I was quite young (maybe 15) when we were towing the
dinghy down to Cornwall for our family holiday. We got a puncture in
the trailer tyre and I got the scissor jack under the axle and started
winding. The tension built up to a point where I knew something was
wrong so stopped and told Dad. He thought I was just being weedy, over
cautious and so took over and after a couple more turns I heard a
'bang' and the welds all failed on the jack.

If I applied any more of my not inconsiderable grip strength to either
pairs of the conventional crackers I have here trying to beak the
remaining almonds I am fairly sure they would go the same way.

The point is, if I can break some steel nutcrackers trying to use them
to crack a perfectly 'typical' nut, I question their suitability for
the job in the first place. Given the fact that they would probably
break before the nut does, any 'proper' solution would need to be a
fair bit better re mechanical advantage / 'cracking design' and
control.

On 26/12/2020 20:58, T i m wrote:
On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 20:00:14 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

If you have the strength and muscle control then a simple lever based
one will do. Sometimes the shell will explode though.

Or, as has happened to me twice (so far), the crackers handle snaps in
half across the weakest part of the section. [1]

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Otherwise ratchet mechanism ones are expensive but hard to beat.

Assuming they last, I don't mind spending the money on something that
actually does what it says on the tin.

Ours
was an Xmas present to my father from Langley Alloys many decades ago.

Nice gift (one that is useful and lasts).

It was massively over engineered.

So probably why they don't make them any more? ;-(

They are available same model on eBay though second hand. I noticed
later that it had some brandname on it as well as a company logo.

"crackerjack nut cracker"

Will find it. The indestructible version has no plastic bits.

It will sometimes put the nut in orbit but only occasionally.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 28/12/2020 12:02, Martin Brown wrote:
On 26/12/2020 20:58, T i m wrote:
On Sat, 26 Dec 2020 20:00:14 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).


I have a wonderful old cast iron screw nut cracker, looks like a mini
workshop press does the job perfectly never crushing a kernel.

Mike

T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey and some other bits yesterday along
with a bag of mixed nuts-in-shells (as she knows I like them) and a
pair of 'conventional' crackers (bless her, we did already have some)
but neither feel like they will do the remaining nuts without breaking
themselves. I did all the walnuts in my bare hands and either
nut-cracker will do the hazelnuts.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

Cheers, T i m



I have a very old iron pair they must be pre WW2 if not WW1. No idea how I
came by them. The trick is to burst rather that crush the nut by apply the
pressure to the natural join line if there is one.

Hazel nuts are the worst you just need gentle pressure. Crack a few times
and the shell falls off.

Modern ones seen to be made of cr*p metal look in a junk shop for an old
pair.

On 25/12/2020 13:43, T i m wrote:
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

Daughter dropped off a Tofurkey

Did the Tofurkey come with a warning of which part of the Amazon rain
forest was cleared to farm your curdled Soy milk?

And how may Kg of fuel burnt to ship it to the UK?

Do be careful of the magnesium toxicity from the coagulating agents.

"T i m" wrote in message
...
No, not the trolls, nut crackers of some sort that can actually crack
say an almond shell without risk of:

You breaking the crackers (done that twice now so it's not down to the
effort you can (or can't) apply).

Crushing the entire nut.

Firing the nut across the room.

Taking ages.

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

The best sort that I have seen for being controllable (ie no danger of
crushing the entire nut) are those which use a worm-gear action to advance
the jaws: you turn a handle and the jaws are screwed together - but the
screw thread prevents the jaws from suddenly coming together as soon as the
resistance of the outer shell is removed. You probably still need to cup
your hand around the jaws to prevent the nut being fired across the room. It
may be comparatively slow compared with instantaneous cracking using
conventional nutcrackers.

I think nutcrackers (of any sort) are most effective if you apply the
pressure to the seam between the two halves of the nut (for an almond)
because that tends to split the shell at the seam. Likewise for a brazil
nut, line up one of the corners of the (roughly!) three-side nut in the jaw.
But you have probably already discovered that - the nut-cracking equivalent
of teaching granny to suck eggs!

On Fri, 1 Jan 2021 15:55:14 -0000, "NY" wrote:

snip

So, whilst it's a bit late for today, can anyone recommend some nut
-crackers that will do all nuts nicely please?

The best sort that I have seen for being controllable (ie no danger of
crushing the entire nut) are those which use a worm-gear action to advance
the jaws: you turn a handle and the jaws are screwed together - but the
screw thread prevents the jaws from suddenly coming together as soon as the
resistance of the outer shell is removed.

Good idea.

You probably still need to cup
your hand around the jaws to prevent the nut being fired across the room.

I don't that's such an issue if the nut is stable in the jaws in the
first place. Like with the conventional nut crackers with their
specific 'jaw areas'.

It
may be comparatively slow compared with instantaneous cracking using
conventional nutcrackers.

And that's the compromise isn't it, speed V *controlled* power. Eg, a
3' long lever and a floor mounted base you stand on would probably
crack anything but that's not exactly 'convenient.

I think nutcrackers (of any sort) are most effective if you apply the
pressure to the seam between the two halves of the nut (for an almond)
because that tends to split the shell at the seam.

Agreed.

Likewise for a brazil
nut, line up one of the corners of the (roughly!) three-side nut in the jaw.

Yeah, they are the most unpredictable I think.

But you have probably already discovered that - the nut-cracking equivalent
of teaching granny to suck eggs!

Quite. ;-)

The thing is, say we only have a 75mm 'grip span' and use crackers
that are rarely able to provide that as we make contact with the nut
.... (*and* still have sufficient mechanical advantage to crack the
worst of the nuts), we often find the span of the crackers too great
to deal with a nut in one jaw and already mostly closed in the next.

The conical tapered ones that were referenced elsewhere look like they
may go some way with dealing with the grip / range but may still
suddenly 'collapse' on the nut on a really hard one. I think I'll get
one as they look to be worth a go.

Cheers, T i m