How to Use a Multitool Can Opener

On this page (9 sections)

1. What does the can opener on a multitool look like?
2. How do you hold the tool and the can for a clean cut?
3. How to use a multitool can opener step by step
4. How do you walk the blade around the rim without slipping?
5. How do you get the lid off safely once it's cut?
6. Why does the can opener skip or crush the lid?
7. Which multitools handle can-opening best?
8. How do you keep the can opener working well?
9. Quick answers before you open your next can

To use a multitool can opener, hook the cutting hook over the can rim and push the point through the lid, then lever the handle up and walk the blade around the edge. Fold the tool, bend the cut lid up with the hook and lift it out by its edge.

The can opener is one of the most overlooked tools on a folding multitool. It looks like a hook with a small blade, and it works in a very different way from a kitchen opener.

Once you know the grip and the walk, a can takes seconds.

What does the can opener on a multitool look like?

It's a short arm with a hooked nose and a small cutting edge on the underside. On most tools the same arm also carries the bottle opener and a small screwdriver tip.

The hook curls down to catch the can's outside lip. Behind the hook, a small blade sits at a slight angle so it bites into the lid rather than the side wall.

The rest of the arm is your lever.

On a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife the can opener shares its arm with a small screwdriver that also fits Phillips screws. The Swiss Champ lists "Can Opener with Small Screwdriver" as one function among its 33.

Leatherman tools such as the Surge and Wave Plus put the can opener on the outside of the handle. You open that arm without unfolding the pliers, which matters when your other hand is holding the can.

How do you hold the tool and the can for a clean cut?

Hold the can steady on a flat surface and grip the tool's handle in your dominant hand. Keep the can upright so the contents don't spill when the lid releases.

Rest the can on a counter or table rather than holding it in the air. A stable base stops the rim from tilting as you lever.

If you're outdoors, set it on flat ground or a camp table.

Wrap your fingers around the handle close to the pivot for the most control. Keep your thumb off the cutting edge and away from the lid line.

A little space between your knuckles and the can rim avoids scrapes.

Work in good light so you can see where the hook sits on the lip. A headlamp or phone light helps at a campsite after dark.

How to use a multitool can opener step by step

Seat the hook, pierce the lid, lever up and walk the blade around the rim. The motion is a series of small bites, not one long cut.

1. Open the can opener arm until it locks or clicks into place.
2. Set the hook over the can's outside rim so the lip sits inside the curl.
3. Push the point of the blade down through the lid near the edge.
4. Lift the handle so the blade levers upward and starts a short cut.
5. Release the pressure, move the tool a little along the rim and bite again.
6. Repeat around the can until the lid is cut free except for a small hinge.
7. Fold the tool away, then lift the lid with the hook.

Keep each bite short. A long, forced cut twists the blade and can bend the hook.

Small bites also keep the cut line over the rim rather than wandering into the lid.

How do you walk the blade around the rim without slipping?

Apply light downward pressure and move the tool in small steps, letting the hook stay seated on the lip. Pulling the handle away from the can is what makes the hook jump off.

Think of the hook as a guide rail and the blade as the cutter. The hook should stay in contact with the rim the whole way around.

If it lifts, stop and reseat it before the next bite.

Rotate the can slightly with your free hand as you go, or turn the tool. Either works.

The aim is a continuous ring of cuts close to the edge.

Steady rhythm beats speed. Rushing produces a jagged edge and more metal dust in the food.

Slow, even bites give a cleaner lid.

How do you get the lid off safely once it's cut?

Stop cutting before the last few millimeters and use the hook to bend the lid up. Then grip the raised edge with your fingers and lift it clear.

Leaving a small hinge keeps the lid from dropping into the food. Bend it back with the hook or the flat of the bottle opener, away from your body.

Watch the cut edge; it's thin and sharp.

Tip the lid onto a cloth or paper towel so any flakes land there. Wipe the can rim before serving.

Don't run a finger around the inside edge to test the cut.

If the lid is fully detached, lift it by its outer edge, not the center. Hold it flat and set it down rather than waving it near your face.

Why does the can opener skip or crush the lid?

The usual cause is a hook that isn't fully seated, so the blade rides the lid instead of cutting it. Reseat the hook over the lip and try again with lighter pressure.

A second cause is a dull or damaged cutting edge. If the blade skids across the lid without biting, the tool needs service.

Victorinox backs the Swiss Champ with a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship. Leatherman warranties vary by model: the Surge carries a 25-year warranty and the Wave Plus carries a lifetime Leatherman warranty.

A third cause is a bent rim on the can. Damaged cans should be discarded, since the seal may be compromised.

Skip any can with a swollen end or a leaking seam.

If the arm feels stiff when you open it, that's a separate problem. Our guide to how to loosen up a Leatherman tool covers safe ways to free a tight pivot without damaging the tool.

Which multitools handle can-opening best?

Pick a tool with an outside-opening can opener and a comfortable handle. A larger handle gives more leverage on tough lids, while a pocket tool keeps the opener with you.

The can opener is a low-force job when the blade is sharp. Handle size matters more than people expect on a big catering can.

A slim keychain tool works fine on a standard soup can but feels cramped on a larger one. Our guide to what is the best multitool sorts the types by job.

Which multitool is best for everyday can opening?

The Leatherman Wave Plus is the easiest all-rounder for most people, because its outside-accessible tools open without unfolding the pliers. It weighs 8.5 ounces and carries 18 tools, including a can opener on the handle.

The replaceable wire cutters and spring-action scissors make it a practical kitchen and camp companion. The can opener arm sits alongside the other outside tools, so you don't dig through the handle to reach it.

Which multitool can opener suits heavy kitchen and camp jobs?

The Leatherman Surge is the strongest choice for big cans and tough lids. Its handle and pliers are the largest in the Leatherman line, which gives you more leverage when the blade bites.

The Surge weighs 12.8 ounces, so it's a camp or kitchen-drawer tool more than a pocket carry. Its interchangeable saw blade and file add capability for food prep and firewood on the same trip.

Which pocket tool has a reliable can opener?

The Victorinox Swiss Champ is the pick for pocket carry, with 33 functions on a 91mm frame that weighs 6.5 ounces. Its can opener includes a small screwdriver that also fits Phillips screws.

The stainless steel tools sit in polished black ABS scales. It's small enough for a pocket or glove box and still has pliers, scissors and a corkscrew for camp cooking.

If you're weighing up tool counts across models, our guide to what Leatherman has the most tools compares the heavy end of the range.

How do you keep the can opener working well?

Rinse and dry the can opener after every use, and oil the pivot now and then. Food residue and sticky juice are the main reasons an opener starts to drag.

Open the arm fully so water reaches the hook and blade. Wipe it dry rather than leaving it to air-dry, since moisture sits in the pivot.

A drop of light oil on the joint keeps the action smooth.

Don't use the can opener to pry open paint tins or tighten screws with heavy force. The hook is thin metal and bends under side loads.

Use the designated screwdriver or pry tool instead.

If the cutting edge dulls, a replacement may be needed. Our guide to how to change a blade on a multi tool explains when a blade swaps out and when the tool goes back for service.

Many Leatherman and Victorinox models are covered by long warranties, so check the maker's terms before buying a replacement.

Quick answers before you open your next can

Learning how to use a multi tool can opener comes down to four moves: seat the hook, pierce the lid, lever up and walk the rim. Keep the bites small and the hook on the lip, and the cut stays clean.

Pick the Wave Plus for the easiest everyday grip, the Surge when leverage matters on big cans, or the Swiss Champ if the tool lives in your pocket. Whichever you carry, wipe the opener dry afterward and it will keep biting for years.

Frequently asked questions

Which way does the can opener go on a multitool?

The hook faces down toward the rim and the cutting edge points into the lid. The hook rests on the outside lip so the blade can travel along the top edge without dropping into the can.

Can you use a multitool can opener on a pull-tab can?

Yes, though it's rarely needed. Pull the ring tab first, or pierce the lid away from the tab if the ring snaps off.

The hook still needs a clean rim to ride on.

How do you open a can without getting metal shavings in the food?

Cut with steady pressure and keep the blade over the rim rather than angled inward. Wipe the rim with a clean cloth before serving and tip the lid out slowly so any flakes fall onto the cloth.

Why does my multitool can opener slip off the rim?

The hook is usually not seated fully over the lip. Push it down until the rim sits inside the hook, then apply light downward pressure as you lever rather than pulling the handle away from the can.

Do left-handed people use a multitool can opener differently?

Yes. A left-handed user holds the can steady with the right hand and works the tool with the left, which reverses the walk direction around the rim.

The hook still rides the same lip, so the technique is unchanged.

Is the can opener the same tool as the bottle opener?

On most folding multitools they share one arm. The hook and cutting edge open cans while the flat lip with the notch levers off bottle caps, so you flip the arm to switch jobs.