Seal Surrender - Jar Opener

The problem

If you have struggled to open a jar of pickles or olives, then you are not alone.

It’s difficult because the underside of the lid is fitted with a rubberized lip, that tightly seals against the glass jar. A vacuum then forms as the contents cool or from deliberate vacuum sealing.

Since the atmosphere is pushing down with a force of about 1 kg per square cm (14.7 lb / square inch) - that means a small 5 cm lid will have about 19 kg of force pressing down on it.  A 10 cm pickle jar lid will have 70 kg! As if someone is standing on it - mind your fingers.

No wonder it is tough to get your pickle.

Looking for more helpers?

Here's my collection of other independent living aids.

The solution

The Seal Surrender jar opener catches the lower lip of lid and when you pull up on the handle, similar to a bottle opener, the lid is twisted away from the jar, just enough to break the seal and let the vacuum equalize to atmospheric pressure. 

It's as if someone stepped off the jar!
 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT USING SEAL-SURRENDER!

Look closely at a jars lid - there's several tangs that lock into the glass threads. Use Seal Surrender at the mid-point between the tangs - where the lid can flex. 

If you try to lever at the tangs where the lid is completely rigid, it won't work, and it's likely you will snap the lever tooth.  See the photos, there's a diagram. Also note the jars thread can also interfere with the tooth getting under the lid - so look for the best location, some spots will be better than others. 
 

How to lever - Once you engage the lip, push toward the jar and pull up slowly and gently increase the force until you hear the lid pop or a nice hiss. Job done - the seal has surrendered! You are not levering the lid off, just twisting the edge out a little and letting it spring back - this should not deform or damage the lid. As you lever it will feel a little spongy / springy as the lid flexes and your tool is plastic…but have faith in your tool.

You will now find the lid is much easier to remove. If you have arthritis you can still use a normal jar opener / helper at this point but you will need almost no force to twist the lid off.  

Lid thickness issues?
 

If it seems the lid is too thick to fit into the tool, try angling the handle down so you come into the lid at an angle - head up, handle down - by 20-40 degrees. Its wider from that approach than straight on with the handle level.  

If that fails also, let me know in the comments and I can make one with a larger tooth-gap.

Materials & Print
 

PLA will work well here so no exotic materials needed, it's tough enough. Remember your goal is to gently pry the lid, not trying to lever it off like a bottle cap. Just don't put PLA in the dishwasher!

The print includes supports for the lever and you can pry this out with a screwdriver or butter knife when its done. It does result in a less than great surface the lever-tooth, but on the other had it's slightly less tight and dense and rough than a normal layer and so may help to grip the edge of the lid. 

Print uses 6 walls to improve rigidity and strength. 

Enjoy