Is the top easy to open? The Chef has very short handles on the top and bottom. Can you get enough leverage?
516591
My experience is that it is very easy to open. I have never had a problem. And the absence of a long handle (or handles) at least for me, makes it easier to store.
516592
Yes, you don't need much leverage or strength. In fact, I suggest you be fairly gentle when opening and closing the lid. It's not hard to rotate it too far when opening it, which will jam it.I've had mine for just a couple of months, and I love it. Today, I am using it as a slow cooker with the included glass lid and an induction cooktop. Unfortunately, the lid fell off my kitchen table, and the plastic handle broke a couple of weeks ago. I'm waiting to hear from Fagor how much it will cost to repair.
516593
Yes, very easy open. At first I struggled with closing the lid because I didn't understand that I have to pull the lever with my thumb for opening AND closing! FYI, I have crippled hands from severe rheumatoid arthritis. But I still can do it.
1706862
It takes a little repetition but it gets easier pretty quickly. I find it's easiest to pull the little nub on the back with my index finger, rather than the bar on the blade. Mine opens super quick and easy with just the one finger now. One-handed opening! I love this knife!
2207564
I'm not sure how much strength you have but my concern is being able to spread the handles apart once you have the chair on the ground. my mother's is a bit stiff to open all the way for her to sit in it.
1546007
I'm finding mine kinda tough to open, but it depends on the size of the doorway, I think. If you can get it so the handle is locked in to one of the holes I think it'll be tricky. I have mine in a larger entrance and it's fine, but the smaller entrance the lock handle was sticking straight up and was easier to open.
1870347
Yes, extremely easy. The legs that support each side just swing open, and the tops are hinged. So, to open it, raise the top, and swing the legs underneath. To lower the sides, reverse the process.
1934137
It is easy to open, but it is heavy when it's full and also the outside gets hot. I don't know the way you would use it, but my elderly mom with arthritis had difficulty.
729786
It's a great poacher, but tricky to open without breaking. When you open it from the handle, you need to lift the entire top up so that the hinges will "connect" and easily open. I find that, when I lift the handle (when opening), I place my thumb on the inside, in the middle, to lift it and that allows it to open smoothly. Otherwise, you will break the one or both of the hinges off, making the product unusable. Hope that helps.
1798715
I agree with Keyman...it's really quite easy to open and close but there is no spring.
176065
it's really easy. Just lift the very front lip edge of the top, the silver piece, and it unlocks and opens. It sort of snaps a bit.
1154858
The top half comes off and the design of the head and tail actually make it very easy to lift....they act as handles of sorts. I use my welding gloves which are on hand for loading the wood stove.
292722
Not hard at all. There are side handles just below the lid handles which makes it very easy to carry. I'm very happy with this product.
1252545
I dont know about easily, but my 6 yr old has no problem. Also, my almost 3 yrs old figured out how to open it today. It takes a fair amount of strength to lift and open.
143700
It depends on how much you tighten it. You can tighten the pivot until you can't even get the blade out if you want. Out of the box though, it was slightly towards the easy to open spectrum. The lock up was tight but it still managed to open easily. Not really worried about it opening in a loose bag easy, but able to flipped out with a thumb or by harshly waving the knife, sure.
456446
I use it often at work and I've had no difficulty. I'm 6'7" and even with large hands, I find it to be pretty easy to open and close. Like anything, the more it's used, the easier it is to handle.
973977
Yes I find it hard to open as I have small hands ( 5.5" from base of palm to middle finger). If I use one hand to open comfortably the widest gap between the tip of the blades is &lt;1", so to make it functional I have to stretch my 4 fingers and the thumb to pry open up the handle.
1662187
Yes, it is actually very easy to me. With the glass having a wide entrance it makes it easy to reach all the way to the bottom without even touching the sides of the glass. I don't have a tiny hand either if that helps lol.
435136
It does open at the top with some effort; however, the handle broke off the third time we used it and cannot be repaired. It was great before this happened.