Review on Metal Can Crusher Recycling Compactor by Angie Strongheart

Conceptually this device is very easy to use but practically and ergonomically not very good. It comes with 4 mounting screws 1" and 1/8" and without assembly instructions. The maximum opening of the device decreases from 7 inches to 1.3/8 inches when fully compressed. I was hoping it would be easier to use "floating" (no lashing) but it takes good grip strength to pull back with one hand and lots of pull on the lever to start it (once the can loses traction , will be easier). While I could mount this to a stud in the garage, my garage is freestanding and I keep my trash cans in my pantry, so I needed a convenient indoor spot to mount them. If you can't insert the top and bottom center bolts the stand then doesn't even bother with the drywall (not even with wall anchors). So I finally found a permanent place to mount it and decided to mount it at a height where the top of the glass starts at shoulder height and you can pull it down comfortably and best (and with a grip around the waste raiser end up). I was very wrong. The older one is supposed to grab the handle and try to pull it down, it's terribly unergonomic and difficult to start. Wall mounted, you can only go down as far as you have room to turn the knob under the base, and no height seemed comfortable. I put my shoes on then laid them flat on the floor and stepped on the end to hold it in place and then pulled. It was easier with violence, but harder on the back. I thought of many ways to secure this and use it in a more ergonomic way before developing my solution. My mounting solution is strong and secure, yet portable, ergonomic and requires less effort (see attached video). It doesn't mash anything thick like a chicken. Noodle soup jars or vegetable jars, they're too thick for that, but they're great for crushing thin aluminum cans and controlling the volume of my trash can every week.