Nutcracker!

[Cogito]

Today someone gave my dad some macadamia nuts from their tree.

Having never seen  a macadamia nut in shell form I thought it wouldn't be that hard to get into however I was really wrong.

I tried using my Byrdwrench and that was immediately a bad idea as I had no leverage with it as it wouldn't grip the round nuts at all.

Then I used the Leatherman Sidekick which was also a failure, it would grip the smaller nuts but I couldn't put any reasonable amount of force on it to break the nut.

I opened up a few with a granite mortar and pestle doing them 1 at a time which was the easiest method.

When my old style Surge comes in I'll give that a shot and then update it here.

The moral of the story so far is though, if you are stranded on an island with nothing to eat but macadamia nuts then the best way to open them is with 2 rocks.  My dad said he couldn't find his nutcracker from the 80s so he was holding them and hitting them with a hammer before I got there so I'm sure that works too.

Does anyone have any ideas for what multi tools might be best at opening them?

[Crow]

What if you put that nut between handles? Just below plier...

[Cogito]

I just went and tried it right now.

The Sidekick failed flat out because the nut slipped out from underneath the handles.

The Byrdwrench had some hope because there is a groove between the wrench and the bit driver, but even with my thumb putting pressure to keep the nut in place there isn't enough to even get close to a crack.  As a result of the pressure I was putting I ended up leaving 2 tiny spots, one on the side of the wrench and one on the side of the bit driver. The spots are more shiny like it wore through the finish or something.

[Bensasupertool]

Find some channel lock pliers.

[Lynn LeFey]

They don't work on macadamias, but i used a Juice as a nut cracker on a bunch of nuts at a friend's house. The small driver was also great to pick bits from shells. The only nut it wouldn't crack was a walnut (due to size) and that was easily pried open along the seam. It's obviously too small for macadamia nuts, though, and I don't see a seam like what Walnuts have.

I agree with the channel lock idea. Or just keep with two rocks. There's no rule that says the tool you use has to be something new. Two rock crushing is a well established 'tech'. WELL established, inexpensive, rugged, easily available, etc, etc.

[Cogito]

They don't work on macadamias, but i used a Juice as a nut cracker on a bunch of nuts at a friend's house. The small driver was also great to pick bits from shells. The only nut it wouldn't crack was a walnut (due to size) and that was easily pried open along the seam. It's obviously too small for macadamia nuts, though, and I don't see a seam like what Walnuts have.

I agree with the channel lock idea. Or just keep with two rocks. There's no rule that says the tool you use has to be something new. Two rock crushing is a well established 'tech'. WELL established, inexpensive, rugged, easily available, etc, etc.

I'm sure he's just going to end up getting a nutcracker, they are pretty small and inexpensive.

My thinking was though that I don't always have a nutcracker or 2 rocks, but I always have my multi so if I'm somewhere out there I can save the day

I think a full size SOG pliers might be able to pull it off, what do you guys think?

Also I'm thinking it might work better if I put a small crack or hole in the shells and it might break at that weak point.  I was thinking about using the Byrdwrench drill/file thing and giving it a whack on the shell, but the metal looked soft so I didn't want it to rub onto the macadamia nuts.

When the Surge finally does arrive I'm going to test it first with the pliers then if that doesn't work I'm going to try using the awl to punch a small crack in the shell and redo it with the pliers.

[bmot]

They don't work on macadamias, but i used a Juice as a nut cracker on a bunch of nuts at a friend's house. The small driver was also great to pick bits from shells. The only nut it wouldn't crack was a walnut (due to size) and that was easily pried open along the seam. It's obviously too small for macadamia nuts, though, and I don't see a seam like what Walnuts have.

I agree with the channel lock idea. Or just keep with two rocks. There's no rule that says the tool you use has to be something new. Two rock crushing is a well established 'tech'. WELL established, inexpensive, rugged, easily available, etc, etc.

I'm sure he's just going to end up getting a nutcracker, they are pretty small and inexpensive.

My thinking was though that I don't always have a nutcracker or 2 rocks, but I always have my multi so if I'm somewhere out there I can save the day

I think a full size SOG pliers might be able to pull it off, what do you guys think?

Also I'm thinking it might work better if I put a small crack or hole in the shells and it might break at that weak point.  I was thinking about using the Byrdwrench drill/file thing and giving it a whack on the shell, but the metal looked soft so I didn't want it to rub onto the macadamia nuts.

When the Surge finally does arrive I'm going to test it first with the pliers then if that doesn't work I'm going to try using the awl to punch a small crack in the shell and redo it with the pliers.

I say use a Surge, but just use it to smash the nut. I'm sure it'll be heavy enough

[Spatha]

Crunch?


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[gregozedobe]

Don't bother with MTs, pliers etc, even if you can muster enough crushing force (unlikely in many cases)  you will probably just smash the kernel  when(if) the (very strong) case suddenly does give way.  I suspect that many dedicated nutcrackers may not be up to the job either (as they are designed for much weaker nuts like walnuts and almonds).

My tool of choice is a large vice.  That allows controlled application of force so you can crack the nut while leaving the kernel uncrushed/smashed to smithereens. 


This advice comes to you gratis, courtesy of Australia, the original home of the Macadamia nut (before the Americans started growing them and did some excellent marketing).

[Cogito]

My Surge came in today!   I tried it and it's hit or miss.  some of the nuts crack really well, some explode, and some don't break at all.  I wonder what the difference is that is causing it?

[Cupboard]

where a plier and a nutcracker differ is how far they close. A plier-y nutcracker typically has a choice of two sections, both of of which offer far more clearance than typical pliers so you don't end up exploding the nut when the shell breaks. Then there are the ones that are like a vice which again are unlikely to do too much exploding.

[Cogito]

I thought I figured it out, but I didn't   First I use the awl to poke a hole in where the stem is so there is a place for the cracks to propagate. Then I put it in the plier head with the hole facing up so most of the pressure goes there.  Even then I'm having mixed results, where sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it explodes.

I got a blood blister from the handles snagging me when one exploded right now

I'm out of ideas.

[gregozedobe]

I thought I figured it out, but I didn't   First I use the awl to poke a hole in where the stem is so there is a place for the cracks to propagate. Then I put it in the plier head with the hole facing up so most of the pressure goes there.  Even then I'm having mixed results, where sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it explodes.

I got a blood blister from the handles snagging me when one exploded right now

I'm out of ideas.

I refer you to Reply # 8    (sometimes you do need the "right" tool to do the job properly and safely )

[Cogito]

And I will refer you to this

[PTRSAK]

What you need is a Bonk.  THE right tool for the job



http://www.nutworks.com.au/shop/nut-crackers/bonk-nutcracker-420g

[gregozedobe]

What you need is a Bonk.  THE right tool for the job

(Image removed from quote.)

http://www.nutworks.com.au/shop/nut-crackers/bonk-nutcracker-420g

I think their TJ Nutcracker might be even righter   

http://www.nutworks.com.au/shop/nut-crackers/tj-nutcracker-1-3kg

[PTRSAK]

It's nice, but $82 for a nutcracker?!?!?!!? 

[Cogito]

(Image removed from quote.)

It's nice, but $82 for a nutcracker?!?!?!!? 

The Sog Branded one is $160 

[RT1969]

I could not crack some Macadamia nuts with a normal nutcracker. Do yourself a favor and listen to our friends from down-under. Get a vice-like nutcracker (which you can use on other nuts, too) and spare yourself bruised fingers and fragmentation grenadesnuts!

[Huntsman]

Another cracking idea (pun intended) for macademias from down under

I always use a regular medium sized hammer!!

I place the nut on the paving slabs in the patio out the back - a wall works too!

One short sharp blow to the nut shell usually does it 

Don't aim/drive through the nut for the floor as this shatters everything - aim for the shell then snap the hammer back!! Almost a bouncing motion!!

.... Pliers/nutcrackers forget them!!