Why DO the lids of things in tubes...
...have a recessed pointy bit built into them?

Hitherto, I have never ever had to ponder this. But now - now - I must know, before it drives me mad!
(IChewCandlewax, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:48, 21 replies)

Seriously?
The pointy bit is used to pierce the foil cap on the tube
(insomniac-surfer oh go on then, just this once, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:50, closed)

to pierce the metal film that is over the opening of the tube when you first open it
edit: unsurprisingly beaten to it
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:51, closed)

I - um - did not know this.
I was really kind of hoping for it to be a totally sexually perverse reason. Stupid, when I come to think about it...

Bah, fie on these plastic tube-caps; piercing the foil bit with a large unwieldy knife is part of the fun of being an adult! Its the only time I can legtimately act out that pyscho scene.
(IChewCandlewax, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:58, closed)

You have made me very happy
that there is someone else out there who didn't get it is very reassuring.
( chthonic, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:59, closed)

Somebody pointed this out to me a cople of years ago
That's the only reason I got it!
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 15:34, closed)

Namely,
me!
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Sat 17 Jul 2010, 23:22, closed)

Really ??
It's a mould to make really small doughnuts for ants
( Signify, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:52, closed)

It's not something I've ever thought about either!

( rofl harris, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:52, closed)

In order
to prevent all your better halves belming at you and calling you Joey (like mine is to me), I feel it should be made clear that when talking about tubes in this context it is things like tomato puree or super glue and definately not tubes of pringles.
( TriedItOnceAndDidn'tLikeIt made you lose the game on, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 13:58, closed)

Or
Smarties
(sabre-tooth monkey, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:00, closed)

Yes - Or smarties.
You did it too then?
( TriedItOnceAndDidn'tLikeIt made you lose the game on, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:05, closed)

Or
the London Underground.
(salvadorevincent, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 17:36, closed)

That's where I got confused
but it's all clear now.

And I did know why they have the spike in the cap.
(bill, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 23:09, closed)

For use when trimmed as an improptu arrowhead in case of attack by tiny bears.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:04, closed)

If you don't know this then don't be ashamed.
It just means you've probably not had any regular skin complaints that require a variety of lotions, creams and ointments. Which is a good thing, trust me.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:37, closed)

or used tomato puree

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:41, closed)

Aha! Good point!
I'd like to point out that I'd not recommended that as an eczema treatment.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 14:48, closed)

For the record
I have eczema and use tomato puree a lot and still didn't work this out till I saw someone else turn the lid around.
( chthonic, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 15:00, closed)

Oh well.
My sympathies.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 15:50, closed)

I was thinking of a smarties tube, for some reason.

( mike woz ere 7442200 & 7696970 getter, Thu 15 Jul 2010, 17:13, closed)

For myself,
I've never noticed the lids of things changing shape to include recessed pointy bits when travelling on the London Underground.

I think you're all doing too many MASSIVE DRUGS
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 15:07, closed)