How to use it
Your first crack, step by step
The MaccaWakka macadamia nut cracker is easy once you have the knack, and the knack takes about ten nuts. Here are the five things that trip people up, straight up, then the full guide.
Read this first
- How hard to hit. A firm tap, not a hammer swing. Start medium and add force until the shell splits. Two or three taps on a big Hawaiian-type nut is normal.
- Small nuts. Australian macadamias in shell are graded by diameter: small 16–18 mm, medium 18–23 mm, large 23–28 mm and extra large over 28 mm. The MaccaWakka takes the lot. Set the pin so the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the cup. For small nuts that want to roll out of the cup: tilt the cracker on its side, screw the pin in until the nut sits snug in the cup, and strike it sideways. Or slip a rubber band around the cup to squeeze it tighter for the small ones.
- The notches in the red cup are by design. The silicone is meant to flex. A split-looking cup is a working cup.
- It is loud. Use a chopping board or towel under it, or take it outside.
- Stiff or stuck button on day one? Normal. Press it a few times and it frees up.
Watch it first
Unboxing: your first minute
- Lift the handle gently, with a twist. Twist the handle slightly to one side as you lift it, to free the red cup from the timber base. Do not pull straight up: that can pull the cup off the handle. If it ever does come off, it can be glued back on with epoxy.
- Wake up the button. The stainless size-adjuster button ships screwed all the way in. It is doubling as your nut-eject button, and it can be stiff at first. Press it a few times, or gently tap it against the strike plate, and it loosens up.
- Use the unscrew trick to make room for a nut. Unscrew the button anticlockwise. You may need to push the bolt slightly sideways to give the nut on the other end enough friction to turn.
Crack your first nut
- Put a nut in the red cup on the front of the handle.
- Set the pin. Turn the stainless button clockwise or anticlockwise until the nut sticks out of the cup by about 3–5 mm. Too far out and it shatters the kernel; not far enough and the shell will not crack. Once you have set it for your average nut, you rarely need to touch it again unless the nut sizes vary a lot.
- Give it a firm tap on the stainless striker plate in the base. The nut cracks and stays in the cup. You will quickly find how much force you need: too much smashes the kernel, too little just taps the shell.
- Press the button to eject the nut, and enjoy the kernel. Did it not crack the first time? Hit it again until it does: striking the nut is oddly therapeutic.
Getting the knack: how hard?
Think of it as tapping a tent peg, not driving a fence post. Start with a medium tap and add a little each time until the shell splits, then remember that feel. Big, thick-shelled macadamias (the Hawaiian-type nuts common in the US) can take two or three taps. Smaller, thinner-shelled nuts are usually easier. If you are getting crumbs, ease off. If nothing happens, check the pin: the nut needs to sit 3–5 mm proud of the cup.
Hawaiian vs Australian shells: shell thickness varies a lot between varieties and between seasons. Thick-shelled nuts need more taps, not a bigger swing.
Which nuts does it take?
Australian macadamias in shell are graded by diameter: small 16–18 mm, medium 18–23 mm, large 23–28 mm and extra large over 28 mm. The MaccaWakka takes the lot. Very small nuts (drought years often make them) can rattle around in the cup: for small nuts that want to roll out of the cup: tilt the cracker on its side, screw the pin in until the nut sits snug in the cup, and strike it sideways. Or slip a rubber band around the cup to squeeze it tighter for the small ones. Walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts work too: adjust the pin to suit them.
Pro tips
- Load from a tray. Put the nuts on a tray and push the cup over each one to pick it up. It is faster, and you never touch the shell.
- Float the kernels. Eject the cracked nuts straight into a bowl of water (or beer, if you are that way inclined). Kernels float, shells sink, and the little bits of kernel float up too, so they are easy to scoop off the top.
- Open a beer. With the button screwed fully in (the way it ships), the end of the pin does a decent job of lifting a bottle cap without damaging it. Watch it at 11:29 in the review video, which also shows how it compares with six other crackers on the macadamias page.
- Show off your speed. Post a video of your fastest nut-cracking time on the Mixed Nuts Club on Facebook.
- Tap on a board. Less noise, kinder to your bench.
Care and troubleshooting
The MaccaWakka is natural timber, made by hand, so a few things are worth knowing.
Cleaning. Wash in warm, soapy water if it is dirty. No dishwasher. Dry it and keep it out of direct sun and weather: left in the sun, the timber can dry and crack.
Taking the pin out for cleaning. You rarely need to, but you can: turn the button anticlockwise until the round nut on the other end drops out. The stainless nut and spring are small parts and a choking risk for children, so do this somewhere you will not lose them and keep them away from kids.
Hand-made marks. Timber colour varies, and you may see tool marks, small runs or a slightly dry patch. That is part of hand-making and not a fault. If the cracker does not crack nuts, that is a fault and we want to hear about it.
The button is stiff or stuck
Press it a few times, or tap it gently against the strike plate. It is shipped screwed fully in and can take a few goes to free up. To turn it, push the bolt slightly to the side so the nut on the other end grips.
The nut gets stuck in the cup
Press the button to eject. If it keeps sticking, adjust the pin a touch and check the nut is not oversize for the cup. Still stuck? Email a photo.
The pin is punching a hole instead of cracking the shell
Check the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the cup, then try again. If it keeps happening, email us a photo of the nut and the cup. We would like to see it.
The red cup came loose
The cup is glued into the end of the handle with a glue that stays slightly flexible. If it lifts out, push it back, or glue it back with epoxy.
The strike plate is loose
Email us. The plate is glued into the timber, and if one comes loose we will sort it out.
Safe use. Adult tool. It is not a toy, and the small parts matter around children. Use it with your attention on the job: sober, and not while driving, flying or doing anything else that needs your hands. If you have a question, just ask: get in touch.
Leave a review, it really helps
People often leave a review when something goes wrong, and that is fair. We would also like to hear from the people who love it, because that helps other nut-crackers find it. Reviews can go on Amazon Australia or Amazon US, or send them to us through the contact form.
More answers
Ya nuts, answered
How hard do I have to hit it?
A firm tap, not a hammer swing. Start with a medium tap on the stainless strike plate and add a little force until the shell splits. Too hard makes crumbs; too soft does nothing. Most people have the knack within ten nuts.
Big, thick-shelled macadamias (the Hawaiian-type nuts common in the US) often need two or three taps. Smaller, thinner-shelled nuts are usually easier and often go in one or two. The video makes it look easy because the nut is set up right: see the pin setting guide.
Will it grip small nuts? What size does it take?
Australian macadamias in shell are graded by diameter: small 16–18 mm, medium 18–23 mm, large 23–28 mm and extra large over 28 mm. The MaccaWakka takes the lot. You set the stainless pin so the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the cup. For small nuts that want to roll out of the cup: tilt the cracker on its side, screw the pin in until the nut sits snug in the cup, and strike it sideways. Or slip a rubber band around the cup to squeeze it tighter for the small ones. Still unsure? Send us a photo and we will tell you straight whether it suits your nuts.
My red cup has split notches. Is it damaged?
No. The notches are there on purpose so the silicone can flex and grip the nut, then let go when you press the pin. If the cup is still firmly seated in the timber and it holds the nut, it is working as designed. If the cup ever comes loose, epoxy glue puts it back (see care & troubleshooting).
It is loud. Can I make it quieter?
It is a hammer on a steel plate, so yes, it has a bang. Use it on a chopping board or a folded towel rather than straight on a hard benchtop, or take it outside. Pets and small kids often do not love the noise, so pick your spot.
It costs more than a lever cracker. Why?
It does, and it is a fair question. Cheap lever and screw crackers are made with walnuts in mind and struggle with a hard macadamia. Screw types have to be wound in and out for every nut; lever types tire your hand and can nip fingers. The MaccaWakka is built for the macadamia first: one hand-made tool in timber and stainless steel, with a cup that holds the nut and catches the shell, designed to last for years rather than end up in the bin.
Can it crack other nuts?
Yes. Adjust the pin and it handles walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts too. But it was designed around macadamias, and that is what it does best.
Where is it made?
Designed in Australia by Peter Johnson, a macadamia grower. Hand-made in our family workshop in Vietnam, one at a time, so grain and colour vary from piece to piece.
Can I put it in the dishwasher?
Please do not. Wipe it with a damp cloth or wash in warm water, dry it, and keep it out of direct sun and weather. The timber does not enjoy a long soak.