One handed corkscrews?

Anything to do with Port.
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RAYC
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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One handed corkscrews?

Post by RAYC »

Unfortunately there was further evidence last night that my attempted return to goalkeeping is doomed when i fractured my shoulder (humerus head) and suffered suspected rotor cuff tendon rupture/tears (MRI in due course to confirm) from a diving save.

I thought i'd commiserate with a bottle of port this evening, but it turns out that using a waiter's friend with my (weak) left hand only was beyond me!

Whilst i therefore settled for champagne instead, it would be useful if anyone has any ideas for a corkscrew that would prove workable with one hand only (i am likely to have effective use of one arm only for a good month+ if the rotor tendons are damaged). Light stabilisation of bottle may be possible with other hand (or by sitting on floor and stabilising with feet!).

Otherwise i will just have to push corks into bottle with a chopstick. (that solution eluded me earlier....how quickly the knowledge from my student days have been forgotten...)
Rob C.
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DRT
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by DRT »

It is possible for Port drinkers to survive with one hand: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=199&p=903#p903

Man up and get on with it.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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g-man
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by g-man »

I fractured my fingers in my left hand in a sporting accident and i have two torn rotator cuffs in my right shoulder.

I have found that a eletrical hand drill and the back end of the hammer does the trick. Take threaded screw, drill into cork, hold bottle between legs and use back of hammer to yank out cork by the screw.

if that doesn't work, I have also found that if you just take a big enuf drill and just drill straight into the cork and filter the contents, the wine is perfectly potable.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Several thoughts:

(1) Look on eBay for one-handed corkscrews

(2) Investigate whether a Screwpull might be used effectively with only one hand

(3) Use port tongs

(4) Use chopsticks and bag the corks out when you have recovered

(5) Only drink port when you have friends round

(6) Only drink port from bottles sealed with T-stoppers or screw-tops

(7) Drink nothing but Champagne* for the next 6 months

Does this help?



* Other sparkling beverages are available but are not worth drinking
Last edited by Alex Bridgeman on 13:29 Wed 03 Oct 2012, edited 1 time in total.
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RAYC
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by RAYC »

I absolutely love the sound of G-man's solution!!

And requires no purchases.

If that fails i'll get hold of a screwpull to try. Could finally be my excuse to make this utterly frivolous purchase that has tempted me for several years...

But my general experience of those (and even more so electric screwpulls) is that they do not fare well on old vintage port corks!

Port tongs could be tricky on my electric hob....
Rob C.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

RAYC wrote:I absolutely love the sound of G-man's solution!!

And requires no purchases.

If that fails i'll get hold of a screwpull to try. Could finally be my excuse to make this utterly frivolous purchase that has tempted me for several years...

But my general experience of those (and even more so electric screwpulls) is that they do not fare well on old vintage port corks!

Port tongs could be tricky on my electric hob....
I am very disappointed that g-man's suggestion is seen as being of more interest than my suggestion number (5). I would have been very happy to have helped out Mon-Thu in London and Fri-Sun in Henley.

Hmmm. Your injury must make driving something of a challenge.
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mosesbotbol
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by mosesbotbol »

T handle corkscrew should do the trick. Put bottle in lap or between feet.
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griff
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by griff »

I think all avenues have been suggested. However for some light amusement here are two of my favourite ways of opening wine without a corkscrew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHTADX5nxT8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZQVvovxTSU
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DRT
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by DRT »

You could adopt the CMAG approach and have a servant do it for you?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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g-man
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by g-man »

DRT wrote:You could adopt the CMAG approach and have a servant do it for you?
that unfortunately would force me to start buying wines with capsules on them!
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g-man
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by g-man »

I see callin ga friend over is the best way to open a bottle of port ;-)
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RAYC
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Re: One handed corkscrews?

Post by RAYC »

I took AHB's advice. WS1 very kindly helped me out last night!
Rob C.
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