One handed corkscrews?
One handed corkscrews?
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...)
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.
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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.
Man up and get on with it.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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.
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.
Disclosure: Distributor of Quevedo wines and Quinta do Gomariz
- Alex Bridgeman
- Croft 1945
- Posts: 16206
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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
(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.
Top 2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2026: Quinta das Carvalhas 80YO Tawny
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Re: One handed corkscrews?
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....
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.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Croft 1945
- Posts: 16206
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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.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....
Hmmm. Your injury must make driving something of a challenge.
Top 2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2026: Quinta das Carvalhas 80YO Tawny
2026: Quinta das Carvalhas 80YO Tawny
- mosesbotbol
- Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
- Posts: 639
- Joined: 18:54 Wed 18 Jul 2007
- Location: Boston, USA
Re: One handed corkscrews?
T handle corkscrew should do the trick. Put bottle in lap or between feet.
F1 | Welsh Corgi | Did Someone Mention Port?
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHTADX5nxT8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZQVvovxTSU
Re: One handed corkscrews?
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
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: One handed corkscrews?
that unfortunately would force me to start buying wines with capsules on them!DRT wrote:You could adopt the CMAG approach and have a servant do it for you?
Disclosure: Distributor of Quevedo wines and Quinta do Gomariz
Re: One handed corkscrews?
I see callin ga friend over is the best way to open a bottle of port 
Disclosure: Distributor of Quevedo wines and Quinta do Gomariz