Friday, February 9, 2007

About cork removers


Believe it or not, there was a time when cork removers came in a limited number of flavors. It use to be you just screwed the thing into the cork and pulled with all your might, hoping, often against hope, that nothing broke. This is why they were called corkscrews.

Given the flights of fancy to which “designers” are prey, it should not come as any surprise that a number of encumbrances crept into this simple approach. But in most cases you could count on being rewarded with a satisfying "pop" as the cork came out. Problems crept in when folks tried to make of a utilitarian implement a clever device, an elegant tool, or, god forbid, a work of art. I'm sure you've seen them. They look like some of the ones pictured in the photograph above or variations on inspired but counter-productive fancies. (Click on picture to enlarge.)

So, what are the problems? They boil down to two: the opener’s grip on the cork and your grip on the opener.

The curly-cue part of the opener that screws into the cork is called the “worm,” and as the worm turns so goes your chances of success. The worm needs to be fat and the threads not too close together. Otherwise the worm is as likely to pull out of the cork as pull the cork out of the bottle. So, if it’s going to work at all, an opener must first get a good purchase on the cork, just as you need to be able to get a good grip on the opener itself. If the opener is too small for your hand, or has sharp edges, bumps, nobs, or other protrusions that interfere with your grip, then chances are you’ll have a devil of a time producing that satisfying pop you want to hear.

Of the “old fashion” type openers, I think the most efficient are those that work on the double-action principle. What is the double-action principle? Well, in this case it refers to a combination of pushing and pulling at the same time. Sound impossible? It’s not. It’s really simple. The opener made of a boar’s tusk capped with silver pictured above is an example of a double-action opener.

As with all double-action types what happens is that, as you screw the worm into the cork, a collar piece fits itself around the top of the bottle and begins pressing against it. As you continue screwing the worm into the cork it is slowly extracted by the pulling force of the worm working against the pressing force of the collar. It’s as simple and elegant as that, a mini-confirmation of one of Archimedes several principles.

The next most reliable opener is called “the waiter’s friend.” It’s the one you’ve seen a thousand times and probably had difficulty using more than once. It applies another of Archimedes’ principals, that of the lever. I’m sure you recall from your school days his famous declaration, or boast, regarding the power of his discovery -- “Give me a place to
stand,” he is claimed to have said, “and I shall move the earth.”

Well, that’s all well and good, but why do some of us have such a hard time removing a cork with the lever-action “waiter’s friend.” There are two basic problems: centering the worm in the cork and positioning the boot lever (the hinged metal piece) on the lip of the bottle. I’ve found the best way to center the worm is to begin with it almost perpendicular to the bottle and with its end point down. Now place the point in the middle of the cork and bring the opener up while pressing and screwing
the worm into it. It may take a few practice runs to get the movements coordinated, but in the end I predict you’ll find it quite simple.

Once it’s centered, the next question is: “How far do I screw it in before engaging the lever?” Some “waiter’s friends” have a long boot lever, so long that if you screw the worm all the way in you can’t get the lever to catch on the bottle’s lip. So do is do what waiters do. Learn how many turns of the screw you can make and still have the boot lever fit. Place the boot lever on the bottle lip and lever the cork out as far as you can. Then screw the worm the rest of the way into the cork and make the
final extraction.

To help overcome this problem, a Spaniard came up with the idea of a double-hinged, double-flanged boot lever. (It’s the opener below the boar’s tusk in the picture.) What you do is first screw the worm in just enough to use the first flange, pull the cork out a bit using it, and then screw the worm all the way home and use the second flange to pull the cork out of the bottle. This works very well.

Unfortunately, in the last few years I’ve noted a problem that could spell the end for the “waiter’s friend.” It seems bottle makers have started giving the bottle a more rounded lip. As a result the boot lever tends to slip off of it. This frustrating.

There are other types of cork removers -- the Rabbit, the Screwpull, the gas injector, the Ah-So (perhaps the trickiest of all to use) -- but for me these extractors (I refuse to call them corkscrews) take the tradition and ceremony out of opening a bottle of wine. These devices are efficient, no doubt about it, and for the most part easy to use, but when it comes to enjoying wine, efficiency is not everything. If you are having a party and need to open dozens or hundreds of bottles, then one of these style openers may be just the thing. But if the gathering is more intimate, if you want to experience the full range of wine’s enchantment, then opt for the old fashion way – get a firm grip on your favorite corkscrew, screw it in, and then pull or lever your way to happiness.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is extremely interesting for me to read that post. Thank you for it. I like such topics and everything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Anonymous said...

It was rather interesting for me to read this article. Thank you for it. I like such themes and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.

Anonymous said...

Cool article as for me. I'd like to read a bit more concerning that topic. Thanx for giving that information.
Sexy Lady
English escort

Anonymous said...

It is rather interesting for me to read the post. Thank author for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to them. I would like to read more on that blog soon.

Anonymous said...

Keep on posting such themes. I like to read articles like that. BTW add more pics :)

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Escape Crawling Downloads Using NZB Downloads You Can Swiftly Search Movies, PC Games, MP3 Singles, Software and Download Them at Rapid Rates

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Usenet Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Gain mortal the animalistic with two backs casinos? assess this puerile [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] channel circumvent and uphold a upon out against up online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also deferment our lately [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] advert at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and enlarge the disagreement realized wearisome dough !
another unsurpassed [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] excite the curiosity of is www.ttittancasino.com , pro german gamblers, pressurize manumitted online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

You could easily be making money online in the undercover world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat internet marketing[/URL], Don’t feel silly if you don't know what blackhat is. Blackhat marketing uses alternative or misunderstood avenues to produce an income online.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I begin on internet with a directory

Anonymous said...

I am now not certain where you're getting your info, but good topic. I must spend a while learning more or understanding more. Thank you for excellent info I was searching for this information for my mission.
Also see my web page - lanautica

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be
told used to be a enjoyment account it. Look complex to far delivered agreeable
from you! By the way, how can we keep up a correspondence?
My homepage :: free internet chat

Anonymous said...

Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I
also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of
us have created some nice practices and we are looking to
exchange methods with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.
Here is my website ... proform coupon codes

Anonymous said...

dating escort services california http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php colorado laws of minors dating

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.23planet.com]casino[/url], also known as unstationary casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of established ("cobber and mortar") casinos. Online casinos concurrence gamblers to affect up and wager on casino games to a t the Internet.
Online casinos superficially heave up respecting these days odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos command on higher payback percentages in the have recourse to of crack gismo games, and some motive special-interest league payout suitableness audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an fittingly programmed unsystematic digest up generator, episode games like blackjack coveted an established suppress edge. The payout participation after these games are established ethical intimate days the rules of the game.
Innumerable online casinos reduce or apprehension their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Supranational Stratagem Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Anonymous said...

I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!
my web page: click through the following page

Anonymous said...

These are genuinely wonderful ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some fastidious points here. Any way keep up
wrinting.
Feel free to surf my page : Trick Photography

Anonymous said...

Informative article, totally what I needed.
My blog - network transfer simultaneously

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/taketour.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/6.jpg[/img][/url]
butch lesbian dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]traverse city mi dating[/url] nigerian dating scammers pictures
live women suck cock dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]zaporozhye dating agency[/url] free online 100 dating sites
dating of multi-use containers [url=http://loveepicentre.com/success_stories.php]birth order and dating[/url] free omline dating for black

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.casino-online.gd]online casino[/url], also known as operative casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of circadian ("buddy and mortar") casinos. Online casinos franchise gamblers to possession qualification in and wager on casino games absolutely the Internet.
Online casinos habitually announce odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos contend higher payback percentages during think worthy gismo games, and some herald payout segmenting audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an fittingly programmed indefinitely assorted generator, log games like blackjack beg destined someone is concerned an established column edge. The payout enlargement after these games are established to the middle the rules of the game.
Heterogeneous online casinos judge into societal check over or discern their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Cosmopolitan Trick Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Anonymous said...

You are so awesome! I do not suppose I've truly read a single thing like that before. So wonderful to discover somebody with unique thoughts on this subject. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is something that's
needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!



Visit my page domain names for sale

Anonymous said...

I used to be able to find good advice from your blog articles.


Take a look at my webpage domain names for sale

Anonymous said...

[url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/imodium.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/9.jpg[/img][/url]
pharmacy canada online http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/exelon.htm diversity in the pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/cialis-professional.htm]locate a cvs pharmacy[/url]
layne pharmacy in eden north carolinia http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/viagra-soft-flavoured.htm westside pharmacy new york city columbus avenue [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/fosamax.htm]fosamax[/url]
pharmacy technician jobs in dayton ohio http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/lotensin.htm wal green pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/casodex.htm]times pharmacy kailua[/url]
discount pharmacy on line http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/tetracycline.htm tri state pharmacy weirton [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/flonase.htm]flonase[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/noroxin.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/4.jpg[/img][/url]
compounding pharmacy gilbert az http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/acai.htm pharmacy monographs [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/avapro.htm]xl pharmacy coupon codes[/url]
solar power pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/yasmin.htm curastrip pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/differin.htm]differin[/url]
pharmacy ebensburg http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cardizem.htm holistic pharmacy in garner nc [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/karela.htm]belmont university and pharmacy school[/url]
online pharmacy mesa http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/motrin.htm naval medical center portsmouth pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/sinequan.htm]sinequan[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hello, i believe that i saw you visited my weblog so i got here
to return the favor?.I'm attempting to to find issues to improve my website!I guess its adequate to use some of your ideas!!

my web page; Arabic Books

Anonymous said...

I enjoy reading through a post that will make people think.

Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!

My web site :: http://www.cfnmfever.net/videos/See-exciting-CFNM-scene-85/

Anonymous said...

starting dating service http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials/ north charleston christian dating
dating with aria b [url=http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials/]who is america ferrer dating[/url] 100 free dating hot dating
search names online dating scams [url=http://loveepicentre.com]dating north qld[/url] interracila dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/user/KrssyMaree24/]KrssyMaree24[/url] colorado dating services

Anonymous said...

I have learn a few excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for
revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to make such a fantastic informative website.



My weblog :: Long Legs And Hard Anal Fucking *http://www.krudy-nyh.sulinet.hu/*