42 Uses For the Corkscrew

[JNieporte]

No, I don't want another Corkscrew VS. Phillips thread. I wanted to make as list of the many things I've used the corkscrew for; it's not just for wine. Please add to it if you wish.

1. Opens corked bottles (duh!)
2. Untie knots.
3. Pry the battery out of a cell phone.
4. Screw it into a wall and hang your coat on the SAK.
5. Staple remover.
6. Smooth out the hole you just made with the reamer.
7. Clear clogged faucet sprayer.
8. Bicycle tire valve tool.
9. Holds the micro screwdriver.
10. Pick gravel out of tires.
11. Rip open a blister package.
12. Ice pick.
13. Mark a pilot hole.
14. Clean mud out of shoe soles.
15. Knot the end of a cord. Thread it through the corkscrew. Handle.
16. Pop balloons.
17. Aides in sewing.
18. Clean mud out of sprinkler heads.
19. Push used snare wire through it, to straighten out the wire and remove coils or kinks.
20. Pulls the drain plug out of a tub.
21. Open the corkscrew and screw it tightly into a broomstick-thickness stick. Now open the blade. Tie it securely. Survival spear for fishing.
22. Hang the SAK from a piece of cordage from the ceiling. Plumb bob (I have the middle of the handle marked on one mine).
23. Corkscrew + a metal lid = a filter or wire mesh for cooking.
24. Carry a chunk of C4.
25. Pull frozen shoestrings tight, or help loosen them.
26. Helps get the innards out of a squirrel.
27. Gets the candle stub out of a candle holder.
28. Start fights on multitool forums.
29. Remove the fuel filter from a lawn mower.
30. Although the new corkscrews are 4 turns, you can use them for range estimation.
31. O-ring remover for your flashlights.
32. Pry out partially-exposed nails.
33. Tighten the apron strings on a wrestling ring.
34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.
35. Open just a small hole in a coconut.
36. Lift stuck items out of boxes.
37. Fish the tape out of a clogged VHS tape.
38. Remove patches from a flintlock gun.
39. Remove the inside of a shotgun shell, making a blank. Remove the wad and powder too.
40. If you don't want the mini screwdriver, the corkscrew can hold a ferro rod.
41. Tap a tree for sap.
42. Undo zip ties without breaking them.

I don't drink, but I've used the corkscrew for many things.

[Syph007]

28 is the best one though. 

For me the corkscrew and hook are tied for most useless tools.  I find the awl, and specifically the Wenger awl better at most tasks where poking and untying knots is concerned.  The only things it cant do is carry the small screwdriver and open wine bottles.

[Wire Edge]

I liked #24 

Good list.

[enki_ck]

I liked #24 

Good list.

The "I've used it for" part got me interested. TELL US MORE.

Great list

[JAfromMn]

I got one not on the list. Screw the corkscrew into a pole tightley wire or tape  and you can use the saw as a pole saw.

[Wire Edge]

I didn't see "removing cotton from pill bottles".

The corkscrew excels at that.

[JNieporte]

I liked #24 

Good list.

The "I've used it for" part got me interested. TELL US MORE.

Great list

Military. Carrying a complete set of EOD tools, without the case, is a hassle. The corkscrew can screw into the C4, then use the SAK as a handle. You can put some tripwire, det cord, etc. on top of the C4 if the block is large enough and then use the SAK as a handle to carry it. C4 won't even react to a rifle shot, so carrying it with a bunch of metal tools stacked on top is fine.

[jds1]

Nice post! 

Jeff

[ICanFixThat]

  

[Aleister]

Some great ideas and some laughs too! 

Loved the list!

[Northern Geek]

Nice list!

Some of those uses might work with an awl as well I suppose, but it sure has more uses than a backside philips.. especially if you're carrying a Vic with a can opener. Just my humble opinion.. not meant to start a flame war.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great post

[TweezersAndAToothpick]

34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.

I feel like a dummy for having to ask and I'm guessing when you tell me I will slap my forehead and say 'Oh yeah, damnit why did I ask', but what does that mean?

[PTRSAK]

mmmm, squirrel innards....     do you have them with fava beans and a nice chianti or what? 

[borgwarrior]

I'll be printing this, and will be hanging it on my wall. Perhaps on a SAK, which I'll screw into the wall.

[JNieporte]

34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.

I feel like a dummy for having to ask and I'm guessing when you tell me I will slap my forehead and say 'Oh yeah, damnit why did I ask', but what does that mean?

1/4" outside diameter. I made a typo, but I can't edit it now. Try the corkscrew on some things around the house. When you figure it out, slap yourself on the head, take a photo, and share it with us 

[JNieporte]

Nice list!

Some of those uses might work with an awl as well I suppose, but it sure has more uses than a backside philips...

True, but the corkscrew has been used for those things, so they went here. For example, #30 is better-accomplished with the saw, but it can be done with the corkscrew. This isn't my list of XX things you can do with the awl. I should probably get that one started...   

[JNieporte]

mmmm, squirrel innards....     do you have them with fava beans and a nice chianti or what?

I meant the guts. I don't eat those unless I'm in a real survival situation.

This isn't meant to be a comprehensive list of everything you could possibly use the corkscrew for. It's just what I've done with it myself. I've read things like getting the cotton out of pill bottles and somewhere a guy used his to bore out a doorknob so he could get in. I haven't done those things myself, so they didn't go on my list. I'm always eager to hear new, inventive ways to use these multi-purpose tools. Anybody else have any?

[TweezersAndAToothpick]

34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.

I feel like a dummy for having to ask and I'm guessing when you tell me I will slap my forehead and say 'Oh yeah, damnit why did I ask', but what does that mean?

1/4" outside diameter. I made a typo, but I can't edit it now. Try the corkscrew on some things around the house. When you figure it out, slap yourself on the head, take a photo, and share it with us 

I wouldn't even know where to start...

[JNieporte]

34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.

I feel like a dummy for having to ask and I'm guessing when you tell me I will slap my forehead and say 'Oh yeah, damnit why did I ask', but what does that mean?

1/4" outside diameter. I made a typo, but I can't edit it now. Try the corkscrew on some things around the house. When you figure it out, slap yourself on the head, take a photo, and share it with us 

I wouldn't even know where to start...

Try the basement. If your house doesn't have one, look around a hardware store. The more you make me spell it out, the harder you're going to slap yourself 

[MARIOS7319]

Very nice list.

[Aleister]

34. The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.

I feel like a dummy for having to ask and I'm guessing when you tell me I will slap my forehead and say 'Oh yeah, damnit why did I ask', but what does that mean?

1/4" outside diameter. I made a typo, but I can't edit it now. Try the corkscrew on some things around the house. When you figure it out, slap yourself on the head, take a photo, and share it with us 

I wouldn't even know where to start...

Try the basement. If your house doesn't have one, look around a hardware store. The more you make me spell it out, the harder you're going to slap yourself 

I am playing safe and cool here, waiting for someone else to take the "you can't figure it out" mark 

But, in reality, I don't know either

[getahl]

If 1/4" ID, hex bits? But 1/4" OD? *shrug*

[TweezersAndAToothpick]

Try the basement. If your house doesn't have one, look around a hardware store. The more you make me spell it out, the harder you're going to slap yourself 

I don't have a basement! Argh, next time I am in a home depot I will keep my eyes open haha.

[JNieporte]

If 1/4" ID, hex bits? But 1/4" OD? *shrug*

No. However, the mini screwdriver is six-sided for a reason. It will fit in a 1/4" hex drive.

[AimlessWanderer]

I have no idea either ... but then again will it apply over here? 

[Reinier]

So now we finally know what the Ultimate Question is... for which the answer is of course 42

[JNieporte]

So now we finally know what the Ultimate Question is... for which the answer is of course 42

No. No. No. No. 

[enki_ck]

So now we finally know what the Ultimate Question is... for which the answer is of course 42

I wonder if it was deliberate?

[JNieporte]

#34 (The inside diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4". I'm sure you know what you can do with this.) has nothing to do with #42 (Undo zip ties without breaking them.)

Come on guys. Don't make me have to make a contest with a prize for this!