42 Uses For the Corkscrew

[Syph007]

Hmm water shut off valves that have no handle?

[AimlessWanderer]

If the outside dimension is the important one that means it fits in something ... a spool for some sort of reel? Tape, cord, line, wire? Novelty light pull?  I certainly can't think of anything in my cellar or shed that would need a short 1/4" stub of rod on a T-handle?

[GigaHz]

Rule 34 is porn of it.

[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?

...
has nothing to do with #42 (Undo zip ties without breaking them.)
...

Obviously not.   Reinier and I were referring to #42 being the Ultimate answer to everything (according to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") but no one knew what the question was, until now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42_(number)#The_Hitchhiker.27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

[rmagralha]

Great list!!

[J Mackrel Jones]

Great stuff !
But regarding #40:  the largest drill-bit that will go down my Vic corkscrew is .101"; the largest for a Wenger: .078".  I don't know of any ferro-rod that small.  Would be too weak to drag a blade along anyway I would think.
File a spiral groove into a larger one and screw it in like the mini-driver?  Does the ridged side of such a rod spark OK?

[JNieporte]

Great stuff !
But regarding #40:  the largest drill-bit that will go down my Vic corkscrew is .101"; the largest for a Wenger: .078".  I don't know of any ferro-rod that small.  Would be too weak to drag a blade along anyway I would think.
File a spiral groove into a larger one and screw it in like the mini-driver?  Does the ridged side of such a rod spark OK?

I use ferro rods that are mostly used up. I remember Ben's Backwoods having some tiny ones, and a little filing makes them small enough. I don't make a spiral; it just slides into the corkscrew and is held in there when the corkscrew is closed. The micro ferro rod holds up for emergency use; it's not an everyday use item.

The way I use mine, since it's so short, is to hold the striking steel (in most cases, the spine of the SAK saw) right over the tinder. Press the ferro rod lengthwise between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Press the rod down onto the saw, and a quick "twitch" sparks it. The sparks will fall on either side of the saw, on to your tinder. If you have smaller hands, you might be able to just hold the rod like a pencil.

[kkokkolis]

Very interesting. But the real reason there is a Corkscrew on SAKs is that French people need to buy Swiss Army Knives too.


Come on AngloSaxons! What do you want? A bottle opener for your beers and no corckscrew for the Latin world?
Switzerland, with 4 different cultures living peacefully under the same flag, knows the way to handle such matters.

[MARIOS7319]

I haven't seen before this model of Opinel. Nice one!

[kkokkolis]

It's the Somelier. It carries the only two tools the company considers significant I guess. It has much character!
The 42 list applies here as well, n'est pas?

[MARIOS7319]

It's the Somelier. It carries the only two tools the company considers significant I guess. It has much character!
The 42 list applies here as well, n'est pas?

Je suis totalement d'accord.

[nj2656]

Have to be single or a soldier to get away with using it as a coat hook. A wife would hang your favorite parts from it if she saw that.

[AdmSlc]

Great read!!


-AdmSlc

[pfrsantos]

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.

I have an even better excuse: I use

[JAfromMn]

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.

I use my corkscrew in a way similar to #21

I make a pole saw the exact same way but using a stick and the saw . Works great to get the far off limbs in the shooting lane when up in a deer stand.

[ironraven]

Yeh necro!

The corkscrew, just like EVERY other part of the SAK, is a test of your ingenuity.

I've also used it, today, to widen the mesh of a plastic canvas tarp to accept cordage to lace it into a giant bag, which the awl would have done but my Compact doesn't have one and the awl would have cut when I really just wanted to spread the mesh.

[TazzieRob]

You could use a screw to do it, but I have used the cork screw to remove the dried plug if silicon from the nozzle of a tube

[Mextreme]

I think it is the best item to clean out dirt under the nails.

[Caranthanus]

Pen holder ...


Corkscrew rules!
 

[Scott_Servais]

What's number 34?

[TazzieRob]

What's number 34?

It was supposed to be the OUTSIDE diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4", but I have no idea, not being an American and using the metric system and all

[GoatDragon]

What's number 34?

It was supposed to be the OUTSIDE diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4", but I have no idea, not being an American and using the metric system and all

Okay... but what is it that we are supposed to know what to do with it?

[TazzieRob]

What's number 34?

It was supposed to be the OUTSIDE diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4", but I have no idea, not being an American and using the metric system and all

Okay... but what is it that we are supposed to know what to do with it?

 

[GoatDragon]

What's number 34?

It was supposed to be the OUTSIDE diameter of the corkscrew is 1/4", but I have no idea, not being an American and using the metric system and all

Okay... but what is it that we are supposed to know what to do with it?

 

A ¼" diameter corkscrew? I honestly have no idea.

[redneckbear]

Dang, I really hoped I would find an answer to the "What's number 34?" question here ... 

[Tjzm1993]

Ok but for real someone just say the meaning of number 34 please. It's been driving me crazy. Used and abused SAKs for years but I have no basement and no clue what this means.

[Don Pablo]

Ok but for real someone just say the meaning of number 34 please. It's been driving me crazy. Used and abused SAKs for years but I have no basement and no clue what this means.

I'd like to know too.

[VICMAN]

I must admit I am curious about #34 too.

[Butch]

I would think number 34 would be obvious to anybody.............yeesh.......































Problem is, it ain't................

[G-Dizzle]

+1