OK, SAK Gurus: How NOT to bend a SAK corkscrew when opening wine?

[Singh]

After searching the forums, I found no answer to this: how do use a SAK corkscrew to open a bottle of wine and NOT wind up bending the corkscrew? 

Background: I have a SAK Compact relegated to the kitchen drawer and I use it to open bottles of wine. I screw the SAK all the way down to the the lip of the bottle and use the SAK handle as a lever to start the cork moving. I think using leverage by lifting up on the SAK hand to get the cork moving has most likely resulted in bending the corkscrew.  But I also have used the "leverage handle technique" AFTER the cork has started moving and THAT might have bent the corkscrew

So maybe the leverage trick should only be used when the SAK handle is right up against the lip of the bottle to get things started, but should NOT be repeated as you work the cork out? I'm thinking you'll bend the corkscrew if the cork is 1/4 to halfway out and you leverage the handle against the corkscrew. 

What do you all think?

[old Lefty]

Dunno, but I pull straight up, unless Wine Master is in play.
I leave enough room for straight pull, that is I do not screw all the way in

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[pitquim]

I've actually opened a lot of bottles along the years with my knife and the only problem I've found is to bend the corckscrew sideaways, but not pulling up nor using "leverage handle technique".
By the way, I don't like very much this technique because the marks on the aluminium liner.

[Jazz]

Haven't done it in a while, but I use my finger between the bottle top and the knife handle for leverage a bit. I also put the bottle between my knees and pull straight out, whilst wiggling and sort of rotating the movement a bit.

[nate j]

The answer, as Lefty notes, is to pull straight.  Don’t try to use the handle as a lever.

My preferred approach:
1.  Screw the corkscrew into the cork, keeping it as straight and close to the middle of the cork as possible, and screw in as deep as possible.
2.  Place the bottle on a countertop (if available), and with the non-dominant hand around the neck of the bottle, press and hold the bottle firmly down to the countertop.
3.  Grasp the handle firmly in the dominant hand with a closed fist, with two fingers on either side of the corkscrew.
4.  While continuing to press the bottle to the countertop with the non-dominant hand, pull straight up with the dominant hand, removing the cork.

[MichaelGT83]

I also pull straight up, but gently whilst giving it a bit of a side to side wiggle. Never had an issue.

[pfrsantos]

The answer, as Lefty notes, is to pull straight.  Don’t try to use the handle as a lever.

My preferred approach:
1.  Screw the corkscrew into the cork, keeping it as straight and close to the middle of the cork as possible, and screw in as deep as possible.
2.  Place the bottle on a countertop (if available), and with the non-dominant hand around the neck of the bottle, press and hold the bottle firmly down to the countertop.
3.  Grasp the handle firmly in the dominant hand with a closed fist, with two fingers on either side of the corkscrew.
4.  While continuing to press the bottle to the countertop with the non-dominant hand, pull straight up with the dominant hand, removing the cork.

This. If you hold the bottle between your legs, when you open it it may cause some wine to spill and make a mess. If it's down on a surface, this doesn't hapen.

You can use your finger near the knife as a leverage point, but do it slowly and always pulling the SAK straight up, so as not to twist the corkscrew.

Check this out:

[Singh]

yeah, I'm thinking me using the leverage trick is what bent it. Best bet might just be to pull straight up.

What I have done is place the bottle on the floor between my feet, left hand on bottle, right hand on SAK,  and then pulled straight up.  That allows me to use back muscles instead of arms.

neat video: though I wouldn't use the blade to open a cork.  I think the blade wasn't meant to torqued that way .

[NutSAK]

Dunno, but I pull straight up, unless Wine Master is in play.
I leave enough room for straight pull, that is I do not screw all the way in

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

+1.  I've never bent one.

Screw it in straight in the middle of the cork, hold the bottle on the ground between my feet, pull straight up. The lower you hold the bottle the easier it is to pull it straight, I've found.

P.S.  I love my Wine Master.  It's the best opener I've ever used.

[AmberDragon]

This technique's never failed me:

[Singh]

Yeah, I'm getting more convinced that the leveraging technique is what bends the corkscrew.. Pulling straight up certainly wouldn't do it... right?

Hmmm. This calls for an experiment and excuse to buy more SAKs.  should get two Vic Waiters. I'll only use the leveraging technique on one, and the straight-pull method on the other.  Then we'll see which of one of them gets a bent screw.

[Simon_Templar]

Yeah, I'm getting more convinced that the leveraging technique is what bends the corkscrew.. Pulling straight up certainly wouldn't do it... right?

Hmmm. This calls for an experiment and excuse to buy more SAKs.  should get two Vic Waiters. I'll only use the leveraging technique on one, and the straight-pull method on the other.  Then we'll see which of one of them gets a bent screw.

All in the name of science <burp> 

By the way, I am using the "straight pull" technique too. With the bottle stuck between my ankles, it's quite easy to keep the pull under control and not spill any wine (this posture might look a bit weird to bystanders though). Never bent a SAK corkscrew so far.

[Nix]

Dunno, but I pull straight up, unless Wine Master is in play.
I leave enough room for straight pull, that is I do not screw all the way in

 

[Singh]

I've got two waiters on order.

FOR SCIENCE!

[pfrsantos]

I've got two waiters on order.

FOR SCIENCE!

 

[Singh]

(Image removed from quote.)