Brief description

A tool for drawing corks from bottles. It consists of a pointed metallic helix (a screw) attached to a handle.

Use / Function

• Primary use: Removing cork stoppers from wine or oil bottles without damaging the container.
• Scale: Domestic.

Operating principle

The corkscrew works by screwing the helical worm into the cork, gripping it from the inside. Then, pulling force (direct or leveraged) extracts the cork against friction.

• Helix (Screw): Acts as an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, allowing it to penetrate the cork with rotation.
• Grip: The threads hold the cork material firmly.

How to create it

Minimum functional version

1. Worm: Twist a steel wire into a helix shape, ensuring the tip is sharp and centered.
2. Handle: Attach a perpendicular handle (wood or metal) to the top of the wire.
3. Hardening: The wire must be stiff enough not to straighten out when pulling.

Technical level

• Intermediate: Creating a consistent helix that doesn’t crumble the cork requires skill in wire bending and tempering.

Materials needed

• Essential materials:
  • Steel Wire: Strong, springy steel that holds its shape.
  • Handle: Wood or metal.
• Tools:
  • Pliers/Mandrel: To wind the wire into a consistent spiral.
  • Heat Source: To temper the steel.

Variants and improvements

• T-Handle: Simple pull.
• Waiter’s Friend (Sommelier Knife): Includes a lever arm that rests on the bottle lip to pry the cork out easily.
• Winged Corkscrew: Uses two levers (wings) and a rack-and-pinion gear to lift the cork as the wings are pushed down.
• Ah-So (Prong Puller): Two prongs slide down the sides of the cork to grip it without piercing.

Limits and risks

• Cork Breakage: If the worm is too thick or the cork is dry, it may crumble or break in half.
• Bottle Breakage: Applying too much side pressure or leverage on the glass rim can chip or shatter the bottle.