Open a Bottle Without a Bottle Opener

Opening a bottle without the benefit of an opener is something that many aspire to, ideally suffering no chipped teeth. In fact, there are many ways to open a bottle. Almost anything, (from a household appliance to street furniture) can be used to get a bottle open. Here we explore different methods of opening bottles.

Glass bottles are dangerous if broken, and must be treated with care.

Steps

For 'Crown' Cap Bottles

  1. Examine your environment for suitable edges, crevices, slots, holes and shapes that might allow a bottle-top to be inserted.
  2. The easiest method is using a pair of (strong) scissors. Open the scissors and place them slightly off parallel (facing in toward the bottle) against one of the ridges of the crown. Cut through one of the small ridges and continue in a circle until the cap can be removed.
  3. Use a spoon (bigger is better), put the small tip of the spoon under the cap, your hand around the neck of the bottle and pop. It's like a lighter, but much easier and much quicker.
  4. Try opening the bottle with a lighter. It's not as easy as you'd think, but it's a knack which converts swear by. Flat-sided lighters work best.
    • Grip the bottle firmly, holding the neck in a thumbs-up manner, with your thumb on the cap. Your fingers should be wrapped around the neck of the bottle; the top finger should leave a lighter's width from the cap.
    • Insert the lighter bottom between your top finger and the bottom of the cap, aiming above the centre of the bone between your knuckle and first finger joint, such that the lighter is perpendicular to the finger bone.
    • Tighten your grip of the bottle and wrap that lighter lever around your finger. If you're holding the bottle right, the cap will pop off. Try it a few times to get the grip right, and it won't hurt.
  5. Super (or stupid :-) Party trick! The key is leverage and not impeding (ie touching) the cap in any way except for the lever. Use the largest knuckle of the index finger as the fulcrum for your lever (google "fulcrum" and think of the Bic lighter as the lever, see below). This method can easily, forcefully, and loudly launch the bottle cap more than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} in the air, depending on the bottle. I've gotten some good, loud, launches with Samuel Adams but most any pry off beer cap will do. Do NOT agitate the bottle -- it is NOT necessary. Due to the possible forceful ejection of the cap, be aware of your eyes and face -- a bottle cap to the eye could cause permanent damage! The old style full-size Bic lighter, which is somewhat oval shaped, works well due to its dimensions and its tendency to grip the underside of the cap with limited slippage.
  6. Try vending machines. These are useful because they have a handy recessed coin return. Stick the cap in there and push down firmly. Use only strong metal installations
  7. Try household items. It may be a hunt to find something effective:
    • Belt buckles work if they are the right shape. A spatula will work if you use the side
    • A common fork is a quick and easy method. Using one of the fork's teeth as a lever, push the grooves of the crown up and away from the cap, one at a time.
    • Children's ice skates may also work. The best skates for this purpose are the expensive ones with hollow sections in the blade. Unfortunately most people don't have those sort.
    • Car seat belt latches are the right shape for opening bottles. This is not recommended. If an alcoholic beverage is spilled in the car, it could lead to some very interesting questions if you are pulled over.
    • Metal nail clippers can be used to crimp off the lid. Open the clipper end as wide as possible, wedge one edge under the cap, and pry upwards. You should hear the compressed air being released. Go around the cap until it falls off.
    • Use the door handle that is located on the side of the door that is not open, apply pressure at an angle and voila its open for you!
    • A peeler, such as one you would use for a potato works alright. Hold the neck, hold the peeler upside down, an upward curve, unlike when you peel a potato. Get the curve under each edge, and pry each one off one by one. It should spin, but not come off. Then take the peeler, still upside-down, put it under one of the edges, and keep pushing, should pop right off.
    • Take two bottles, it is possible to open one of them - simply use the side of the cap as the lighter, described above, but be careful; if you don't use the side of the cap you might ending up opening the top one.
    • A paint can opener, the metal ones with the ring on the end work really well. Just put the nub at the top of the inside of the ring under the cap like a regular bottle opener.
    • The side of a regular radiator is usually rather efficient and spilling your beloved beverage is not too much of a problem. Just place the sticking-out part of the cap on the sharp edge of the radiator and pull down quickly and sharply.
    • Hotel hangers (the kind you can't steal), simply place the bottle under the bar, insert the cap into the hanger (where its connected to bar) and pop like a normal bottle opener.
    • A rubber jar opener - simply squeeze tightly over the cap, twist and pull.
    • A hammer works great. Turn it upside down, pry the forked end under the cap edges, and work your way around the cap. EASY and safe if you're comfortable using a hammer.
    • You can actually open a bottle using a piece of computer paper (thicker the better). Fold the paper in half as many times as you can, then hold the bottle in a similar manner as you would if attempting to open the bottle with a lighter. Tightly wedge the corner of the folded paper under the cap edge, and using as much force as you can, pry open the cap. It may take a few attempts, rotating the bottle each time to loosen the cap edges around the bottle. This method will certainly impress your audience, though it is one of the more challenging ways to open a bottle. Watch your hands, it is very easy to nick one of your knuckles holding the paper on the crown edge.

Metallic Objects

  1. One great tool is a staple remover. Insert the two teeth upwards underneath the cap and pull up. Repeat this a couple times around the cap and it comes off, no problems.
  2. Also consider using the prongs from a lamp or other electrical device. The prongs slip easily under the cap. Work around the edge and the cap can easily be removed.
  3. Try sticking the bottle into a door jamb, at the metal plate. Close the door and twist the bottle down, and you might not lose any contents. A potential stained carpet from a spill reduces this method's attractiveness.
  4. Alternatively, place the edge of the bottle cap on any edge (preferably metal). Hit it with the palm of your hand. Don't use wooden edges, or you'll ruin them.
  5. A wedding or class ring is an ideal way to remove a soda or beer bottle cap. (Warning: Gold wedding rings may be pulled out of shape using this method - you risk the wrath of your spouse by doing this!) Simply hold the bottle in the non-ring hand and place the ring hand, palm down, over the bottle cap. Hook the ring on the edge of the cap farthest from the palm of your hand, with the proper pressure the cap will pop off. Depending on the shape of the ring, you may experience some pain on the top of the ring finger and opening many bottles in a row may result in swelling, so use common sense. If it hurts too much or your finger swells, stop.
  6. Note that you can pry off the cap with virtually any strong metal with an edge that you have handy. Simply grab the neck of the bottle with the top of your hand even with the bottom of the cap. Lay the spoon handle, knife blade (sharp edge facing away) or whatever across the third knuckle on your first finger. Hook under the edge of the cap and pry up. If the metal is wide enough, it doesn't put enough pressure on your hand to actually hurt.
  7. You can use the back edge of a Chef's knife (use a knife with a wide enough blade so that the sharp edge is not on your skin), the handle of a serving spoon, tongs, a stainless bowl, closed scissors, a stapler, a screwdriver, a putty knife, a cocktail strainer handle. Even a car key can work (eventually), but you'll probably tear up your cuticles pretty badly. If you don't care about the finish on the item, a hairbrush handle, a ceramic coaster, a remote control, a soup spoon, a hardcover book, a CD case... again, anything with an edge.
  8. A pair of standard handcuffs make a good bottle opener, and often a simultaneous conversation-starter. Push the single strand (swinging part) of the handcuff through the ratchet, and hold it so that there is a gap of about 3/4" (1.9 cm) between the double strand and single strand. Rest the single strand against the top of the cap. and hook the bottom of the double strand under the cap. Use the handcuffs to lever the cap off. Use only good-quality, NIJ-certified handcuffs, as cheaper novelty handcuffs may be damaged by this process.

The Rubber Band Method

  1. Wrap a rubber band around the metal cap.
  2. Twist as hard as you can, if you still cannot turn the cap, wrap a thin cloth around it and try again.

The Key Method

  1. Hold the bottle tightly in one hand by the neck so that the tip of your thumb is pushing up against the little bumps on the cap.
  2. Take the key in the other hand and put it between your thumb and the cap so that key is jammed up under one of the bumps on the side of the cap. Try different teeth on the key and pick one that you can get under the edge of the cap.
  3. Pressing the key under the cap as hard as possible with the tip of your thumb, twist the key to pull the side of the cap away from the bottle.
  4. Once a bump is pulled out, turn the bottle a tiny bit and pull out the next bump
  5. Keep going around the cap pulling out the bumps. As you go, the space under the cap gets bigger, and it gets easier to get the key point under the cap.
  6. After going about halfway around, you should be able to remove the key and, keeping your same grip on the bottle, push the cap off with the tip of your thumb.

Opening Wine Bottles

  1. Push the cork into the bottle. It works, although it is difficult with older wines, which may have penetrated the cork. Use a blunt instrument for maximum pressure. If you wish to ensure no spillages, do it in a sink. No one likes cleaning wine off carpets.

The Thermal Expansion (Lighter) Method

  1. When heat energy is added to a material, the particle collisions speed up and travel farther apart, therefore weakening the attractive forces in the substance. Thus, the substance expands. Applying this knowledge of thermodynamics, the crown cap (metal) can be removed. Run the flame of a lighter around the cap of the bottle, then use something else to pry the lid off (knife, counter, etc.) This will make opening the bottle much, much easier than simply trying to pry the lid off. Remember, though, the mouth/neck of the bottle may temporarily be hot.

The Knife Method

  1. Hold the bottle pointing neck downwards, from the base (foil removed).
  2. Rest a table knife (blunt edge leading) against the neck.
  3. Slide the knife's blunt edge down the neck until it 'clicks' against the glass ridge that marks the start of the foil area. Do it again, slightly more forcefully, again and again, until you hear the 'click' sound change to a 'crack'. You have neatly severed the glass neck, but the cork keeps it in place.
  4. Wearing your gloves, twist the severed glass end off, hopefully taking the cork with it. Blow any glass dust off into the sink.
  5. If the cork did not follow the glass end, you must get a pair of pliers (or similar) to remove the cork, since the glass is chipped, and may be sharp.

The Screw Method

  1. You will need a deep-threaded screw, (such as a decking screw), a screwdriver, a hammer and a prying surface at relatively the same height as the wine bottle's top.
  2. Drive the screw into the center of the cork, leaving a small (1/2 inch/1.3 centimeters) amount out.
  3. Use the hammer (against the prying surface) to pull the cork out of the bottle by the screw head.
    • Even better yet, just screw a screw into the cork until it clearly penetrates the cork. Now, just pour the wine through the cork! Voila! We are drinking now! It may pour slowly, but you won't get hurt. If you need a screw, un-screw one from something in your house and then put it back afterwards. Drink the whole bottle or seal the top with bubble gum, your choice!

The Banging on the Wall Method

  1. Take a kitchen rug and fold it so that it's just a bit larger than the bottom of the bottle.
  2. Put the rug over the bottom of the bottle, and then, holding the rug in place, bang the bottom of the bottle against a wall. The movement of the bottle should be in the direction of its longest axis, and perpendicular to the wall.
  3. Keep doing that, increasing the force of the blows, and the cork will slowly ease out of the bottle.
    • If you don't have a kitchen rug handy, a thick sneaker may be used instead. Simply take off your (or a friends) shoe and place the bottle of wine in the sneaker, so the wine bottle is sitting snug inside of the sneaker. Holding the wine bottle steady inside of the shoe, drive the shoe into a wall, banging it as flat as possible. A few good blows against the wall should get you on your way. (Beware: the cork may pop out completely, spilling the wine everywhere. Keep an eye on the cork, once it is sticking out of the bottle enough to grab, stop the slamming and simply use your hand to pull out the cork.)
    • This doesn't work with all bottles and the wine may feel a bit bubbly after that - leave it open for a few minutes to settle before drinking, if you can wait that long.
    • There might be a problem with the wooden houses that are common in the USA. Works well with brick houses that are mostly used in Europe. An alternative to a wall is a door frame - it must be a solid, flat surface.

The Chain Link Fence Method

  1. Most, if not all, chain link fences have a very thick pole with several metal rings around it either at the corner or at the end. These rings provide an angled lip which are ideal for opening bottles.
  2. Angle the bottle so the rim of the cap is on the lip of the ring and the neck of the bottle is pressing against the outside of the ring.
  3. Strike the bottle neck with your other palm in a downwards motion that pushes the bottle down. Continue until the cap pops off. Remember that the bottle will come down with some force, so keep it straight. Also, the cap will likely shoot off somewhere; be careful not to injure yourself or others. Enjoy your freshly opened bottle!

Warnings

  • If you break a bottle while trying to open it - get gloves (or other hand protection like a cloth) and carefully collect the pieces together. Sweep the area to remove glass fragments. Do not drink from the bottle, as glass fragments may have fallen inside.
  • Do not play with glass items while drinking alcohol.
  • Do not attempt to open the bottle with your teeth, as this can completely shatter your teeth.
  • You can also open it if you have a dresser in the room/household and just put the cap on the underside of the handle(if you have the right handle) and VOILA!!

Related Articles

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Open_a_Bottle_Without_a_Bottle_Opener&oldid=318255"