481591 Mon Jan 21 11:54:34 -0800 2008 16 34 Wine 0 3317306 What do you guys think about the rabbit wine opener? We desperately need a new corkscrew - any suggestions? Thanks :) Mon Jan 21 11:54:34 -0800 2008 80293 lavendula 1 3317417 My son just bought this one for us at Christmas... http://www.winestuff.com/acatalog/copy_of_Trilogy_Corkscrew_Pocket_Model.html and it works great. Not a Rabbit, but much less expensive. Mon Jan 21 12:30:35 -0800 2008 3317306 90565 Cookiefiend 1 3317425 While I've never used an actual Rabbit corkscrew, I've tried out many rabbit-type openers. Provided they're well made (definitely not a given and even the well-made ones eventually break), they're fine for non-problematic corks (but not synthetic corks, which strip the Teflon off the worm). That said, the only time I prefer them to a waiter's friend-type corkscrew is when I have a number of bottles to open in a short time, like for a tasting. A couple of earlier discussions related to the topic: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/329421 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/383389 Mon Jan 21 12:32:31 -0800 2008 3317306 10520 carswell 1 3317779 I've been using a cheaper one called "the bunny" that so far works very very well. Saves a lot of hassle. Mon Jan 21 14:00:46 -0800 2008 3317306 124704 Icantread 2 3317952 Thanks for the help :) We opted for the: Metrokane Rabbit 6-Piece Wine-Tool Kit, Black - found on amazon. I'll let you know how it goes :)! Mon Jan 21 14:52:24 -0800 2008 3317779 80293 lavendula 3 3318258 I opened several hundred (maybe closer to 1,000 +) bottles of wine before having to replace the worm on our rabbit. Well designed, easy to use, and worth the money IMO. Mon Jan 21 16:20:48 -0800 2008 3317952 50082 TonyO 1 3319419 My Bed Bath and Beyond Rabbit Knock-off is wonderful. Tue Jan 22 00:20:59 -0800 2008 3317306 50041 whiner 1 3320537 I have a "La Vigna" wine opener which is similiar to the "rabbit" AND COULD SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO USE IT?! I can easily get the screw into the cork but I can't find any locking mechanism to engage and pull out the cork. The screw comes right back out. PLEASE HELP! Tue Jan 22 10:12:24 -0800 2008 3317306 26180 Chinon00 2 3350189 First off.... if you bought a 13 or 15 piece set for about $40 you probably got an opener worth less than 10 bucks, so that may be the start of the problem. Openers of this type do not have a locking mechanism. You pull back the lever, wrap the handles around the very top of the bottle (foil removed), hold the handles tightly together and reverse the handle, which plunges the auger into the cork. It's often a good idea to loosen the handles at this point and give the bottle a little twist to be sure the auger is in as far as it can go. Then tighten up on the handles again and pull back on the lever. If the auger just pulls out of the cork you may have a very soft cork or a very inexpensive synthetic cork. If neither of those is the case then you probably have a very badly made unit. I use a rather expensive version of the same style opener and it works on 95% of corks (of all types). On the few where it doesn't I just switch to a waiter's friend. Wed Jan 30 17:14:22 -0800 2008 3320537 11405 Midlife 1 3320724 I'll occasionally use it if I think a cork is going to be particularly problematic. Other than that, I opt for the ergonomic perfection that is my Pulltap's. Tue Jan 22 10:54:52 -0800 2008 3317306 115989 menuinprogress 1 3347453 I've used them and they work great but I prefer a spring loaded (Double lever) version of the traditional waiter's corkscrew. It's simple, takes up little room in the drawer, travels well, and you never have to replace the screw part. Wed Jan 30 06:20:39 -0800 2008 3317306 53967 chrisinroch 1 3359403 Can't imagine anything being as dead easy as the self-pulling type. This is original Screwpull and the like, although many companies make them now with slight variations. The Oxo looks kind of appealing with its built-in foil cutter. For some reason ours is from Pampered Chef, must predate my relationship with my SO because she hasn't been to such a thing since I've known her. ;-) (And I've never been either.) Anyway, no technique needed. Just stick it on top of the bottle, hold bottle and bottom of gadget together and turn the knob on top until the cork pops out. Done. Ours at least seems to work equally well on natural corks and the plastic ones. Kind of a slow and steady wins the race solution, as I'm guessing it's slower than some others. But in this I'd rather have foolproof than speed. :-) Sat Feb 02 15:42:40 -0800 2008 3317306 40162 CrazyOne 2 3360026 The Pampered Chef opener seems to be a version of the old stand-by metal opener with the "wings' or arms and the visible gearing. It's a lot sleeker and the foil cutter is a real plus. Does this unit ever have a problem with soft corks or synthetics? for example, do you ever find yourself turning and turning but the cork doesn't move upward?? I guess I just don't see how this type of opener is any less work than a waiter's friend...... but a Screwpull/Leverpull is significantly less effort when it works (which seems to be about 85% of the time). Sat Feb 02 19:51:31 -0800 2008 3359403 11405 Midlife 3 3371753 Honestly, I don't know if it relates to the winged openers at all, if you mean what I think you mean, with the hinged pieces on both sides. When I look at one of those I think "What the heck am I supposed to do with this?" ;-) But the self-pulling you just plunk it down on top of the bottle and turn the knob. It doesn't look as cool (or make you look as cool ;-) as some of the other methods, but I think I could screw up using most other kinds, including the levers and the waiter's friend types. Oh, missed your question in there. No, it doesn't have a problem with synthetics. And in the time I've used or seen it used by my SO, I believe I can think of once where it turned and turned but the cork didn't come out. That's once in a couple hundred opens at least, I'm thinking. It's pretty reliable. This is the particular model we have, if there's any question http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/use_care/detail.jsp?productId=4975 I guess there could be some variance that would make others not as good, but the concept is simple enough that it really shouldn't matter. We did have one of the two blades on the foil cutter either break off or fall out of the plastic, but it still cuts with just the one (just have to spin it all the way around now). Wed Feb 06 16:43:26 -0800 2008 3360026 40162 CrazyOne 4 3371849 The opener I'm referring to is pictured below. You keep the wings down and keep turning the top until the wings come up all the way. Then you pull the wings down and the cork moves upward and out of the bottle. Same thing for $5, except you stop turning and push down. :o) Wed Feb 06 17:23:12 -0800 2008 3371753 11405 Midlife 5 3373806 Not as dead simple methinks, but at least I might understand how it works now. ;-) Thu Feb 07 10:28:49 -0800 2008 3371849 40162 CrazyOne 1 3373848 After my 2'nd glass, I find it quite a bit easier to use my $5.00 waiters corkscrew.And at $5.00 a piece, can afford to have one in every suit case.... Just in case. Thu Feb 07 10:39:13 -0800 2008 3317306 151072 currymouth