# Alternate beer bottle cap removal device? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595 "2014-08-01T18:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/1 "2014-08-01T18:58:24Z")
Inspired by another thread, I pondered about how others might open a beer bottle in the absence of a conventional “bottle opener”. Me, I use a ratchet buckle … yes, that’s the thing you use to tension your straps when tying down the load on your roof rack. Works a treat. The other effective bottle cap removal device I have employed is the claw of an Estwing clawhammer … but it has to be the “straight” claw … the curved claw don’t work so good … ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/2 "2014-08-01T19:11:55Z")
The edge of a countertop or a drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/3 "2014-08-01T19:17:52Z")
My brother once tried to use a belt buckle. He broke the neck of the bottle and sliced a deep gash in his forearm which required a number of stitches to close up. So, not a belt buckle. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/4 "2014-08-01T19:23:15Z")
Literally anything that you can hold in your hand that won’t bend when you use your other index finger as a fulcrum underneath. A lighter, a fork handle, a duck, a USB thumbdrive, etc, ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/5 "2014-08-01T19:23:23Z")
Moved to IMHO from General Questions. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/6 "2014-08-01T19:30:36Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > …a duck… Will Canadian Geese do? There must be some use for them besides pooping all over the river front. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/7 "2014-08-01T19:40:42Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My brother once tried to use a belt buckle. He broke the neck of the bottle and sliced a deep gash in his forearm which required a number of stitches to close up. > > So, not a belt buckle. Or use my belt buckle, which has a bottle opener built into it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/8 "2014-08-01T19:40:48Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Literally anything that you can hold in your hand that won’t bend when you use your other index finger as a fulcrum underneath. > > A lighter, a fork handle, a duck, a USB thumbdrive, etc, and won’t break or be cut into by the edge of the crown. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/9 "2014-08-01T19:43:55Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Will Canadian Geese do? There must be some use for them besides pooping all over the river front. Nitpick: It’s Canada geese. They’re not actually (all) Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Srsly\_Dad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Srsly\_Dad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Srsly_Dad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/10 "2014-08-01T20:00:42Z")
Your teeth will work also, just don’t tell your dentist or pry too quickly. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/11 "2014-08-01T20:02:49Z")
I’ve always used a Bic lighter. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/12 "2014-08-01T20:14:26Z")
The bumper jack slot on older cars worked very well. I’ve also used pliers. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/13 "2014-08-01T20:58:05Z")
Using another capped beer bottle (turning it over to pry the cap off the beer that’s next to be enjoyed) works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/14 "2014-08-01T21:07:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Nitpick: It’s Canada geese. They’re not actually (all) Canadian. This doesn’t answer my question if you can use them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/15 "2014-08-01T21:11:01Z")
Any hard surface with an edge works just fine. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/16 "2014-08-01T21:18:06Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > This doesn’t answer my question if you can use them, though. Which end? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/17 "2014-08-01T21:27:51Z")
I sometimes use an ordinary house key or car key. You insert one of the points (bitings) under the cap and pry outward. Keep doing this all around the cap, loosening it gradually, until it falls away. It takes a little patience, but, really, not a great amount. At least it’s safe. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/18 "2014-08-01T21:30:33Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > Using another capped beer bottle (turning it over to pry the cap off the beer that’s next to be enjoyed) works pretty well. So how do you ensure that only one bottle (and \*\*\*which \*\*\*bottle) will be opened ? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/19 "2014-08-01T22:40:23Z")
I’ve used the carabiner that I keep my keys on before. There’s a finite number of times you can get away with this before you tear up the carabiner, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595/20 "2014-08-01T22:41:08Z")
[This type](http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/prodimages/large/4403.jpg) of military open-faced belt buckle always worked well for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-beer-bottle-cap-removal-device/694595.md?page=2)