I've recently learned that with most bottles of wine you can just pull off the foil. Just twist it a little and off it comes. So much easier than fussing around cutting the foil. With some bottles the foil is on too tight to pull off, I use the knife on the waiter's corkscrew. I've never had a foil cutter so I can't give you any recommendations there.

I have had a Screwpull foil cutter since the mid/late eighties. It gets a lot of use since I wait tables for a living. I can't see how it could break, maybe you got one with a defect? I buy a lot of them too, but only because everyone who sees mine wants one for themselves, and I give them as gifts a lot.

http://www.wineenthusiast.com/E/details.asp?Ep=An/0//A/9394&uid=6F1390C7%2D611B%2D467E%2DB27F%2D13680E4CDD29

When I went to find a link for a Screwpull foil cutter I see they have a newly designed Trilogy model from LeCruset. I have not seen one of those in action. Is that the one you bought?

I have had no trouble with my foil cutter on lead or plastic. I don't use it for foil only because it gives a jagged edge to foil, but so does using the knife cutter on a corkscrew. I get better results using my fingernail as you can push down and smooth the foil as you go around it. I have not tried using it on bottles that use sealing wax. I hate sealing wax on bottles. Its tough even using a knife on them and you can never get a clean cut, as the wax crumbles and flies around.

I don't know of any other brands of foil cutters out there and I believe they are still under patent so knock-off copies cannot be made for a least a few more years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Screwpull Foil Cutter

Hi Bud -

That's the EXACT brand and model that fell apart on me recently. Maybe I did get a defective one, but the previous one fell apart quickly too. Right now I'm using a small knife. Tired of scraping the foil with my fingernails and breaking them. Guess I'll keep looking until I find something that looks and feels sturdier.

Check out the link below - there are some different designs here... I was hoping that someone had tried any of them and could provide some feedback.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: some other designs

Are you saying you bought the Screwpull Trilogy model? Or the original model Screwpull I have, that I inked to? I am puzzled are to why yours would break so easily. I know lots of waiters/bartenders who use Screwpull foil cutters, and I have never heard of one breaking.

Are you using them to cut through the sealing wax that some maufacturers are using these days? I don't think foil cutters were made for the tough job of cutting through sealing wax and I do not use mine on those bottles. More and more manufacturers are stopping the use of traditional lead foil on wine bottles due to health concerns. I hate sealing waxed bottles.

Please tell me you are not trying to use a foil cutter on champagne bottles.

Maybe if you write to the Screwpull headquarters and complain about the longevity of the two you purchased they will do something out of goodwill?

Another here who has used the same screwpull foil cutter for about 20 years....I think they are great!
Linda C

DH and I use a vegetable peeler around the top edge. Works like a charm.

A vegetable peeler?!?! How? Can you explain how to use a vegetable peeler to cut through a lead top with a clean cut?

In reference to the sealing wax, I've not had many problems with my waiter's key going through the wax and cork and pulling the cork through the wax. I prefer the waiter's key to the "rabbit" style openers because I can stop the cork half-way through and remove the loose pieces before continuing. Best for this is the non-teflon type corkscrews.

Better yet and I don't have to hassle with the loose pieces, there's two options to try. First, is to warm the wax in the palm of your hand prior to opening. The other is running hot water over the top...better option is if you have a instant hot water dispenser. Keeping the water over the top where you need to pop the cork doesn't effect the temp of the wine.