There is nothing better or faster for uncapping frames than the paint roller style. It’s a roller with very short spikes that punctures the cappings. Cells remain intact. It’s incredibly efficient.
Love my hot knife! Been using it for several years. If you angle the knife around 30 degrees out from the frame so the cutting edge rides down the surface of the wood frame, starting at the top with the point of the knife just past the wood edge, firmly and smoothly push the knife down and away. It will glide down the frame and the capping will fall away. Once you get the hang of it, you only need one stroke per side of each frame. It goes very fast :)
I use an old antique bread knife. It is serrated and thin. I use the fork for the places to shallow for the knife. However I push the forks just under the caps and lift up. Keeping the forks parallel to the surface. This does less damage to the comb.
There's an idea for a video. Do a blind honey test of some honey that has been uncapped with a hot and some with a cold knife. See if you can tell which is which just by taste.
I agree about the heated knife. FWIW If I have uneven comb I've been using the standard uncapping fork with Dr. Leo's technique. Instead of scraping with it, he comes up on the cappings from the bottom just getting the prongs under the cappings and taking them off with a twist motion. It is quite quick once you get used to the technique. You can then easily scrape them into your contantainer.
I agree the hot knife is worthless! But for me once you do about 2 frames the knife gets sticky and just tears up the comb. I also have used a serrated bread knife but after about two frames the same thing happens. Now, friend of mine suggested getting four knives and throw them in hot water after every frame or when the knife gets sticky. which I'll try. So now I see a new tool called a uncapping plane and watched that on youtube and it seemed to work well. So I'm going to try one. It's about the same price as hot knife.
The special uncapping fork is supposed to be used holding the frame vertically. Yet the cappings may fall back down on the tool and your hand holding the tool . The hot knife I use has an external thermostat control which is far better than the internal preset thermostat. I have also resorted to use the cold knife along with an angled uncapping fork .
I'm new to your channel and a beeteam6 member and really enjoyed the flashback video at the end of this and the "Coffee Time". I've viewed a few of these Coffie Times and I really hope you'll do more or add another channel for it. Really good advice. Loved the "Bully brain" comment as simply explains the amygdala and how it can control us far too much. It still thinks we are in a cave with a dinosaur chomping at the entrance so all doom and gloom so we are prepared to RUN. Very easy to just view it as a bully. In any event, start doing more coffee time and I will send mugs! LOL Thanks for all the help I stick with you and only you out of the myriad of bee channels.
Yes...from the beginning of the vidoe i was hoping you would point out the high heat to the honey that is not good for purety and taste...good properties the heat kills in the honey. That you dont want. Thanks for the vidoe.
I used a bread knife for years then I saw a hot knife on sale at a local farm store and I love the hot knife. I always cut from the top down even when I used the bread knife. Why would you want the sticky honey and wax covering the blades? I get a sheet of cappings wax with the hot knife never cut from the bottom up.
I always preferred the cold knife but I tried the scraper you tried at the end last year, I now much prefer that. Your comparison with the cold knife was not accurate as you had the frame stood up when uncapping, do this with the scraper and the wax will fall off rather than end up lying on top of the honey
Can I ask a beginners question? Why when you took the top super off did you place it on the ground on its side? Does this not cause a problem with any uncapped cells losing their contents? Thanks again and hope you can explain for me. Best regards.
I'd like to know more about this Bee Team Six. I just started beekeeping this year. Trying to move from a bee owner to an actual bee keeper. If anybody has a moment, what should I do in this situation: Bottom deep is almost entirely full of brood. About 2 months ago I moved the queen excluder to the top of the second deep. The second deep is 85% full of honey and pollen. I've placed a super on top of the deeps and the queen excluder. Since placing sugar water in that super I've gotten more bees working whereas earlier they'd just barely begun to draw out the frames. I'm told that my hive might be 'honey bound' and I need to 'bottom super' to give the queen more room to lay eggs. I'd like more opinions. I don't want to interrupt their work in the existing super unless it's necessary. This hive swarmed on Memorial Day.
Thanks for your interest in my personal mentorship program known as BeeTeam6. Here is the link for more info: www.honeybeesonline.com/beekeeping-mentor/
Can you do a video on honey extractors? We have been looking for a honey extractor and would love to have your input about what honey extractor you prefer for the beginning beekeeper!
I had the beetle warning experience. I did not see any beetles but left a box of pulled honey unharvested...let's just say a nasty experience I will never have again!
I think that last tool would have dropped the caps if you had the frame upright like you did for the knives. Seems like a nice hybrid between the cold knife and the cap scratcher.
There is nothing better or faster for uncapping frames than the paint roller style. It’s a roller with very short spikes that punctures the cappings. Cells remain intact. It’s incredibly efficient.
So nice of you Dave and Sherry for the meet and greet with the Minnesota visitor.
I've tried that thing but I have found that I prefer the cold knife above all I've tried. Great video.
I've used the scraper with the guide and it works well you need to stand up the frame over your de-capping tub like you would with a knife
I use the capping fork yesterday
Very good.
Love my hot knife! Been using it for several years. If you angle the knife around 30 degrees out from the frame so the cutting edge rides down the surface of the wood frame, starting at the top with the point of the knife just past the wood edge, firmly and smoothly push the knife down and away. It will glide down the frame and the capping will fall away. Once you get the hang of it, you only need one stroke per side of each frame. It goes very fast :)
Hay try using a cold knife warmed up in boiling water before using it and tell me about it.
Good Tip
I use an old antique bread knife. It is serrated and thin. I use the fork for the places to shallow for the knife. However I push the forks just under the caps and lift up. Keeping the forks parallel to the surface. This does less damage to the comb.
I really like the paint roller style with the small hole punches. Faster, cleaner and less damage. Just spin them slow when you start
There's an idea for a video. Do a blind honey test of some honey that has been uncapped with a hot and some with a cold knife. See if you can tell which is which just by taste.
Good idea. I’ll add that to my idea list.
I am really enjoying this series 👍
Thank you!
I am a new beekeeper and learning great things from you. I have to say that your way of explanation is really insane. By the way love from India 🇮🇳
So nice of you
I like your videos but they are very long. I'd watch more if they were shorter.
Thanks for letting me know!
This video was soooo helpful! Thank you!
I agree about the heated knife. FWIW If I have uneven comb I've been using the standard uncapping fork with Dr. Leo's technique. Instead of scraping with it, he comes up on the cappings from the bottom just getting the prongs under the cappings and taking them off with a twist motion. It is quite quick once you get used to the technique. You can then easily scrape them into your contantainer.
David, I love the videos, thanks as always!
Thank you David
Use the Cold Knife, easy to use.
I agree the hot knife is worthless! But for me once you do about 2 frames the knife gets sticky and just tears up the comb. I also have used a serrated bread knife but after about two frames the same thing happens. Now, friend of mine suggested getting four knives and throw them in hot water after every frame or when the knife gets sticky. which I'll try. So now I see a new tool called a uncapping plane and watched that on youtube and it seemed to work well. So I'm going to try one. It's about the same price as hot knife.
Some have a thermocouple to regulate temperature.
You can hold the frame up on its end like you do with the knife…and the guide can be bent to make it a shallower or deeper cut.
Usually I use a cold knife but this year the honey is 14% moisture content and too thick so I'm using a hot one.
Another great video David.
Keep the tines off the wood frames, it works great
Good tip!
The special uncapping fork is supposed to be used holding the frame vertically. Yet the cappings may fall back down on the tool and your hand holding the tool . The hot knife I use has an external thermostat control which is far better than the internal preset thermostat. I have also resorted to use the cold knife along with an angled uncapping fork .
Thanks for including the interview clip. I guess I’m an official TH-camr!
Thanks for dropping by!
I'm new to your channel and a beeteam6 member and really enjoyed the flashback video at the end of this and the "Coffee Time". I've viewed a few of these Coffie Times and I really hope you'll do more or add another channel for it. Really good advice. Loved the "Bully brain" comment as simply explains the amygdala and how it can control us far too much. It still thinks we are in a cave with a dinosaur chomping at the entrance so all doom and gloom so we are prepared to RUN. Very easy to just view it as a bully. In any event, start doing more coffee time and I will send mugs! LOL Thanks for all the help I stick with you and only you out of the myriad of bee channels.
Some beekeepers use a hairdryer as an uncapping tool, but you don't get any cappings with this method.
Yes...from the beginning of the vidoe i was hoping you would point out the high heat to the honey that is not good for purety and taste...good properties the heat kills in the honey. That you dont want. Thanks for the vidoe.
new subscriber 👍😉
Thanks a bunch
I used a bread knife for years then I saw a hot knife on sale at a local farm store and I love the hot knife. I always cut from the top down even when I used the bread knife. Why would you want the sticky honey and wax covering the blades? I get a sheet of cappings wax with the hot knife never cut from the bottom up.
I always preferred the cold knife but I tried the scraper you tried at the end last year, I now much prefer that.
Your comparison with the cold knife was not accurate as you had the frame stood up when uncapping, do this with the scraper and the wax will fall off rather than end up lying on top of the honey
I only use a scratcher. Is that bad?
That is perfectly fine. Just a tad slower.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that looks at something and thinks to myself... how do you use that?
There is so much stuff out there.
Can I ask a beginners question? Why when you took the top super off did you place it on the ground on its side? Does this not cause a problem with any uncapped cells losing their contents? Thanks again and hope you can explain for me. Best regards.
Hi Trev, not really. It takes some bouncing or jarring to shake out the nectar or honey.
@@beek Many thanks.
I'd like to know more about this Bee Team Six. I just started beekeeping this year. Trying to move from a bee owner to an actual bee keeper. If anybody has a moment, what should I do in this situation: Bottom deep is almost entirely full of brood. About 2 months ago I moved the queen excluder to the top of the second deep. The second deep is 85% full of honey and pollen. I've placed a super on top of the deeps and the queen excluder. Since placing sugar water in that super I've gotten more bees working whereas earlier they'd just barely begun to draw out the frames. I'm told that my hive might be 'honey bound' and I need to 'bottom super' to give the queen more room to lay eggs. I'd like more opinions. I don't want to interrupt their work in the existing super unless it's necessary. This hive swarmed on Memorial Day.
Thanks for your interest in my personal mentorship program known as BeeTeam6. Here is the link for more info: www.honeybeesonline.com/beekeeping-mentor/
I use a bread knife and a fork
Can you do a video on honey extractors? We have been looking for a honey extractor and would love to have your input about what honey extractor you prefer for the beginning beekeeper!
Hi Krystle, I places a link to a nice extractor in the description of this video. Check it out.
I had the beetle warning experience. I did not see any beetles but left a box of pulled honey unharvested...let's just say a nasty experience I will never have again!
The nail in your shoe is resin coated to make them tougher to pull out!!!
I think that last tool would have dropped the caps if you had the frame upright like you did for the knives. Seems like a nice hybrid between the cold knife and the cap scratcher.
Indeed. I had already cleaned the bucket.😄
Subscribed….
Great video. Did I miss the weight of the honey you took out?
It is in the video I refer to at the end of this video
Like your shirt.
Thanks Wendi
Already subbed. :) Fingers crossed 🤞
Thanks for posting
I appreciate it Jimmy
That local honey bear is cool where did it come from.
Can't remember but everyone loves it!
You're in a black shirt again 🤣
don't use a nail for your queen cage, use a twig. that won't go though shoes or feet
I can't find a twig strong enough to do the job.
I love my hot knife I can do 9 frames pretty fast
Nice