Uncapping
Lexikon
Uncapping removes the thin wax caps with which the bees seal ripe honey cells.
Uncapping removes the thin wax caps with which the bees seal ripe honey cells. Only afterward can the honey be extracted from the comb. The wax cap is, in a sense, the bees' seal of quality: they only cap a cell once the honey is sufficiently thickened and ripe. After uncapping, responsibility for further hygienic processing passes to the beekeeper.
Several tools exist for uncapping. The uncapping fork is inexpensive and widely used: the tines are run as flat as possible under the wax caps to tear them open. The uncapping knife cuts off the caps in one motion and is especially suited to thicker combs, though it produces more cappings wax in the process. A hot-air gun causes the wax layer to burst open, but works reliably only on young, never-brooded combs. For larger operations, electrically heated uncapping machines are also available.
A common beginner's mistake with the fork is pulling it toward the hand holding the frame, which can lead to painful puncture injuries. The fork should also be guided as flat as possible so that too much honey is not torn out of the cells along with the caps. The separated cappings wax collects on a screened tray, while the honey clinging to it drips off and is collected. This cappings wax is among the cleanest waxes and is gladly melted down for wax foundation.