I've got one and for a number of reasons, I would not recommend it. It does not work with Hoffman type frames - I'm in the UK and most people use hoffman type frames - I think about 70% in all. When I found this out, I asked SHF to mention this on their site as it's an expensive item and useless if you have Hoffman type frames but, to date, I don't see this references so I'm posting a warning here. It works reasonably well if your frame sides are completely straight and are parallel AND if the cappings are well proud of the frame sides. However, it needs two passes at right angles to each other (i.e. to create a 'cross' cut) to enable honey to flow. For this reason, I would recommend that supers with wide spaced castellations be used. It is difficult to puncture cappings that are not proud of the frame sides. I resorted to scrapping with a knife blade to puncture low patches of cappings. However, I also agree with Robo - a lot less honey is extracted through the perforated cappings than those uncapped with a bread knife. - I haven't done a controlled test but observationally, a lot more honey 'sticks' in the frames after extraction compared with frames uncapped with a bread knive. About 75% of my super frames are hoffmans so I had to raid the kitchen for a knive to uncap them so the visual comparison was easy. I also found that I had to spin frames for much longewr than bread-knife uncapped frames to get any reasonable extraction. Finally, and this will only be proven next year, but the uncapper fairly shreds the comb that extends beyond the frame sides. I suspect that when the bees try to repair this comb for re-use next season, it will result in very uneven cappings which will make the process next year less efficient. Not recommended - a nice idea in theory and well designed and constructed but unfortunately, quite poor in execution. Also, v expensive!
all beekeepers are different, we have found that this uncapper works better than anything we have tried, it took 3 days of work down to 1 day... truly happy with it, worth the price. we found it worked great even for unevenly drawn wax, you just tilt one way and then the other.. and even with 2 passes it still cuts our time down.
Have had mine two years now, as long as they are drawn fully you uncap the frames quickly.
I've got one and for a number of reasons, I would not recommend it.
It does not work with Hoffman type frames - I'm in the UK and most people use hoffman type frames - I think about 70% in all. When I found this out, I asked SHF to mention this on their site as it's an expensive item and useless if you have Hoffman type frames but, to date, I don't see this references so I'm posting a warning here.
It works reasonably well if your frame sides are completely straight and are parallel AND if the cappings are well proud of the frame sides. However, it needs two passes at right angles to each other (i.e. to create a 'cross' cut) to enable honey to flow. For this reason, I would recommend that supers with wide spaced castellations be used. It is difficult to puncture cappings that are not proud of the frame sides. I resorted to scrapping with a knife blade to puncture low patches of cappings.
However, I also agree with Robo - a lot less honey is extracted through the perforated cappings than those uncapped with a bread knife. - I haven't done a controlled test but observationally, a lot more honey 'sticks' in the frames after extraction compared with frames uncapped with a bread knive. About 75% of my super frames are hoffmans so I had to raid the kitchen for a knive to uncap them so the visual comparison was easy. I also found that I had to spin frames for much longewr than bread-knife uncapped frames to get any reasonable extraction.
Finally, and this will only be proven next year, but the uncapper fairly shreds the comb that extends beyond the frame sides. I suspect that when the bees try to repair this comb for re-use next season, it will result in very uneven cappings which will make the process next year less efficient.
Not recommended - a nice idea in theory and well designed and constructed but unfortunately, quite poor in execution. Also, v expensive!
all beekeepers are different, we have found that this uncapper works better than anything we have tried, it took 3 days of work down to 1 day... truly happy with it, worth the price. we found it worked great even for unevenly drawn wax, you just tilt one way and then the other.. and even with 2 passes it still cuts our time down.
I like the way you have set up your extracter, screwed down onto a platform with castor wheels and weighted with a cement block, too.
Why won't you get the wax cappings? Thanks, I'm from Hamilton. Still learning.
it cuts slits in the capped honey instead of cutting off too much..thin ones and thick both worked great..
looks tasty
How does this work on frames that are partially capped or the cappings are below the level of the wood?
you just tilt the frame slightly while running it through - this thing is amazing!
Are you treatment free beekeepers?
for the most part...yes, but use some meds with extraction bees, just to be safe, we don't feed sugar water either..