Uncapping with a heat gun?

[the-ecohouse.com]

I just saw some crazy vid on youtube where a guy uncapped a heap of frames with a heat gun, by lightly melting the wax cappings.

thoughts anyone?

[AllenF]

Easy way to mess up a bunch of comb?

[Johnny253]

Yeah, I saw that one a while back too. Appeared to work fine, a very clean process and also easy and cheap but I would be worried what it does to the comb. Worth a try I reckon, I'll give it a go one day.

[yockey5]

I can see it being a great way to do a few, but would it not be time consuming?

[the-ecohouse.com]

Check these dudes and their heat guns

Heat Gun Uncapping

Bee Spencer - Uncapping the easy way

looks quick and easy to me?

[prestonpaul]

I'm going to have a crack at this if I get a harvest this year 

[the-ecohouse.com]

bought one today $30 at bunnings capped 10 frames in 10sih minutes, i'm sure ill improve in time....best part was no mess,
christ i hate uncapping

[AllenF]

Looks easy, but I am still not totally sold on it.   I would like to see what all the cells look like after spinning to see if they all opened up.     

[OzBuzz]

Personally - not a fan - i like the traditional uncapping for a few reasons:

1) You don't melt wax in to the honey
2) Easier for the bees to clean up rather than a bunch of melted cappings
3) You have the opportunity to straighten up the comb surface when uncapping the 'traditional' way
4) You don't unecessarily heat the surface of the honey
5) Are you adding impurities in to the honey that would otherwise be removed by cutting the cappings off?

I could blab on about it being traditional blah blah blah but if i find something new that i think is a good idea i'll embrace it - just not a fan of this one...

[AllenF]

I don't know what impurities you would add to the honey?   If you had something on the frame, whether you melt or cut it off, some will get into the honey.   If you had something on the frame, but I don't have an idea what that could be.   

[the-ecohouse.com]

each to their own i guess 

until i get to the stage were i buy a full automatic un-capper and extractor line ...its going to work well for me....

[shan777]

could anyone confirm how harsh the heat gun was on the cells??? Am considering using mine, but don't want to if its going to damage the cells too much.......

[the-ecohouse.com]

hi shan777

make sure ya buy a gun that is adjustable and on use it on its lowest setting..its a bit like using a uncapping knife, you can make a real mess of it if your not careful...

my rules are keep it low and do it quick

I have done a number of them now and find that i do less damage to the combs that using my uncapping scratch ers like these guys...

Brushy MT uncapping

or even this guy and hes a champ

Michigan shooter uncapping

[shan777]

thanks mate, might give it a shot!

Obviously the trick would be the low heat you said, but also to be super quick at moving along once one part of the cappings are melted and not lingering.......

[yockey5]

I am thinking this is a great idea for a hobbyist like myself.

[BlevinsBees]

I tried it with the heat gun on low and the cappings cooled and reformed before I could get all 6 frames in the extractor. What am I doing wrong?

[the-ecohouse.com]

Hey BelvinsBees

Sound like you might now have had the heat on hot enough

Watch the second Vid at the top.

The key is to have it warm enough and move it quick enough to completely uncap (melt) the capping and open the cells but not melt the actual cells them.

I'm going to make a video on how i do it, when I'm not so busy.

[Lone]

Blimey, it looks and sounds easy enough, but when I tried it today, the wax just melted and recapped the cells.  I tried it with the frame vertical and horizontal, on low and high settings, and went and got a bread knife instead.

Lone

[the-ecohouse.com]

ok...i'll definitely to a vid...

[adamant]

whats a good wattage ? hate to over do it..