Honey Uncapping Station - Stainless Tray, Plastic Tub

An Uncapping Tray That Drains the Honey Out of the Cappings

Uncapping over a bucket works until you look at what is in the bucket: a pile of wet cappings, and somewhere inside them a surprising amount of honey that never made it to the extractor. Most hobbyists either throw it out with the wax or spend the evening squeezing it through a cloth, and neither is a good use of a harvest.

This uncapping station gives the cappings somewhere to go and the honey a way out. A deep stainless steel tray with frame rests sits on top, a perforated stainless insert beneath it lets honey drain through while the wax stays put, and a food-grade plastic tub with a honey gate sits underneath. Uncap into it, let it drain, open the gate. It suits anyone extracting from a few hives up to a sideline operation that does not need an all-stainless unit.

How the Layers Work

The frame sits across the support bars on the tray, which leaves both hands free to run the knife or fork down the face of the comb. Cappings drop onto the perforated insert, and over the next hour or so the honey in them drains through the holes into the tub. The wax on top comes out drier and cleaner than it ever does from a bucket. The honey gate on the front sends the honey into a jar or bucket without tipping the whole station.

Why Stainless on Top and Plastic Underneath

The parts that take the knife, the scraping and the washing are stainless steel, so they will not pit, stain or hold flavour. The tub only has to hold honey, and food-grade plastic does that at a fraction of the weight and cost of a stainless tank. If you want stainless all the way down, the Honey Uncapping Station/Equipment Kit is the step up.

Clean Wax Is Worth Keeping

Cappings wax is the cleanest wax a hive produces: new, pale and free of brood residue, which is why candle makers prefer it. Drained on the grate, it melts down with far less honey to wash out first. A season of cappings from a few hives adds up to more wax than most people expect.

What It Is Not For

This is a bench-top station for a few hives, not a commercial uncapping line. If you are putting hundreds of frames through in a day, you will want a longer tray and a bigger tank. It does not include a knife or fork. The knife takes the bulk of the cappings off and the fork gets the low spots the knife skims over, so add both if you do not already have them.

Specifications

• Tray: deep stainless steel with frame support bars
• Insert: perforated stainless steel, drains honey through and holds wax on top
• Tub: food-grade plastic with built-in honey gate
• Supports: detachable grating supports for hands-free frame work
• In the box: tray, perforated insert, plastic tub with honey gate, detachable supports
• Not included: uncapping knife or fork

What is in the box?

A deep stainless steel tray, a perforated stainless insert, a food-grade plastic tub with a honey gate and detachable grating supports.

Does it include an uncapping knife or fork?

No. Add an uncapping knife and fork if you do not already have them. The knife takes the bulk of the cappings and the fork gets the low spots.

How does the honey drain out of the cappings?

Cappings sit on the perforated insert, and the honey in them drains through the holes into the tub over the next hour or so, leaving the wax drier and cleaner.

How do I get the honey out of the tub?

Use the honey gate on the front. It sends honey into a jar or bucket without tipping the station.

Can I work with both hands free?

Yes. The frame sits across the support bars on the tray, so both hands are free to run the knife or fork down the comb.

Why is the tub plastic instead of stainless?

The tub only has to hold honey, and food-grade plastic does that at a fraction of the weight and cost. For all-stainless, choose the Honey Uncapping Station/Equipment Kit.

Is it suitable for commercial use?

No. It is a bench-top station for a few hives up to a sideline operation, not a commercial uncapping line.

What should I do with the cappings wax?

Keep it. Cappings wax is the cleanest wax a hive produces and candle makers prefer it. Drained cappings melt down with far less honey to wash out.

Is the tray stainless steel?

Yes. The tray and perforated insert are stainless steel, so they will not pit, stain or hold flavour.

Who is it suited to?

Anyone extracting from a few hives up to a sideline operation that does not need an all-stainless unit.