Uncapping Forks

An uncapping fork (uncapping comb, uncapping scratcher) is a hand tool made of fine stainless tines set in a handle, used to lift the thin wax caps (cappings) off comb cells before extracting honey. It opens the low-lying and edge cells the knife cannot reach, and is also used to open drone brood to check for varroa. It is a cheap, simple tool that belongs in every beekeeper's bag.

What is an uncapping fork used for?

The mouths of ripe honey cells are sealed with wax caps built by the bees. For the extractor to be able to spin honey out of the cells, these caps have to be removed. The uncapping fork does this not by cutting but by lifting: the tines are slipped just under the capping and the cap is peeled upwards.

The main uses of an uncapping fork are:

• Low-lying cells: If the comb surface is wavy or sits below the frame bar, the knife cannot reach the cells that are lower down.
• Edges and corners: Cells close to the frame bars.
• Small harvests: A beekeeper with a few hives can remove all the cappings with a fork.
• Varroa checks: Lifting capped drone brood out of the cells to count mites.

Types of uncapping fork

• Stainless tines with a plastic handle: The most common type. Light, cheap and easy to clean.
• Metal body with a wooden or metal handle: Heavier and more durable; the tines are fixed into a metal head.
• Straight and bent-tine types: Bent tines get under the cappings more easily; straight tines are held parallel to the surface.
• Wide and narrow-head types: A wide head is faster; a narrow head is handier in hollows and corners.

How do you use an uncapping fork?

1. Position the frame: Rest the frame on the pin or bar of the uncapping tray; hold it at a slight angle so the cappings fall into the tray.
2. Set the angle: Hold the fork almost parallel to the comb surface. The tips of the tines should go just under the cappings.
3. Lift: Peel the fork upwards and outwards with short movements. Do not push the tines to the bottom of the cells; the cell walls get damaged and wax crumbs get into the honey.
4. Clean off: Scrape the cappings collected on the fork off against the edge of the tray.
5. Check: Hold the frame up to the light, finish any cells still capped, then move on to the other side.

Uncapping fork or uncapping knife?

In short, the fork is a tool used alongside the knife, not instead of it. For a beekeeper with a few hives, however, it may be enough on its own.

Varroa checks with an uncapping fork

The varroa mite (Varroa destructor) prefers capped brood cells for reproduction, especially drone brood, which stays capped for longer. Capped drone cells are therefore a good sample for seeing the level of mite infestation.

1. Slip the fork into capped drone cells, just under the cappings.
2. Lift the fork to pull the pupae out of the cells with it.
3. Count the dark reddish-brown mites on the pale pupae.
4. Take samples from several places; the higher the proportion of infested pupae, the greater the need for treatment.

This method gives a rough idea; for colony-level decisions it should be used together with counting methods such as the sugar roll or alcohol wash. If the same fork is used for both brood and honey, it should be washed thoroughly after each use.

Choice, maintenance and hygiene

• Tines should be stainless: Rusty tines contaminate the honey with rust and break easily.
• Tines should be firmly set: A loose tine can break off during use and end up in the honey. Straighten bent tines, and replace a fork with missing tines.
• Grip: A non-slip handle that fits the hand protects the wrist on long harvest days.
• Cleaning: Wash in lukewarm water, remove wax from between the tines with a soft brush, and dry.
• Disease: A fork used in a hive suspected of brood disease must be cleaned before it goes to another hive; if American or European foulbrood is suspected, it must be reported to the official veterinary service / local agriculture authority.