Uncapping Fork Tool

An uncapping fork (also known as an uncapping scratcher) is an essential, highly affordable beekeeping tool used to manually pry off or scratch away the protective layer of beeswax cappings that seal honey into the comb. Removing this wax layer is a required step before inserting the frame into an extractor or draining the honey.

• Ideal for Low Spots: Honeycomb is often uneven. While a straight uncapping knife easily slices off cappings on proud (raised) comb, it completely misses low spots or sunken cappings. A fork easily reaches into those dips.
• Minimises Comb Damage: Slicing knives can sometimes cut deeply into the wax structure. A properly used fork removes only the outermost thin capping seal, leaving the rest of the cell walls intact for the bees to reuse next season. 
• Affordable and Portable: Unlike electric uncapping knives or heavy machinery, a manual fork requires no power source, takes up minimal storage space, and is the cheapest tool in a harvesting kit.
• Secondary Hive Uses: Beekeepers also use the sharp metal tines to check drone brood for Varroa mites by pushing the needles into a capped cell and pulling out the larvae.