Honey Uncapping Tank and Station with Stainless Drip Tray and Honey Gate

An uncapping tank is a tub with a perforated tray on top: you uncap honey frames over the tray, the wax cappings stay on the grate, and the honey drains through into the tub and out a gate. This one pairs a food-grade plastic tub with a 304 stainless steel drip tray, two frame stands, a cross bar and spike, a frame holding rack that doubles as the lid, and a 1.5 in honey gate. It suits deep, medium and shallow Langstroth frames and is the standard setup for a home or sideliner extracting day.

How do you use an uncapping tank?

Two ways. Stand a full frame against the two removable stainless grate stands so both hands are free for the uncapping knife or fork. Or rest the frame's end bar on the wooden cross bar and balancing spike so it hovers over the tray and flips to uncap the second side without putting it down. Either way the cappings and any debris stay on the perforated tray, the honey runs through to the tub, and you drain it from the gate into a bucket or strainer.

What is included?

• 1 x food-grade plastic uncapping tub (color may vary)
• 1 x 1.5 in honey gate, fitted
• 1 x perforated 304 stainless steel drip tray
• 1 x wooden cross bar with balancing spike
• 2 x removable stainless steel grate stands
• 1 x stainless steel frame holding rack, doubles as the lid

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an uncapping tank for a small number of hives?

With one or two hives you can uncap over a baking tray, but from about three hives up the volume of cappings and dripping honey makes a proper tank worth it. It keeps honey off the floor and collects the cappings so you can render the wax.

What do I do with the cappings?

Leave them on the tray overnight so the honey drains, then rinse them and melt them down. Cappings wax is the cleanest beeswax you will get from a hive.

Does it work with an electric uncapping knife?

Yes. Any knife or uncapping fork works. The frame stands hold the frame upright so you can run a heated knife top to bottom with both hands.

Can I leave honey in the tank?

It is a working tank, not a storage tank. Drain it at the end of the day into a settling tank or buckets so the honey does not pick up moisture.

The Yarra Bee Co honey uncapping tank is stocked in Texas and ships within the US. Pair it with a honey settling tank for a complete small-scale extracting line.