Hi,

 >This is precisely why I never cared for the piano wire method, bee
carnage!
> I prefer to
> use two hive tools, one to pry the top body up just enough to fit the
other
> tool in to pry
> the bottom frame (one frame at a time) from the top frame.  A bit of work,
> but no sliced bees.

reply:

Why don't you pop the supers and twist to break the comb. Works good and
quickly.  Very few if any bees are injured.  Save the other hive tool for
when you misplace it.

Clay