At 12:31 PM 7/21/97 +0100, you wrote:
>Dear All
>
>I have recently tried de-capping comb using an electrically powered,
>hand held, hot air blower originally designed for paint stripping.  The
>device has two heat settings and is rated at 1600 W. According to the
>manufacturer's literature it delivers air at 300-560 Deg.C ( 570 - 1040
>Deg. F ).  I use the lower heat setting so the temperature used is
>probably around the lower end of the temperature range quoted.
>
>The air jet is directed almost perpedicularly onto the face of the comb.
>The blower nozzle is rotated in small circles while the blower is
>traversed across the face in a zig-zag motion. The nozzle is about 75-
>100mm ( 3-4 inches) away from the comb face.  One pass across the face
>is all that is normally required.
>
>The decapping results are excellent; the wax melts on the tops of the
>cells and is then pulled by the surface tension of the liquid wax onto
>the tops of the cell walls, leaving the honey free for extraction.  It
>takes about 20 seconds per side, and apart from a very small amount of
>wax blown off as tiny droplets, the wax wastage is zero.  There are no
>cappings with the associated honey  to deal with.  The technique is
>equally quick on unevenly drawn comb, which I have found time-consuming
>to deal with using a de-capping knife.
>
 
>
>Mike Rowbottom
>Harrogate
>North Yorkshire
>UK
>
 
Mike I do the same thing with a portable propane toech. It is very fast and
I have not noticed any adverse effects on the honey but one added benifit is
it kills any exposed mites etc. I to have tried numerous decapping knives
etc. and none of them are as fast as this method for me and ease of
operation. This may very well be the best decapping tool I have used in a
long time.
 
Paul Basehore
Oklahoma