Double-Edged Serrated Uncapping Knife by Jero® - 280 mm

01 · WHY TWO SERRATED EDGES

It cuts on the way out and back

With an edge on both sides you cut pulling and pushing without turning the knife over: you take the cappings down and bring back up what was left, in the same movement. It works the same for right- and left-handers.

The serration is what lets you work combs that are not flat: the teeth bite instead of skidding. A plain edge wants a straight comb.

02 · COLD OR WATER-BATH WARM

Two ways of cutting wax

Cold, the knife saws the wax; warm, it melts it as it passes and leaves a cleaner cut with fewer crumbs. That is why it is worth warming it in a water bath before starting.

A water bath, not a flame: water does not go past 100 °C, and an over-hot knife burns the wax and dirties the cappings you are going to render later. Wipe the blade every few frames: cold wax building up stops it cutting.

03 · HOW IT'S HANDLED

And why stainless

You run it resting the blade on the frame bars and drawing it away from the hand that holds the frame: with two edges there is no blunt back to brace a thumb against.

Stainless steel is no luxury in a honey house: this is the tool that sits wet and sticky between batches, and carbon steel pits there.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

This is the knife: