I've been told that the uncapping plane puts less stress on your wrist than the knife. I haven't tried it myself, but I'm looking into it or an automatic uncapper for next year because the knife was just too much for my wrist with the increased number of frames I did this year.
The plane is great if you have good even drawn comb. For shallows, you only need one swipe. With mediums, you may need two passes per side. There is a guide that allows you to just use the wooden frame as a guide and it is fast and easy. Much easier than a knife. Only downside is that if the comb is not drawn out the same, you may need to hit it with a knife or a fork. It speeds the process in half for uncapping, if not more.
With the knife I can use the point to hit any low spots, and adjust my depth or angle to adapt to the flow of the comb. It is harder on the wrists though when doing many frames.
I like the plane, have the knife handy, and hate the fork.
I love my plane. my wife got it for me for xmas last year and it really does save on your wrist. You have to watch out just like the knife there is not thermostate on it so it can scorch pretty good.
I think bjornbee covered it well. I wish they would make a plane to cover the entire span of a medium frame. My plane has a thermostat. If I am not mistaken, I believe the heating element in my plane is replaceable. The heating elements in the knives I have used are not.
Most catalogs or articles show the plane being used incorrectly -- or at least in a poor manner, holding the top bar, balancing the frame and positioning the plane vertically, trying to drag it across the comb surface. Good way to burn your fingers.
It should be used horizontally, i.e. you lay the frame down and draw the plane across it (toward you). The frame can be laid across two 1" wooden strips fixed across the uncapping bin at the appropriate distance apart.
The plane is nice, because it is easier on the wrist (much) and the cappings curl up in the reservoir of the plane body. Tip it over and they fall out nicely.
The only disadvantage I have seen, having used a plane exclusively for many years, is that it doesn't shave the comb clear down to the level of the wood if you space the combs widely in the supers. Works about right for 9 frame spacing. With 8 fr. spacing and a plane you can't get slice the comb down flush like you can with a knife.
Once I was extracting and really behind the clock when my hot knife decided to quit. In the heat of the moment, I grabed my wifes' electric carving knife. It worked great. I have never gone back to the hot knife method of uncapping.
OK I ralked to the wife about useing her electric carving knife and got a BAD look and was told to go buy my own
so I just got back from Big Lots they have them for 8 bucks now if I can only find it come extracting time
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