This research was to determine the basic mechanical forces required to separate the honey/wax matrix from the foundation. Three different shearing tools were assessed: a wire, a flat blade, and wedge-shaped knife. The shearing experiments were performed on 25 mm (0.98 in.) wide honey/wax strips. The maximum apparent shearing force for a 25 mm (0.98 in.) long, 0.41 mm (0.016 in.) thick metal string, cutting the honey/wax matrix with the velocity of 100 mm/min (4 in./min), was approximately 20 N (4.5 lbf). The maximum shearing force for a 25 mm (0.98 in.) long, 0.46 mm (0.018 in.) thick blade was 34 N (7.6 lbf) at the blade velocity of 100 mm/min (4 in./min). At its maximum point, the apparent shearing force was up to 40% greater when cutting with the blade as compared to the metal string at the same shearing velocity of 100 mm/min (4 in./min). The laboratory-scale heated knife, with a wedge angle b = 12 shearing 25 mm (0.98 in.) wide uncapped comb at the velocity of 100 mm/min (4 in./min) required the maximum force in the range of 20-23 N (4.5-5.2 lbf). This force was comparable with the force required during cutting with the metal string. The data were recalculated to determine the overall forces that would be required to simultaneously remove honey/wax matrix from both sides of a typical 430 mm (17.0 in.) long foundation. The heated, wedge-shaped knife was found to have the lowest range of shearing forces as compared with that of the wires and flat blades.