To go back to the grafting; what fixed it finally for me was to get a decent headband magnifier and light. That way you can pick up the smallest larvae possible and really see what you are doing. Also opening a line of cells up helps and getting the queen to lay in fairly new comb makes it all so much easier. If the larvae are hatching in a well fed stock there will be just a little more brood food around with the larvae floating on this. This seems to have just the right viscosity so on touching with the grafting tool the larva is immediately picked up and then touching the base of a plastic receiving cup it slides off beautifully....well more or less. The brown colour of the plastic cup also aids visibilty. Really seeing what you are doing is the key.
How about a 'get together of grafters' in the summer to teach one another our favourite tricks?
Alvearium