Author Topic: Smoker (Read 5767 times)

Terry N · « **on:** June 16, 2012, 04:43:56 pm »

Best advice on how to keep smoker lit...what is dependable source of fuel?

iddee · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2012, 06:08:07 pm »

Finish your inspection and set the smoker on the back of your truck. It will stay lit for hours. :evil: :-D

I like hemp baling twine best. NOT the plastic kind.

David McLeod · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2012, 08:31:08 pm »

X2 on the baling twine.

Joe D · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2012, 11:05:31 pm »

Packing whatever you are trying to smoke is first, then the material. Over on equipment useage is a thread on this, first page now.

Joe

LoriMNnice · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2012, 11:51:27 pm »

I put a wad of newspapers start that on fire and pack whatever dry material is next to me i.e grass, straw, pine needles, etc. I put whatever in by half a handful and pack it down with hive tool, giving smoker a couple of puffs here and there, I keep doing that until its packed full and tight...So far I have never had the smoker go out or never had not enough smoke. I also have the big smoker.

wadehump · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2012, 09:30:35 am »

burlap

hardwood · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2012, 09:53:58 am »

Lighting a smoker with pine straw fuel

JackM · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:15:51 am »

start with wood shavings and put in a couple cups of sawdust.

hunter3015 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2012, 04:06:56 pm »

i have a small farm and plentyof pine trees. So i just went an got a old burlap sack and fill with pine straw. Works good and cheap and with the bag always have some dry to use just pack it tight.

Terry N · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2012, 05:12:22 pm »

THANKS GUYS FOR ALL ADVICE.......MAY YOUR SUPERS RUNNETH OVER.

AllenF · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2012, 09:32:12 pm »

I use leave and needles straight out of the woods. Get it hot to start with and pile on the fuel.

BlueBee · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2012, 09:37:01 pm »

The only thing I found to make a smoker DEPENDABLE is a propane fired torch and some charcoal briscuts.

Mine never really starts smoking well until I'm all done with the bees..... then is smokes for hours :(

FRAMEshift · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2012, 12:37:24 am »

I use dry pine needles. Keep them in a bag out of the rain. Fill smoker half full, light the needles with a propane torch and then fill smoker the rest of way with needles.

TwoHoneys · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2012, 07:54:20 am »

Smoke bombs with burlap stuffed around them (I find free burlap bags at my local coffee shop...where they roast their own coffee). I light it all with a propane torch I bought at Home Depot.

There's a picture of a smoke bomb: http://cincinnatibees.com/2011/10/12/cardboard-smoker-bombs/

-Liz

Javin · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2012, 01:09:50 am »

Can't recommend watching "hardwood's" video enough. I used dry leaves and packed them in TIGHT like he did with the pine needles. After an hour, I had to leave the smoker sitting out to burn itself out. Dunno how long it took. Had to go to bed!

Joe D · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2012, 09:51:31 am »

Javin, I made a tin foil cover of the lid. When you get through with the smoker put the tin foil on press into place. In a little it will go out and you have some fuel left to start with next time. Happy smokin.

Joe

Beeboy01 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2012, 06:22:19 pm »

I've found that a small nuclear device works great with getting a smoker lit, if you don't have one of them laying around the shop try pine needles or cotton cloth like old jeans and a propane torch. I have a wooden plug which I stuff in the tip of my smoker when done with it for the day. It is attached to the smoker by a little piece of stainless chain which came from the flapper of a crapper so it won't get lost.

Course Bee · « **Reply #17 on:** June 29, 2012, 09:06:16 pm »

I like the crapper flapper chain idea. I'm going to have to try that. I struggled keeping my smoker lit til my inspections were complete until I watched Hardwoods video. It works like a charm every time now(I do use a torch to get started of course.)

Oblio13 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2012, 10:44:04 pm »

Get a RAGING INFERNO going with anything - newspaper, pine cones, etc. Then pack your fuel - sawdust, pine needles, burlap, baling twine, sumac seed heads, or whatever - on top of that. When you think you have enough, put some more in. Then finally top it off with a handful of green grass. Mine stays lit for hours. I keep it in a galvanized bucket with more grass stuffed in the spout if I'm driving between bee yards.

L Daxon · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2012, 11:43:21 pm »

I start with pine needles. When those get going I plop in rolled cardboard tied off with twine. Sometimes I put burlap or cotton boles in the middle of the cardboard, if I have some. Of course I use the propane torch for a rip roaring heat source.

But I am with BlueBee. My always seems to really start producing continuous smoke about the time I finish my inspections.