Dryer lint for smoker fuel

[slacker361]

anybody ever try this?

[AllenF]

Wouldn't the poly blend lint melt?  It would lake a lot to make a lot of smoke. 

[wildbeekeeper]

maybe ok to start a smoker but unless the lint is all cotton, I wouldnt use it as the sole fuel type...theres probably some poly in there and other chemicals...

[BjornBee]

How about belly button fuzzies?

Maybe ear wax as starter material?

 :-D

[Finski]

 :'(

question is bad: have you ever tried?  - 

first i thought that stuff is not dry enoough. I dry it up in microwave oven,

[Michael Bush]

If you wash your cottons together and collect it afterward, it should work fine.

[Grandma_DOG]

I actually teach new Beeks to use dryer lint as a smoker starter. But not as fuel.

[Finski]

.
I use only rotten wood. They are may too, good and bad. You may try what works.

[Humanbeeing]

I wouldn't use it. Has to much stuff in it. If you have pets, pet hair. If you are going bald, your hair. Not to mention polyester and other synthetics.

[Finski]

.
When using smoke stuff the aroma of smoke is important. The aroma stays in honey and it is important what you use.

Clothes have many chemicals. They are not pure cotton.

[yantabulla]

I only use tree bark.  Dryer lint you're asking for trouble.

[Scadsobees]

I don't, but then again I never have a dryer laying around the beeyard when I need fuel  :roll:

Usually end up using whatever is laying around and combustible when I need it...grass, bark, branches, small animals....

[Kathyp]

cotton dryer lint (towels) mixed with bees wax, rolled in a ball with a small wick, makes a great fire starter.  don't know if i'd use it in a smoker.  the cotton burns pretty quickly.  you need something with a tighter weave, like burlap.

[Finski]

cotton dryer lint (towels) mixed with bees wax,

I have noticed that bees become mad when smoke has burning wax smoke.

I wonder why smoke stuff should be so complex that it has starter too.

[Scadsobees]

I have noticed that bees become mad when smoke has burning wax smoke.

I notice that I become mad when I have burning wax in my smoker!!!  YUCK!!  Tried it once and it was aweful choking nasty bitter smoke! (not that smoke isn't anyway, it was just worse!)

[backyard warrior]

One of the best smoker fuels i think is Pine Needles they start up easy and once you get the fire burning you put a large amount over top of the burning stuff  it really  makes a pleasant white cool smoke this is what i use all the time and it is natural.  Chris

[Brian D. Bray]

Dryer lint makes an okay fire starter for a smoker, I know people who keep a coffee can or such near the dryer for collecting it, but I wouldn't use it for smoker fuel, too much synthetics. 

Near use wax, especiall petrolium derived wax, in your smoker.  It not only makes for rancid smoke but coats the inside of the smoker like creosote in a chimney.  The smoke makes the bees mad (as noted earlier) and those occassional explosions can be hazardous to both bees and keeper.

Having livestock I use burlap feed sacks or bailing twine for smoker fuel, sometimes both.  Make sure the bailing twine is not synthetic.
What I do use take a small bit of newsprint, roll it like a straw, lay it beside a small chunk of old crumbling wood or savings, then wrap that with either burlap or twine.  Newsprint is for a fast start, Wood chips are to act as coals to hold the heat, and the burlap or twine creates the smoke.  If the smoke gets to hot, add some green grass or leaves to cool it down.