Well, I'm not too lazy to learn how to use a smoker. I've been using baler twine and it works great. The smoke is not hot--feels completely fine when I smoke my hands right up close. I use 1 puff in the entrance, then go in a few minutes later. I try to keep only about 6" of my topbars open at once, everything behind and in front closed up tight.
Tonight I took 20+ stings. The smoke seriously was not working, or if it was I would have hated to see how many stings I would have gotten without it.
One hive was queenless, but the first one was not, just a booming hive.
I've seen smoke work great for others, but it really does not work well for me at all. Could the topbar setup be one reason for this difference? I will try water spray (without vinegar) and see how it does on these present hives at this present time.
I can't find anything negative on vinegar and bees. Bakerboy, do you have any links? If you use the logic of "spray acid in my eyes and I'll move," I guess you could also say, "Blast smoke in my eyes and I'll move."
I really would like to learn more about both smoke and acid. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have much information on the effects of smoke on the bees, just how it changes their behavior. I want to understand what it does to the bees to have any of these methods used...