Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Understudy on February 26, 2006, 02:21:46 pm
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Hi everyone.
I need some details on smokers. I have one. I use it pretty well but probably not as well as I would like to. So in order to improve my smoker skills, I am going toask you to give in detail how you use your smokers. The biggest issue I have is the amount of time it smokes for. Nothing like being 30 minutes into an inspection and to have it run out. Also how to get it started properly so it will burn longer. I have discovered that if I get a good hot ash base going and then add my smoke mix it will smoke longer. But that means I have to wait 20 minutes for it to get to that stage and then if it is windy it can suck.
Basically I use a mix of pine needles and dry long fibered sphagnum moss.
I put the grate with legs down into the bottom of the smoker. I some pine needles down on top of the grate and leave a hollow spot in the center. I will put a small ball of paper in the center and then I start that. Once the fire is going on that I will add some more pine needles once the pine needles have burned to a hot glowing stage I will gradually add sphagnum moss. Once the moss shows signs of starting to smoke I will close the lid and gently press the bellows a couple of times. I usually get good smoke out of this. The problem is it dosen't last.
So share you details on how you use your smokers and what materials you use. Also what I can do to improve mine. Also I would like to find a way to get it to start quicker.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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Basically I use a mix of pine needles and dry long fibered sphagnum moss.
Sphagnum turf is ok but needles are not good at all.
Strong smoke is "tar vapour". When smoke touches cool surface tar attaches on surface. Aroma goes into honey. When you uncap frames you will notice chimney aroma in the honey from cappings.
Furthermore tar will run along the smoker and makes hands and hives dirty.
So choose the stuff which gives less smoke and less tar. Rotten wood is good. We have birches where we get "high quality rotten wood". Local beekeeper will tell what is good.
Modern bees are very tame and they need very little smoke. There is no need to push them away with smoke.
.
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I really haven't noticed any difference between useing and not using a smoker. If the bees are calm at the time I start messing with them, they usually stay that way with or without. (Until I do something they don't like) If they are in a bad mood it seems the smoke doesn't make a difference in their attitude.
But I usually have sticks like three quarter inch square or smaller around the outside edge. I'll light a piece of rolled newspaper and place it in the center and puff the thing for awhile until the wood starts burning. Sometimes I have to add more paper, but after awhile when the wood gets to burning I'll fill the center with more small sticks close the lid and go for it. It usually stays burning longer than I need it.
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I like to use Trunk Rot of Birch (Inonotus obliquus )
http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/diseases/CTD/Group/Canker/canker6_e.html
Piece of that fungus smolds long time, even half an hour. It gives enough smoke and makes tar not at all.
http://www.hanbangchaga.co.kr/img/sub_img01.gif
(http://www.herongroupllc.com/russia/efp/pics%5C0023zb.jpg)
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I use pine shavings from the feed store, you get alot for cheap!
I light some newspaper and throw it in, then some more, then wood chips
puff lightly then more chips, puff puff, chips, until it gets good and going then I pack with chips, alittle tighter then loose.......then puff every so often after that, while I'm working...............
next year I may add sumac berries to that mix for mites
ya, it takes mine about 20 min . to get going too. but I just use that time for getting ready...... and try to think of what I might have forgotten.... :D
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My prefered fuel is burlap. I love the Rauchboy smoker and I also made an insert from a can to simulate it. You also need to put the right amount in. It need to be like when you fill a washing maching. Full, but not packed. It needs air. A couple of coals in the bottom (from a bag of charcoal or from building a small fire in it with small dry sticks) really helps keep it lit. An "instant on" torch is sure the cat's meow for lightint them.
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SmokerInsert3.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SmokerInsert2.JPG
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A couple of coals in the bottom (from a bag of charcoal or from building a small fire in it with small dry sticks) really helps keep it lit. An "instant on" torch is sure the cat's meow for lightint them.
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SmokerInsert3.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SmokerInsert2.JPG
I have often thought about using charcol or no scent incense pieces. I just haven't done it. Burlap is not something I frequently come across here.
The pine shavings isn't a bad Idea I might try it.
Keep those ideas and information coming. This has to be helping someone besides me.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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My Favorite is paper from the shreader then add some twigs then I put thee dried horse turds in light it with a long match let it burn for a while then
put the top on good for a hour or so
kirko
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Staghorn Sumac is a great fuel for your smoker. Make sure the buds are nice and dry so they will burn more readily, put two or three buds in your smoker (large smoker stays lit better than small and holds more fuel) light, and away you go! :D
(http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/sumac.jpg)
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Staghorn Sumac doesn't grow in Florida. :(
Maybe the snowbirds can bring some with them. :)
Keep the information coming.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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I have used burlap or old blue jeans tightly rolled and held with wire. My favorite is the pressed cotton rolls the local bee store sells. I keep a propane torch to light it with, it seldom goes out and I put it in a jar with a lid when I'm through( you could probably just stuff something in the smoker spout to extinguish it ) . They sell a 3'' x 6'' tube for about a dollar. It last a long time, a few hous total anyway.
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Staghorn Sumac doesn't grow in Florida. :(
Maybe the snowbirds can bring some with them. :)
Keep the information coming.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
First, take some locally grown cannibis, dry and cure it, roll same into a blunt and smoke away.
After awhile any bee stings you may get will act like a soothing supplement to your already airy feelings. :wink:
Disclaimer: Not recommended when driving.
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All I've ever used is pine needles. To light gather a clump of a few so that when you hold them together they easily enter the smoker. Light the bottem and throw them in. Grab a larger clump and with your hive tool force it on top of and into the clump you put in seconds earlier. Then puff the bellows for about 2 minutes untill the smoke starts to build up...then you can repeat the second step untill the smoker seems solidly full. I've had my smoker burn for an hour and a half doing this assuming it's puffed at least once every 20 minutes or so. To deal with tar accumulation, I either scratch the insides with steel wool to scrape it off or, start a wood fire, move the coals and twigs into the smoker and let them burn it off.
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First, take some locally grown cannibis
Yeah! Act locally, think globally! :idea:
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First, take some locally grown cannibis
Yeah! Act locally, think globally! :idea:
Your Hockey team came close, Finsky.
For those who make their own equipment with wood; Cut up the scraps into small pieces and use that in the smoker. Some wood has a pleasent smell when burned. In particular, mahogany. But, Cannibis... :lol:
Burning wood last a long time in the smoker.
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Hi all
Why not just use grass cuttings(or has that allready been suggested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) :twisted:
I mean those off the lawn of course.They are free and need cleaning up anyway.
Regards Ian
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Hi all
Why not just use grass cuttings(or has that allready been suggested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) :twisted:
I mean those off the lawn of course.They are free and need leaning up anyway.
Regards Ian
MY GRASS is blended in the lawn and flower landscape. I select the cuttings. :D Of course.
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Hi all
Why not just use grass cuttings(or has that allready been suggested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) :twisted:
I mean those off the lawn of course.They are free and need leaning up anyway.
Regards Ian
Sorry, Florida does not have real grass. We have something known as Floratam or St. Augistine grass. You refer to it as crab grass.
I am thinking that the piece of charcoal (Santa leaves me enough of them each year) and the sphagnum moss may be a good combo. The cannibs smoker would be excellent except for the fact that law enforcement would require a cut of all my honey produced. Also having to keep a constant supply of doritos and salsa would not do my waistline any good. ;)
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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I once heard someone saying that using tobacco in the smoker is a good way to 'stun' varroa mites. Is there any truth in this?
I also read about some trials on the use of grapefruit leaves in the smoker, for varroa treatment - anybody heard anything?
Andrew
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Keep puffing the smoker for a couple of minutes so you get a nice wall of smoke, then when you're not using it, open the lid up so it can get more oxygen and it won't go out as quickly.
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>open the lid up so it can get more oxygen and it won't go out as quickly.
If you do this you better keep an eye on it. You usually end up with a lot of flames very shortly.
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I use burlap and hemp twine.
Speaking of hemp - if you're planning on using smoked cannabis for an extended period, I would make the suggestion that you add a bubbler chamber and a carb to circulate and cool the smoke before its expelled. It can get to be a bit hot. But don't spill the water on anything or you won't get the smell out. :wink:
wombat
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First order of business, get the biggest smoker in the catalog. I just upgraded from a 4x7 to a 4x11 and it was an epiphany. Next, and this is personal opinion, get one with a conical top, not a domed top. The domed top seems to trap moisture which in turn damps the fire. Dadant and probably others have the conical top. Brushy has the domed top at least on the smaller smokers. As a said, that could be conjecture, but that's my experience. In 4 years, I never got the small smoker to stay lit like the big one did this week.
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I use burlap and hemp twine.
Speaking of hemp - if you're planning on using smoked cannabis for an extended period, I would make the suggestion that you add a bubbler chamber and a carb to circulate and cool the smoke before its expelled. It can get to be a bit hot. But don't spill the water on anything or you won't get the smell out. :wink:
wombat
The voice of experience :?:
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hi,
I like to use bailing twine. I bought a roll of bailing twine from a farm supply store a number of years ago and it lasts for ever.
Archie
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hi,
I like to use bailing twine. I bought a roll of bailing twine from a farm supply store a number of years ago and it lasts for ever.
Archie
Ok I am going to ask a really stupid question here.
Do you unwind twine from the ball or do you have the whole ball in the smoker?
I am assuming you are not buying some huge ball of twine.
Do you use anything as a start medium such as newspaper?
How long does it burn for?
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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good morning,
I do buy a large ball of bailing twine. I pull off enough to fill my smoker but not too tight. I put a small loose ball of paper in the bottom of the smoker before the twine. I have 6 hives and when I do use my smoker, this system seems to last long enough. If you use the bailing twine. besure to buy the untreated stuff. The twine should be a natural brown or tan in color and not green or any other color. this twine is also a good source for tying things up.
Archie
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another thought
local farmers are a good source for twine. when they break open their bails of hay, they have two strans of twine from the bail. . the farmers will ge more than happy to give it to you just be sure it is not treated twine
Archie
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I once heard someone saying that using tobacco in the smoker is a good way to 'stun' varroa mites. Is there any truth in this?
I also read about some trials on the use of grapefruit leaves in the smoker, for varroa treatment - anybody heard anything?
Any opinions on the above?
Andrew
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I once heard someone saying that using tobacco in the smoker is a good way to 'stun' varroa mites. Is there any truth in this?
I also read about some trials on the use of grapefruit leaves in the smoker, for varroa treatment - anybody heard anything?
Any opinions on the above?
World is full of " some said tricks". We have well tested cures. It is better live along them. Russians have a lot that kind of methods.
Any opininions? - In every country we have official recommendations to handle varroa and I suppose that no one advice to use tobacco or citrus leaves.
To make his own experiments will be very expencive to hobbyist. But people love self made humbug and they do if they want.
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Russian bees that is, or, to be specific, QUEENS.
Finsky, I don't recall reading your opinions on the Russian queens. Now if you do not wish to comment on anything Russians which might be negative then we will understand: Some of us OLDER folks that is.
Don't mean to hijack this thread but I think the subject, smokers, is, well, smoked out into the open and what more is there to say?
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Finsky, I don't recall reading your opinions on the Russian queens.
I meant Russian beekeepers, you know those who live east from us and to west from USA. :P
Я намеревался русский хранитель пчелы, вы знаю те которые живут на восток от нас и к западу от США. :P. :P
Russian queens
(http://www.balet-spb.ru/date/p/imper_21.jpg)
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Hi all
Andrew: Yes tobacco smoke will stun Varroa but it is not very efficient and if you use too much it stuns the bees. As Finsky says, there are many better options.
Tobacco smoke was used to knock down braula, a small wing-less fly that piggy backs on bees and would run up to the bees mouth parts and grab a free meal when the bees are feeding.
This parasite was a pain to comb honey producers as they would burrow under the cappings, leaving a trail behind them, but did not feed on the bees themselves.
Bumble bee colonies can be seriously infested and the queens in honey bee colonies seemed to be very attractive to this pest. In some cases you could hold the queen in a lightly clenched fist and blow a little smoke in to remove these parasites.
One interesting point is that it appears, since treatments for varroa, this little pest has all but disappeared.
Regards Ian
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One interesting point is that it appears, since treatments for varroa, this little pest has all but disappeared.
Regards Ian
Yes! I have to say that in more than 10 years of beekeeping I have only seen once incidence of Braula and that was on someone else's bees. I had almost forgotten about it.
It will be nice when we can say the same about Varroa SHB EFB & AFB, although I dread to think what other little horrors are waiting in the "wings".
Excuse the pun!!
rusty
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Russian queens
(http://www.balet-spb.ru/date/p/imper_21.jpg)
Now where do I order these Russian queens Finnman??? :lol: :lol:
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Pretty good Russian Finman. I lived in the Ukraine for two years and rarely do I see good Russian like that--at least over there. I guess you have the proximity to use it more often though.
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Now where do I order these Russian queens Finnman??? :lol: :lol:
I suppose here. It they are sold out try next. Seems to be contact nro too. They need to be whole swarm, it seems like that.
1) http://www.musiciansgallery.com/start/dancers/st_petersburg_ballet.html
2) http://www.operaandballet.com/
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Some reading on smokers that might prove informative,
or at least entertaining:
http://bee-quick.com/reprints/smoke.pdf
http://bee-quick.com/reprints/smoker.pdf
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Interesting article! But there is matter if you burn needles of rotten birch.
I think that bees need not white smoke but they need smell of smoke to be quiet. Nowadays bees are so calm that they need minimum to smoke. Somethimes I need a good smoke cloud but seldom. Robbering is that case.
That Trunk Rot of Birch burn with blue thin smoke. It gives so much smell that I can work. And one is important. If you use stuff which gives a lot tar it glues the cover of smoker.
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I put a piece of foundation. It gives very nice smell, like candle, and bees like it.
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I have a wood burning pellet stove. The pellets are hardwood and a 40 lb. bag costs about US $4. 40# will go along way. However, if the gov't finds out that the pellets are not being used for heating fuel I'm sure I'll have to pay the tax and cover the subsidy :wink:
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I usedto have a heck of a job keeping the smoker alight, thought it was the hardest thing in the world until.... I went to a local coffee shop that imports coffee beans in sacks to be roasted. The sacks cost me $2 for clean ones. I cut them into strips and roll them into loosely wound logs. Up through the middle I put in some old clean cotton. Sack takes awhile to burn, cotton by itself is too quick. So the cotton catches alight and keep the sack hot until it catches and stays lit. Ive gone from 5 minute smoke to 40 minute smoke.
I figure in Florida coffee sacks should be easy to find ?
cheers Ray
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for something that will start a good fire, use the lint from your dryer trap. This stuff is super dry, easy to get, and will burn fast. Just add your smoker fuel on top!
Mickey
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Without trying to sound like I live like a bum. I don't drink coffee but I will see if I can find the coffee sacks. I don't have those connections yet. Also I don't have washer dryer because I haven't poured the slab yet for them because I am on the road so much and my wife and I usually take it to the laundry mat. Maybe I can steal some from them.
Keep these information bits coming.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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In Girl Scouts, we always used dryer lint as a fire starter so after reading the post above, I used dryer lint to start my smoker and then fed it with cedar shavings used in hamster cages - that worked great!
I also use pine needles but we've had a lot of rain in Atlanta lately so my usual strategy of gathering it from the yard right before I needed it was not possible. I also get the dryer lint going with a few pine needles in the bottom of the smoker and when the fire is burning, THEN I add more pine needles or cedar shavings to about 3/4 the way up the insides of the smoker.
We also made GS fire starters by taking the ends of candles and wrapping them in waxed paper like little taffy logs, but I think the wax residue wouldn't be good for the smoker..... :?
Linda T in Atlanta
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I have had a lot of luck with smoker fuel from Mann Lake ( http://mannlakeltd.com/catalog/page34.html ). it doesn't take long to get going and it is easy to add to if it starts to go out. I tried hay and pine straw but went back to the smoker fuel....
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Over the years I've tried most of the options mentioned that are available within my climate. I prefer burlap and shavings and then put fresh grass on top to cool the smoke (moisture through evaporation) and give it an odor. Adding a little fresh grass or leaves each time I move to a different hive opening the lid gives the fire a little flame and helps keep the whole thing going--short or tall smoker, but the taller is easier.
Since I have racing pigeons, chickens, and goats I get all kinds of sacks burlap and heavy paper. I also save the wood scraps from making my own equipment.
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i've been using my old holey socks that i cut up into squares. it works very well. when i run out of them (this may never happen) i will switch to pine straw....plenty of that around.
i think one of the mistakes newbs like me make is to not get the smoker going real good before suiting up (meaning putting on the veil) and then working the hives.
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I have used pine straw and it works good but builds up burnt tar on the inside of your smoker, I started using something else, "Cardboard",,,,, cut cardboard in 8 inch wide strips and role the strip up tightly, you want enough of a roll to just fit in the smoker, get a piece of paper and light it on fire and put in the smoker, hold the role of cardboard just over the fire till the bottom has been lite, then push it in the smoker and close the top, I have had this cardboard smoke for about 1-2 hours in the small smoker....
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What is the grate used for. Is it to prevent the fuel from lying on bottom, allowing air to circulate under fuel w/o clumping? Or is to prevent ashes from being launched into beehive as you bellow air into fuel?
As for liting smoker, it is the only thing in my short experience that has gone well. Mine stays lit for over two hrs.
AS FOR CANNIBIS, JUST DO IT, DONT TALK ABOUT IT- THE GOV'T IS LISTENING!
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What is the grate used for. Is it to prevent the fuel from lying on bottom, allowing air to circulate under fuel w/o clumping?
exactly, to allow air flow under the fuel, like a log rack in a fireplace....
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I know this post started a long time ago but it is great to be able to find this type of information in these forums. My smoker has been a large pain in the neck or the hand at least which is where the girls usually sting me when my smoker goes out on me. I have not been able to keep it burning correctly hopefully these ideas will help. Also found on another post about using a propane torch as the lighter that helps alot , and now I have more kinds of fuel to try.
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Get it going good and then pack it, while pumping the bellow every now and then. When going any length of time with out needing smoke, give it a couple of pumps now and then. I use my worn out blue jeans, which are 100% cotton. I don't use the pockets or anything else that is mixed. any old rags,100% cotton.
and some lawn clippings. My grass doesn't get sprayed.
doak
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I bought a 50 # bag of wood pellets from Dadant for only $10.00. They take allot to get going. I loosely stuff some newspaper in the can, light it and pump like a mad man. I put the pellets in. Then I pump like a madman again.
It takes way to long. I'm starting to like the idea of burlap. Either that or I'll try a propane torch.
'
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My favorite is sawdust shavings to get it started and hardwood chips. Particularly maple, hickory, cherry that is very dry. Those bags of wood ships you get for smoking BBQ work quite well and the smoke smells delicious.
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Isn't it funny when old posts get resurrected :). I use burlap in my smoker, cool, white smoke, and I also use the dried Staghorn Sumac flowers. I harvested the flowers during the wintertime and allowed them to dry for a long time. My smoker stays going for hours.
I must give a word of caution with smokers that I have had advice given to me about. Make sure that there is not alot of old ashes in the smoker. When you are smoking into the hive, if there is too much ash, it actually can get into the honey itself. That would be a bummer if the honey had ash in it, right? :roll: I always check my smoker each time I use it to ensure that there is not a whole bunch of ash in the bottom of it. This actually means that I dump out the contents and rearrange the smoker material. The old burlap that has not been completely burned up is the greatest for ease of start-up smoke again. Have a wonderful day, great life. Cindi
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I've always used Dadant smoker stuff, but I now have a new way to start it - I use the wax impregnated paper from filtering wax in my solar wax melter - starts up immediately - I used to spend an inordinate amount of time starting the ^%$&%$^ thing.
At Young Harris we had to start the smoker and my biggest problem there was that what they had to light it was a cigarette lighter - I couldn't do that - just don't have the flick in my thumb ;) but they let me get the long propane lighter that I used at home and I started it right away. All we had in those "test" smokers was pine needles as fuel.
Linda T in the N Ga mountains.
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The short answer is to buy the biggest smoker they make. It's much easier to keep lit than the shorter models.
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Some one else said this earlier in the post, but I use Pellet Stove pellets. They're the same stuff that Dadant sells for $10, but you can buy them from Home Depot for $4. Once you get these pellets going, you'll never get them out. I had my smoker run for almost 4 hours. I worked with my bees, came back to the house and set the smoker (still burning) on a concrete pad, went to dinner with my family, came home, watched a tv program, and went outside to turn off the sprinkler and saw smoke still coming from my smoker!!! There was tar all over the outside and the nice chrome turned blue. It would have kept going but I dumped it out in my fire pit.
I had a problem with the tar using these pellets, sometimes the tar would drip into the hive and burn the bees, but I discovered that if I stuff some green grass on top it cools the smoke and the tar problem went away.
Sean Kelly
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I put a wine cork in the mouth of the smoker when I am done with it and it goes out in about 30 minutes after that.
Linda T in the N Ga Mountains
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Hi everyone. In reading all the comments about smoker fuel, I don't see anybody mentioning horse pellets. In my opinion it is the best, it is cheap and readily available. The only disadvantage I find is that it cannot be used freshly made. Once it is dry it lights easy and burns a long time. Try it you may like it.
JMN
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JMN:
That is interesting, I'm thinking horse pellets as in Cow-patties now (even if you aren't) I had a hive once on a small farm - I'll never forget that their dog couldn't wait for their horse to dump before chowing down on it :roll: I'll never forget the owner saying, "Okay, I know it's gross, but I feed two pets for the price of one!" - lol.
I never found anything objectionable about horse patties - it goes in and out of the horse so quickly I don't think it has much going on in their besides hay and alfalfa (I think it is the alfalfa the dog really liked) I imagine it might be great fuel, cow patties sure heated many a cowboys dinner.
I'm blown away that this post has made it 5 pages long now. It is interesting to see what people can and do burn in their smokers. I'm lucky to get free burlap, cleaned and ready to burn. It's a cool and long lasting smoke, you just need to be sure you get the fire out first, or you have a blowtorch on your hands.
Good posts everyone!!!!!
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sean, i use the pellet stove pellets sometimes also. i have no problem with tar buildup. maybe the answer is to buy the higher grade pellets? our pellet stoves are our only heat, so we buy the good pellets by the ton.
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don't wanna destroy such a nice tread but i just want to add my 2 cents.
i don't use a smoker, i just can't get it lit, but heck...i just use a piece of beech tree fungus or a thing that you can buy around here, called "smokey". i think it's just paper treated in a way that it doesn't really burn, much like carboard.
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I use shredded paper because I have to get rid of it anyway. Spagnum moss over that to cool the smoke. I have a really bad tar buildup though on the smoker. How long is a smoker supposed to last? Mine has lasted from last year but I might retire it soon due to tar buildup.
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Bee C
Leave the lid open with plenty of air,put in some paper and when the fire is warm enough it will burn off the tar. you can scrape a lot of it away with your hive tool too.
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SHORT STORY
Finished up at the apriary one day, hooked my smoker in the back of the pickup as i normally do and drove off. I am there driving along. this truck comes up behind me and begins to blow. thinking he just wants to pass i ignore him and continue, he eventually passes. Another vehicle comes up and does the same thing. I come to a stop light and a driver shouts to me there is smoke in the back of the van. I say "Yeah man i know" and start driving again. Shortly after i notice smoke wafting past. A couple seconds later it occurs to me that thats a lot of smoke. Needless to say by the time i stop and get out, the bedliner is on fire and i have no water. Luckily somebody selling on the roadside had some water which we got to put out the fire.
a tad off topic but i thought i would share. Oh, I use cardboard or wood chips. which ever is drier and closer at hand
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I once heard someone saying that using tobacco in the smoker is a good way to 'stun' varroa mites. Is there any truth in this?
Tobacco smoke is frequently used in greenhouses to kill whiteflies. The nicotine in it is toxic to many insects. I think it's a bad idea to use it to smoke bees.
My smoker has the grate, too. Putting it in legs down gives an air pocket to keep the bellows hole clear. I start mine with a wad of newspaper and some thin pieces of dry pine building scrap. On top of that I place some bailing twine, which burns nicely and makes white smoke. Baling twine should be the brownish red color; don't use treated twine, which is greenish. You can buy it in 1000' rolls for about $40. I get mine from Boy Scout lashing projects.
I think there are three keys to the smoker:
1) you need something that burns hot at first to ignite the fire (newspaper)
2) you need something that creates coals that will keep it going (wood, sticks, charcoal)
3) you need something to produce the smoke (twine)
When I've left out the pine, the smoker went out.
For easier lighting you might try cardboard egg carton dipped in parrafin. My scout troop makes these for firestarters. We melt down old candles in a coffee can, dip ripped up pieces of carton in, and let it harden. They burn very nicely.
Kev
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Sean, ha, funny story.
Bee C. My smoker got a really thick build up on the lid that I didn't even realize was there until I looked into things a little deeper. On the inside of the lid I saw one one which led to the exit hole of the lid. It looked like it was rather plugged up, so I put the hive tool edge into it and started to scrape. I got carried away with my anal nature and lo and behold!!!! After scraping away, there were about 5 holes that were completely covered over. I forgot that there were several holes in the top lid of the smoker (of course only one leading to the outside). So, it cleaned up simply and easily, took a little bit of elbow greese to scrape it off, but I bet you can. Have a wonderful day, great life. Cindi
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Hi everyone.
I need some details on smokers. I have one. I use it pretty well but probably not as well as I would like to. So in order to improve my smoker skills, I am going toask you to give in detail how you use your smokers.
I don't! :)
I only use sugar water spray! ;)
-Nathanael 8-)
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Nathanael. That is good for you, yeah!!! I smoke the bees first and then use sugar water spray to spray the bees once I remove the inner cover, so I actually use both. Have a great day. Cindi
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So what exactly does the water and sugar do?
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So what exactly does the water and sugar do?
Well, the smoker calms the bees because they become preoccupied with eating honey out of the cells. When I spray 1:1 sugar water on them they start cleaning it up and get preoccupied with eating it. It also gets them all sticky and makes it difficult for them to fly, than they'll start cleaning themselves off as well. In my opinion it's better and more efficient to open a hive, spray them, and let them eat the sugar water instead of eating honey they've already worked to produce, which is what the smoker makes them do.
BTW, Just took a medium of honey off of a hive that recently swarmed, they're back at it in full force!
-Nathanael 8-)
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If you deal with a hive that's in a bad mood and you don't smoke them, you will the next time. Sometimes they will react very quickly and I think the smoke will give you an edge. If you open that same hive without smoking them they may fly out at you and sting you, and this happens very quickly.
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Well makes sense, I will try that next time!
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Beemaster,
I have to fight with my dogs too sometime for the horse pellets. What they don't eat is what I use in the smoker - lol
JNM
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Yep, we have had horses. I always thought that the dogs like the freshest ones that they could get their mouths into. And then there was when the farrier would come and do the shoeing. The hoof trims were the favourite and they would chew on them for hours.
There are many uses for horse puckies, am thinking I am going to get my sister to gather a bucket for me from her farm, give that a whirl, I believe they would be excellent dried and used in the smoker. She has quarter horses, so the puckies are pretty large. Wonder where I could find a Clydesdale :-D Have a wonderful day, great life, Cindi
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Hi everyone.
I need some details on smokers. I have one. I use it pretty well but probably not as well as I would like to. So in order to improve my smoker skills, I am going toask you to give in detail how you use your smokers.
I don't! :)
I only use sugar water spray! ;)
-Nathanael 8-)
Like Cindi, I occasionally use both a sugar spray and smoke, but there are a couple of advantages to smoke that makes it worth always having a lit smoker standing by. As JP noted, sometimes the girls are cranky and will come after you. I can step back and make a cloud of smoke around me to settle them down. Sometimes I might actually get stung a time or two and I can use smoke to mask the alarm pheromones - spraying the stung area with sugar syrup doesn't seem like a good idea!
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Well that was alot of reading....... I think this horse is whipped, but I will add a few more comments.
The sugar water spray does work, but I only use it for cutouts and hives I am not going to take honey off of. If you spray them down and it gets into uncapped honey frames or the bees decide the threat is over and instead of cleaning and eating they clean and store you now have adultrated honey.
Second; in consideration of Understudies location I don't think he is going to be finding a 5000' ball of bailing twine anytime soon, and as it is usually sold in two packs he doesn't need that much and nobody explained to him that it comes in hemp and plastic and that a person unfimilar with farm life would not know the differance.
South Florida is probably not the place to find wood stove pellets either as there is not a real big demand for heat. They are a good idea when used under smoker fuel to keep the smoker going, but they burn way too hot to use alone in the smoker.
Burlap can be had really cheap at Joann's or Hancock's fabrics.
Thinking locally have you tried Spanish moss or the brown fuzzy stuff you can strip off of palmetto trees?
I personally like to use wood mulch.
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I never said I don't own a smoker. Sure, if I'm going to work a hot hive I'll bring one along, but I've kind of grown to dislike smelling like smoke all day, even after taking a shower! Never can stop sneezing after using a smoker. If the bees cloud around me I'll go into some near by shade and they leave. I did a cut-out recently with some fellow beeks, and they tried using smoke to calm the bees, but the bees were so agitated the smoke only made it worse! I'll use sugar water on cut outs.
About the honey. Honey bees won't store different kinds of honey in one cell, and I won't spray directly on a frame of uncapped honey. I'll give a few sprays on the top of the frames and than spray those bees coming up from the bottom.
Also the best thing to do is to put some Honey-B-Healthy in the sugar water, this will mask all alarm pheromones and make it work better than smoke!
Hope y'all had a happy 4th. It was nice weather here, we sat on our deck and watched the neighbors burn holes in their wallets as they set off all those fireworks. :)
-Nathanael 8-)
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Nathanael. Now you have instigated a new method with the sugar syrup spray. An essential oil in the syrup, hmmm.....think that I will put a drop in my sprayer. I always puff a little smoke on any area that may get a sting, never had a bee sting twice in the same area using this method. Have a wonderful day, great life, Cindi
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I think the thing to do for mites is small cell then you don't have to warn people of the possibility of the honey you sell to be polluted
kirko
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I also use Honey-B-Healthy in sugar water for spraying the bees instead of a smoker. It works very well. Also, fiberglass screen wire laid over the top of the box that I am working keeps them from flying out and attacking me.
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Ever try taking a rag and apply bee go or bee quick or honey robber put in the smoker and do not light a few puffs and bees will move to more desirable conditions works good for robing a few frames of comb honey.(many bees in box of comb honey ) applying full strength to supper is some thing i dont recomend to pungent RDY-B
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> Well, the smoker calms the bees because they become
> preoccupied with eating honey out of the cells.
This is an old wives' tale. If it were true, bees would
notice a forest fire, and always escape the area.
They don't. They stay and protect their brood,
sometimes to the death.
What smoke does is mask alarm pheromones, which
suppresses the problem of one bee "setting off"
a bunch of others who fly out the entrance or off
the top bars and sting you.
> When I spray 1:1 sugar water on them they start
> cleaning it up and get preoccupied with eating it.
> It also gets them all sticky and makes it difficult for
> them to fly....
That's fine for the bees on the top bars, but what
do you do about the guard bees at the entrance
and all the bees down between the combs?
> and let them eat the sugar water instead of eating
> oney they've already worked to produce, which is
> what the smoker makes them do.
Nope, the smoker does not make them do that.
I know that there are lots of old books that say so,
and I know that these stories have been repeated
over and over, but it is still misinformation.
But, if you find that sugar water works for you,
it follows that plain water would work just as
well for your (clearly very gentle) hives. The
sugar really only presents the risk of contaminating
your honey crop. You don't really need to spray
the bees with something sweet.
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Well, this is what I know about using cotton,,,Dont use it from a mattress cuz it wont lite...I tried and tried and finally figured out it has fire retardant in it! I held a lighter to it for 15 minutes and it WOULD NOT burn. I also know that when I do use my smoker it performs best AFTER Im done doing the bees..Shoot, I can hardly put it out then. Finsky made a great point about the pine needle smoke, you remember, the tar thing, and making honey taste like smoke? That makes sense. But,...I use apple wood sometime(Like what you put in a smoker for meat) and that leaves a little smoke taste in my honey ..Funny thing tho,....I LIKE the taste and people compliment me about the mild smokey honey my bees make. I didnt even realize this tates was from the smoke till about 2 weeks ago.
anyways, thats all I got...
your friend,
john
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My how times have changed.
I saw that this thread was kicked up again and looked at my original post. Scary stuff. ;)
Here it is over a year and a half since I made that post.
Well I haven't used pine needles since about a week after that post.
I pretty much use long fibered sphagnum moss. Recently I found an oil free version of Aspen pine shavings that don't leave a residue behind. I actually use them with my animal cages.
I have also tried burlap and am very impressed and happy to use it. I just don't have a steady supply of it.
I also very much like Michael's method of the soup can inside the smoker.
I still only use sugar water for cut outs.
It's amazing how much has changed.
I hope over the year and half that this thread has been kicking around it has been helpful. I hope it keeps going.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
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I looked in the yellow pages under (of all things) burlap. Sure enough there is a place here that sells burlap bags and yes they do make untreated bags for items that might be used for food. Peanuts and such. They are $1.00 per bag. The bag is equal to 100 pound potato sack.
How many do you want?
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No kidding, a long and important thread, keeps going and going and going.
I purchased burlap bags from our hardware store as I had run out of the burlap I had bought at the Honeybee Centre (where I had taken some of my courses). This burlap from the hardware store is 100% untreated, but it burns up quickly, and I mean quickly.
The burlap at the Honeybee Centre has been treated with coconut oil, this burns cool and clean, burns for a long time and is 100% OK to use with the bees. It would not be sold by the centre if it was at all detrimental to the health of the bees.
I also use Staghorn Sumac flower heads along with the coconut oil treated burlap. I still have some left from last fall, I harvested the red cones and dried them in my house. They burn for a long, long time, little residue at all and no smell. I am on an agenda this fall for more gathering of the Staghorn Sumac flower heads. Have a wonderful day, best of this great life. Cindi