(Never used my smoker)
I see some videos using pine needles, sticks and wood chips. Do pine cones work well? I've got a billion in my yard so I'll save them if they work well. If not, I'll rake them over to the neighbors yard. Ha! (JK)
Art
I do not use them. A smoker needs to be packed tight. This makes for a good coal that is hard to put out. Pine cones are very airy.
Have you tried old jeans. They burn very slowly and the smoke is a lot easier on your lungs.
Jim
I haven't used them, but I imagine that they might pitch up your smoker pretty good in short order. If you know anyone who does woodworking, ask them for some shavings from their planer (hardwood shavings best - make sure they are not from pressure treated wood though!) - they make great smoker fuel.
I haven't tried anything yet. I guess you are right. It should be packed tight. I do have some jeans I have out grown! What about lint from a clothes dryer to start?
When burning sawdust in a smoker, the sawdust can become quite difficult to keep smouldering - but a few pine cones inserted beneath the sawdust greatly assists with the passage of air. However, I don't think they'd be very useful on their own.
LJ
On the other hand, where there are pine cones there is almost always pine NEEDLES. That's my favorite. Although I bet if you pack the needles tight around the ones it'll work well.
I always use pine needles and an occasional cone gets in the mix when I am picking them up, and everything works just fine. I wouldn't use them exclusively though.
I have a friend who's a woodworker who supplies me with hardwood shavings from his planer. Currently using Teak but have used oak, ash and poplar.....the shavings (not sawdust) are awesome and if you can lay hands on them are by far the best fuel out there IMHO.
Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on March 21, 2016, 11:50:46 AM
(Never used my smoker)
Get out there and practice!
Try different fuels - see what works best for you.
Practice lighting (and re-lighting) it.
See if you can set it down for 10-15 minutes (without puffing) and have it stay lit.
Don't wait until you have bees to learn how to use your smoker!
A properly lit smoker should bee able to bee put down and stay lit for several hours. The key is to get it lit and then slowly start packing it in real tight.
Jim
Don't wait until you have bees to learn how to use your smoker!
Ditto, it ain't no fun having an open hive full of bees and the smoker's out.
Quote from: GSF on March 22, 2016, 01:46:48 PM
Don't wait until you have bees to learn how to use your smoker!
Ditto, it ain't no fun having an open hive full of bees and the smoker's out.
And it will happen in the most inconvenient time. Old cotton clothing (T-shirts, blue jeans, rags) over newspaper over a tightly balled batch of grass and it's good to go for 2-3 hours no problem. As soon as you see sparks open it up shove another ball of grass in there and put more cloth on top of that and keep working. It's taken me a loooong time to figure out how to consistently (okay semi ;)) keep my smoker lit for long periods of time.
Ya! I want to start practicing as soon as I can. I get my bees this May. These pine cones come with the short needles, not the long ones that are easy to gather. I'm going to start with some crushed pine cones, sawdust, old jeans and twigs and see how that works.
Thanks for all the advice!
Art
I use paper to start it off, then use short twigs and pieces of wood to get a roaring fire going with hot embers, then pack down my fuel on top of that. I have been using cardboard rolled up really tight into a cylinder the same size as the smoker canister, with the ridges inside the cardboard running up and down. This works a treat but cardboard smoke doesn't smell the best.
We have paperbark trees here (and I think they are now a pest in Florida too) and their bark works (and smells) great!
Just want to add that there's a project here for somebody ....
The design of smokers hasn't changed for decades, yet there's a basic design flaw: they need to be lit at the bottom, and yet fuel is introduced via the top.
Sure - once lit (and going well), additional fuel can always be added to existing smouldering fuel - BUT - the hassle is getting them started in the first place, which invariably involves starting-off a fire from scratch.
I've often thought how handy it would be to have a smoker packed, ready-for-use - but just not lit. I even experimented with a hand-held canister-type gas torch with an extended copper tube nozzle which could be slipped into the air inlet hole whilst lit, to ignite the fuel from below. But sadly, even the slightest puff with the bellows was enough to extinguish the flame.
So - for me, it's been a case of going-back to dropping lighted paper into the can, and building-up from there. But - I reckon igniting fuel from below is well-worth experimenting with, if anyone is so minded.
LJ
When the pine cones are good and dry, crush them up. You can do this with your hands, but you might want to ware gloves. By far, the red heads of the sumac tree make the best smoker fuel. I gather them in the fall let them dry all winter. Great stuff.
This is all good stuff, folks! Thanks for helping yet another new guy!
Flex....I would suggest you practice with your smoker a few times before you get your bees....I know I did and it was certainly better to have the smoker die several times and have to be relit while I was practicing rather than in the middle of an inspection...took me 2-3 times to get it right and have it stay lit for 20-30 minutes at a time while not actively being used.
>The design of smokers hasn't changed for decades, yet there's a basic design flaw: they need to be lit at the bottom, and yet fuel is introduced via the top.
I made this insert: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#smokerinsert
You can light it from the bottom (and I do) and you can leave it out where the breeze feeds it until it's going well and then drop it in the smoker.
I've seen one that opened on the bottom (as well as the top). But I didn't find a picture of it.
Quote from: little john on March 23, 2016, 07:12:36 AM
Just want to add that there's a project here for somebody ....
The design of smokers hasn't changed for decades, yet there's a basic design flaw: they need to be lit at the bottom, and yet fuel is introduced via the top.
Sure - once lit (and going well), additional fuel can always be added to existing smouldering fuel - BUT - the hassle is getting them started in the first place, which invariably involves starting-off a fire from scratch
Is that really that much of a hassle? Light some paper, drop it in, puff puff, drop some small fuel in, puff puff puff, drop more fuel in while puffing and pack it all down.. takes about 45 seconds or so generally.
I have also seen people use a propane torch - drop what you want in the bottom, apply the torch until you have embers, and then place in more fuel.
Would a propane torch through the air inlet work better than what you experienced?
Might want to check on the poisons emitted from burning pine cones in your smoker. Not a good idea. Burlap and blue jeans for me.
so much to learn so little time
Quote from: PhilK on March 23, 2016, 07:13:56 PM
Quote from: little john on March 23, 2016, 07:12:36 AM
Just want to add that there's a project here for somebody ....
The design of smokers hasn't changed for decades, yet there's a basic design flaw: they need to be lit at the bottom, and yet fuel is introduced via the top.
Sure - once lit (and going well), additional fuel can always be added to existing smouldering fuel - BUT - the hassle is getting them started in the first place, which invariably involves starting-off a fire from scratch
Is that really that much of a hassle? Light some paper, drop it in, puff puff, drop some small fuel in, puff puff puff, drop more fuel in while puffing and pack it all down.. takes about 45 seconds or so generally.
I have also seen people use a propane torch - drop what you want in the bottom, apply the torch until you have embers, and then place in more fuel.
Would a propane torch through the air inlet work better than what you experienced?
I use a propane torch. You can't really go poking it into small holes though because as soon as you put the flame in a restricted place, it just goes out.
I lay my smoker on the bellows and half fill it and blast the heat into the bottom (or back as it is when laid horizontal) and give it a good zap so all the twiggy stuff gets going, then stand it up, give it a tap and a shake to settle the embers into the bottom, then lightly pack in more fuel, give it a few toots to get it flaming then drop a biyt more in, then leave it a while and get kitted up in suit. After 5 mins, give it a few more toots to get it flaming and then drop more stuff in, which I pack in tight and solid, so more toots and then on with the lid.
I don't worry about collecting fuel, my hives are now in dry mixed eucalypt woodland with sheoak understorey, so there's always inches deep of dried bark, twigs, leaves and needles all around, as in this photo:
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l229/TrickieDickie99/20160124_142413_zpsdkqiiuc8.jpg) (http://s97.photobucket.com/user/TrickieDickie99/media/20160124_142413_zpsdkqiiuc8.jpg.html)
It's a bit of a bummer in the fire season though.
Richard, as I was reading I couldn't help but think; Hot smoker, dry floor, dry fuel, big mess. I was lighting my smoker near some hay. Of course residue hay was all over the ground. A bit of fire fell on the ground and I had a time.
Quote from: Troutdog on March 24, 2016, 12:33:34 PM
Might want to check on the poisons emitted from burning pine cones in your smoker. Not a good idea. Burlap and blue jeans for me.
so much to learn so little time
Can you elaborate on the poisons. I couldn't find much information. I burn a lot of pine needles.
For the record do not use burlap that is used as vegetable sacks...they are impregnating it with pesticides these days to deter pests....might not be all of them but there are enough out there to be worrisome.
Quote from: GSF on March 25, 2016, 08:07:05 AM
Richard, as I was reading I couldn't help but think; Hot smoker, dry floor, dry fuel, big mess. I was lighting my smoker near some hay. Of course residue hay was all over the ground. A bit of fire fell on the ground and I had a time.
A new beek friend of mine that lives close to my farm was working his bees when his wife calls him from his house saying he had an important phone call about land next to him he wanted to buy. He put his smoker on the plastic truck liner and walked to the house. When he came back out an hour later, his truck, bee suit, and smoker were completely burned up.
You have to bee very careful with your smoker. Several apiaries have completely burned, bees and hives, due to smokers being left on leaves or tall grass.
Jim
Quote from: richter1978 on March 25, 2016, 08:11:21 AM
Quote from: Troutdog on March 24, 2016, 12:33:34 PM
Might want to check on the poisons emitted from burning pine cones in your smoker. Not a good idea. Burlap and blue jeans for me.
so much to learn so little time
Can you elaborate on the poisons. I couldn't find much information. I burn a lot of pine needles.
All pine needles contain lignols, resins, mycotoxins which can produce toxic reactions
Here's a link I got from another forum ...thx tim
WWW.ehow.com/list_5976996_pine-trees-poisonous_.html
so much to learn so little time
Ok Troutdog...so they are bad for humans and livestock to eat.....thats not news...but you cant extrapolate toxicity of smoke from that article...or any article I have seen. I would hazard to guess that virtually every beekeeper in Georgia uses pine needles in their smoker so I think it is safe to say that pine needles aren't toxic to bees as a smoker fuel.
I knew I was losing it mentally for some reason...It has to be the toxicity of the pine straw I use in my smoker. And : I promise I did not inhale... :shocked:
that explains the bulging eyes and blueish complexion too ;-)
I'll make certain that none of my bees eat any of my pine straw or pine cones.
Meanwhile, the combination of pine straw and aged pine cones has worked rather well in my smoker. :smile:
Meanwhile, the combination of pine straw and aged pine cones has worked rather well in my smoker
Good point Hops, Sometimes I'll crush an old dried up pinecone and use it towards the bottom in hopes it'll make a small bed of coal.
Quote from: Michael Bush on March 23, 2016, 12:28:24 PM
>The design of smokers hasn't changed for decades, yet there's a basic design flaw: they need to be lit at the bottom, and yet fuel is introduced via the top.
I made this insert: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#smokerinsert
You can light it from the bottom (and I do) and you can leave it out where the breeze feeds it until it's going well and then drop it in the smoker.
I've seen one that opened on the bottom (as well as the top). But I didn't find a picture of it.
I like it... Now I just need to find a coffee can that is the right size.
>Now I just need to find a coffee can that is the right size.
The large Campbell's soup can works perfectly.
I am a new guy, so hardly an authority (on anything) but I am fortunate enough to live in cotton country. During harvesting you can get all the raw cotton you want along the side of the road, and I have scooped-up a trashbag full. The hard seeds are just the right size to soak in gun solvent, and ram down the barrel of a 30-06. Works great - -
I found yesterday that it also packs real well into a smoker - - produces a not-too-harsh smoke, and burns 'clean', with little resin and fine ash - - -
Quote from: sawdstmakr on March 25, 2016, 12:37:44 PM
Quote from: GSF on March 25, 2016, 08:07:05 AM
Richard, as I was reading I couldn't help but think; Hot smoker, dry floor, dry fuel, big mess. I was lighting my smoker near some hay. Of course residue hay was all over the ground. A bit of fire fell on the ground and I had a time.
A new beek friend of mine that lives close to my farm was working his bees when his wife calls him from his house saying he had an important phone call about land next to him he wanted to buy. He put his smoker on the plastic truck liner and walked to the house. When he came back out an hour later, his truck, bee suit, and smoker were completely burned up.
You have to bee very careful with your smoker. Several apiaries have completely burned, bees and hives, due to smokers being left on leaves or tall grass.
Jim
Not to worry, it is something I do think about.
I've been involved in bushfire risk management for about 25 years, (I'm an accredited Bushfire Hazard Management Practitioner amongst the other things I've been called). I also spent 15 months helping in the clean-up/rebuild after this debacle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Tasmanian_bushfires (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Tasmanian_bushfires) so that aspect is never far from my mind.
First things first, I never light her up on Total Fire Ban days, or on hot windy days that for some reason aren't declared.
I light the smoker on the concrete driveway near to the house.
I have concrete pavers on the ground in the near to each hive - the smoker sits on these when not in use - either that or on a sandstone outcrop at one end of the site.
I also carry a water bottle with me on dry days (dual use - extinguisher/drink).
And lastly, when I'm finished, the water bottle is poured into the smoker and shaken/swirled to make sure it's all out before tipping out the residue.
Quote from: Michael Bush on March 30, 2016, 04:30:40 PM
>Now I just need to find a coffee can that is the right size.
The large Campbell's soup can works perfectly.
Good to know. I looked at an old syrup can that came with a package but it was too big.
I just wanted to use pine cones because there sure are plenty laying around here. On the same note I have plenty of jeans I can't fit anymore laying around here I can cut up!
Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on April 01, 2016, 04:42:23 PM
I just wanted to use pine cones because there sure are plenty laying around here. On the same note I have plenty of jeans I can't fit anymore laying around here I can cut up!
I use pinecones all the time, but not for producing smoke, just to get the smoker going.
Light a piece of paper or birchbark. Drop it in the smoker.
Drop in some pinecones. Puff it a few times.
GET A RAGING INFERNO GOING. YES, A RAGING INFERNO.
Now drop in something for fuel. Sawdust, pine needles, dried sumac seed heads, or best of all, dried horse manure.
Puff once in a while as you pack it all down.
Stuff a handful of green grass on top of it all, to cool the smoke.
I have two metal discs with vents for the smoker I have. Where do they go?
Art
Quote from: FlexMedia.tv on April 04, 2016, 11:14:42 AM
I have two metal discs with vents for the smoker I have. Where do they go?
Art
The vented disk will set on the bottom so that the bellows can puff the air under the fire