Best smoker fuel

[Michael Bush]

Make an insert.  Fill it and light the bottom while it's outside the smoker.  When it's lit well, put it in the smoker (with gloves and/or pliers).

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#smokerinsert

[Dallasbeek]

I used a lot of the advice above last night and the smoker kept going 45 minutes, until I put it out.  Used an insert, got it going like an inferno, used oak sawdust, bark from my pecan tree and packed it in with my hive tool.  It sat smoking without pumping the bellows for at least 15 minutes.  It works!

Gary

[SCPossum]

Hey 'possum, keep us posted on the cotton thing. I'm interested in all the details.

Checked the hives today that are currently on cotton. The fields are in full bloom now. The oldest hive (package started early May) has filled a deep with brood and almost an entire super with honey. The other hive (package two weeks behind first) has a deep filled out and a partial super with honey. I would guess they will fill out the super entirely before the cotton is over. We will know soon about the pesticides and the bees as the crop duster was rolling yesterday spraying pastures. It was a good ways from the bees, but we will see. We cleaned up some burr comb with honey capped in it and it was pretty tasty. These packages were fed a little when they first started and then pretty much left on their own. 

[GSF]

'possum; How far from the cotton fields are your hives? I'm pretty interested in this because there's ton's of cotton around here.

[BeeMaster2]

'possum; How far from the cotton fields are your hives? I'm pretty interested in this because there's ton's of cotton around here.

Gary,
Anything less than 2 miles is great. The closer the better, they use nectar to make the flight and it costs you honey. If it is the only/best thing in bloom, they will go out 5 miles. Problem is, between the flight loss and brood usage, you do not get any honey.
Jim

[hilltophermit]

Sumac. I pick the big red heads in the fall and let them dry in a bushel basket over winter. ready to go in the spring. Best fuel I've ever found.

[Hops Brewster]

I have a big white pine in the front yard, so I'm using the pine straw and old cones.  I like the old, broken down cone cores combined with old needles best.  they burn smokey and cool, for a long time, and smells wonderful.  At leasat I like the smell.  I don' tknow if the bees enjoy it.  :lol:  I put a wad of green leaves from my over-abundant virginia creeper or some green grass (rare this time of year) on top, to stop any sparks and to cool the smoke.  I forgot to cork the nozzle after my last inspection and when I came out 4 hours later to put away the smoker, it was still warm.  A couple puffs brought back the smoke.  I used that ember to light my garden 'camp'fire ring so I could sit and drink the evening adult beverage in front of a nice fire after the rain.

[BeeMaster2]

Sumac. I pick the big red heads in the fall and let them dry in a bushel basket over winter. ready to go in the spring. Best fuel I've ever found.

Hilltop,
I would not touch that stuff with a 10' pole. I am alergic to poison ivy so i assume I am alergic to sumac. We have a different type of Sumac here in FL. Lots on my farm, never had a problem but I am still careful around it.
Jim

[Santa Caras]

I use "Punk Wood". the dry rotted limbs that fall down out of my oak trees. It's white and so half rotten that I can break it up with my hands and leave in the sun to dry out a lil more (tried it without drying and just wet enough it wouldnt stay lit.)  It's good for about 30mins and then I have to refill it. No matter...I have plenty!!!

[BeeMaster2]

I use "Punk Wood". the dry rotted limbs that fall down out of my oak trees. It's white and so half rotten that I can break it up with my hands and leave in the sun to dry out a lil more (tried it without drying and just wet enough it wouldnt stay lit.)  It's good for about 30mins and then I have to refill it. No matter...I have plenty!!!

Have you tried using pine needles.
I like to get a small amount burning and then start packing it in the smoker slowly till it is tight as can be. It will stay lit for 4 to 5 hours unattended.
Jim

[hilltophermit]

Jim, we are talking about two entirely different plants. The sumac that grows here is actually a tree. Considered a "weed tree" by many as it grows fast and usually where you don't want it. Along ditches, foundations, edges of fields etc. Its also a great nectar source when in bloom. I'm told my Grandfather used it for smoker fuel. He probably got that when he worked, as a young man, for a large migratory operation. Elder Native Americans make tea from it and smoke it in pipes. I've never heard of anyone being allergic to it, but you never know.

[kingd]

Jim, we are talking about two entirely different plants. The sumac that grows here is actually a tree. Considered a "weed tree" by many as it grows fast and usually where you don't want it. Along ditches, foundations, edges of fields etc. Its also a great nectar source when in bloom. I'm told my Grandfather used it for smoker fuel. He probably got that when he worked, as a young man, for a large migratory operation. Elder Native Americans make tea from it and smoke it in pipes. I've never heard of anyone being allergic to it, but you never know.

   Same here in Michigan,My mentor has used it for 40 plus years and swears by it. I mix it with hardwood stove pellets and I think the bees are calmer with the Sumac than without. I heard that Sumac might help a little with mites.(another myth maybe?).

[BeeMaster2]

Kings and Hilltop,
My aunt , who lived on a farm, once told me she used to make a jelly from the up right pod on the poison sumac tree. She was not allergic to it. I recall being told that some of them are poisonous and some are not.
The ones we have here like to grow along the creek banks and in our blueberry patches.
Jim

[Redbug]

As to putting your fire out in the smoker...so as to not set your truck on fire when the smoker rolls over in the back from a bump...I plug the upper hole with a wad of aluminum foil. Fire goes out quickly...

[jayj200]

Yes Jim that is how I remember sumac as in poison just like ivy.

wont that taint the honey? makes it scratchy going down, yuck yuck

I don't believe your pole is long enough though
jay

[Michael Bush]

I used to keep a cork around, but I kept losing it.  I just roll some green grass up and plug the entrance and then lay the smoker on it's side.

[troyin17331]

i used to cut cardboard to the depth of my smoker (so the channels run up and down) then roll it up tight and as big as the smoker then light it with a mini butane torch. it lasted for at least 2 hours. now i live on a farm and here is plenty of old hay

[Santa Caras]

I use "Punk Wood". the dry rotted limbs that fall down out of my oak trees. It's white and so half rotten

Have you tried using pine needles? Jim

Hey Sawduster...just caught your question. I have ONE pine tree on 5 acres. Not really enough around to use all the time. I have 30-40 oak trees. it's a matter of supply. Plenty of wood dropping out of the trees.
plus...that soft punk wood smokes such a white thick cool smoke...hard NOT to use it.
I've got so much I just keep a bucket of it and will load up when I notice the smoke coming out of the smoker getting thin.

[BeeMaster2]

I use "Punk Wood". the dry rotted limbs that fall down out of my oak trees. It's white and so half rotten

Have you tried using pine needles? Jim

Hey Sawduster...just caught your question. I have ONE pine tree on 5 acres. Not really enough around to use all the time. I have 30-40 oak trees. it's a matter of supply. Plenty of wood dropping out of the trees.
plus...that soft punk wood smokes such a white thick cool smoke...hard NOT to use it.
I've got so much I just keep a bucket of it and will load up when I notice the smoke coming out of the smoker getting thin.

The reason that I ask, it that with a properly packed pine needle smoker, it will last up to 5 hours and blow cool smoke for the first 4 hours.
9 time out of 10, when I am done in the hives, I have to plug my smoker to put it out and when I go to use it again, there is still a lot of unburned fuel in it. That tenth time I probably just pulled what was unburned, out, and re lit it.
Jim

[hilltophermit]

Please Google ( or the search engine of your choice) Poison sumac images and sumac images. You will find two very different plants. I would post pictures but my technological skills don't go that far.