Cigar or pipe smoke

[Acebird]

I think most people are aware of the consequences of smoking and certainly I am not promoting it for beekeepers but I was curious as to whether it was a method use by old timers to calm their bees.  I got my answer to my curiosity.  I think a safe bee smoker could be made in a pipe shaped fashion that uses the positive pressure of your lungs for quick inspection instead of loading a traditional bee smoker that some people have trouble lighting and keep going.  The part that I like about the "german pipe smoker" is it leaves both hands free.  Funny how that feature got thrown by the wayside.

[OldMech]

According to my German relatives and ancestors the tobacco has a greater calming affect on the bees than regular smoke...  True? I dont know...  A friend brought me some dried tobacco leaves, I reserve them for the ornery hives.  It either works, or it gives "me" the confidence I need to work those hives.  I only know I seem to get stung a little less. the bees dont seem to get as angry when smoked with tobacco smoke for the twentyth time....
    Was given a pipe when I was thirteen, and taught how to keep it lit, and use on the bees when we worked the hives. Didn't like it much, but it worked and I didnt get stung as much. Tobacco was cheap back then, not so much any more.   Don't smoke, but it does have an added affect when used on bees..   Why?  No Idea... and comparing tobacco smoke to Neonics is like you killing yourself by eating salt or sugar..  Neither are good for you in large amounts, but are easily tolerated in smaller amounts. You would have to eat a LOT in order for it to harm you.. The same holds true with the smoke for the bees...   Do you think ANY smoke is truly good for the bees? Or you?

[gww]

Oldmech

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Re: Cigar or pipe smoke

? Reply #21 on: Today at 07:33:37 PM ?

Quote


According to my German relatives and ancestors the tobacco has a greater calming affect on the bees than regular smoke...

I have smoked since I was 13.  I have sit around a lot of camp fires.  I assure you that I am calmer with a cigerette in my hand even if I am also around a camp fire.  I don't know about bees but hope I don't get them so hooked that they want to follow me to the basement.  I am going to have to try smoking with it one day cause my homemade smoker, though ok is still pretty hard to use.  Going to have to switch to cigars though cause ciggerretts only last about 5 min and I had about as hard a time keeping a pipe lit as I do my smoker.

If I get lit up by the bees, I will report back.
gww

[OldMech]

LOL I wish you luck!