Use of a smoker

[the kid]

the first year I never seldem went in the hive without the smoker ,, I did smoke them ,,, I didnt use it a lot but it was there ... I have found that the longer I have bees the less I use it ( 3rd year of keeping )) I have a full suit    and a vail ,,, but used the suit only once the vail never  ...  last year some times I didnt light up ,,,   this year most of the time I dont light up  ..   had a nuc that making its own queen ,,,,  for a little over a week it was pissy ...  the wife got stung once and I got one ...  now theres capped brood ,, now its a calm one..
I feel   wear what you need to to enjoy beekeeping and if you feel you need to smoke ( useing the smoker ,,, not smoke that funny smelling stuff ) do it ,but enjoy beekeeping ..
the kid

[qa33010]

   I, now, always have a lit smoker available.  I usually carry a spray bottle with sugar water also, but if I have supers on I don't use the spray.  I'm always armoured up also.  I figure a just in case is better than wishing later I had. 

    I also use the smoker as a 'knock on the door' as my instructor called it.  One MAYBE two light puffs at the entrance and I now wait a few minutes before going in.

[johnnybigfish]

  Hey Homer!
Maybe you oughta watch your friend a little closer.......Is he smoking the bees, or is he "Smokin'" the bees? Maybe the queen carrys a bigger kick and he uses them up faster! 8-)
your friend,
john

[Michael Bush]

>Is it necessary to use a smoker every time that you open up your hive

No.  But in the evening, on a cloudy day, or with any hive that tends to be a little hot, it makes a HUGE difference.

[Brian D. Bray]

Something to consider about using the smoker:
Smoking bees causes less activity on the frames, the bees are more likely to move around between frames and from 1 side to the other when no smoke is used.  A queen can be quite a bit more flighty than the workers (especially new ones) and move a lot about the frame and from frame to frame.  The more she moves during an inspection the more likely is injuring or killing her unintentionly.  Smoking helps hold the queen as much as the workers. 
So if you keep coming up with queenless hives and haven't been using your smoker--think about it.

[Michael Bush]

>but I have questions about how long the sent lingers.

I tried it, and so do I.