Does size really matter.....

VolunteerK9 · January 19, 2011, 03:28:58 PM

in smokers? :evil: I have the basic, small, entry level smoker and it is the devil on keeping it lit. Ive tried every kind of fuel imaginable and filled them up tightly,loosely, etc etc. Are larger smokers, like the Brushy Pro, easier to stay lit due to fuel capacity, airflow, etc or is that just the way all smokers are? With only a few hives to work last summer it wasnt too much of a problem, but I plan on expanding to at least 15-20 by fall and would hate the constant relighting.

bud1 · January 19, 2011, 03:46:29 PM

john, there is only one. that is the large dadant smoker with heat shield. give the hobby smoker to a pothead,

VolunteerK9 · January 19, 2011, 03:51:02 PM

LMAO. I know plenty of those :-D

hardwood · January 19, 2011, 04:05:22 PM

I agree with Bud...the Dadant has never let me down. I tried two of the $19 ones from betterbee last year and both broke at the welds within months.

Scott

iddee · January 19, 2011, 06:34:41 PM

I use the standard 4X7. Someone gave me a tall one a few years ago. I used it 2 or 3 times, then gave it away again. I will stay with the standard.

I had 2 new tall ones that had never been used. I gave one to JP when he was here and sent the other one to Shawee when JP went home.

I don't guess JP gave it to him, since Shawee hasn't told me he got it. :?

Yuleluder · January 19, 2011, 07:27:13 PM

I recently upgraded to a tall one from Mann Lake.

However I had the same little smoker since I was 14 years old (32 now) and it still works good. There is an art to keeping a smoker going though. It's kind of like starting a fire in a wood burning stove. You need to use fast burning things like newspaper and saw dust, and then start adding small twigs until you are up to nice pieces of dry bark. Once you get some nice coals in there the smoker will burn for long periods of time. You just have to take your time getting the smoker burning good first before moving onto the bees.

sterling · January 19, 2011, 07:31:40 PM

Quote from: VolunteerK9 on January 19, 2011, 03:51:02 PM
LMAO. I know plenty of those :-D

Surely not in TN. :devilbanana:

hankdog1 · January 19, 2011, 08:09:21 PM

Well if your talking about smokers your not compensating for something. The Kelly Smoke Cloud works great for me stays lit for long periods of time. Of course mine is also almost 30 years old so i can't attest for the new ones Walter T. Kelley sells.

Michael Bush · January 19, 2011, 09:16:33 PM

Large ones are easier to light and easier to keep lit. But they all work...

VolunteerK9 · January 20, 2011, 11:19:16 AM

Quote from: sterling on January 19, 2011, 07:31:40 PM
Quote from: VolunteerK9 on January 19, 2011, 03:51:02 PM
LMAO. I know plenty of those :-D
Surely not in TN. :devilbanana:

If your area is anywhere like mine, weed is on its way out with meth being the drug of choice. Ive never arrested a violent pothead, but have torn living rooms apart trying to keep a scabbed over meth head off of me.

Going to buy myself the Dadant 4 x 10

tefer2 · January 20, 2011, 02:03:31 PM

I suggest the Dadant 4x10 also. I never have problems with the big one going out half way through the yard. It even works great after rolling down the cement steps. Put together strong!

Brian D. Bray · January 22, 2011, 03:44:33 AM

When it comes to smokers bigger is always better, now if I could just get ahold of one of those dmall to medium garbage can sized ones they use in South American for Afrrcanized bees.

tefer2 · January 22, 2011, 08:46:46 AM

Those look like they take 2 guys to work , one to hold it and one to pump it !

iddee · January 22, 2011, 09:49:04 AM

You mean like this one?