Smoker

[Terry N]

Best advice on how to keep smoker lit...what is dependable source of fuel?

[iddee]

Finish your inspection and set the smoker on the back of your truck. It will stay lit for hours.  :evil:   :-D

I like hemp baling twine best. NOT the plastic kind.

[David McLeod]

X2 on the baling twine.

[Joe D]

Packing whatever you are trying to smoke is first, then the material.  Over on equipment useage is a thread on this, first page now.


Joe

[LoriMNnice]

I put a wad of newspapers start that on fire and pack whatever dry material is next to me i.e grass, straw, pine needles, etc. I put whatever in by half a handful and pack it down with hive tool, giving smoker a couple of puffs here and there, I keep doing that until its packed full and tight...So far I have never had the smoker go out or never had not enough smoke. I also have the big smoker.

[wadehump]

burlap

[hardwood]

Lighting a smoker with pine straw fuel

[JackM]

start with wood shavings and put in a couple cups of sawdust.

[hunter3015]

i have a small farm and plentyof pine trees.  So i just went an got a old burlap sack and fill with pine straw.  Works good and cheap and with the bag always have some dry to use just pack it tight.

[Terry N]

THANKS GUYS FOR ALL ADVICE.......MAY YOUR SUPERS RUNNETH OVER.

[AllenF]

I use leave and needles straight out of the woods.   Get it hot to start with and pile on the fuel.   

[BlueBee]

The only thing I found to make a smoker DEPENDABLE is a propane fired torch and some charcoal briscuts. 

Mine never really starts smoking well until I'm all done with the bees..... then is smokes for hours  :(

[FRAMEshift]

I use dry pine needles.  Keep them in a bag out of the rain.  Fill smoker half full, light the needles with a propane torch and then fill smoker the rest of way with needles. 

[TwoHoneys]

Smoke bombs with burlap stuffed around them (I find free burlap bags at my local coffee shop...where they roast their own coffee). I light it all with a propane torch I bought at Home Depot.

There's a picture of a smoke bomb: http://cincinnatibees.com/2011/10/12/cardboard-smoker-bombs/

-Liz

[Javin]

Can't recommend watching "hardwood's" video enough.  I used dry leaves and packed them in TIGHT like he did with the pine needles.  After an hour, I had to leave the smoker sitting out to burn itself out.  Dunno how long it took.  Had to go to bed!

[Joe D]

Javin, I made a tin foil cover of the lid.  When you get through with the smoker  put the tin foil on press into place.  In a little it will go out and you have some fuel left to start with next time.  Happy smokin.



Joe

[Beeboy01]

I've found that a small nuclear device works great with getting a smoker lit, if you don't have one of them laying around the shop try pine needles or cotton cloth like old jeans and a propane torch. I have a wooden plug which I stuff in the tip of my smoker when done with it for the day. It is attached to the smoker by a little piece of stainless chain which came from the flapper of a crapper so it won't get lost.

[Course Bee]

I like the crapper flapper chain idea. I'm going to have to try that. I struggled keeping my smoker lit til my inspections were complete until I watched Hardwoods video. It works like a charm every time now(I do use a torch to get started of course.)

[Oblio13]

Get a RAGING INFERNO going with anything - newspaper, pine cones, etc. Then pack your fuel - sawdust, pine needles, burlap, baling twine, sumac seed heads, or whatever - on top of that. When you think you have enough, put some more in. Then finally top it off with a handful of green grass. Mine stays lit for hours. I keep it in a galvanized bucket with more grass stuffed in the spout if I'm driving between bee yards.

[L Daxon]

I start with pine needles.  When those get going I plop in rolled cardboard tied off with twine. Sometimes I put burlap or cotton boles in the middle of the cardboard, if I have some.  Of course I use the propane torch for a rip roaring heat source.

But I am with BlueBee.  My always seems to really start producing continuous smoke about the time I finish my inspections.