Have you used Herbs as fuel for a smoker?

greenbtree · February 22, 2013, 12:17:37 AM

Road apples - yeah, they last, but I have found them to be a bit acrid in the smoke department. Probably depends what was going in the front end though.

JC

fshrgy99 · February 22, 2013, 11:20:11 AM

Quote from: JP on February 18, 2013, 06:38:26 PM
I was using burlap but the price went up a good bit, using pine straw now and notice less tar build up. Emil's smoker always smells nice, he uses old jeans. Schawee uses grass clippings, lasts quite a while and smells kinda nasty to me though. :)

Since you mentioned herb or rather herbs...

Two years ago, I removed a hive from a garage wall interior and the home owner's repair guy busted out some whacky tobaccy. I asked him to blow some of that stuff all up in the hive and we waited to see if the bees had any brownie requests but never really noticed any difference whatsoever, just since you asked! :-D

...JP

No difference to the bees that is :)
Just curious .... how long did y'all try for?

lazy shooter · February 22, 2013, 11:26:10 AM

Jan:

How can your bees feel good about themselves if you force horse dung into their home? Have you no shame? Do you live in a home filled with horse dung residue? :-D

jan · February 22, 2013, 07:03:14 PM

Lazy, did I mention I was born in a barn? Not really--but I was born outside!

jim81147 · February 22, 2013, 11:34:07 PM

Has anyone ever used something to create smoke that actually made the bees mad? I would think that with different compositions of fuel , somethings might be irritating to them .

iddee · February 22, 2013, 11:38:03 PM

Don't know about making them mad, but sulfur smoke will instantly kill the whole hive.

capt44 · February 22, 2013, 11:49:49 PM

I know to give them alittle smoke, but alot will cause those gals irritated. :shock:

Beeboy01 · February 25, 2013, 09:59:07 AM

Tried coconut husks as smoker fuel this weekend, they light quickly but just don't last very long. I'm going to keep them as smoker fuel to light up other stuff like small branches or wood shavings.
I was using grapefruit leaves as a fuel, read somewhere that it would knock the mites off the girls. Instead it really got them worked up, the hives stayed aggressive for about two days after using the dried grapefruit leaves in the smoker. Even the residue left in the smoker would work the girls up when smoked. Ended up cleaning out the tar with a torch just to calm the yard down. Couldn't see any change with the mite load but it was only one application.

rwurster · February 25, 2013, 10:30:00 AM

I use corn husks/cobs in early spring then turn to whatever is growing on the ditch banks and is dry by late spring through then end of the season. The bees seem to especially not like it when I add twigs from a weeping willow near my apiary. The smell of that stuff smoldering gags me too.

BeeMaster2 · February 25, 2013, 12:08:46 PM

Quote from: Beeboy01 on February 25, 2013, 09:59:07 AM
Tried coconut husks as smoker fuel this weekend, they light quickly but just don't last very long. I'm going to keep them as smoker fuel to light up other stuff like small branches or wood shavings.
I was using grapefruit leaves as a fuel, read somewhere that it would knock the mites off the girls. Instead it really got them worked up, the hives stayed aggressive for about two days after using the dried grapefruit leaves in the smoker. Even the residue left in the smoker would work the girls up when smoked. Ended up cleaning out the tar with a torch just to calm the yard down. Couldn't see any change with the mite load but it was only one application.

When you use grapefruit leaves, only use 1 or 2 leaves in your smoker. They are not the main fuel.
Jim

Davepeg · February 25, 2013, 04:14:52 PM

I grow lavender and use that in the smoker, I have also used whatever herbs in the garden I have cleaned up..... basil thyme and rosemary.