Posted: Sun May 27, 07 9:02 am Post subject: keeping a smoker going for more than a couple of minutes?
The hardest thing so far for us novice beekeepers is keeping the smoker going for long enough to do a proper inspection.
We can light it ok (although not being smokers we find cigarette lighters tricky - I only seem to manage tiny sparks and sore thumbs ) but it doesn't stay alight for more than a few minutes. Fuel wise we're using a mix of newspaper, clean sawdust based chicken bedding and a bit of hessian. hessian being what we were shown on our course. The smoker either goes out completely (so are we not getting the balance of air and fuel right?) but there is still stuff in it unburnt or has burnt up the fuel and gone out. Are we puffing it too much or not enough.
All tips gratefully recieved - or at least can you reassure us that this is a common beginner problem and it'll improve with practise.
woodsprite
Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 2943 Location: North Herefordshire
Posted: Sun May 27, 07 9:32 am Post subject:
We had this problem too Mrs F. We now used bits of corrugated cardboard and they last for ages, we have to put it out after inspection. I think the combo of flamable card and holes for airflow must be just right. Hubby has the woodburners he installs arrive in corrugated cardboard so we have a plentiful supply.
Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25795 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35935 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
Posted: Sun May 27, 07 9:59 am Post subject:
We use half a cardboard eggbox and a handful of straw. I get it alight by mostly-closing the lid, turning it horizontally and holding the fag lighter underneath for a bit. The I pop the lid closed and puff like mad for a dozen or so puffs. Once it's going it's normally okay and the egg boxes give off a nice lot of cool smoke. Every so often I have a puffing frenzy away from the bees and that seems to keep it going - one egg box and one handful of straw last for 30-40 mins.
Not going to even *think* about trying today, though, it's tipping - we are supposed to be going to a bee-keepers open-hive afternoon and I can't see it happening ...
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
Posted: Sun May 27, 07 5:42 pm Post subject:
We're pants at this too, to such an extent that we mostly work without smoke these days, planning the job we need to do with military wossname so we can be in and out in under a minute unless we actually need to inspect combs. The bees have gotten used to this as well, so for us it works fine though wouldnt necesarily recommend it. What I usually find when we do light the smoker is that it won't go when I want it, but half an hour after giving up it bursts into life merrily
) but it doesn't stay alight for more than a few minutes. Fuel wise we're using a mix of newspaper, clean sawdust based chicken bedding and a bit of hessian. hessian being what we were shown on our course. The smoker either goes out completely (so are we not getting the balance of air and fuel right?) but there is still stuff in it unburnt or has burnt up the fuel and gone out. Are we puffing it too much or not enough.
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