Can anyone tell me why my smoker always goes out!

[BCBEE]

Its annoying isnt it. I bought some wood shavings from asdas pet dept (99p) and tried the smoker 1/2 full. Lit and let it burn with the top off for 5 mins and then put the top on. It smoked like a good u for 30 mins and even when i went back giving it a few rapid pumps brought the smoke back again, great i thought.
Doing the same the weekend for my first inspection i couldnt get it to work despite lighting it 15 times. It went out half way though and i made the mistake of not relighting it anf though there would have been enough smoke but no. The girls were well peed off whe i opened the hive and went for me like a rotweiller. The missus, who can normally work in the garden when i inspect the hive was attacked and ended up covered in bees (no suit) so has now got 6-8 good stings - well she will mess about in the garden when i am beekeeping LOL

 

[madasafish]

I have just cleaned out my smoker after the winter and removed a load of tar with the blowlamp and a scraper, realigned the blow hole with the tube, cleaned out the internal tin can insert and cut up a load of rotten wood ready for burning.

A word of advice: Wood shavings and sawdust attract damp easily and as a result will not burn well. Best kept in a dry warm place- or left in the sun to dry out before attempting to light them.

Anyone who has ever cut up rotten wood will know a lot of it can appear dry on the surface but damp underneath.

 

[Phayze]

i use a bit of card board shredded or ripped about a half full but loose not packed then top up with pet shavings light top let it go out but with a couple of red embers amongst the black then light the cardboard leave open for a min or two then close up lots of cool smoke works for me anyway i had same problem at first just tried lots of different ways until i found the one that worked

 

[Snootycat]

Bloody Hell! I will take some time to read all these replies!

I have got a can with holes now and will try that, plus read al the other posts. I am glad I am not the only person who has this problem!

Thanks, will let you know how I get on.

Pam

 

[Snootycat]

Tried the can, still going out! I was taught to light it with newspaper first then add the fuel, perhaps I just have too much stuff in there? It alight while I have the lid open. I will try putting the cardboard in first and then try some woodshavings.................................

 

[Susan1]

I have got it!!!! Thank you, I had a few practices and finally have got a smoker which works throughout all my inspections. I just need to know how to put it out now(joking)
Actually I don't even use very much smoke as luckily my bees are quite docile. I do use a spray of sugar water which probably helps.

 

[mbc]

Its annoying isnt it. I bought some wood shavings from asdas pet dept (99p) and tried the smoker 1/2 full. Lit and let it burn with the top off for 5 mins and then put the top on. It smoked like a good u for 30 mins and even when i went back giving it a few rapid pumps brought the smoke back again, great i thought.
Doing the same the weekend for my first inspection i couldnt get it to work despite lighting it 15 times. It went out half way though and i made the mistake of not relighting it anf though there would have been enough smoke but no. The girls were well peed off whe i opened the hive and went for me like a rotweiller. The missus, who can normally work in the garden when i inspect the hive was attacked and ended up covered in bees (no suit) so has now got 6-8 good stings - well she will mess about in the garden when i am beekeeping LOL

As Madasafish points out, wood shavings attract damp from the atmosphere so current humidity has an effect and the smoker may behave differently from dsay to day. For this reason, its always a good idea to get a good hot fire going in the bottom of the smoker with combustible material like newspaper to drive moisture out of the main smoker fuel, wood shavings or rotten wood etc.

 

[psafloyd]

Tried the can, still going out! I was taught to light it with newspaper first then add the fuel, perhaps I just have too much stuff in there? It alight while I have the lid open. I will try putting the cardboard in first and then try some woodshavings.................................

Have you got it going enough before you add fuel, and then once having added fuel, give it long enough to catch before topping it up? Then pack it a bit harder (if you need it to burn for more than a half hour) and add more fuel and give it a good go on the bellows. Then add green stuff if smoke not cool enough for you.

 

[Drinkstone]

Really glad you asked that ? Pam! Mine always goes out I have had bees all of two weeks and had to deal with a swarm on my own and the smoker would not stay alight. You have had so many reply's and tips it must sort it.

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I bought a smoker a while ago, spreading the cost of buying bits and pieces (and reducing costs by buying bargains from eBay sellers).

As my course is starting on Saturday I thought it was time I actually tried lighting it, and keeping it alight for a couple of hours.

The first attempt didn't go too well. Glossy magazines don't burn very well.

The second attempt went very well. Newspaper followed by offcuts of timber. It was still going about two hours later.

I'm now feeling very smug, but expecting to have trouble keeping it going when I'm distracted by bees and bits of hive...

 

[itma]

I have got it!!!! Thank you, I had a few practices and finally have got a smoker which works throughout all my inspections. I just need to know how to put it out now(joking).... .

Yes, you don't even need bees to practice with! And the more practice, the better.

Incidentally, putting it out (fairly) quickly, when you want it (for example so that you can put it into the car and go home), is also a very useful skill.
I use a wine-bottle cork, whittled down to fit into the smoke-spout. Jammed in, the smoke can't escape, so no air is drawn in at the bottom, and the smoker 'goes out' quite quickly.

 

[Luminos]

I have got it!!!! Thank you, I had a few practices and finally have got a smoker which works throughout all my inspections. I just need to know how to put it out now(joking)
Actually I don't even use very much smoke as luckily my bees are quite docile. I do use a spray of sugar water which probably helps.

Well the answers obvious - if you want to put it out, give it to Snootycat...

 

[Swarm]

Bung the spout and lay it on it's side and it's out before your suit's off.

 

[Spadaman]

The second attempt went very well. Newspaper followed by offcuts of timber. It was still going about two hours later.

I find that when you are practising ( and not working with the bees) it will stay lit for hours but when you actually want it to stay lit for hours .... it goes out after a few minutes !!!

 

[AnotherNewBee]

I find that when you are practising ( and not working with the bees) it will stay lit for hours but when you actually want it to stay lit for hours .... it goes out after a few minutes !!!

That's exactly what I'm expecting.

I have just managed to keep it going for two hours while doing some woodwork so that's encouraging...

 

[winmag270]

Bung the spout and lay it on it's side and it's out before your suit's off.

very true, but the barrel will be too hot to touch still, so be aware of that!