Cleaning a smoker

[Smudger55]

How's the best way to clean a smoker , it's a dadant I had as a present and want to look after it ( obviously).

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Blowlamp - give the tarry bits a good blast until it bubbles and burns - it will then cool to a brittle coke which will crumble off easily using a small scraper/putty knife.
That's how I clean my Dadant

 

[MartinL]

I put wood shavings in and pump it up!

Bit of a double edged sword in that, it gets hot enough to burn off all deposits but will discolour the outside!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

and leave more tarry deposits in the spout

 

[Erichalfbee]

Blow torch here too
I really must get mine from the apiary and do them......

 

[Swarm]

Do you clean them? Use a fuel that doesn't create too much tar. A smoker is like a pipe, you don't want to get it too clean, a slight coating of coke will help it light and burn.

 

[Pete D]

I submerge mine (not the bellows) in a solution of washing soda overnight, usually once a week. I then find a light bit of agitation with a brush followed by a rinse off brings it up like new. I normally use the tub of solution that I keep my hive tools in, just fill it up a bit more so I can submerge it.

 

[REDWOOD]

Oxygen and acetylene burning torch, a bit drastic but a quick blast with the oxygen blows the carbon away in seconds


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[BeeJayBee]

How's the best way to clean a smoker , it's a dadant I had as a present and want to look after it ( obviously).

Mine's a Dadant too, brilliant smoker.

I try to burn less-tarry fuel, but there are still tarry deposits. I soak the whole thing in a bucket of washing soda and then rinse in clean water. This doesn't harm the bellows, and it does clean off anything that might have been transferred to them during inspections.

 

[madasafish]

Dismantle
Blowlamp
Dish washer
steel polish

That's how to make it look nice.

I only get to the Blowlamp stage

I then add Copperease round the closure rim... and replace every 5=6 uses.. no stickees.

 

[bontbee]

I use steel wool, ('orrible stuff!), to clean around the area where the spout and firebox overlap, when it needs doing

 

[Millet]

What is the point in cleaning them, they will only get mucky again.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What is the point in cleaning them, they will only get mucky again.

they get clarted up - lid difficult to remove when cold and even harder to get a snug fit when closing it - a lot of tar build up inside the lid can also make the smoke rather unpleasant.

 

[Millet]

they get clarted up - lid difficult to remove when cold and even harder to get a snug fit when closing it - a lot of tar build up inside the lid can also make the smoke rather unpleasant.

I was just messing, a flat screw driver deals with the deposit much similar as it does to the fire door, i draw the line at brillo pads and vim.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I was just messing, a flat screw driver deals with the deposit much similar as it does to the fire door, i draw the line at brillo pads and vim.

Bit OCD that - they probably 'spring clean' the hive as well

 

[alldigging]

they get clarted up - lid difficult to remove when cold and even harder to get a snug fit when closing it - a lot of tar build up inside the lid can also make the smoke rather unpleasant.

They work much better when they're not blocked.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I find that Dadants generate so much heat in the box (oooerr - expect another snidey remark from the 'new' troll) that the only part where you get buildup is in the lid and nozzle