Smoking Hives

[Dusty Rhodes]

I always light a smoker but try not to use it.

I use it to move bees off the ends of frames, if they are being a pain.

However, I use it most when reassembling hives, to move bees from the edges of boxes to reduce apicide.
I find this the worst bit of regular beekeeping.
Does anyone have any tips on how to get them off the edges without smoke?


As for what I use, I start it with the shredded cardboard that Thornes uses to pack out boxes, and I buy big bags of wood clippings from Thornes when I go to the convention - £3.00 is not a lot for a year's supply.

I use liturgical incense in my smoker. Don't think it affects the bees in any way, but I love the smell and it makes me feel calm.

Dusty.

 

[froggy]

being new,,,,, I have just bought a smoker and cardboard ! maybe there are other options, other than the cardboard. I guess this is the long and interesting "learning curve"

 

[Heather]

There is a Division in West Sussex where the person 'in charge' insists on smoker use and teaches holding between knees when not in use.

As a 5'2" ex-asthmatic I would refuse on the grounds of not wanting to be an unconscious, neatly trimmed lady.!

 

[Millet]

being new,,,,, I have just bought a smoker and cardboard ! maybe there are other options, other than the cardboard. I guess this is the long and interesting "learning curve"

I experimented with cardboard and found it rubbish as it did not burn for long and give me watering eye's.. when i light the smoker now i use pine shaving to get the initial fire going and pack it in tight while puffing away till there about a 3in depth of it in the bottom burning away.. i then gradually pack it with dry hay while puffing all the time.. then let it stand for ten minutes pack it down again with the hive tool while puffing away and top it up with more hay.. i then put a wet grass bung in the nozzle cone to stop any burning ash from getting blown out..
That may not be the preferred method by some but it will still be burning for 2 or more hour's after i have finished..bearing in mind though that i hardly use it..

 

[pargyle]

There is a Division in West Sussex where the person 'in charge' insists on smoker use and teaches holding between knees when not in use.

As a 5'2" ex-asthmatic I would refuse on the grounds of not wanting to be an unconscious, neatly trimmed lady.!

Yes... one of Roger's more vociferous ideas ... another one I don't agree with !!

I'm a hobbyist woodturner and I use the shavings and sawdust from the lathe in my smoker - it's a mixture of well seasoned hardwoods usually and has quite a 'soft' smoke that doesn't sting your eyes and the smell is not acrid .. not too much tar in the wood either so it doesn't get bunged up.

Only tried cardboard once .. horrible stuff... never again. I like Dusty's thuriblistic ideas though ! I have a vision of his smoker hanging from chains and being swung gently to and fro !!

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Dry pine cones burn well old Hessian coffee bags burn nice n slow.....I'm drying some long sunflower stems to trial next year... I saw someone use shavings but they blew out the top somewhat...thornes shredded packing is good to start wuth

 

[froggy]

Iam 6' 2", and asthmatic,,,,,,,,,,,,food for thought

 

[linoleum bonypart]

But are you neatly trimmed

 

[Ely]

Who uses smoke lot's and who hardly uses it..and why..?.

Smoking hives? To be honest, I'm struggling to find a rizla big enough..

 

[Finman]

.
My mentor never used smoker. He had tobacco pipe always between his jaws. He had a two teeth hole for pipe stem in his tooth furniture.

Then he died for lung cancer. IT had spreaded to his brains. He died in 2 month after disease discovering.

.

 

[pargyle]

I saw someone use shavings but they blew out the top somewhat...

You need to mix shavings with something finer ... the turnings off my lathe are mixed with the finer 'sawdust' from sanding and finishing .. the shavings help the smoker to light and the dust burns very slowly and stops the sparks that you get from just shavings.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I saw someone use shavings but they blew out the top somewhat.

Putting a handful of green grass on top the smoker fuels stops that, plus creates a cooler smoke.

 

[Millet]

Putting a handful of green grass on top the smoker fuels stops that, plus creates a cooler smoke.

I'm new to all this but I agree as that is what I do and it work's a treat.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I use liturgical incense in my smoker................................ but I love the smell and it makes me feel calm.

Dusty.

How lovely
I add dried lavender, bayleaves,rosemary and orange peel to mine with a similar effect.

 

[deanrpwaacs]

Old oak bark for me . Nice smoke and smells great . Light my smoker with a gas soldering gun . Damp grass ontop .

 

[bontbee]

Strangely(?), I'm with Finman!

 

[pargyle]

Strangely(?), I'm with Finman!

Oh dear .. well, I suppose someone had to be ...

 

[Finman]

Nice smoke and smells great . .

Was it meant to bees.... That grass....

 

[deanrpwaacs]

yeeaaah maaaannnn . There is no such thing as good grass now . Just some chemical sprayed crap that will send you bonkers .
Not that i would know

 

[bontbee]

Strangely(?), I'm with Finman!

Oh dear .. well, I suppose someone had to be ...

I've used it ever since I started beeking. I've tried a few other things, and been subjected to many more concoctions when visiting other beeks, many of which have been vile. AFAIC, rotten birch is the bees knees. Plenty of oak/birch woodland in this neck of the woods, so it's readily available and free...with the landowners permission, of course!