How to Light a Bee Smoker
Bruce White OAM Illawarra and Cumberland clubs
A bee smoker is used so the smoke stimulates the colony bees to gorge on the nectar in the uncapped cells temporarily disrupting the defensive behavior of the colony.
Smoke masks the pheromone communications between the bees, limits oxygen intake, and possibly impairs other sensory receptors, so beekeepers can open and manage colonies with very few if any stings.
Before lighting the smoker check its serviceability and ensure any faults are rectified, check smoker bellows are providing plenty of air when operated, the smoker lid fits correctly, soot not blocking the smoker nozzle. Correct any problems before lighting and avoid using the smoker on windy days.
Smoker fuel is important. Ideal fuel remains lit, burns slowly and produces a cool white smoke. The ideal fuels are dried needles from pine trees they produce large volumes of cool smoke and are easy to put out but not available everywhere .Other suitable fuels are sugar cane mulch cheap readily available at hardware and garden supply shops ,new hessian.
Free options bark from stringybark, tallowwood, paper barks and tea tree, but crumble them before use. All beekeepers have a favorite smoker fuel often based on what’s available where they live. Avoid synthetic materials petroleum products, rags with oils or chemicals, feathers, hair, used hessian or other bags that could be contaminated with toxic materials.
What you need
Smoker, Fuel, Newspaper, Matches or cigarette lighter, hive tool for opening and closing the hot smoker and dig a hole to bury hot smoker fuel, soapy water to clean the hive tool and smoker bellows, water source to extinguish the smoker fuel in a hole or plug to plug smoker nozzle to extinguish the smoker fuel by stopping the air flow. Optional fire box
How to light the smoker
Select a safe area away from the bees
Open the lid of the smoker and drop into the barrel a lit piece of newspaper.
Puff the smoker bellows gently so the paper flames, adding a small quantity of smoker fuel to the top of the burning paper.
Continue gently puffing the smoker bellows and adding fuel till about half full. When the fire is well established with plenty of smoke add more fuel to fill the barrel the smoker is then ready to use. Check with your hand the smoke is cool.
Top up with fuel from time to time to keep the smoker alight using the hive tool to open the smoker and ensure it stays alight. If the smoker goes out relight in the bottom of the barrel this is very important.
Extinguish the smoker
Burning embers can start fires if your smoker is not fully extinguished.
Find a bare patch of dirt, dig a hole with your hive tool and tip in the ashes from the smoker, wet with water and cover with soil or just cover with soil.
Pour the ashes into water or plug the smoker nozzle and place the smoker in a fire box.
1. Open the lid of the smoker and drop into the barrel a lit piece of newspaper.
2. Add a small quantity of smoker fuel to the top of the burning paper
3. Gently puff the smoker bellows and add fuel until about half full.
4. Use the hive tool to open the smoker and ensure it stays alight.
5. Plug the smoker nozzle
6. Place the smoker in a fire box.
Clean up
Clean the smoker bellows and hive tool with soapy water.
Safe working
Light the smoker in a safe area.
Have water on hand.
Avoid windy days
Keep fuel in the smoker topped up to prevent flames coming out of the nozzle.
Be aware of Total Fire Ban restrictions and your state or territory fire regulations.