A bee smoker is a handheld device designed to generate cool, thick smoke, which is an indispensable tool for managing honey bee colonies. The primary function of the smoke is to mask the alarm pheromone, isopentyl acetate, that guard bees release when the hive is disturbed. By interfering with the bees’ chemical communication, the smoke prevents a large-scale defensive reaction from the colony. The smoke also triggers a natural, ancestral response in the bees, causing them to gorge on honey in preparation for a potential hive abandonment, which makes them much more docile and less likely to sting.
Selecting Fuel Materials
The effectiveness of a smoker depends heavily on using proper fuel, which should be dry, non-toxic, and capable of a long, slow burn to produce cool smoke. Suitable materials include natural items like dried pine needles, untreated wood pellets, cotton rags, or burlap. Avoid anything synthetic, chemically treated, or containing excessive resin, as these can produce smoke harmful to the bees and the beekeeper, while also gumming up the smoker.
The best practice involves using two distinct fuel types: a starter fuel and a main fuel. Starter fuel, such as dryer lint, crumpled paper, or untreated egg carton fragments, is highly flammable and catches fire easily to establish the initial flame. The main fuel, consisting of denser material like wood pellets or compressed cotton fibers, is then added to provide a consistent, smoldering burn that produces cool smoke for an extended period.
The Three-Stage Ignition Process
Lighting the smoker correctly ensures a consistent fire without constant attention during hive inspection. The first stage involves igniting a small quantity of starter material, such as a ball of newspaper, and placing it at the bottom of the fire chamber. Once the starter is lit, the bellows must be pumped vigorously to establish a strong, visible flame.
The second stage requires adding a layer of kindling—a medium-sized portion of the main fuel—loosely packed on top of the established flame. Continue pumping the bellows to draw air through the material from the bottom, ensuring the kindling catches fire and the flame is still present. This step transitions the burn from a quick flame to a more sustained heat source.
The final stage is loading the main fuel, which involves tightly packing the smoker chamber with the slow-burning material until it is about three-quarters full. Pack the fuel firmly, but not so densely that it chokes the oxygen supply and extinguishes the fire. Close the lid and continue to pump the bellows until a thick, white, cool smoke emerges, indicating the fuel is smoldering effectively.
Operating and Maintaining the Smoker
Once the smoker is lit, maintaining a cool, consistent smoke requires a specific operational technique throughout the inspection. Test the smoke by puffing it onto the back of your hand to ensure it feels cool to the touch, as hot smoke or flying embers can injure the bees’ delicate wings.
During hive work, the bellows should be squeezed with a slow, steady rhythm every few minutes, even when not actively smoking the bees, to keep the fuel smoldering and prevent the fire from going out. If the volume or quality of smoke decreases, this intermittent puffing helps maintain the necessary oxygen flow to the base of the fire chamber.
For long inspections, it may be necessary to add a small amount of new main fuel on top of the smoldering material. This addition should be tamped down gently, and the bellows pumped again to ensure the new fuel ignites without extinguishing the existing fire. This ensures the smoker stays lit for the entire duration of the hive visit.
Safe Extinguishment and Storage
A smoker must be completely extinguished after use to prevent fire hazards, which should always be done on a non-flammable surface like concrete or gravel. One safe method is to plug the nozzle with a piece of green grass or a cork and lay the smoker on its side, which starves the smoldering fuel of oxygen.
Alternatively, the contents can be carefully dumped into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, or doused thoroughly with water, ensuring no embers remain active. Never dump hot ashes or smoldering material directly onto the ground, as this can easily start a fire, especially in dry conditions.
For long-term maintenance, the smoker should be cleaned periodically to remove the buildup of creosote, a thick, tar-like residue that accumulates inside the chamber and on the lid’s rim. Scraping this residue with a hive tool ensures the lid can close tightly, which is necessary for proper air restriction and preventing flare-ups during the next use.