The bee smoker calms bees during hive inspections by disrupting their chemical communication. When disturbed, guard bees release alarm pheromones to signal a threat to the colony. The smoke effectively masks these chemical signals, preventing a coordinated defensive response from the workers.
Smoke also triggers a survival instinct, making bees believe their home is threatened by fire. In response, they immediately gorge themselves on honey to store energy for a potential hive evacuation. A bee with a full honey stomach is less inclined to sting, making the colony more docile and manageable. Wood pellets, often made from compressed hardwood, are a favored fuel because they offer a long, consistent burn and are easy to store compared to bulkier natural materials.
Preparing the Smoker for Pellet Fuel
Proper preparation ensures the smoker lights quickly and stays lit when using wood pellets. Before loading fuel, ensure the aeration grate at the bottom of the fire chamber is clear of ash or debris. A strong draft from the bellows through the base is necessary to sustain the slow-burning pellets.
To light pellets successfully, create a powerful starter base beneath them. This base, typically crumpled newspaper, clean cardboard, or dry pine needles, must ignite easily and burn hot enough to establish a bed of coals. Light this initial material and use gentle pumps of the bellows to ensure it is burning vigorously before adding the pellets.
Once the base is burning well, carefully add a small handful of pellets, aiming for a layer no more than one to two inches deep. Add the pellets gradually to avoid smothering the flame and cutting off the oxygen supply. Begin with a conservative amount, as adding too many pellets too soon is the most common mistake.
The Ignition Process and Sustaining Smoke
Lighting wood pellets requires sustained heat. Direct the flame onto the kindling at the bottom while pumping the bellows slowly and steadily to draw air up through the fuel. This sustained airflow is essential for the pellets to transition to a deep, smoldering state.
The goal is to produce cool, white, voluminous smoke, which indicates a good, slow-burning fire. Once the pellets are smoldering and a thick stream of smoke emerges, close the lid and continue pumping the bellows for a minute to ensure the fire is self-sustaining. Hot, thin, or acrid smoke signals that the fuel is burning too quickly, which can harm the bees.
To maintain cool smoke throughout the inspection, manage the airflow with the bellows. If the smoke output thins or becomes warmer, a few extra pumps introduce fresh oxygen, stoking the coals and increasing the volume of smoke. For lengthy inspections, you can refuel by adding a few more pellets on top of the established coals, ensuring the new fuel does not smother the fire.
Effective Smoke Application on the Hive
Apply smoke gently, using only enough to calm the bees without flooding the hive. Start by delivering two to four gentle puffs directly into the hive entrance before removing the outer cover. This initial smoke masks the alarm pheromones and prompts the bees to begin gorging on honey.
Once the outer cover is removed, direct a few more puffs of smoke into the space under the inner cover or across the tops of the frames. Smoking the tops of the frames helps drive the bees down, clearing the work area and preventing crushing bees when replacing hive components. Avoid aiming the smoke directly down between the frames, as this can agitate the bees by forcing hot air into their living space.
Keep the smoker nearby but set it on a safe, non-flammable surface, such as a metal hive stand or bare ground, away from dry grass. If the bees become defensive during the inspection, a single, gentle puff across the work area is usually sufficient to calm them. Always check the smoke temperature on your wrist before application to ensure it remains cool.
Safe Disposal and Smoker Maintenance
After the inspection, the smoker must be extinguished to prevent fire risk. Let the smoker burn out naturally by plugging the nozzle with green grass or a small piece of cloth to cut off the oxygen supply. Never dump the hot contents directly onto the ground, especially near dry vegetation.
Once the smoker is completely cold, the remaining ash and unburnt pellets can be scraped out. Dispose of the contents in a metal container with a lid, or spread them onto a non-flammable surface like concrete. Regular maintenance involves scraping creosote buildup from the fire chamber, the nozzle, and the aeration grate to ensure proper airflow for the next use.