bob,
I don't use a smoker, and I only invested in a veil when my colonies exceeded 30 in number because I needed to work them a little faster than previously allowed with less than 30 hives. I bought a smoker, its in storage for just in case, but I used it once and realized the bees remain much more relaxed when I do not use it. Plus there is some demand for my honey being smokeless. Then again, I don't the smoker anyway. I keep bees in shorts and teeshirt only with veil now, but not prior to this last year.

the worst stinging I got was when I moved my hives to a farm prior to my moving to iowa 2 months ago. The screen came off the entrance enroute and there was a significant beard of highly defensive bees. I only had one veil and so gave it to my friend, I threw a blanket over the front of the hive and carried it to its new spot. I got stung in excess of 50 times in the legs and got one right at the tip of my nose when I pulled the blanket and had to run knowing that nose sting was a bad way to get hit there again.
Not a lot fun, but I didn't get hurt. This was  an extreme example though. I don't tolerate bees I can't work in a t-shirt unless the stinging was my own damned fault.

Scot Mc Pherson
McPherson Family Honey Farms
Davenport, IA
Bradenton, FL

-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---