Thanks for the interesting post Andy.
 
We too used to extract in the yards, using an extractor in an old school
bus - a 1949 Chev.  Worked well.  We used a blower, or often bee brushes
to pull the frames.  Honey went straight into drums.
 
We currently use burlap sacks cut into strips on a bandsaw for fuel.  Can
lite a smoker in 20 seconds that will burn all day, using a 6 inch square
piece of newspaper crumpled up to start.
 
Best fuel we've used was dried corn cobs from Ontario.  Used Pine
shavings at one time - smelled much nicer than sacks.  We went through a
period of using corrugated cardboard strips 3 imnches wide rolled up to
fit the smoker bore.  Worked well, but got to be too much work.
 
Apparently adding a spoonful of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0 fertilizer) on
top of the fire will bring the nastiest bees to heel.  I'm told laughing
gas is the result!  The bees recover after a short while, and there
should be no toxic byproducts. (Don't try this at home, kids.)
 
I've heard of using robbing screens to allow working on hives in
California.  I think it was in an old ABC...  They are a square frame
about four by four by six feet high or so covered with window screen and
open at the top.  The unit is placed temporarily over hive to be worked.
The beekeeper works inside and the bees attempting to rob fly right
towards the hive that is teir target and go down the screen or fly back
again and again, neglecting the wide open top while bees leaving the hive
being worked run right up the screen and out.
 
For what it's worth.
 
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper
Rural Route One, Swalwell,  Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
Phone/Fax: 403 546 2588      Email: [log in to unmask]