----- Original Message -----
From: Anglin <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 8:40 AM
Subject: Re: Smoke flavour
> Much Snippage
>
> ...whether the fuel which produces the
> > smoke makes any difference. .... Are they any
> > quieter using one or the other? ...>
>
> I have found that the bees seem to "object" to some fuels. Some
newspapers
> produce an acrid smoke which seems to annoy the bees. Fabrics also
produce
> different qualities of smoke. Synthetics are no good because of the gummy
> mess they leave, and the oily smoke they produce. I have had very good
luck
> with most 100% cotton fabrics, and with burlap feed sacks. Of the fabrics
I
> have tried- here are my findings.
> 100% cotton denim- factory washed and softened. This is one of my
> favorites- burns slowly, and burns for a long time. Produces lots of
> pleasant smelling smoke.
> 100% cotton denim- not factory washed, still stiff, washed once to
> remove sizing. Hard to ignite, but burns for a really long time. Smoke
not
> as mellow as in the washed down denim. (Maybe due to more dye in fabric?)
> Printed flannel (From printed flannel bed sheets) Washed twice to
> remove sizing. This is disappointing. Ignites rapidly, but tends to go
out
> unexpectedly. Either produced tons of smoke, and burns out rapidly, or
> suffocates itself. OK for starting other fabrics.
> Chambray, muslin and other topweight 100% cotton fabrics. These burn
> very well, but beware of heavily dyed fabrics- some may have unpleasant
> smoke.
> Terry cloth (From bath towels) This is terrific! Ignites rapidly,
> produces tons of smoke, even when packed tightly into the smoker, and
seldom
> goes out before all is consumed. Does burn more rapidly than denim.
> Burlap from feed sacks. Ignites well, burns for a fairly long time,
and
> has fairly pleasant smelling smoke. Unpleasant to handle and cut up.
Often
> musty smelling. Burns as well as denim, but may spit up more bits of
> floating ash.
>
> I have tried all these fabrics because I work in a Textile laboratory,
> and I can take home scraps of leftover test fabrics. I am always watching
> for fabrics that will make good fuel.
> A suggestion- the Salvation Army and goodwill stores in my area have
> periodic "Bag days" where you can get a grocery bag stuffed with as much
> clothing as you can fit for a fixed price- usually a dollar or two. This
is
> a great opportunity to get lots of old denim jeans for fuel quite cheaply.
> You can also talk to the manager of your local thrift stores, some are
> willing to set aside unsaleable jeans, etc. and sell them to you for a
bulk
> price. Just make sure you run them thru a quick wash before you cut them
> up, just in case they have insecticide on them. (unlikely, but a
> possibility)
>
> Ellen
>
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