----- 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
>