Hello all--
 
just curious, but I've read a wide variety of materials are used in
beekeepers' smokers, such as oily rags, wood, dried plant materials,
etc.   I've seen beekeepers also warm up coals on a hibachi for 20
minutes and then putting them in their smoker.
 
Just a couple of hints I've discovered that work very well are:
 
                using little coals that are sold anywhere incense is
sold--usually 6-8 coals per package--maybe 98 cents-$1.59 a package.  You
just take a lighter and light the edge and it fires right up, and stays
lit for a good 2 hours.
 
                three beekeepers here swear by using dried pine needles
from ironwood trees.  They work great, produce thick cool smoke, and they
don't smell awful--
 
what do other people use?
 
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