I cant say which is most important, the fuel I burn or the insert burning
chamber that contains the fuel. Anyone who has tried a  fire cylinder
insert with an appropriate bail (ss) would probably not conceive of using
a smoker for any lengths of time. I used to carry around a 5 gal.pail of
rolled up cardboard fuel plugs, held together with a girth of masking
tape. About a year ago I put the cardboard to rest, but have a couple as
backup. I don't know what the smoke was doing to the bees but I became
convinced it was doing a number on the beekeeper.
         I now use pitch pine chips, my son is in tree service, all the
chips I want. I keep them in a covered pail so not to dry out, in truck
with all the other stuff. I had some extended pop rivets round the bottom
circumference of the fire cylinder to keep the plug from dropping
through. I have heard complaints of individuals not being able to keep
the smoker going with the insert. This problem arises when the cylinder
fits loose in the smoker chamber, it's the old blow-by problem, air must
go up through the fuel. It is also necessary for the fuel to fit snuggly
in the insert. Since going to the chips I dropped a wire grid into the
bottom of the cylinder to keep fuel in the insert. The insert basically
allows one to light the smoker from the bottom without handling any of
previous burned fuel or throwing away the last fire remains
(conservation).
        I wasn't beekeeping very long when I realized there had to be a
better way to attach the smoker to me than via the digits, I needed all I
had for other things. Well I made this little wire (cloths hangar
material) bracket  \_/  the width and half the height of the bellows box
and attached it to the top back  section of the bellows. My back pocket
is now the holder of my smoker when I'm not puffing it.
 
Alden Marshall
B-Line Apiaries
Hudson, NH 03051
[log in to unmask]
tel. 603-883-6764
 
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