On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:34:14 -0700, Cal French <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>--he uses very little smoke, just a little puff at the entrance--

There are so many variables here that a simple rule is impossible. What kind
of day is it? Is there a honey flow on? Is it a strong colony, are the bees
defensive as a rule? Have they been robbing lately? Are there yellow jackets
around? Can you handle the frames like a surgeon or are you an oaf? Etc. 

On a terrfic day working four frame nucs, who needs a smoker? On a crummy
day, after the flow quits, and you have to tear a five story hive down to
the bottom box because the queen is confined by a queen excluder (this is an
increasingly common practice), you may need continual application of smoke.

When I go to work, I have my smoker lit up to produce billows of smoke. I
may not need that much, but if I do I want to be ready. I have a good line
burlap right now, so that's what I use. Coffee sacks, if you want to know.
But I was really hoping to hear about some more UNUSUAL smoker fuel. 

pb

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