I haven't used a smoker for years. I switched to using a spray with 'liquid smoke'. For the last 2 years I've used neither. I have discovered that the purpose of smoke is to disguise the pheromones exuded by the anxious beekeeper's adrenal glands which alert the bees as they use pheromones a lot for communication. If the beekeeper is gentle, calm and confident (s)he won't be giving off the pheromones and thus won't upset the bees. It's all in the mind.
Chris
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