>> I can get a fire going producing good smoke, but by the time I
>>pull my gloves on, the smoker quits. Any advice on correct procedure
>>here?
>>
>> About a year or so ago Bee Culture ran an article written
> by a couple who invented an ingenious solution to smoker
> fuel. They fashinoned a double walled basket (kinda
basket-in-a-basket
> idea) inserts using hardware cloth (1/2" , I think), then compacted
> pine shavings ($3.50/BALE at my feed store) into the baskets. The
> insert fits inside the smoker and is lit with newspaper (although
> I like the propane torch idea!). According to these folks the baskets
> last for *several* hours! In fact I believe they cited this as a
drawback
> for the hobbyist with only a couple of hives....no way to extinguish
> the damn thing after it got going. They have made several baskets
> and always have spares filled and ready to go.
>
> I'm just telling this from memory, being too lazy to dig out the
> article, but I think I've covered the gist of it.
>
> Regards,
>
>
>Tim Peters, Kirby VT
>[log in to unmask]
>KirBee Apiary, Bear Bait Honey
>I rather be flying!
Based on the idea presented in the above description I constructed a
single basket with harware cloth (1/8" I had for bee escape contruction) to be
inserted into my smoker. This wire cage was made with three pieces of screen.
The base, sides, and top. The top is just inserted into the basket after
filling with wood shavings.
First I cut a circular piece of 1" wood smaller than the inside of my
smoker. To construct the bottom I stapled a piece of sceen to the wood with
enough overhang to bend over the edge of the wood. I cut spoke cuts and bent
and trimmed it. This then had the sides stapled to it. The top was the
constucted in the same manner but using a smaller piece of wood. I hope you
get the idea. Maybe a diagram would help.
--------------------------------------------------
| |
| |
| |
| |
| FLAT PIECE |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
--------------------------------------------------
,------, -------------------
,-' '-, | . _|_ . |
|\ /| | . - - . |
| '-, ,-' | | / \ |
| '------' | |__-| circular|___|
| | | | wood | |
| | | \ / |
| | | . -___- . |
| | | . . . |
| | -------------------
| |
| | Two screen pieces
| | for top and bottom
|\ /| CUT,BEND,TRIM
'-, ,-'
'------'
Finished basked
Filled with wood shavings it worked very well. It burned all the fuel.
To start it I used one full size sheet of newspaper torn in 1/4's and
crumpled, lit and placed in the bottom on the smoker. I inserted the basket
and stoked the smoker to get it going. Inserting the basket didn't smother the
fire, normally adding shavings is the tricky part. The extra air space helps
keep the fire going. Also the basket can be stuffed tight for long use or
looser for less time. I haven't tried a loose load yet though.
One observation is the flame/smoke tends to run up the side of the
smoker in the space between the side and the screen making for hot smoke.
Placing some green grass on the top cooled it down.
A couple cages made up in advance may keep me from having wood
shavings all over my deck when lighting my smoker. Time will tell if I find
this little contraption still in use by next summer.
Jim Moore
|
