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? [log in to unmask]