Nice job. The advantage of your burlap is that it burns a long time. My mentor from Del. Val. College in Pennsylvania used burlap. I like to use cardboard or pine needles to get a good fire going and then gradually add wood pellets to the smoker. Once the smoker is going with pellets, I've gone in the hives all day and then the next morning there was still a small smoldering fire to fire it back up. With wood pellets I can go hours and hours working the hives. It's all about preference and availability.
This is so funny I literally just ordered that stetson style veil yesterday before I watched this video today. Can't stand the basket style hood my jacket came with. Glad to know it was a solid investment and I'm looking forward to its arrival even more now!
Just scrolled through your videos to look for something on smokers. I fit the description of someone whose smoker fails when I need it most. I was so glad to find yours. As always, you seem to go over precisely what I have needed to know! Thank you !
Hi David, I loved your split video! I tried your favorite split this fall & it worked like a charm! Now, instead of one good hive I have 2 very good hives! The older hive raised their own new Queen & she is laying a beautiful new pattern of brood. Thank you so much for all you do for us! :)
Hi David! New beekeeper here. Tried the burlap and man did it work well! It kept going for a LONG time, too! Love your videos, thanks for the great tips!
Thank you so much for your time and advice!!! I am brand new to new to this and you’re my #1 source for the best information! I’d love to buy equipment from you in the near future
Good tips, thanks. My smoker starts with paper & small wood chips. When I have a hot bed of coals after many minutes, I pack the smoker tight with pine needles. Cool dense smoke lasts a long time.
I’m going to start using some burlap in my smoker. I usually use pine needles started with some plain brown paper but it does have a habit of going out on me sooner than I’d like
Wow, didn't realize the legs on the bottom plate needed to be bent down. Reminds me of pressing in the tabs on a roll of foil so it won't come out when you pull. Haha.
Thanks Perfessor for the smoker info! I been a waitin on you!😊It appears I been being too stingy with the burlap and not getting the material hot enough to slow burn....and my smoker is the same one in your demo here today. Hopefully my frustrations are past history now! Many Thanks!
The adjoining parcel has a large old pine, plenty of free fuel. As well, there is a specialty bean roaster on my delivery route. I get all the organic burlap a boy could need! Check with your local coffee shop but watch for the truly organic tags sewn on as most coffee plantations use a great deal of chemicals which may be hard on the girls~
Hi David, very good smoker advice. I did want to share a burlap story. I have for several years obtained burlap organic Coffee bags (free, my favorite word) and they always worked great. However last summer I noticed my smoker was acting funny. I did not notice a different smell but when I opened it there was a blob of what appeared to be molten plastic on the bottom screen. Yikes !!! Anyway I found that some coffee bags, with larger, corse threads, then regular burlap, had some plastic of other chemical added. Now, I cut off a little piece and burn it to make sure it is Ok before loading my smoker. Also, I tried wood pellets in the past. They worked,Ok, but you have to be careful about laying/pumping the smoker parallel to the top of the boxes. I had a pellet roll out and melted a little on the top of a plastic frame....Yikes again.... I use 15 Mil rubber type gloves, like dishwashing gloves, (Gemplers) if you do get stung a quick pull of the glove will release the stinger with very little effect. 88 degrees today In Vermont (USA) dandelions, apple blossoms etc. Nature has come Alive !!!,
Nice and welcome to beekeeping Jonathan. Dry leaves and pine shavings are fine and I use them i a pinch, but they will burn out super fast and may leave you in a bind. Consider something like burlap that is more compact and easy to replace.
Working with African Honey Bees here in south Africa ..I through away my leather gloves and went straight to plastic. Lol plumbing gloves or kitchen gloves tried them all.I agree with you they can't really sting through..Not the examination ones though..I wear cotton gloves undet them now..No stings..love all your videos. Melville
I like burlap for consistent smoke but I already have tone of straw from the lambing barn. Every year I have a ton or so little used straw that the lambs were born in and once it dries out it burns slow and even. The bees seem to be okay with it….no ‘straw lung’ or cancer yet! And as a Scotsman it meets the most IMPORTANT requirement….IT’S FREE! I like the feel of those chem gloves but I really like the feel of the kid leather gloves mainly because I developed a serious sting allergy but am not willing to quit my bees. The leather is very thin and I can feel well through them but the bees can’t get through.
My mentor, who started beekeeping in 1974 and has 700 colonies, uses newspaper and wood shavings from a local cabinet maker. The wood is hardwood, and makes great smoke. He also puts some green grass on top of the shavings to keep the heat from hurting the bees.
I use pine needles. Free and plentiful. If we've had a rainy week and I don't have dry material I'll start with paper, then cardboard, then wood smoking pellets from my meat smoker.
I put a frayed / squirrel chewed pine cone in the bottom, light up some pinestraw and stuff that in, get it flaming high, then pack it to the gills with more pine straw. It will go for long enough to inspect 5 hives, and the pine cone will relight it after a few puffs if you let it sit too long.
Great video David. I refuse to grow up, I’m still a little kid at heart. So my smoker is going strong after a few choo choo’s 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃around the barn getting equipment and tools ready lol 😆 . Have a blessed day!
I just watched this video and was like wow I did my very first inspection Wednesday and my smoker would not stay lit. Now I know why. I loved your Trophy Husband shit . I have seen a few videos where it says to wear light colored clothes when playing with the bees but I see you wear what ever color. And one last thing you talk a lot about people who may be allergic to be and tell them to be careful should you be telling them not to keep bees? Once again love your videos and look forward to the next
Great review of protective gear! And here's a personal cautionary tale: If you have an allergy to bee venom, you should never "bee" around your hives without an epi-pen in your pocket, or very nearby, whether in full beekeeping regalia or not! I have been keeping bees for around 4 years and had never had a reaction to stings, other than the usual local inflammation and itching, until two years ago. I got stung on my hand, very thin skin, right over a vein! Within 10 minutes I was in full reaction mode and had to call an ambulance. I wasn't even near my hives...was watering some plants on the other side of the yard! I have since been stung, through my bee suit, so the stinger went into the (ample-LOL) fat on my thigh, and the stinger wasn't able to stay in my skin so not a big dose of venom. I had just a localized reaction and didn't have to use my pen. I do believe that the precipitating event that sent me to hospital was due to the location of the sting: on my hand and right over a vein and in an area of the body that has very dense capillary beds (hence the profuse bleeding on hand wounds). The stinger was left in my hand, continuing to pump venom until I managed to scrape it out. So, caution is the watch word if you have any issues along these lines. There is nothing heroic or more "professional" about approaching a hive full of bees with no protection, as I have seen in a great many videos. Allergies develop by repeated exposure to causative agents. You can never know when the next sting will be the one that gets you a lights-and-siren ride to the ER! Great video, by the way, and am now subscribed! Can't wait to try out your suggestions!
Great point Darlene and glad you are okay. Actually, just because we have not had an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting (systemic reaction) doesn't mean we are in the clear. You can have an anaphylactic reaction any time. So you offer some very great advise. Always take your cell phone with you, and some Benadryl to buy time until help arrives.
@@beek Yup! You are so right! I forgot about the Benadryl...I did take a 50mg dose when I got to the house (I'm an RN so familiar with that drill!) ER Doc said that kept the situation from getting even worse. I actually lost my eyesight as my pupils dilated so much my vision was almost a complete white out. It's nothing to fool around with!
Yay! So glad that you like the mug.
You are the best! Thank you! ♥️
Thanks for being detailed. You answered my question about the smoker grate right off the bat. Love the videos and knowledge.
Nice job. The advantage of your burlap is that it burns a long time. My mentor from Del. Val. College in Pennsylvania used burlap. I like to use cardboard or pine needles to get a good fire going and then gradually add wood pellets to the smoker. Once the smoker is going with pellets, I've gone in the hives all day and then the next morning there was still a small smoldering fire to fire it back up.
With wood pellets I can go hours and hours working the hives.
It's all about preference and availability.
Thanks!
Thanks T.J. for the Thanks/Tip
This is so funny I literally just ordered that stetson style veil yesterday before I watched this video today. Can't stand the basket style hood my jacket came with. Glad to know it was a solid investment and I'm looking forward to its arrival even more now!
Just scrolled through your videos to look for something on smokers. I fit the description of someone whose smoker fails when I need it most. I was so glad to find yours. As always, you seem to go over precisely what I have needed to know!
Thank you !
My burlap just arrived last week. It is was larger than expected to my surprise. Smoker instructions... a lesson I definitely needed. Thanks.
thank you. My wife never bent the legs out on the grate. Now the smoker works much better. So many videos don't talk about the grate.
David, oftentimes coffee roasters will give away burlap bags to use for smoker fuel. We use a sharp box cutter for cutting it into strips.
Thanks Ginger, where I buy my beans they charge if you want to buy a burlap bag 😌
Thanks Dave! Nothing worse than having testy ladies and when I pick up my smoker...NOTHIN'! Love your videos! Keep them coming!
Thank you David. Great smoker tip. Thank you for your videos. 🇺🇸
Great video! Thanks for taking the ti,e to help
Definitely needed this! Thank you!
Hi David, I loved your split video! I tried your favorite split this fall & it worked like a charm! Now, instead of one good hive I have 2 very good hives! The older hive raised their own new Queen & she is laying a beautiful new pattern of brood.
Thank you so much for all you do for us! :)
Hi David! New beekeeper here. Tried the burlap and man did it work well! It kept going for a LONG time, too! Love your videos, thanks for the great tips!
Thank you for again reading my mind and making this video!!!!!
Thank you so much for your time and advice!!! I am brand new to new to this and you’re my #1 source for the best information! I’d love to buy equipment from you in the near future
Good tips, thanks. My smoker starts with paper & small wood chips. When I have a hot bed of coals after many minutes, I pack the smoker tight with pine needles. Cool dense smoke lasts a long time.
I’m going to start using some burlap in my smoker. I usually use pine needles started with some plain brown paper but it does have a habit of going out on me sooner than I’d like
Wow, didn't realize the legs on the bottom plate needed to be bent down. Reminds me of pressing in the tabs on a roll of foil so it won't come out when you pull. Haha.
Thanks Perfessor for the smoker info! I been a waitin on you!😊It appears I been being too stingy with the burlap and not getting the material hot enough to slow burn....and my smoker is the same one in your demo here today. Hopefully my frustrations are past history now! Many Thanks!
The adjoining parcel has a large old pine, plenty of free fuel. As well, there is a specialty bean roaster on my delivery route. I get all the organic burlap a boy could need! Check with your local coffee shop but watch for the truly organic tags sewn on as most coffee plantations use a great deal of chemicals which may be hard on the girls~
Hi David, very good smoker advice. I did want to share a burlap story. I have for several years obtained burlap organic Coffee bags (free, my favorite word) and they always worked great. However last summer I noticed my smoker was acting funny. I did not notice a different smell but when I opened it there was a blob of what appeared to be molten plastic on the bottom screen. Yikes !!! Anyway I found that some coffee bags, with larger, corse threads, then regular burlap, had some plastic of other chemical added. Now, I cut off a little piece and burn it to make sure it is Ok before loading my smoker.
Also, I tried wood pellets in the past. They worked,Ok, but you have to be careful about laying/pumping the smoker parallel to the top of the boxes. I had a pellet roll out and melted a little on the top of a plastic frame....Yikes again....
I use 15 Mil rubber type gloves, like dishwashing gloves, (Gemplers) if you do get stung a quick pull of the glove will release the stinger with very little effect. 88 degrees today In Vermont (USA) dandelions, apple blossoms etc. Nature has come Alive !!!,
Very helpful, thank you!
new beek this week! I have been using old dry leaves, and pine shavings I have on hand from my chicken coop! The burlap looks cool too!
Nice and welcome to beekeeping Jonathan. Dry leaves and pine shavings are fine and I use them i a pinch, but they will burn out super fast and may leave you in a bind. Consider something like burlap that is more compact and easy to replace.
Working with African Honey Bees here in south Africa ..I through away my leather gloves and went straight to plastic. Lol plumbing gloves or kitchen gloves tried them all.I agree with you they can't really sting through..Not the examination ones though..I wear cotton gloves undet them now..No stings..love all your videos. Melville
I usually use pine straw but like the idea of the burlap sac
I like burlap for consistent smoke but I already have tone of straw from the lambing barn. Every year I have a ton or so little used straw that the lambs were born in and once it dries out it burns slow and even. The bees seem to be okay with it….no ‘straw lung’ or cancer yet! And as a Scotsman it meets the most IMPORTANT requirement….IT’S FREE! I like the feel of those chem gloves but I really like the feel of the kid leather gloves mainly because I developed a serious sting allergy but am not willing to quit my bees. The leather is very thin and I can feel well through them but the bees can’t get through.
Thanks for your videos I am a second year beekeeper and hoping to get my bees through this coming winter!😗
I didn't know the grate had legs! 🙂 And yes, I have trouble getting my smoker going!
Hey David, I'm always looking for a good glove. Can you please post a link to the ones you showed? Thanks.
Yes, here you go: amzn.to/3zewY7U
@@beek Thank you. I just ordered them.
@@beek I really like the gloves. Thank you for the recommendation. I typically wear a Large glove size but the XLarge is a better fit for this glove.
You nailed my problem of not taking the time to get it going right. Need to retire to have more time with my small farm chores 👍🐝
Is there a link fr the gloves you reccomend in this video?
David, how do you clean your smoker?
I really need this information
My mentor, who started beekeeping in 1974 and has 700 colonies, uses newspaper and wood shavings from a local cabinet maker. The wood is hardwood, and makes great smoke. He also puts some green grass on top of the shavings to keep the heat from hurting the bees.
I love using pine needles because I got alot pine trees around my neighborhood. But your videos are so useful tho.
Just curious if you have ever used canvas in a smoker like a painters drop cloth
I've used old jeans
@@beek I've never used a drop cloth either but they are fairly cheap from Harbor Freight Tools like 10$ for a 6ft x 9ft
I used wood shavings or pin straw if I can. The pine straw is 8 bucks at tractor supply and lasts me all season plus
Is it ok to use burlap bags that had coffee beans in them?
Do you have 1 from Maine?
Do you have a link to the yellow gloves as seen in this video? Thanks
Great question to ask on my livestream tonight (April 20th, 2023) at 7pm central time. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/users/livebznQVxYar8c
David, how many hives will the burlap smoker take care of? I have 2 hives and it would seem like over kill.
Thank you so much for sharing!!! Do you have a mug from Florida? ✌️❤️
Thank you, I do not.
Maybe an old wine cork for the smoker hole
What about the burlap sold at fabric stores? ie Joanns
PINE NEEDLES are good especially from edge of road where cars have pulverised it a bit
I use pine needles. Free and plentiful. If we've had a rainy week and I don't have dry material I'll start with paper, then cardboard, then wood smoking pellets from my meat smoker.
Good tips on the smoker and keeping it smoking through the inspection. I see what I was doing wrong.
Why does my bee hat have holed on the sides of the mesh? I don't wear it because the big holes make me nervous.
See if the holes are large enough for bees to enter. Normally, vent holes are too small for bees to go through.
are there other fuels to use besides burlap?
rolled cardboard, pine needles
Pine needles I use but haven't had much luck with the pellets
I put a frayed / squirrel chewed pine cone in the bottom, light up some pinestraw and stuff that in, get it flaming high, then pack it to the gills with more pine straw. It will go for long enough to inspect 5 hives, and the pine cone will relight it after a few puffs if you let it sit too long.
I bought the same cowboy hat you showed, clips at bottom of hat attached fell off, they weren't sewn well to mesh.
The yellow sleeve gloves .. I used those and got a pair from.a lobster fishing store and they can sting thur them ..
Don't see link for the Gloves.
Great video David. I refuse to grow up, I’m still a little kid at heart. So my smoker is going strong after a few choo choo’s 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃around the barn getting equipment and tools ready lol 😆 . Have a blessed day!
Dow you have a on line store
Yes, www.honeybeesonline.com
I need to work on lighting my smoker. I always forget and end up having to relight it
Use water spray with a little sugar
The smoker’s instructions don’t say to bend the tabes down ; I didn’t notice and my smoker would not work very well . Thanks !!
Also when adding more fuel don’t melt the screen of your veil lol
Asking for a friend 😜
For uk viewers burlap is hessian, as in coffee bags, natural not treated. Thanks
I just watched this video and was like wow I did my very first inspection Wednesday and my smoker would not stay lit. Now I know why. I loved your Trophy Husband shit . I have seen a few videos where it says to wear light colored clothes when playing with the bees but I see you wear what ever color. And one last thing you talk a lot about people who may be allergic to be and tell them to be careful should you be telling them not to keep bees? Once again love your videos and look forward to the next
Great review of protective gear! And here's a personal cautionary tale:
If you have an allergy to bee venom, you should never "bee" around your hives without an epi-pen in your pocket, or very nearby, whether in full beekeeping regalia or not! I have been keeping bees for around 4 years and had never had a reaction to stings, other than the usual local inflammation and itching, until two years ago. I got stung on my hand, very thin skin, right over a vein! Within 10 minutes I was in full reaction mode and had to call an ambulance. I wasn't even near my hives...was watering some plants on the other side of the yard!
I have since been stung, through my bee suit, so the stinger went into the (ample-LOL) fat on my thigh, and the stinger wasn't able to stay in my skin so not a big dose of venom. I had just a localized reaction and didn't have to use my pen. I do believe that the precipitating event that sent me to hospital was due to the location of the sting: on my hand and right over a vein and in an area of the body that has very dense capillary beds (hence the profuse bleeding on hand wounds). The stinger was left in my hand, continuing to pump venom until I managed to scrape it out.
So, caution is the watch word if you have any issues along these lines. There is nothing heroic or more "professional" about approaching a hive full of bees with no protection, as I have seen in a great many videos. Allergies develop by repeated exposure to causative agents. You can never know when the next sting will be the one that gets you a lights-and-siren ride to the ER! Great video, by the way, and am now subscribed! Can't wait to try out your suggestions!
Great point Darlene and glad you are okay. Actually, just because we have not had an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting (systemic reaction) doesn't mean we are in the clear. You can have an anaphylactic reaction any time. So you offer some very great advise. Always take your cell phone with you, and some Benadryl to buy time until help arrives.
@@beek Yup! You are so right! I forgot about the Benadryl...I did take a 50mg dose when I got to the house (I'm an RN so familiar with that drill!) ER Doc said that kept the situation from getting even worse. I actually lost my eyesight as my pupils dilated so much my vision was almost a complete white out. It's nothing to fool around with!
I was just telling my wife the other day I have not mastered keeping a smoker going yet.
I wonder if there are any bee keepers that are allergic to bee stings