Please tell me i was not the only one that got talked into an electric smoker?
Press a button and a little electric fan blows the air into the smoker (no bellows, just an electric fan)
Last time i take the girlfriend shopping with me....
This sounds like just another contraption to cause me frustration when I'm working my bees. Further, I would avoid anything that buzzes around my hives when I can.
I typically take a minimalist approach to anything when it comes to buying stuff for a hobby. Beekeeping, like many other hobbies/occupations, is full of trinkets and toys that liberate funds from the beekeeper's wallet and really don't provide any advantage. (Just my $0.02, no clue what that is in AUD)
Also - after watching some 'old timers' (40+ years experience each) they use the smokers *very* differently than i could with the electric one. The small puffs, and more accurate use that i dont think i could do with the electric
The accuracy and control you get with bellows is unmatched by a fan. I can deliver a slow gentle stream of smoke or a quick toot to move bees from the ends of frames and rabbets when putting frames back together and avoid smoking the entire hive. That doesn't require 40+ years of experience. If you can safely use a bellows smoker, even a cheapie, I'd try it out.