Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: hydrocynus on December 17, 2018, 02:48:59 pm

Title: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: hydrocynus on December 17, 2018, 02:48:59 pm

Hello,

Do you guys have a tip to use to prevent burning fuel to exit the smoker from its base where the bellows is blowing into the vent? It is particularly a problem when I remove bees from under a house in the crawl space. I have holes in my veil and in my three layer suit but I could have caught in fire.

I use a broad of variety of fuel but it seems to happen for all of them. I have fine wire mesh I could strap onto the vent but then, I would  restrict the air flow.

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 17, 2018, 03:47:56 pm

I have a smoker that lost the little metal cylinder that is supposed to help keep that from happening. It started throwing flames like crazy. Check your smoker and see if it is missing.
I found a brass fitting in my collection of plumbing supplies that fit in the hole perfectly and totally stops it from throwing flames and hot ashes.
Just take your smoker to an old time hardware store and see if one of their brass fittings fit in the hole.
Jim

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 17, 2018, 03:49:58 pm

Any chance you will bee coming to BeeFest? If you have not found one by then, I can show it to you.
Jim

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: hydrocynus on December 18, 2018, 11:30:30 am

Do you have a picture of that brass fitting? I have been super busy this semester and that will continue for the next one. I can ask Keith Councell, maybe he can show me the part.

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 18, 2018, 12:35:59 pm

I will try to remember to take a picture of it this evening and post it.
Jim

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: alf1960 on December 19, 2018, 07:38:51 am

Stuff some green grass on top after lighting.

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 19, 2018, 09:06:19 am

Hydro,
Here are some pictures of the one I fixed.
By the way, there is a good chance that the inside metal bottom grate is also missing. Look in your Apiary where you dump your ashes and see if it fell out.







When you go to the hardware store, ask for a 1/2 inch male pipe to male garden hose adapter.
I?m pretty sure Ace hardware will carry it.
Jim

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: hydrocynus on December 19, 2018, 02:19:52 pm

Thanks for the extra effort! I see now what you meant. My smoker has it built in as the vent protrudes to the back. I will build a perforated canister mounted on a perforated pedestal that fit inside the body of the smoker. I will use steel pot scrubber on the bottom to prevent lit ashes from making it out. I do not drop much ashes within my apiary, just when I am laying on my back and smoke the comb to get the bees out of it (comb was underneath a mobile home). So it only really happens when the smoker is used in its near horizontal position.
Cheers,

Serge

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 19, 2018, 02:46:29 pm

Serge,
Glad it helped.
Jim

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: Dabbler on December 19, 2018, 04:18:57 pm

Serge

Michael Bush has a short write up and photo on his website that might give you some 'smoker insert ' construction ideas.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm

Regards

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: alf1960 on December 21, 2018, 07:06:24 pm

Quote from: alf1960 on December 19, 2018, 07:38:51 am

Stuff some green grass on top after lighting.

I obviously didn`t read this thread fully before I responded. Sorry

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: robirot on January 09, 2019, 10:04:46 am

My smokers have a round metall sheet with holes in the bottom like this:

|  |
|/|

So the bottom hole is free of fuel.

The sheet is maybe double thickness as a soda can and has holes in it, about 9/8 diameter.

But if you only need it in a couple situations, you can pack green grass und er the fuel.

Title: Re: Prevent hot fuel from exiting the smoker
Post by: b2bnz on May 22, 2019, 01:30:38 am

I have just replied to a smilar post with a solution to this problem. see 'Do smokers spit out embers that can cause fires'