Don't forget your smoker

[Marion]

This is our Fernwood Forest Campground golf cart with the dead smoker.

[CpnObvious]

I bet the flames make it go SUPER-FAST!!!  Like painting your oil pan Chevy-blue (or Chevy-orange for the newer stuff)...  You'd be amazed at how much horse-power a fresh coat of engine paint can add! Assuming those that have noticed this drive a Chevy!

[Marion]

 

[CpnObvious]

I totally got side-tracked reminiscing of years past when I worked on my trucks out of desire, not NEED!

I've used cardboard as a base before in my smoker.  Some people recommend against it because of the glues.  What are the more experienced folks thoughts about that?

Marion,

The bee inspector uses pine needles, as well.  Funny, though... He PAYS for them!!! $1/pound. 

I didn't look that closely, but they looked to be needles Red and/or White pines... what do you use?

[Woody Roberts]

No pine needles available where I am.
A piece of 100% cotton blue jeans about 8" square works great. I leave it on the ground until its burning good. Then when I put it in the smoker it will smolder until its gone.
I've used cardboard, wood chips, charcoal, baling twine and dry grass. Old denim jeans work best for me.

[Marion]

I use white pine needles. Could use newspaper instead of cardboard. I will have to try the blue jeans.

[pistolpete]

I've been using dried apple tree bark from a tree we felled a couple of years ago.  Smells nice, and smolders for a long time.  I use cardboard to get it going and then add the bark on top.

[Perry]

I put a handfull of pine needles in the bottom, turn on my torch, fry the begeebers out of them, and then stuff it full of pineneedles while pumping the bellows. I usually run out of smoke when I need it the most too. 

[riverbee]

"This is our Fernwood Forest Campground golf cart with the dead smoker."

too funny!!!.........

i use newspaper like material, like out of a phone book or the books your insurance company likes to send you with all the clinics or phamacy's you can go to in the united states....
i like the taller smokers.  like pete, wood chips/bark works great, i use the cedar chips (pet bedding) or harvest sage/sage brush plants and dry it out.  smells great, burns cool.  stuff 2 or 3 sheets of the newspaper in with the hive tool, light it with a torch. puff the bellows to get the flame up. put some chips in, puff the bellows until flame comes up through the chips, add more chips, repeat until you get a good rolling smoke. then just add more chips, or add as needed.   never goes out.

[CpnObvious]

Looks like the bellows might be unharmed?  I'd hang on to them... just in case.

Nice that yours had a cage around it... shouldn't be too hard to reform that to a round-ish shape.  I'd keep that too.

[brooksbeefarm]

The county cuts out over hanging limbs along county roads and run them through a chipper into a dump truck. When i see them i ask if they need a place near by to dump them and offer my place I never run out of wood chips or smoke like my buddy Squirt. Jack

[riverbee]

"I never run out of wood chips or smoke like my buddy Squirt. Jack"

we agree on something!!!! 

btw, in a pinch don't use the wood chips for smokers and grills, like jack daniels oak barrels, hickory or mesquite wood chips, etc......less you, your bees  and your hives want to smell like a barbeque.........

[apisbees]

The smoker doesn't look like it is in much worse shape than the golf cart. I would have hammered the smoker back into shape It doesn't look that bent out of shape. Mind you I have the tools and welders at my disposal if needed.

[Marion]

I am going to keep the smoker for parts. The bellows are still good. As for the golf cart, no matter what breaks we keep fixing it and it keeps on running.

[LazyBkpr]

Indeed! What Apis said!  A little time reforging that baby it will be functional again.

   I have used all manner of smoker material..  I actually BELIEVE that a smoker is designed to go out WHEN you need it the most.  If you do not need it you will forget about it until the following morning, and see that it is still lit and smoking perfectly...

   Cardboard..   I just tried not to use the stuff with a lot of printing on it..   Roll it up and tie it with a string.. then I can take along extra rolls...
   Pine needles..  NO pine trees around here of the type that shed needles..  I have 5 pine trees in the yard and there are NO needles under them..
    I usually stick with the chips/sawdust from a local sawmill...   At least I DID, until I ran out of good DRY chips.. I asked my wife to pick up some mulch while in town..
   BAD move...    She bought CYPRESS mulch...    GRRRRRR!!!!!!    Yes, it smoked when lit, but would NOT stay lit...    I fought it through about half a bag, cussing at the stuff on a moment to moment basis...  Apparently she felt sorry for me, or was embarrassed the neighbor 1/4 a mile away would hear me cussing so she bought some different stuff....       
    Like Mrs' River recommends...   CEDAR bedding....    The bag she got me says its for horse stalls but is finely shaved...     OMG!   All I need to do is light ONE little chip and toss it in the smoker..  a moment later I has a FAHRE!   I can now run between the outyards without fear of the smoker going out.. Repack regularly and it smokes FOREVER!  I have been yelled at multiple times my truck is on fire.

    Road Apples..   Yes, I have..   but...    no.