Butane Smoker

[Slowmodem]

I saw this in the Mann Lake Bargain Room.  I've never seen anything like this before.  Anybody know how something like this works?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butane-Universal-Bee-Smoker-Beekeeping-HD-538-/291308123914#ht_57wt_902

[LogicalBee]

That looks like something from Chemistry class    Ah...I still remember measuring the weights of reactants before a reaction and then measuring the weights of the products and then having to FUDGE all numbers together to get the results we were 'supposed' to get

Never saw any beeks using such a thing but it does give me an idea.     I'm not patient enough to get a smoker to properly smoke and I would LOVE to ditch those things for something faster.  I might do a little experimenting with my push button propane torch (used for sweating copper pipes) and see if I can make some quicker, more reliable smoke this season.  I seem to always run out of smoke at the most in-opportune times when messing with the bees. :'(

[Slowmodem]

There is a battery operated smoker, but I thought it was too expensive.

http://www.beezsmoker.com/index.html

[LogicalBee]

Yeah, I've heard about the battery powered smoker before.  Due to the limited energy storage of batteries, I'm skeptical it would be as responsive as I would like.  I want to see instant flame and smoke you know   

There's a lot more energy in a bottle of propane than a battery.  Propane goes for about $3 a bottle at the hardware stores.  I use a smaller self igniting propane torch head for sweating 1/2" and 3/4" stuff.  Goes for $15 at HD.  Just have to figure out how to best direct that flame on something to make smoke.



Sometimes I do end up making floor joists smoke a little... 

[LazyBkpr]

youd almost have to direct it at the side of the smoker to make the side glow. Spacer in the bottom so cant use the bottom...   I use one of those to LIGHT my smoker, takes a few seconds and I am off and running..   MORE interested in designing a OA Vaporizor to do 50 hives in a few minutes...     I figured an small induction coil around a small chamber with OA in it might work...  got to figure it out before its approved for use....   Induction coils around the inside of a smoker with a metal rod in the center?

[LogicalBee]

Induction coils?  Are we talking Star Trek or bees here?

How about a winding or NiCr wire and a few amps?  NiCr is the stuff that glows red hot inside your toaster.

I'm thinking propane torch + some wet grass would make smoke?

[LazyBkpr]

hehe, no, wires or copper tubing wrapped in a coil and alternating current pumped through the wire.. whatever metal object is in the center is heated.....

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Homemade+Induction+Coil&Form=VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=C650F5BA7F4B4869E035C650F5BA7F4B4869E035

   so imagine those coils in a smoker with a metal rod in the center and your fav smoker fuel packed around the rod...  OR a vaporizor with a chamber in the center of the coils you can drop OA into...

[LogicalBee]

OK, but then there is the problem of getting an AC power source out to your hives.   What’s the plan for that?

I like the idea, but it seems like there might be simpler ways to make a little heat.  What’s wrong with simple? 

[barry42001]

LOL  get a flow hive, then you don't need a smoker at all ( none ever depicted in video )

[LogicalBee]

   But what about LazyBs mites?

[LazyBkpr]

hehe, an inverter works fine and they arent very expensive..   just need someone to figure it all out and make me one!