Bee smokers 

A bee smoker is an essential part of a beekeeper's kit. Although you can also work with a spray bottle of water, a smoker is often necessary. A spray bottle only works with fairly calm bees, whereas a smoker calms bees. This lets you work freely. The smoke from the smoker makes bees gorge on honey, making them less likely to sting. Bees gorge because they think there is a fire and need to take stores with them if they have to flee.

Showing 1 - 19 of 19 items
Showing 1 - 19 of 19 items

Choosing the right smoker for beginner beekeepers

As a beginner beekeeper, a smoker is indispensable. But which bee smoker should you choose? In principle, you can use any smoker. One is a bit larger, such as the large deluxe smoker and another a bit smaller, such as the mini smoker. Almost all smokers in our range are stainless steel. Because they are made of stainless steel, they last a long time. The size of the smoker determines how much fuel you can use and how long the smoke lasts. You can use different types of fuel, such as smoke pellets with a firelighter, bee tobacco or herbal tobacco. As the beekeeper, it’s up to you to decide what works best for you.

 

Smokers and Dathé pipes

Besides smokers, there are also smoke pipes, also called Dathé pipe, which are handy for experienced beekeepers. You can attach this Dathé pipe to your beekeeping veil, keeping your hands free while working the bees. The downside is that the pipe hangs from your veil, which makes you a little less mobile. Dathé pipes are available in various sizes and designs, depending on your preference.

 

Lighting a smoker

The simplest way is to use firelighters. Another method is to light the smoker using newspaper. Make a wad of newspaper and light it to get a good flame going. Then add a handful of bee tobacco, which will smolder. Close the smoker with the lid and you can use it at the hive. The most important thing is that the smoke is cool, so the bees don’t get burned. They should only perceive it as a signal that there’s a fire and that they need to protect/gorge on the honey.

 

The importance of a smoker 

As a beekeeper, you almost always need a smoker. It’s best to start with a small stainless steel smoker and later switch to a larger model or a Dathé pipe, depending on your needs. At Imkershop you’ll also find all the necessary spare parts, so you can easily replace parts whenever needed.

 

Real luxury!

There are also electric smokers nowadays. These provide an airflow or generate vapor from a liquid, similar to an electronic cigarette (such as the Apisolis smoker). We also stock these smokers.


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