Protective Gear & Tools
Smoker
Cool white smoke masks alarm pheromone and calms a colony.
Smoke works by interrupting the colony's alarm signalling. Bees communicate threat with isopentyl acetate, and smoke masks that pheromone while also prompting bees to gorge on honey — which makes them less inclined to defend. The result is a colony that lets you work rather than one that mobilises.
The critical word is cool. Hot smoke, or smoke from a flame, singes wings and damages the colony. You want dense, white, cool smoke from a slow smouldering fuel: pine needles, burlap, dried grass, wood shavings, or compressed cotton. Bellows control the amount; judgement controls the rest.
At a glance
Safety
A smoker is a fire in a metal can that you will set down in dry grass. Never leave it unattended, never set it on flammable ground, and make sure it is fully extinguished before you put it in a vehicle. Keep a heat shield fitted and treat the body as hot for an hour after use.
Using it well
- Light it five minutes before you open the hive. You want a coal bed, not a flame.
- Two or three puffs at the entrance, then wait. More smoke is not better; too much drives the queen up and disrupts the colony.
- Stand upwind so smoke drifts across the frames rather than into your veil.
- Plug the spout with a cork or a wad of grass to smother it when you finish.
Compatibility
Hive types
- Langstroth
- Top-bar
- Flow
Bees
All — but use sparingly with gentle strains
Educational reference only. Hive & Honey sells no equipment and takes no sponsorship. Specifications here describe typical products in this category; check the actual figures for the item you own or intend to buy. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and your local regulations.