How to Easily Make a Bee Smoker

A homemade smoker can be just as effective at calming bees as a commercial one.

Beekeeping is a hobby for some people, a career for others. Whether it's for fun or for profit from selling honey, beekeepers all need the proper equipment. One such needed piece is a smoker, which is used to sooth the insects long enough for the keeper to retrieve combs from the hive without being stung. Commercial smokers are available, but savvy do-it-yourselfers can make a homemade smoker from simple materials.

Things You'll Need

• Large metal coffee can
• Electric drill with metalworking bit
• Smaller metal coffee can
• Soldering iron with solder
• Metal clips
• Bellows
• Funnel
• Dry wood chips

Instructions

1. Insert a metalworking bit into an electric drill. The diameter of the bit you choose should be large enough to accommodate the bellows you choose. Drill a hole that's about an inch from the bottom of a large metal coffee can. Set the can aside and drill holes through the bottom of a smaller coffee can. The number of holes should be commensurate with the size of the can, as you'll need about 1/8 inch of space between each hole to provide ample ventilating and cooling points for the smoker.

2. Place the smaller can inside the larger can and match up their edges so they're even all around. Use three or four metal clips to hold the two edges together. Heat a soldering iron; when ready, apply generous amounts of solder all around the edging to attach the two cans together, soldering between the clips. Once the solder cools -- depending on how much you used this may take about an hour -- remove the clips.

3. Flip a funnel upside down so the nozzle is pointing up and slide the funnel over the top of the open cans. Insert the nozzle of a bellows into the original hole you drilled in the side of the larger can to create a handle. Place a small amount of fuel such as dried wood chips in the bottom of the smoker and light it when you're ready to smoke the bees and collect the honey.

Tips & Warnings

• Always don all beekeeping safety gear when collecting honey, even when using the appropriate volume of smoke.

References

• "Beekeeping: A Practical Guide"; Richard Bonney; 1993