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A hive tool is an essential piece of equipment
<br /> • used to pry apart boxes, lift out frames and scrape Figure 17.Two
<br /> equipment (Figure 17). It is relatively inexpensive.A ___ types of standard
<br /> standard hive tool is recommended. cam, hive tools.
<br /> A smoker is another essential piece of equipment (Figure 18).A beekeeper should apply cool smoke to the
<br /> bees when opening and manipulating a colony. Smoke disorients bees and also causes them to eat stored
<br /> honey, resulting in fewer stings to the beekeeper. Smokers come in various sizes, may be made of tin or
<br /> stainless steel, and may have options such as a heat guard and hooks. You will need smoker fuel, paper and
<br /> matches to go with your smoker. Smoker fuel can be anything that will produce a "cool" non-toxic smoke that
<br /> will not blow flames at the bees: wood shavings, wood chips, clean animal bedding, pine cones, untreated
<br /> gunny sacks (burlap), dried cow or horse pies, etc. Place a piece of crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the
<br /> smoker and light it. Pump the bellows to keep a good flame going while slowly adding fuel. DO NOT use lighter
<br /> fluid, wax, or other such flammable material to light a smoker. They are dangerous and can be toxic to bees.
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<br /> Figure 18.A bee smoker(top left)and another bee smoker being lit using burlap and a lighter(top right).The burlap is lit, then loosely
<br /> placed in the smoker. Pushing it too far down will extinguish the flame. Once the fuel is well caught(bottom left), push it down and add
<br /> more burlap. Pump the bellow to keep the fire smoldering. Close the lid and continue to pump the smoker bellows. If there is no smoke
<br /> coming out of the smoker(unlike in bottom right), it is time to give it another try.
<br /> Beekeeping in Northern Climates 17
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