What's the best smoker fuel?

[LtlWilli]

What is the best smoker fuel for a really good price?...Do they vary that much in effectiveness?...An oldtimer I helped work hives with 45 years ago just busted well-dried cowpatties up into chunks---anybody still doing that? Any friendly input would be appreciated.

[Ben Brewcat]

Once it's going with kindling, I use woodstove pellets. CHEAP, a bag lasts forever, and a couple handsful will give a long burn.

You'll get a lot of answers on this, all of them correct .

[iddee]

Pine needles, burlap, and the old style hemp bailing twine. All free, and all good.

[redhawknc1]

I'm still working on an old bag of cedar shavings (dog bedding). Very pleased with it! Will buy more if I ever finish the bag I have!

[jasontatro]

Wood stove pellets here as well. $5.00 for a 40# bag. A coulpe of handfuls in the smoker, start it with the propane torch....lasts for hours.

JT

[Flyman]

I use well dried cow patties. My neighbor has lots of cows, therefore a free source. Also use "horse Apples" (not Bois D' Arc). The winter kind are the best when the horses have been on hay. Summer grass horse apples are a little to moist for me.

Tom

[BigDaddyDS]

What is the best smoker fuel for a really good price?

How's about a wad of paper (like a ripped up fast food bag from the floor of the truck), a handful of dried sticks, some larger sticks (hard wood) broken up and then a sumac bob (one of those red berry clusters)?

Net price = FREE, which is ALMOST the best price, isn't it?

DS

[TheCheatOSX]

The guy I bought my nucs from also recommends sumac bobs. I seen them in action and they seem to work very well! I'll grab some this winter. I currently use pellet stove fuel but don't fire the smoker up very often.

[Luke]

I cut cardboard boxes in to 5 inch wide strips and roll it up until it fits snugly in to the smoker. I bought some of those wood pellets a while back but always have trouble getting them lit so I went back to the cardboard.

[Swobee]

Luke- if you need a real long burn, put some pellets on top of the cardboard. I roll cardboard up, rub it in some slum gum and it lights very easily. A roll of cardboard is good for a few hives, but when you need a good long supply of smoke - pellets are hard to beat.