Time to stir the pot again. Speaking of multi-fuel stove why and what are you burning?

[kinsmanstoves]

I am in N/E Ohio (farm country) I will not burn corn right now cause it is double the cost of wood pellets. Three years ago we were flip flopped. What is anyone burning that is not wood pellets and tell me why? I am selling truckloads of wood pellets to one of the largest corn farmers in this area cause their entire family has multi fuel boilers and stoves but they are burning pellets.

Is the extra money that you are spending on these so called "Muti-Fuel" stoves worth it. Oh by the way remember your venting has to be approved for that fuel, not just "Bio-fuel rated".

Eric

 

[Indiana]

In farm country myself. Corn is abundant but the cost is high. I am using a multi-fuel just in case the pellet sypply in my area falls short at the end of the season I can use corn. Remember 3 years ago when corn was low. It could happen at any time again.

 

[smoke show]

Corn is expensive, dirtier, harder to handle, more work and so on and so on.

It would have to be substanially less $$$ to bother with making a system to move it, store it, and clean it.

I rent out acreage that is usually planted with field corn and it still is cheaper using pellets.

Heres a few pics looking out my back door.

 

[mithesaint]

In farm country myself. Corn is abundant but the cost is high. I am using a multi-fuel just in case the pellet sypply in my area falls short at the end of the season I can use corn. Remember 3 years ago when corn was low. It could happen at any time again.

Same as above. Worst case scenerio, my back yard is big enough to grow corn, and my Dad is a farmer so we have all the equipment necessary. If only dear ol' Dad was a pellet manufacturer

 

[Bank]

While I have a multi-use stove, corn is not abundant in NE and is expensive from what I hear. All though, having the option is nice should the price come down.

 

[jmcp]

I would not store 3 or 4 tons of corn because of rats would only buy pellets.

 

[dw06]

Wile my stove is not a multi-fuel stove, I can burn a mixture of corn with pellets. Had the venting done so I could, but never have do to the cost of corn. Now if price drops, may try it at some point.

 

[imacman]

While I have a multi-use stove, corn is not abundant in NE and is expensive from what I hear. All though, having the option is nice should the price come down.

The Accentra is rated by Harman for only 50/50 corn/wood pellet burning....you cannot burn 100% corn. The stove is not a true multi-fueler unless it can burn other fuels without mixing wood pellets with them.

 

[imacman]

....What is anyone burning that is not wood pellets and tell me why?......

Eric, as you may remember, Jay T, myself, and Schoondog burned 100% grass pellets a couple winters ago. The price was slightly below wood pellet price, and I'd imagine it would be the same today. Only reason I'm not burning grass pellets now is that the cleaning mess it makes....normal cleaning cycles goes from weekly, to about every 2-3 days.

 

[ironpony]

Harman invincible rs, Lancaster, Ohio surrounded by corn as far as I can see
burn Somersets, buy them by the semi load off season, still have about 12 ton backlog
why bother with anything else??

 

[Bank]

While I have a multi-use stove, corn is not abundant in NE and is expensive from what I hear. All though, having the option is nice should the price come down.

The Accentra is rated by Harman for only 50/50 corn/wood pellet burning....you cannot burn 100% corn. The stove is not a true multi-fueler unless it can burn other fuels without mixing wood pellets with them.

You are correct sir! I should have mentioned the 50/50 mix.

 

[jtakeman]

Eric, Your living on a cloud! You need to go over to the box store and get some Inferno's, Nations Choice and ACP! Then burn some in one of those pellet only stoves. Say about 6-10 bags and tell us what you think after that. What if in your area that was the only fuel to be had?

I may not always need it, But boy it great knowing I can rest easy if I happen on a cruddy batch of fuel or score a cheap brand for the shoulders. I know my stove will not choke on what I want to put in the hopper. I'd rather be the picky one and not my stove having to only burn the priciest of brands when its crunch time! Plus, I know in a pellet shortage(if anyone here remembers one) that I can find something to burn and will not need to turn up my electric heat, Or struggle with my wood eater.

You can stir the pot all you want! IMHO anyone getting a new stove should seriously think about a multifueler(or at least get their head examined). Spend a little more now and suffer less later! Way too many pluses over one of those picky little pretty stoves that choke on all but the better pellet brands. My stove will burn dirt in a bag for a solid week without touching it. Not just the best stuff that will have a high price tag in a pellet drought! Been there, Done that :red:

Pellets are cheap(well were cheap), Wait until the price rockets out of site. Multifuels will make an impact. ;-) Like pete said, I can always burn some grass pellets if I need to. Betting there will be even more joining the camp.

 

[ghandy131]

Eric, Your living on a cloud! You need to go over to the box store and get some Inferno's, Nations Choice and ACP! Then burn some in one of those pellet only stoves. Say about 6-10 bags and tell us what you think after that. What if in your area that was the only fuel to be had?

I may not always need it, But boy it great knowing I can rest easy if I happen on a cruddy batch of fuel or score a cheap brand for the shoulders. I know my stove will not choke on what I want to put in the hopper. I'd rather be the picky one and not my stove having to only burn the priciest of brands when its crunch time! Plus, I know in a pellet shortage(if anyone here remembers one) that I can find something to burn and will not need to turn up my electric heat, Or struggle with my wood eater.

You can stir the pot all you want! IMHO anyone getting a new stove should seriously think about a multifueler(or at least get their head examined). Spend a little more now and suffer less later! Way too many pluses over one of those picky little pretty stoves that choke on all but the better pellet brands. My stove will burn dirt in a bag for a solid week without touching it. Not just the best stuff that will have a high price tag in a pellet drought! Been there, Done that :red:

Pellets are cheap(well were cheap), Wait until the price rockets out of site. Multifuels will make an impact. ;-) Like pete said, I can always burn some grass pellets if I need to. Betting there will be even more joining the camp.

Well said guru. That is exactly why I bought my 10-CPM for my first ever stove. I love this forum.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Coming to you from my CLOUD.

I am sorry but I will not buy pellets from a big box store just like they will not buy drywall or 2x4s from me. I have my limits, lol.

Eric

 

[ironpony]

I was thinking about making my own pellets by;

cutting, splitting and stacking firewood
let age 2 years
rip into 1/8 thick slabs
then rip into 1/8 squares
then use the chop saw to cut to length
then burn
what do you all think?????

 

[mepellet]

I was thinking about making my own pellets by;

cutting, splitting and stacking firewood
let age 2 years
rip into 1/8 thick slabs
then rip into 1/8 squares
then use the chop saw to cut to length
then burn
what do you all think?????

spoken like a true PIG!

 

[76brian]

I was thinking about making my own pellets by;

cutting, splitting and stacking firewood
let age 2 years
rip into 1/8 thick slabs
then rip into 1/8 squares
then use the chop saw to cut to length
then burn
what do you all think?????

Let us know when you get 22 tons of THAT.

 

[jtakeman]

Coming to you from my CLOUD.

I am sorry but I will not buy pellets from a big box store just like they will not buy drywall or 2x4s from me. I have my limits, lol.

Eric

Then you are not really giving you stoves a true test to the real world of pellets. But I understand. Maybe get some samples delivered from some of the other mills. Inferno's should have plenty on hand to ship to you. ;-)

I think some of the super markets are selling Inferno's as well!

 

[Eatonpcat]

I was thinking about making my own pellets by;

cutting, splitting and stacking firewood
let age 2 years
rip into 1/8 thick slabs
then rip into 1/8 squares
then use the chop saw to cut to length
then burn
what do you all think?????

Makes $300.00 a ton sound like a deal!

 

[PJPellet]

I don't have a multi-fuel stove, but if I did there seems to be a lot of cherry pits for sale around me and also some kind of cocao looking nut shell thing. There price is competitive with pellets so I would def. try them both out.

 

[BigEd]

I am using a multi-fuel just in case the pellet sypply in my area falls short at the end of the season I can use corn. Remember 3 years ago when corn was low. It could happen at any time again.

I run a mix of Corn and Pellets in my Pinnacle. I picked up a ton of Wood fibers at HD. When I burn straight pellets I run the stove at 4 to keep the heat up and have a lot of ash.
When I burn straight corn I run my stove at 1.5 maybe 2 and the heat is wicked, and there is almost zero ash.

Premium pellets in my area are $5.99 (Okies, Barefoots etc..) for a 40lbs bag, or .15 cents a pound.
Whole local corn is $6.49 a bag for a 50lbs bag, or .13 cents a pound.
The Wood fibers I bought at HD were only $3.94 for a 40lbs bag, or .10 cents a pound.

My biggest issue is storing corn. I don't have enough space rite now, and there are lots of field mice. I currently store my corn/pellet mix in a metal trash can, x2 bags corn + x2 bags pellets. Not at all concerned about a shortage of corn, I know too many sources to get it from.

I have only read about the days $1-$2 dollar 50 bags of corn, or .02/.04 cents a pound.

 

[thedude110]

I think some of the super markets are selling Inferno's as well!

$197 a ton at the Big Y in Manchester.

Makes you wonder if you're also buying the "Infernos of meat" when you buy some ground beef, you know?

 

[Millsk]

I bought a multi fuel because I like the thought of having a back up plan. Now there aren't many options in NE for alternative fuel supplies but I'm going to wager that may change in the future.

Where in CT are you folks finding grass pellets? I think of my stove every time I mow my lawn.

 

[Czech]

Although not sold as a true multi-fuel, I'll burn anything in the quad. Typically I supplement a primary fuel supply with whatever I can scrounge up, keeps me out of the bars I guess. Right now I've been adding soy beans to my pellet mix, local farmer spilled a bunch in the field and it has been dry so a bucket here and there goes into the pellets. I even burn wood scraps from the work bench, handful here and there just to clean up. I run corn vent, 7 years old now, ran camera through it this year and it looks great. I'd say there's at least 30 tons of fuel through the stove, half of which has not been pellets (mostly corn back in the day).

 

[Woodstock]

Although not sold as a true multi-fuel, I'll burn anything in the quad. Typically I supplement a primary fuel supply with whatever I can scrounge up, keeps me out of the bars I guess. Right now I've been adding soy beans to my pellet mix, local farmer spilled a bunch in the field and it has been dry so a bucket here and there goes into the pellets. I even burn wood scraps from the work bench, handful here and there just to clean up. I run corn vent, 7 years old now, ran camera through it this year and it looks great. I'd say there's at least 30 tons of fuel through the stove, half of which has not been pellets (mostly corn back in the day).

Just bought a used AES Baby Countryside and having a hard time getting this to crank out enough heat. Uses corn or pellets and since the cost of pellets is cheaper, I decided to go with those. Right now, the best setting for me is with the heat level maxed at #5 and the auger trim speed at #4. The TMC pins used are 1&2. This gets the stove going, but after 8 hours, it's time to stir the pot otherwise the auger feed will start to backup. This causes problems when trying to run overnight? Level #3 just doesn't generate enough heat. Stove checked out good, new exhaust motor and fans and direct vented air and exhaust. Any thoughts?