Pellet Testing in my Harman

I haven't done this in years, but I find myself picking up 3-5 bags of various pellets that I haven't tried and burning them in my Harman P61A. As most of you know a Harman will burn anything and when it's a crappy pellet, the ESP and CB compensate for that. I don't have the patience that Mr. Takeman does and quite frankly, I like leaving the testing to him. So for me its a simplified process of how much ash, clinkers, and dirty glass do I get. My benchmark for how "clean" it burns is the amount and color of the fly ash on my firebricks above the burnpot.

So far this season, I have burned Stove Chow, Fireside Ultras, NEWP, Green Supreme, and Greene Team. I have just started on some North Americans and have some Vermonts waiting in the queue.
For the money spent, I have to say that last years run of SC has been really good. I still have 2 tons of it in the basement. Some ash, no clinkers, and very light fly ash on the bricks. The FU was hotter but more ash and a few clinkers, light fly ash. NEWP and the GS are, as we all know, the same pellet. Both absolutely blacken the firebrick after just one or two bags. Very disappointing for me because I purchased nothing but NEWP at my local stove shop for over a decade. The "bad" year of 2010-2011 turned me off but I felt the need to try again after reading some of the feedback here. I've still got a ton of NEWP so I'll have to run them through. The GTs are a consistent performer and I've saved them for the colder weather but as has been said in other threads, the shoulder season is still going strong here in Southern New England! I'm looking forward to trying the Vermonts as I've never burned a complete softwood yet. I will report my findings......

j-takeman said:

In real life I have little to know patience at all. But home is different and I work for a different cause. Keeping the family as warm as I can for as little as I can! And still learning as I go!

I believe in knowing whats out there and available in your area. You'll just never know if that is the deal of the day or all you can find. Ever suffer thru a pellet shortage?

I have heard many complaints from the NEWP burners. The hiccup has ticked many off. But I'm pretty sure NEWP has seen the smoke signals and has tried to amend the wrongs. If you notice the forums have been pretty quite as far as NEWP goes. Silence is good, But still waiting to hear some praise if you know what I mean. ;-)

Now if we could only get a Harman owner to do some temp checks! :cheese: ~~Running for cover again!~~

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I have a current run (2011) of NEWP. They suck...sorry. This is coming from, as stated above, a guy who used them exclusively for a very long time. The Curran Blend was OK and the North American was OK too but HOLY CRAP, these Vermonts are really something. I've only burned one bag and there is absolutely ZERO ash in the burn pot. I haven't had to scrape it at all since putting the bag in last night. Very impressive to say the least.

Harman Lover 007 said:

j-takeman said:

In real life I have little to know patience at all. But home is different and I work for a different cause. Keeping the family as warm as I can for as little as I can! And still learning as I go!

I believe in knowing whats out there and available in your area. You'll just never know if that is the deal of the day or all you can find. Ever suffer thru a pellet shortage?

I have heard many complaints from the NEWP burners. The hiccup has ticked many off. But I'm pretty sure NEWP has seen the smoke signals and has tried to amend the wrongs. If you notice the forums have been pretty quite as far as NEWP goes. Silence is good, But still waiting to hear some praise if you know what I mean. ;-)

Now if we could only get a Harman owner to do some temp checks! :cheese: ~~Running for cover again!~~

Click to expand...

I have a current run (2011) of NEWP. They suck...sorry. This is coming from, as stated above, a guy who used them exclusively for a very long time. The Curran Blend was OK and the North American was OK too but HOLY CRAP, these Vermonts are really something. I've only burned one bag and there is absolutely ZERO ash in the burn pot. I haven't had to scrape it at all since putting the bag in last night. Very impressive to say the least.

Click to expand...

UPDATE: Two bags through and only 2 TABLESPOONS of ash in the burnpot. Amazing. Of the 10 different pellets I've burned in 15 years, these are by far and away the best (so far)

catmas said:

Where do you get the Vermonts from?? Is that the name of the pellet? i'm stuck right now with fireside ultra - hate them

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I get them at my stove shop which is Home and Hearth in Hampton Falls NH. If you go to www.vermontwoodpellet.com and put in your zip code they will give you a retailer near you. Be ready to part with some $$ but its worth it.