Biobricks, the economics of them?
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Mainely Saws
Feeling the Heat
For me , if you can find the ECO bricks on sale at the Tractor Supply store at $2.99 per bundle that's a good way to go .
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
HotCoals said:
Same price and experiance for us (except after we cut to about 1/4 open on the damper, they WENT OUT-as in, stove temps dropping and no secondaries or even glowing bricks-after about 1/2 an hour. Had to reload with wood and some ecobricks to restart, and leave 1/2 open). I'd never buy them again. In fact, I'd only burn them if they were given to me and I didn't have anything else, including semi seasoned wood. They seemed like absolute junk to me.
Maybe they sell two different types? But I can say those little bricks in the 12 pack countrymax sells were an epic fail in our stove. PLUS, I could smell the pine when we opened the package. I LOVE the smell of pine...but not in a pack of compressed brick fuel that costs $7 for 23 lb. I'll stick to ecobricks.
spirilis
Minister of Fire
Was this "WoodBrickFuel" or something different? Just curious since I use that but primarily as starter/stove warmer/kindling/short fires (and it works well for that IMO)...eclecticcottage said:
nola mike
Minister of Fire
I'm still looking for an ECO Brick alternative in VA--I liked them a lot, but would like a (cheaper) alternative. I'd bite at $3/package, but I'm guessing they won't go on sale until after the season.
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
spirilis said:
Ours was, found it via the locator on the same site you've got in your sig.
It was no where near as compressed as Ecobricks. We use scotch pine for kindling, so I don't need the bricks for it. Actually, if we don't go from start up/kindling to wood to bricks and instead go straight to burning the bricks, we can skip the kindling altogether and just use a few starter sticks of pine. We did find the ecobricks burn nicer if we get them on a nice coal bed, but they don't need them.
Treacherous
Minister of Fire
NW Fuels said:
Thomas,
It was a pleasure finally meeting you in person yesterday. Thanks again for the samples and I will report back after the weekend.
Regards,
Treacherous
HotCoals
Minister of Fire
[/quote]
Was this "WoodBrickFuel" or something different? Just curious since I use that but primarily as starter/stove warmer/kindling/short fires (and it works well for that IMO)...[/quote]
Yes.
Was this "WoodBrickFuel" or something different? Just curious since I use that but primarily as starter/stove warmer/kindling/short fires (and it works well for that IMO)...[/quote]
Yes.
Treacherous
Minister of Fire
NW Fuels said:
Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you.
I'm definitely going to pick up a pallet of these from you in the spring. 3 feet of snow on the ground at cabin so too hard to get that in until spring.
They increase my overnight burns dramatically. I burn primarily Douglas Fir so having something that emulates a hard wood is very appealing. Last night I had nearly an 11-12 hour burn with lots of hot coals and a 300 degree stove top when I reloaded this morning.
I am so sold
They hold together really well too.http://www.northidahoenergylogs.com/
EDIT: This was a long burn with one Idaho Energy Log and the rest Douglas Fir.
They are the original and still one of the best. We are very lucky to have two of the best options available here.
Huntindog1
Minister of Fire
HotCoals said:
If we could figure out how to use wood pellets they are 3.99 for a 40 lb bag.
Some one makes stainless steel tubes to fill with pellets to make like a pellet log.
An initial investment but if pellets per pound are cheaper then it would pay off.
I would like to have 2 of them and uses one as an addition to my wood splits then have one ready for reload.
Mainely Saws
Feeling the Heat
Wood pellets at $3.99 per 40# = 10 cents per pound , Eco bricks on sale at Tractor supply at $2.99 per 24# = 12.4 cents per pound .
Black Jaque Janaviac
Feeling the Heat
Would the economics of bio-bricks change if you made your own?
Check out this thread - https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/89617/
Evidently making wood bricks is not as complicated as it may seem. At first I was thinking I might need to make a modification to a hydraulic splitter. However these wooden lever presses look like they're darn quick. Now I would imagine once dry these things could not be stacked in the sun and rain so would require a dedicated shed or garage corner.
Check out this thread - https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/89617/
Evidently making wood bricks is not as complicated as it may seem. At first I was thinking I might need to make a modification to a hydraulic splitter. However these wooden lever presses look like they're darn quick. Now I would imagine once dry these things could not be stacked in the sun and rain so would require a dedicated shed or garage corner.
I think you would have to spend most of your time pressing enough of those little soft cakes to burn 24/7. I searched around for reports on a season of burning these homemade bricks and didn't come up with anything. It makes me a bit skeptical about their practicality with regard to burn times and total heat.
I did the math for my situation, and even through I like the way they performed in my stove, they make no sense as a sole form of fuel. I could heat cheaper on the gas.
Huntindog1 said:
Energex used to make a basket so you could burn pellets in a wood stove (actually, a pellet stove IS a wood stove, but....) It was called the Prometheus and it didn't work very well. They stopped making it about ten years ago, but you can still find knockoffs on Feebay. I had one in a non-EPA stove and while it was kind of convenient for the shoulder seasons, but definately not something I'd use in the dead of winter.
Huntindog1
Minister of Fire
SmokeyCity
Feeling the Heat
GAMMA RAY said:
The ECO-BRICKS (as from TSC) are the best version of the compressed sawdust product. They seem to be consistent in their quality control etc.
Love 'em as a supplement to a stove full of hardwood to get the box hot quickly and get into the clean burn zone ASAP.
So we all agree that these would be a hit if they only produced the one kind that Tractor Supply sells, only charged $1.99 per pack and actually had enough in stock so that we could all buy them.
If they get too popular, the government might outlaw firewood and put a $.50 cent tax on each package.
If they get too popular, the government might outlaw firewood and put a $.50 cent tax on each package.
HotCoals
Minister of Fire
SmokeyCity
Feeling the Heat
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
If this thread doesn't get back on track the local constabulary is going to ash can it.
(Grumbling mod with no Tractor Supply stores in WA or OR states >:-( )
(Grumbling mod with no Tractor Supply stores in WA or OR states >:-( )
BeGreen said:
Hey, somewhat back on topic, here in Portland OR I've tried out both the Bear Bricks and the N. Idaho logs. The N Idaho product is MUCH more dense and therefore lasts much longer. I haven't figured out the relative cost per btu, though; the Bear Bricks are about 50 cents a brick while the logs are $1.20 per log.
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