Good "shoulder" pellet available in Maine?

One of the most reasonable pellets in my neck of the woods is MWP at $214/ton. I have burned from many batches and they seem to be above average for the money spent. The results have been in the super premium range for a pellet that is price like a low grade pellet. The heat and ash rival some of the brands fetching much more than that.

The definition of a shoulder pellet is what you can score real cheap, But still burn decent enough not to cause you burning fits. This all depends on your stoves ability on handling higher ash fuels. So knowing what stove your burning these in helps the others with recommendations! What stove do you have? Might want to put the stove model in your sig so we don't have to ask for this info.

Hey j-takeman wadya mean shoulder pellet mine worked fine all the way down to -11 and the stove was set at mid point on a t-stat running high/low using a stove of questionable origin of pieces/parts.

SmokeyTheBear said:

Hey j-takeman wadya mean shoulder pellet mine worked fine all the way down to -11 and the stove was set at mid point on a t-stat running high/low using a stove of questionable origin of pieces/parts.

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Only cause they are cheap to get. Low price usually means shoulder pellet? No??? ;-)

I could go to the single digits and still be fine. I got as much heat out of MWP as pellets that was going for $60 more a ton. If Steve could squeeze just a little more and I would need to buy cold season stuff. ;-)

j-takeman said:

SmokeyTheBear said:

Hey j-takeman wadya mean shoulder pellet mine worked fine all the way down to -11 and the stove was set at mid point on a t-stat running high/low using a stove of questionable origin of pieces/parts.

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Only cause they are cheap to get. Low price usually means shoulder pellet? No??? ;-)

I could go to the single digits and still be fine. I got as much heat out of MWP as pellets that was going for $60 more a ton. If Steve could squeeze just a little more and I would need to buy cold season stuff. ;-)

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If Scott would put the squeeze on a little more it might help some.

I'm burning MWP's in my Harman right now and I ordered another ton from SIB for March 3rd. At $219 delivered, the price is right. It's the same as the big box stores price picked up!

SmokeyTheBear said:

j-takeman said:

SmokeyTheBear said:

Hey j-takeman wadya mean shoulder pellet mine worked fine all the way down to -11 and the stove was set at mid point on a t-stat running high/low using a stove of questionable origin of pieces/parts.

Click to expand...

Only cause they are cheap to get. Low price usually means shoulder pellet? No??? ;-)

I could go to the single digits and still be fine. I got as much heat out of MWP as pellets that was going for $60 more a ton. If Steve could squeeze just a little more and I would need to buy cold season stuff. ;-)

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If Scott would put the squeeze on a little more it might help some.

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You are correct, He is Scott L. I have a bad case of CRS today along with spring fever. We went to the Cabela's store and bought a gamit of goodiers! So the minds on the fishin stuff this morning! And how I am gonna pay for all the stuff the kid and I loaded into the wagon!

nice to hear folks with good things to say about these pellets.
they are all i've burned this year.

i'm with j-takeman on the "just a little bit more" aspect.

i'm thinking one ton of something super hot next season. and then these for the rest of my stash.
and i would venture to say i could be very stingy with that one ton and save some for the next season.

i have not been cold or unable to keep up even on the coldest nights. (-11 to -16 so far)
but i never run the stove on high once i go to bed.
i have the feed gate closed all the way. but it would be nice to be able to run a little hotter on low or medium when i'm asleep.

I just re-arranged the shed to make room for next years stash. I am leaning towards MWP as I have found someone local who brings a truckload at time back. He burns some and sells the rest. The ones he has now have the State of Maine picture on them. Are they the current production? I grabbed a half dozen bags from him and was impressed with them. The heat output was a bit less than the stove chow and NEWP I am burning this year, but not enough to concern me. His current price is a bit more than I would like to pay.($240) He said he would do another trip later and the price will be less. (@$200) I like the fact that I could burn 3-4 bags straight without any crap build-up in the burnpot.

subsailor said:

I'm burning MWP's in my Harman right now and I ordered another ton from SIB for March 3rd. At $219 delivered, the price is right. It's the same as the big box stores price picked up!

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Saw MWP at WalMart Waterville $197. Seems they are selling them as fast as they get them in.

I still prefer SIB. Right in my garage right where I want them. C.O.D. How can you beat that?

And why would you want a less quality pellet when you can have these without putting out more $$$

Burn mostly MWP this season. I find them to be a good pellet. have gone down to -10* and stove keeps the house a toasty 72* without running flat out. Had them delivered for $219/ton from SIB last fall. Plan to stock up on them for next season. I did see them at Walmart in Farmington for $210 this past weekend. They had all kinds of them. Let me see, $219 delivered or $210 pick up. No brainer. Will cost me the difference in gas to go pick them up.

St_Earl said:

nice to hear folks with good things to say about these pellets.
they are all i've burned this year.

i'm with j-takeman on the "just a little bit more" aspect.

i'm thinking one ton of something super hot next season. and then these for the rest of my stash.
and i would venture to say i could be very stingy with that one ton and save some for the next season.

i have not been cold or unable to keep up even on the coldest nights. (-11 to -16 so far)
but i never run the stove on high once i go to bed.
i have the feed gate closed all the way. but it would be nice to be able to run a little hotter on low or medium when i'm asleep.

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MWP's is all my dad and i both have burned since day one with the bad pellets...they've come a long way since the beginning. as long as i can continue to get them direct from the mill, thats what i intend to burn.

Geneva? they are from Strong, ME right?

mpcm said:

Geneva? they are from Strong, ME right?

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Yes, Sister pellet to the Maine Choice. Both made at the same mill. Geneva is the super premium and Maine Choice is the premium. Geneva also fetches more at the pellet dealers.

http://www.genevapellets.com/content/geneva-wood-fuels-about-us

Would anyone say that Geneva is better than NEWP?

I just finished my second and last bag of Geneva pellets I also cleaned my stove. Ash was light in color and weight. I'm still hunting for a shoulder pellet. I have 13 bags left of NEWPs and I don't want use the hotter pellets during the shoulder season. I haven't needed to use the hotter pellets since the weather has been great. I'd like to save them for next season.

NEWP was $257/ton, heat okay, ash okay (heavier), lots of popping noises from the stove, longer pellets

Geneva is $225/ton, heat okay (seemed hotter than NEWP), ash okay (light), no popping noises, less black crusty stuff in the pot, ALOT OF DUST WHEN DUMPING IN THE HOPPER

why not be nice to yourself and your stove
burn good pellets all the time
after all if a shoulder pellets does not burn as hot
won't you just burn more pellets to make the same heat??
burn good pellets and burn less
probably costs the same in the long run

ironpony said:

why not be nice to yourself and your stove
burn good pellets all the time
after all if a shoulder pellets does not burn as hot
won't you just burn more pellets to make the same heat??
burn good pellets and burn less
probably costs the same in the long run

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If you look at it that way,.... You're absolutely right! Thank you.