End of an era

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dfolker4

dfolker4

Member
Dec 30, 2011
25
northern Michigan
When I got my pellet stove in January the dealer threw in some Somerset pellets which of course burned great. I had been lurking here on the forums for awhile soaking up as much as I could so I was excited to be getting a top notch pellet. Then I found that the local Lowe's was selling them for 3.85 a bag so I bought them and hauled them home ten at a time. When they ran out the guy at Lowe's said don't worry more coming in soon and they should be the same but they're all the same anyway. The ones that did come in were Wood Fiber Inc which are somewhere between a shoulder pellet and kitty litter. All the other dealers had nothing but mediocre pellets at best. I was close to going with Indecks because I hadn't actually tried them myself when I saw a news broadcast about protests at a wood pellet mill in Boyne City. I live close so I researched and saw Jay T. paid them a complement so I went to the plant ( Kirtland Products ) and bought ten bags to try. Had to go inside and pick them off the pallet about twenty feet from the end of the line, talk about fresh. After two bags I have to say I am very happy. I keep a magnetic stack thermometer on the front of the plenum between the slots for the convection air, no heat tubes on my Heatilator PS 50 and I was reading 455-460 on high which was actually about 5 degrees more than with my beloved Somersets. Ash seems a little fluffier. We might never get Somersets way up here again but we do seem to have a very good pellet being made right here locally.
 
when I saw a news broadcast about protests at a wood pellet mill in Boyne City. I live close so I researched and saw Jay T. paid them a complement so I went to the plant ( Kirtland Products ) and bought ten bags to try. [/quote] What were they protesting?????
 
Whatever "they" tell the to, probably. In all seriousness though, I would like to know as well.

I love the old "they are all pretty much the same anyway" gig.
 
Can't imagine who would protest a biomass renewable resource pellet mill that provides jobs, unless they were cutting trees down to produce them, in which case I could see a small faction of "tree huggers" protesting.....
 
They were protesting noise and odor from the plant. I asked at a McDonalds less than a mile away and the people there said it never bothered them. Their pellet is a blend of hard and soft woods, the soft coming from jackpine so one of the pluses of the pellet is they actually add to the environment for the Kirtland warbler which likes to nest in the thinned out jackpine. The plant is in a large industrial park with other stamping plants close. Our region is devastated by unemployment so every job is really needed. Plus they seem to be trying hard to make a quality pellet.
 
Apparently, some people in the Boyne area do not like the smell of jobs. I read an article about how they had to cut out a shift due the protests. Anyways, I like the pellet they produce as well.
 
We have the same type of people around here that complain about the "odor" from the local paper/pulp mill. What these people don't realize is the fact that it is the heart of this community. Pumps a lot of money into the area economy.
 
Tough year for Somersets. Not a lot of flooring sales so limited fiber to make pellets. The pellet dealers were also having trouble getting them. I wouldn't say never, You should see them again once they get things straighened out.

Glad the Kirtlands are doing the deed for you.
 
j-takeman said:
Tough year for Somersets. Not a lot of flooring sales so limited fiber to make pellets. The pellet dealers were also having trouble getting them. I wouldn't say never, You should see them again once they get things straighened out.

Glad the Kirtlands are doing the deed for you.
Click to expand...

Hate to say it, but Somersets are everywhere here. The Local Farm and Home has quite a bit left and the Menards had about 3,000 bags a month ago (over 60 ton).
Ohio, land of.... :p
 
DexterDay said:
j-takeman said:
Tough year for Somersets. Not a lot of flooring sales so limited fiber to make pellets. The pellet dealers were also having trouble getting them. I wouldn't say never, You should see them again once they get things straighened out.

Glad the Kirtlands are doing the deed for you.
Click to expand...

Hate to say it, but Somersets are everywhere here. The Local Farm and Home has quite a bit left and the Menards had about 3,000 bags a month ago (over 60 ton).
Ohio, land of.... :p
Click to expand...

Sure rub it in! >:-(
 
dfolker4 said:
When I got my pellet stove in January the dealer threw in some Somerset pellets which of course burned great. I had been lurking here on the forums for awhile soaking up as much as I could so I was excited to be getting a top notch pellet. Then I found that the local Lowe's was selling them for 3.85 a bag so I bought them and hauled them home ten at a time. When they ran out the guy at Lowe's said don't worry more coming in soon and they should be the same but they're all the same anyway. The ones that did come in were Wood Fiber Inc which are somewhere between a shoulder pellet and kitty litter. All the other dealers had nothing but mediocre pellets at best. I was close to going with Indecks because I hadn't actually tried them myself when I saw a news broadcast about protests at a wood pellet mill in Boyne City. I live close so I researched and saw Jay T. paid them a complement so I went to the plant ( Kirtland Products ) and bought ten bags to try. Had to go inside and pick them off the pallet about twenty feet from the end of the line, talk about fresh. After two bags I have to say I am very happy. I keep a magnetic stack thermometer on the front of the plenum between the slots for the convection air, no heat tubes on my Heatilator PS 50 and I was reading 455-460 on high which was actually about 5 degrees more than with my beloved Somersets. Ash seems a little fluffier. We might never get Somersets way up here again but we do seem to have a very good pellet being made right here locally.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised your PS50 doesn't like wood fibers. I'd buy them all the time if they were that available here. Just got a ton last week. Our ps 50 loves them. Lots of heat, very little ash, and long burn time.
 
Mikhen - My stove burned the wood fiber pellets ok, they just were not as hot with more buildup in the pot. Where are you running your pellet feed lever? I seem to have the best burn with the feed slowed down almost all the way. I still feel we picked a very good stove out.
 
Cutting Jack Pine doesn't really help the Kirtland Warbler population. They actually prefer to nest in areas where there has been a Jack Pine burn. (Silly birds !!) I live nearby in Kalkaska, and have been dieing to get my hands on some Kirtland Products pellets. I've also been burning Sommersets from Lowe's in Traverse City. :) The Lowes in Gaylord only has Presto-Log pellets. :(
 
dfolker4 said:
Mikhen - My stove burned the wood fiber pellets ok, they just were not as hot with more buildup in the pot. Where are you running your pellet feed lever? I seem to have the best burn with the feed slowed down almost all the way. I still feel we picked a very good stove out.
Click to expand...

About halfway. It works fine with whatever brand I put in it at halfway. The only brand I had super ash buildup from was Prest-o-logs. If it matters, I'm not using an OAK. I made provisions to put one in, but since it's burning great, I never went to the trouble of installing one.
 
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