Why Shoulder Pellets??

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countk

countk

Feeling the Heat
Nov 4, 2008
276
Cape Ann, MA
Someone straighten me out here, I'm sure plenty will.

If you have a high heat low ash pellet, i.e Vermonts, Barefoots, etc, etc, why have "shoulder pellets" at all, for the beginning and end of the season. Can't you just control the temperature of a room with a thermostat, or just run your stove for a shorter period of time. I realize this is usually discussed as it pertains to the cost of pellets, but if you believe, the cost of a premium pellet is a better value overall than a cheaper one, and are willing to pay for it, why wouldn't you just use the better pellet for the entire season, especially if the ash is low.

If for instance one believes Vermonts are worth paying $279 as opposed to Fireside Ultras at $229, why buy the Firesides at all, unless of course you can't afford all Vermonts, that I would understand. Having said all of this I do have a small stove in the Empress, but nonetheless can't all stoves be controlled to use premium high heat pellets all year. I welcome your thoughts on this topic!
 
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I agree 100%. You really have to look at btu/$ IF you can find HONEST figures for btu's per pound! Therein lies the problem! I never could understand the shoulder pellet mentality either.
 
My stove dials down to between 3/4 of a lb and 1 lb per hour. If it is going to burn at the minimum it might as well be for $229 a ton instead of $300 a ton.....

Wen it is cold and you need the extra btu's my LeCretes will have the reserve!
 
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I buy Vermont strictly for the extremely low ash.
I buy shoulders with low density in mind. My stove even on low burns through plenty of pellets. So a pellet that feeds slower is my goal.

I am of the opinion for the majority of pellets the btus will be very similar and without sophisticated testing equipment and environments most opinions are very subjective including my own.

If you have a stove where you are not running max out in the dead of winter than you could use a lower density, slower feeding pellet and be just fine. So long as you don't mind the ash.
 
The theory is pretty simple. A chance to save cash. That's what we bought the stoves for isn't it? I burn about 3.5 tons per season no matter what pellet I have burned(give or take). Usually 2 .5 tons of shoulders at approx $200/ton($500) and a ton of the good stuff at approx $300/ton(today's prices). That's about $800 total. If I burned all good? I'd be at about $1050. So I'd save around $250 or a lot a beer!

We got members that only burn shoulder stuff the whole season all because of the dollar factor.
 
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You tellum Jay!!, Why waste good pellets when it's 45 out and they burn you out like a woodstove...oct-dec,use the shoulder's then good jan-feb, then shoulder's after that
 
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jtakeman said:
The theory is pretty simple. A chance to save cash. That's what we bought the stoves for isn't it? I burn about 3.5 tons per season no matter what pellet I have burned(give or take). Usually 2 .5 tons of shoulders at approx $200/ton($500) and a ton of the good stuff at approx $300/ton(today's prices). That's about $800 total. If I burned all good? I'd be at about $1050. So I'd save around $250 or a lot a beer!

We got members that only burn shoulder stuff the whole season all because of the dollar factor.
Click to expand...

I understand if you can't afford the money up front, but might not that $250 or even more carry over to the next season, if you were able to control the temp? I guess it might be easier for me since my stove doesn't blow the roof off at # 1 setting. Maybe it might work for me, but not others? I wonder how much beer you can get for $250?? Enough to keep you happy!
 
The $250 of course translates to having that amount of pellets or more left over for next years stash.
 
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countk said:
I understand if you can't afford the money up front, but might not that $250 or even more carry over to the next season, if you were able to control the temp? I guess it might be easier for me since my stove doesn't blow the roof off at # 1 setting. Maybe it might work for me, but not others? I wonder how much beer you can get for $250?? Enough to keep you happy!
Click to expand...

We're better off than when we started, So we always have pellets in the stash. We found its best to stock up when you see a deal than wait to the last minute. I can afford the good stuff, Just perfer to save where I can. Yep. I'm a cheap SOB.

It could be a carry over mentality from wood burning too. I used to sort my stacks so I had the best wood set aside for the colder climate. When I needed the longer burning load so I didn't need to get up during the night. Shorter lasting stuff was good enough in the warmer season where I didn't need the stove to run all night. I just needed it to keep it warm enough until morning..

Many variables just like the rest of the pellet stove deal. I pretty much keep my stove on medium heat setting so I get better/faster air flow. Low and slow doesn't push enough heat upstairs. So I added a stat to control the temp. Like Ihatepropane, A lower density/cooler pellet lets the stove run longer in warmer weather. Otherwise I need to mess with the swing setting so the stove doesn't cycle as often. It gets to warm for me if I have to set the swing over 2::F. So its just another way to control the stove. Ash isn't an issue with my beast and I can go weeks on end with even the worst stuff in the hopper.


Doing what works for you and what you can afford is all that matters. If it works don't mess with it too much. We all get through the game with our on tricks and tidbits.
 
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I don't understand shoulder pellets either.
 
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jtakeman said:
We're better offthan when we started, So we always have pellets in the stash. We found its best to stock up when you see a deal than wait to the last minute. I can afford the good stuff, Just perfer to save where I can. Yep. I'm a cheap SOB.

It could be a carry over mentality from wood burning too. I used to sort my stacks so I had the best wood set aside for the colder climate. When I needed the longer burning load so I didn't need to get up during the night. Shorter lasting stuff was good enough in the warmer season where I didn't need the stove to run all night. I just needed it to keep it warm enough until morning..

Many variables just like the rest of the pellet stove deal. I pretty much keep my stove on medium heat setting so I get better/faster air flow. Low and slow doesn't push enough heat upstairs. So I added a stat to control the temp. Like Ihatepropane, A lower density/cooler pellet lets the stove run longer in warmer weather. Otherwise I need to mess with the swing setting so the stove doesn't cycle as often. It gets to warm for me if I have to set the swing over 2::F. So its just another way to control the stove. Ash isn't an issue with my beast and I can go weeks on end with even the worst stuff in the hopper.


Doing what works for you and what you can afford is all that matters. If it works don't mess with it too much. We all get through the game with our on tricks and tidbits.
Click to expand...
Well said, I can be a cheap SOB as well. Just figured this was a good topic to see what others thought!
 
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john193 said:
I don't understand shoulder pellets either.
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the term was invented right here by the self anointed pellet experts and their followers that believe everything they read on internet forums :p

now don't get me wrong but in my short time here ( 1 full year burning ) i've grown to love hanging out here and consider you all friends but , I've learned to do my own research on brands available to me and they vary widely from some gospel here .

my opinion . my advice , form your own opinions .
 
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Woody1911a1 said:
the term was invented right here by the self anointed pellet experts and their followers that believe everything they read on internet forums :p

now don't get me wrong but in my short time here ( 1 full year burning ) i've grown to love hanging out here and consider you all friends but , I've learned to do my own research on brands available to me and they vary widely from some gospel here .

my opinion . my advice , form your own opinions .
Click to expand...
I don't believe that the people here think themselves "self appointed pellet experts, but rather just enjoy doing what they do and having an opinion. Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy the chatter and testing that goes on here. Jay is always quick to point out that his testing is not gospel, just that he enjoys doing it. Having said that I think it's all good! Just MHO!
 
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This discussion, like many others on here, has no conclusion. Like other's have said, whatever works for you, go with it. Personally, I burn all "shoulder" pellets because was stove was (supposedly) designed to burn them. Keeps me warm when it's below 0, so that's all that matters to me.
 
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subsailor said:
This discussion, like many others on here, has no conclusion. Like other's have said, whatever works for you, go with it. Personally, I burn all "shoulder" pellets because was stove was (supposedly) designed to burn them. Keeps me warm when it's below 0, so that's all that matters to me.
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That's why we own Harmans......
 
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Blanket statement....if you don't understand the shoulder pellet mentality then you have money to burn....literally.:p
 
subsailor said:
This discussion, like many others on here, has no conclusion. .
Click to expand...

yea but it gives us something to do besides drink beer ;)

ok , one very high rated pellet here that i bought a 1/4 t of last year @ $314 (per bag price ) got mixed with $209 stove chows so that i could get rid of them .
 
subsailor said:
This discussion, like many others on here, has no conclusion.......
Click to expand...

Yep, We battle many year after year after year. Take the OAK debate. I never though something could get so beaten and still survive!

Take the "try some first before you buy a large amount" that many of us say, Yet we still get newbs that come and complain cause they didn't try them like we said!

Now we're the bad guys. Go figure!
 
Harman Lover 007 said:
Blanket statement....if you don't understand the shoulder pellet mentality then you have money to burn....literally.:p
Click to expand...

if the good stuff gives you more heat per pound, arguably you could run the stove less to maintain the desired temperature, cutting down on wear and tear? So perhaps this could be a situation of cheaper isnt necessarily better? I dont know. Just a thought.
 
I burn Box Store pellets At 209 a ton then I use a 10% off coupon so I actually pay 189 per ton. Why would I want to pay an extra 80 - 100 per ton? Just t save on a little more ash. I clean my stove every Sunday regardless if I burn 24 hours a day 7 days a week or 2x a week. I bought the stove to save money. and heat my house. The only pellet I would NEVER use again is North American Pellets would rather use OIL that Brand ST!NK$
 
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