Big box store pellets

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In Michigan, I really like the Pro Pellets. Don't like the isabella much. North of you we have Kirtland pellets which are a blend. They burn great.
 
Graybeard

Thanks for the update on pellets. Moving stove into location today so should be running by next weekend. Will have to get to Watertown this coming week for more pellets. How many ton do you burn on average?
 
Well, this is only my second season, so I don't have an average! What's more, I didn't pay very close attention to the number of bags I burned last season. I'd guess 6 tons plus.

I'm working at keeping closer track this year. I've already gone through nearly a ton.
 
About a ton a month.

The first year was that really mild winter and we only got our stove the end of December so we only burned 3 tons

Last year harsh long winter and we burned 6 tons
 
Mr. Graybeard

Was at Watertown F & F today and had Lumberjack Premium at 184.00 per ton. Purchased a ton and will pickup next weekend. Sale ends 11/27
 
Thanks, Jay. I may mix up my stash a little -- I'm trying out the Pro Pellets TSC has for $189. I do like the way Lumberjacks burn, but I'm surprised at the fines in the bags I've bought so far this year.

Anyway, it sounds like a good time to load up. Three or four tons wouldn't hurt.
 
Finally got my furnace running Wednesday night. I had to clear the path for exhaust through 20" of the stone foundation. My neighbor is an HVAC guy so hooked up the returns to existing oil furnace. I might head to TSC on Saturday to get a ton of the Pro Pellets as well. Picked up the Lumberjacks today. I figure a ton a month in the cold of winter.
 
Wow, Jay, you went through the rock foundation -- that's a tough job. Congrats for getting it done!

I'm planning to drive down to Palmyra this week or next to visit my bachelor cousin (he lives in the old Eagle Telephone Co. building on the main drag). Care to show off your handiwork? PM me if you do.

I swung by TSC today and picked up a ton of pellets myself. Somehow the Christmas shopping rush bypassed Tractor Supply. I was in and out in a couple minutes.
 
Wow, Jay, you went through the rock foundation -- that's a tough job. Congrats for getting it done!

I'm planning to drive down to Palmyra this week or next to visit my bachelor cousin (he lives in the old Eagle Telephone Co. building on the main drag). Care to show off your handiwork? PM me if you do.

I swung by TSC today and picked up a ton of pellets myself. Somehow the Christmas shopping rush bypassed Tractor Supply. I was in and out in a couple minutes.
 
Graybeard,

You can just contact on my email. [email protected]. I will be around evenings and on the next two weekends. Trying to button up the farmhouse before it gets to cold.
 
graybeard, we live in Abrams. About 30 minutes north of Green Bay.
 
So we have tsc, menards, lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, and a few small ma/pa stores around here that sell pellets. Are any store brands decent?

I know this is a little late, but I picked up Greenways at a Meijer in SW MI. This is my first year with the stove, but I'm happy with the pellets.
 
graybeard, we live in Abrams. About 30 minutes north of Green Bay.
Ah, that's why you've got access to Rib Mountain pellets. I wonder how big a producer they are, and if they plan to expand. I hope so.

Vulcan is another pellet from from up north that we seldom see down here. They must be almost in your backyard. Have you tried them?

I think I'll pick up one more ton of Pro Pellets today. That'll up the stash to 4 1/2 tons -- should get us through most of March.
 
Mr. Graybeard

How are the Pro Pellets burning? Picked up a few bags to trial this weekend. I have 2 ton in my basement( Lumberjack/Rib Mt.) but want to add 2 more yet this year. My furnace is running in the upper range to keep the old place in the upper 60's. Kind of nice not to have the ups and downs of forced air heat. I am happy with a steady 68 in the place.
 
Jay, I like them. They seem more dense than this season's Lumberjacks, which IMO have more fines than I recall seeing last year. The Pro Pellets leave more ash and carbon buildup than the Jacks and burn with a more yellow flame (I can see a blue edge to the flame coming out of the burnpot when Lumberjacks are burning). I think the Pro Pellets are generating slightly more heat pound for pound.
 
My experience: if you maintain your stove fanatically, burn anything. If you're lax on the maintenance, any pellet could be a problem.
 
No. I have never seen Vulcans in our area, but I haven't really shopped around. We like the ribs and only have to go about 5 miles to get them
 
No. I have never seen Vulcans in our area, but I haven't really shopped around. We like the ribs and only have to go about 5 miles to get them
The Vulcan website -- http://www.vulcanwoodproducts.net/index.html -- has a list of dealers in your area. Not that I'm trying to instigate you into getting some! ;lol To be honest, the few reviews I've seen were mixed.
 
I know this is an older post but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents for whatever that is worth :) I am new to the pellet world and read this post and a lot of others when searching for pellets. I started with Indecks, they were right there at Menards when I was there so figured lets try them even though they don't have the best reviews. I burned them and thought they were good. No clinkers nice and hot, not much dust or fines. Quite a bit of ash though. Like I said I am new so maybe it is a normal amount but seems like more then average from what I have been reading. Next to the lumberjacks. I live within 60 miles of both plants so wanted to give them both a fair shake. Well not impressed with them. So many fines, slivers of wood all over the place, pellets 1.5" plus. I was actually wondering if I should pour them in the hopper for fear of jamming the auger. However I wanted to see what the stove could take. I am happy to say they all fed with no jam. They did produce less ash but also less heat to boot. They didn't burn as good either it seems. The Indecks just left ash that blew around. The lumberjacks left 2 little piles of harder ash in the burnpot. The Indecks I think could go until I had too much ash filling the stove. I think I would have to scrape the burnpot at least every couple days with the lumberjack. I added a couple photos of the lumberjacks. That was just a random handful. They all have slivers of wood in them and so many fines. Not just dust but particles stuck all over. Once the lumberjacks are done I am gonna vacuum the hopper and go back to Indecks. I want to try Jeds but the only guy in the area that has them is out. Too bad about the lumberjacks I can get them for $190 a ton but haven't seen Indecks anywhere besides farm and fleet so far.

lumberjack2.jpg lumberjack.jpg
 
I know this is an older post but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents for whatever that is worth :) I am new to the pellet world and read this post and a lot of others when searching for pellets. I started with Indecks, they were right there at Menards when I was there so figured lets try them even though they don't have the best reviews. I burned them and thought they were good. No clinkers nice and hot, not much dust or fines. Quite a bit of ash though. Like I said I am new so maybe it is a normal amount but seems like more then average from what I have been reading. Next to the lumberjacks. I live within 60 miles of both plants so wanted to give them both a fair shake. Well not impressed with them. So many fines, slivers of wood all over the place, pellets 1.5" plus. I was actually wondering if I should pour them in the hopper for fear of jamming the auger. However I wanted to see what the stove could take. I am happy to say they all fed with no jam. They did produce less ash but also less heat to boot. They didn't burn as good either it seems. The Indecks just left ash that blew around. The lumberjacks left 2 little piles of harder ash in the burnpot. The Indecks I think could go until I had too much ash filling the stove. I think I would have to scrape the burnpot at least every couple days with the lumberjack. I added a couple photos of the lumberjacks. That was just a random handful. They all have slivers of wood in them and so many fines. Not just dust but particles stuck all over. Once the lumberjacks are done I am gonna vacuum the hopper and go back to Indecks. I want to try Jeds but the only guy in the area that has them is out. Too bad about the lumberjacks I can get them for $190 a ton but haven't seen Indecks anywhere besides farm and fleet so far.

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Your at the end of the heating season, at least according to how big box stores are stocking. Keep a lookout next summer for new pellets to try and stock. Having bought 90 bu. corn last month will probably only have to get in three tons for next season to heat the house and garage. Maybe you might find a nice used Cumberland stove to supplement your heating needs. I saw a couple of used ones for around $1200 earlier this season. Nice looking stoves and multifuel.
 
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