another pellet sifting share

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crausch

crausch

New Member
Aug 26, 2008
747
Littlestown, PA
This may have been done before and it may not be for all users but here is my resolution to the last couple hand-fulls in a bag.

The last bag of pellets I opened seemed to have a considerable amount of fines compared to my other bags so far this season. Even though my stove seems to handle them ok, I just had a problem with pouring in that cup and a half of saw dust. I took one of those plastic coffee containers (folgers or maxwell house will do), and went to the shop. I used a 3/16" drill bit and drilled holes all over the bottom of the container. Now, I put the container on the lid and then I poured the last couple hand fulls of pellets in the bag into the coffee container. Hold the container over a trash can (or wherever) and shake it like a flour sifter. The fines came out and then I just poured the remaining pellets into the hopper. Worked great, took about 30 seconds to clean.

This will not solve the problem for those who want to clean all their pellets, but to clean that last pound or so in the bag when pouring a bag into the hopper or storage bin, this was so simple to make, it work excellent, and cost nothing.
 
I used my wife's colander today to sift about 1/3 bag of pellets.

It worked great. I did wash it and put it away when I was done.
 
I am glad to hear you washed it out. That could have led to two things bad:

1. A woman's scorn.
2. Splinters when eating those xmas cookies.
 
codebum said:
This may have been done before and it may not be for all users but here is my resolution to the last couple hand-fulls in a bag.

The last bag of pellets I opened seemed to have a considerable amount of fines compared to my other bags so far this season. Even though my stove seems to handle them ok, I just had a problem with pouring in that cup and a half of saw dust. I took one of those plastic coffee containers (folgers or maxwell house will do), and went to the shop. I used a 3/16" drill bit and drilled holes all over the bottom of the container. Now, I put the container on the lid and then I poured the last couple hand fulls of pellets in the bag into the coffee container. Hold the container over a trash can (or wherever) and shake it like a flour sifter. The fines came out and then I just poured the remaining pellets into the hopper. Worked great, took about 30 seconds to clean.

This will not solve the problem for those who want to clean all their pellets, but to clean that last pound or so in the bag when pouring a bag into the hopper or storage bin, this was so simple to make, it work excellent, and cost nothing.
Click to expand...

I bought a one gallon galvanized bucket today and drilled the 3/16 holes. Works great.
 
I've burned 22 tons in my stove and have never sifted, vacuumed, massaged an ounce of pellets, I guess I'm just lucky.
 
this is my set up for now. some bags of the pennington hardwood pellets seem to have a lot of fines. Out of 10 bags so far i have sifted about a five gallon pail full of fines. The soft wood freedom fuel I have is clean of any fines and seems to burn about the the same.
 

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Last year I sifted almost every bag with a homemade screen sifter...and still had to replace the auger motor (under warranty) because the bearing on the gearbox was worn. Now I don't bother-it is a waste of time and doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference anyways!
 
glassman said:
good ideas, I am guessing it would sift better if the holes were drilled from the inside of can to the outside, so the hole would have a slight funnel effect if that makes sense.
Click to expand...


yes that's the way I did It and check the pellet diameter because my two brands where different diameter





quote author="Iluvwinter" date="1228089226"]sifting pellets not gonna happen stove would be out to the curb if I had to do that. Harmon Pf 100 dump em in and forget about it![/quote

It only takes 1 min to do a five gallon pail full, and gives me and my bud another reason to be out in the garage
 
In previous posts I also agreed to just dump the bag in. That was until this last bag that had excessive fines. I understand those who have a need to sift all their pellets (for allergies, etc.) but I am just sifting those last hand fulls in the bag and only when there are excessive fines. Hecht, a 1/4 cup or less, no problem. The Harman does handle the fines well, but if someone just handed me a cup and half of saw dust and said "Here, dump this in your hopper." I think I would refuse. Well...that bag of pellets that has a hand full or two of fines in the botton is basically the same thing. I'll sift that samll amount.

[Edit] PS. Joe Buck...your bucket looks good. As a matter of fact, I would probably just take that pan of sifted fines and and say here kitty, kitty. Or even as oil absorbant in the garage.
 
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