Just left the local Tractor Supply and they have the Somerset ton for $219. Whats the overall opinion on that brand? Thanks guys.
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I think they are generally considered a good pellet. Check the link below.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/60165/
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/60165/
KatWill said:
Katwill, the Somersets are considered to be a very good pellet. That's the same price the Lowes has them here in Newburgh. If you need pellets, they would be a real good choice to stock up on.
Which TSC has them?
UncleAnthony
Member
I've burned them, liike them alot, hot and low ash. Been looking for them here last year .
Would definitely stock up on those at that price !
Would definitely stock up on those at that price !
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
Couple things about TSC (Tough Shitte Charlies). The clerks are jerks on the high low's so make sure, if you buy a pallet, that the lowest bags aren't punctured by the forks. Make sure you get a shrink wrapped skid with a plastic overcover attached and taped down. TSC has changed it's policy about returning wet pellets or punctured bags to 'you bought it so eat it'. Buyer beware.
I just bought 4 ton and had to go through 10 pallets to get 4 good ones. the other 6 had cornholed lower bags.
I just bought 4 ton and had to go through 10 pallets to get 4 good ones. the other 6 had cornholed lower bags.
I burned some Somersets last winter and they were pretty good but I don't see them around here much.
Also as far the the bags on the bottom of the skid go definitely pay attention to the ones near the bottom.
I just got 2 tons from another retailer (not TSC) and the second ton had one of the bottom bags ripped opened about a foot long. They tore through the black plastic and the pellet bag (probably with the fork lift). The guy operating the fork lift said he just tape it up. I was like I don't think so. I could tell by looking the pellets were one big chunk in the side of the bag. He said if it wasn't on the bottom he switch it out for another bag. Since I was putting a half a skid in the back of my pickup and another half on a trailer I dug down and got the bag out. Then he went inside and got another bag. The bad thing is I know he just taped it up and put it on the pile of pellets inside to sell to someone else.
Also as far the the bags on the bottom of the skid go definitely pay attention to the ones near the bottom.
I just got 2 tons from another retailer (not TSC) and the second ton had one of the bottom bags ripped opened about a foot long. They tore through the black plastic and the pellet bag (probably with the fork lift). The guy operating the fork lift said he just tape it up. I was like I don't think so. I could tell by looking the pellets were one big chunk in the side of the bag. He said if it wasn't on the bottom he switch it out for another bag. Since I was putting a half a skid in the back of my pickup and another half on a trailer I dug down and got the bag out. Then he went inside and got another bag. The bad thing is I know he just taped it up and put it on the pile of pellets inside to sell to someone else.
schoondog
Feeling the Heat
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
daydreamer said:
...To which I would have replied if I wasn't breaking down the skids (like you).... In that case, I'll take a few extra bags no charge to cover your apparent stupidity. You see, I have the New England patience but I live in Michigan.
As the rule, I only buy full pallets for a couple reasons. One, I have the squipment to handle full pallets, Two, they are easier to store on pallets plus I stak them 3 tiers high and Three, full factory pallets are shrink wrapped and usually double bagged. I can put them in the barn and a couple years later, they are good as new. My nemisis are careless hi-lo drivers, not to say that I haven't cornholed a bag ot 2 myself, because I have but that means breaking down and restaking a skid and rewrapping it. I try to be cautious.
In that last 3 years, I've burned very little pellets and mostly corn. I reserve the pellets for more temperate fall and spring days and run corn the rest of the time but this years corn prices will eliminate corn from my stove diet. I just took 2 loads of field corn to the elevator that probed at 15.5% with a 50 test weight. I'm getting (Friday), 4.57 per bushel. There is no way that I could burn corn at $4.57/bu with no dock when pellets are right around $200.00 per ton. This will be a pellet year, I'm almost certain.
I find the pellet price varible interesting too. TSC here is offering Indiana Hardwood and Somerset for $199.00 per ton in full ton quantity, or $206.96/ton tax included. Out east id easily 50 bucks/ton more. I don't get that.
schoondog said:
That's a tough decision Schoon. Somersets or Hardwood Heat.....both good pellets.....hmmmmm. I guess the price would be the determining factor there for me.
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
Pellets are taxed all the time in IL. I usually pay 6.5% or 6.75% tax depending on where I buy them at.
Went over to TS and got 1 ton at 219, no tax. I also bought about 25 bags that they had that were ripped or open for $2 each. Not a bad deal for the shoulder season. Most of the bags were full, they just had rips on them. Thanks guys.
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
SidecarFlip
Minister of Fire
I'm thinking that the abundant supply of pellets will dry up rather quickly simply because the price of corn is so high. All the corn burners, me included will switch over to pellets this year. Most corn burners are adaptive to other fuel. Corn prices, new crop delivered to the elevator are at $4.57 and rising. I took in to semi loads last week so I know exactly what the price is. Comparing the BTU output of hardwood pellets to shelled corn, corn has to be below $3.30 per bushel to make it worthwhile to burn.
That's not going to happen this year.
It's directly attributable to the crop crisis in Europe. Good for farmers, bad for corn burners.
Bottom line here is, if you can get them for a reasonable price buy what you need for the season. Once the retailers realize what new crop prices are, the pellet price will rise accordingly.
That's not going to happen this year.
It's directly attributable to the crop crisis in Europe. Good for farmers, bad for corn burners.
Bottom line here is, if you can get them for a reasonable price buy what you need for the season. Once the retailers realize what new crop prices are, the pellet price will rise accordingly.
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
SidecarFlip said:
SidecarFlip, Have you looked in to other grains or grass pellets? There is more than just wood or corn out there. Right now in my area the grass pellets are the cheapest.
Somerset is a well-respected manufacturer of hardwood flooring. Their sawdust comes from the flooring operations which largely consist of ash, oak and maple. I burned somerset pellets two years ago and would recommend them highly.
Just stopped at local Lowes and picked-up 4 bags of Somersets to "test" later in the winter.
Premiers and Rockies are going to be my "shoulder season" pellets, and the stash of 2 tons of Barefoot and misc bags of Cubex, Turmans, Spruce Pointe, Okies, the "real" hardwood Lignetics, and now the Somersets will be my cold weather pellets.
Premiers and Rockies are going to be my "shoulder season" pellets, and the stash of 2 tons of Barefoot and misc bags of Cubex, Turmans, Spruce Pointe, Okies, the "real" hardwood Lignetics, and now the Somersets will be my cold weather pellets.
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