1. Welcome Hearth.com Guests and Visitors - Please enjoy our forums!
    Hearth.com GOLD Sponsors who help bring the site content to you:
    Jotul Cast Iron Stoves
    Woodstock Soapstone Stoves
    Hearth and Home (QuadraFire and Harman Stoves)
  1. Angler2184 New Member

    joined: Dec 17, 2011
    17 posts
    OCMD
    Hello,
    I am just about out of the stove chow that Ive been burning. The local HD hasnt had it this year. I am looking for opinions on the American Wood Fiber (HD)for $217, and Prestologs (lowes) for $209.
    #1

    Helpful Sponsor Ads!



  2. Darryl New Member

    joined: Mar 19, 2012
    45 posts
    Bullville, NY
    I burned the PrestoLogs last year and the year before and they were great. Great heat, no clinkers, very low ash and low fines. I can't speak for the American Wood Fiber brand as I've never burned them, but it won't be long before someone here can and will.
  3. subsailor Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 8, 2011
    1,318 posts
    Winthrop, Maine
    Presto Logs are getting great reviews on here this year.
  4. DV Member

    joined: Feb 6, 2012
    212 posts
    Southern MD
    I've been burning the presto logs. About a third way through a ton. I will buy another ton of them.
  5. mithesaint Member

    joined: Nov 1, 2011
    205 posts
    NW Ohio
    I've burned both, and liked both. You'll likely be happy either way. I liked both of those better than stove chow. Buy a few of each and see what burns better in your stove.
  6. CT Pellet Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 1, 2012
    649 posts
    Torrington, CT
    Both are good.
  7. jtakeman Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2008
    12,745 posts
    Northwestern CT.
    Both are good above average pellets. You should have better results than the Stove Chow. I'd go with whats easiest to get if your hauling your own. Fuel should be considered in the purchase just as delivery fees should be factored(if you getting them deivered).

    Heat is pretty close between the 2. Ash content has to go to the AWF by a fair amount. I'm burning Pres-to-logs now, They are burning well, But the ash is still a bit more than an I'd like. Luckily its light and fluffy without any clinkers/clumpy ash cakes or stove cookies.

    Keep us posted on what ya get and how you like them? ;)
  8. DV Member

    joined: Feb 6, 2012
    212 posts
    Southern MD
    Stove cookies? Yummy.
    briansol likes this.
  9. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,160 posts
    NE Ohio
    I like the Presto Logs too..... Been good to me. Little ashy, but pellet size is good, diameter is larger than most, great heat.

    I had an issue with Long pellets from AWF year before last. Bought a bunch since then with no issues. About 3 bags into a 5 bag test on AWF this year and I am vey impressed. There hardwood bags have an all new look this year, pellets are shorter, and heat output is better than previous years. Just make sure it's the new bag

    Both are good pellets. Flip a coin :)
  10. tigerjeb New Member

    joined: Nov 18, 2011
    14 posts
    Lower Central Michigan
    Bought 2 ton +10 bags of the Pres-to Logs. They have been great with the CAB50. Only problem I had was with a good number of bags having dime sized holes.

    Purchased at Cedar Street Lowes in Lansing, MI for $175/ton.

    Going back for a third and possible 4th ton soon.
  11. zrtmatos Member

    joined: Nov 26, 2012
    158 posts
    Connecticut
    How are these Presto Logs at HD in comparison to this year's Greene Supreme also from HD? ;?
  12. Cozy Old Coot Member

    joined: Jan 1, 2010
    83 posts
    Maryland's Eastern Shore
    The Pres-to-Logs are great pellet for the cost, and they produce very good heat.
    I have not burned any of the AWF's, so I cannot comment on them.
    My current stash consist of Greenway's, O'Malley's, & Pres-to-Logs.
    The ash from the Pres-to-Logs is a little bit more than the Greenway's, and about equal to the O'Malley's.
  13. gymrat0663 Member

    joined: Feb 2, 2012
    95 posts
    South Central Pennsylvania
    I've never burned Presto Logs, but am burning AWF's this year and continue to be pleased with their performance. They give off good heat and the ash is amount is decent.
  14. LMPS Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 12, 2010
    320 posts
    Coastal, Maine
    J- would you rate the Pres-to-Logs a shoulder pellet or better than that? How would they compare to say the MWP Blend which I am using for a shoulder pellet?
  15. jtakeman Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2008
    12,745 posts
    Northwestern CT.
    A bit more heat than the MWP. I can sneak by with them, But that depends on what you need. Better to try some and see if they have enough umph for ya! ;)
  16. LMPS Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 12, 2010
    320 posts
    Coastal, Maine
    Thanks of course will try a few. I think my local HD has them, will have to tell the wife I need something there and just happen to have a few bags fall in the cart on the way by.
    DexterDay likes this.
  17. katman Member

    joined: Jul 7, 2008
    103 posts
    annapolis md
    I was burning Stove Chow left over from last year and then moved into a ton of Prestologs I picked up from my local HD. I like them much more than the Stove Chow. I think they are a little hotter and about the same ash. They are made by lignetics so at $209 they are a good deal--the local ace sells lignetics green for $258.
  18. Angler2184 New Member

    joined: Dec 17, 2011
    17 posts
    OCMD
    I was able to get the prestologs for $199. So far they seem to be burning slightly hotter than the stove, with a little more ash. Not bad for $199... What are you guys using to determine the heat output? IMAG0911.jpg
  19. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,160 posts
    NE Ohio
    Cole Parmer K-type therkocouple
  20. Angler2184 New Member

    joined: Dec 17, 2011
    17 posts
    OCMD
    Ouch, they are expensive.... Are you putting the thermocouple in the heat exchanger?
  21. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,160 posts
    NE Ohio
    I paid less than $30 for my; original and less than $10 for a knock off. Both work well.

    Just search K-type Thermocouple on fleaBay. Keep it cheap.

    Or..... Get a Digital wired or wireless Meat thermometer. I used one of those for 2 years. Did the same job and worked just as well. But it "Beeped" at certain temps :(
  22. Angler2184 New Member

    joined: Dec 17, 2011
    17 posts
    OCMD

    Where do you install the thermocouple?
  23. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,160 posts
    NE Ohio
    I have it 1" out from the hottest exchange tube (measured with T/C)


    I put a magnetic strip on the back with double sided 3M tape and have the wire clipped place with a little metal clip, held onto the grill of stove.
  24. mithesaint Member

    joined: Nov 1, 2011
    205 posts
    NW Ohio
    Just wanted to amend my original replay from above...The AWF are a slightly hotter pellet for me. Normally I can't really tell the difference between the two. When I switched the stove from On off to high low, the room air fan would stay on all the time with AWF, but when I was burning Presto Logs the room air fan would occasionally kick off because there wasn't enough heat. For the record, the 10-CPM was at 1-9 when it was in the "low" setting and the bottom buttons 2-5-1. I know the OP already bought some, but I just wanted to add this in case someone else was making the same comparison.
  25. Harvey Schneider Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 9, 2012
    467 posts
    Southbury, CT
    That could just be a difference in pellet size.

Share This Page