Coldest night so far. What are ya burning??

Ha. If money was not object, would be. I got the four to last through this cold stretch. I probably shouldn't have gotten these because for $300 a ton I don't think I'll be getting them next year either. I just had to see what all the hype is about. I'm tempted to turn the stove up all the way to see what they can really do. I'll probably have a good amount of GS left over from this year. So for next year, I probably get a ton or two of shoulder pellets (not GS) and one ton of something better.

Burning lignetics green label. Had cheat rivers in the stove and had to crank it near full blast with them. It's 10 here with the windchill approaching 0.

Well it was -11.7 here this morning maybe the average for today might break the zero mark.

Yesterday's average was -2 The stove is going for its normal 73setpoint and it ran all night fine on firing rate #3 .

Now if the bear could just shake this danged cold.

Bear when you say -18F are you talking w/wind chill factor ?
I'm looking at accuweather and lowest ambient I've seen for Standish ME is 1F over the last 24 hour period.
Just curious.

I ran some Hearthside pellets last night. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know what to expect but woke up to 74 in the living room and 68 in the bedroom and kitchen. Only been running the stove on level 2 of 5. Next up some North American so see how they measure up.

...you will be unimpressed.

I've been going back and forth a bit between the North Americans Hard/Soft Pellets blend and the Fireside Ultras. I think the Ultras push out more heat. North Americans will impress you if you are looking for a stinky smelling pellet. Canola smell or something I forget.

yeah. this has been confusing me the last two days. millinocket hasn't been near that cold.
bottomed out at -4 last night and the coldest we got was about -14 i think. maybe colder. i forget exactly.
night before last it was pretty steady at -10

the readings at the airfield (weather pages) are always a bit warmer than what we actually get up this end of town.
could be the altitude difference.
the digital thermometer is accurate as far as i can tell.
when it gets to 33, the snow starts dripping from the roof.

HOPPPPA

I have 4 electronic outside thermometers and two dial ones. They vary 6 to 8 F. So I take an average Last night here was about zero. Got up to 15 F today. Cleaned the stove (just the inside the door and pot areas) continuing to burn the MWP softies. My initial impression is good. Will need to keep a record so I can be objective. One thing for sure, they are burning hotter than the blend. Next question, are there other softies that burn hotter than these whose price makes them worth the investment vs occasionally running the furnace during subzero temps.
To me, this is the coldest it has been in three years. I know of stretches we had where the temp was -15 or so for a couple weeks. But those were years ago.

This week it has been 3 nights of -26F. Actual temperature before wind chill. I'm burning Geneva's but still need to run the furnace to keep up.

^ the true north, i take it : -)

Unfortunately the days of cheap softwoods are gone. Besides the MWP softies, You might find McFeeters or maybe EasyBlaze. LeCretes are getting good reviews and might be worth a look see depending on prices.

I guess you'd have to add the pellet cost and oil cost for these cold days and get a rough figure. Then maybe it would be worth a look see at some top shelf softies. Not sure what you have available in your area, But there are some Hardwoods that put your stove in warp speed too. Experiment with some of them as well.

I've burned LG's, Oakies, and CleanFire Pacific ~ and the MWP Softwood seemed hotter to me (less ash too ~ I still have Oakie ash outside from 2 years ago that won't break down )

ok. so torrefied wood pellets.
i have seen at least one article that seemed to be saying they could be used in regular pellet stoves.

i'd guess you would just mix in a small percentage with regular wood pellets.
since they supposedly burn 30% hotter than coal.
the feed rates would be way too high i'd have to think of a stove designed for wood pellets.

i would love to know if mixing these in is a safe and viable option.

if so i will have to go knocking on cates street's door when they start churning them out at the mill here in town.

gonna go look for that article...

ok. in the last paragraph is where it seems to imply you could use these in a pellet stove.
it's just not got any real information though.

http://www.biomasspelletmill.com/Torrefaction_Will_Change_The_Wood_Pellets_Fuel_Market.html

I have seen torrified grass pellets and they are black like charcoal. I think they'll make a mess of your stove's hopper. I was tempted to try em but never did.

and these are heavy too. they would probably eventually concentrate at the bottom of the hopper even if at first mixed in w/ the wood pellets.

Corn is also heavier than pellets and it stays mixed noproblem. Vibration may make them settle. But the stoves don't actually vibrate enough to cause that.

If you try some, Keep us posted!

Nope actual measured temperature at my house, those web sites use mostly airport measurement stations.

Kind of like surrounding a thermometer with stoves, and frequently not even close to the "town" they are being used for.

I remember those days quite well as I was out in it a lot.

I spoke to a person in Fort Kent today. -29 on the way to work Wednesday AM.

Smokey you must be living a cold spot. I haven't seen any temps in So. Maine anywhere near that.

If you find out they are available, let me know. They'd be fine for the pellet boiler!

I would want to see some consensus from the pellet stove manufactures that torrefied wood pellets are considered to be appropriate fuel for their units. If there were to be house fires from these units while not burning approved fuels, you risk compounding the reason for your being left out in the cold. If these pellets are going to be marketable, you can be sure there will be heating units made that are appropriate for them. Just my 2 cents.

Still burning Green Supremes and quite pleased. Saving the Turmans till it gets cold