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  1. Cincinnati Kid Member

    joined: Jan 6, 2009
    245 posts
    Cincinnati
    I'm trying to fgure out how to remove the fines from the pellets prior to dumping them into the hopper.

    Does anyone attempt to do this and if so, how?

    Thanks in advance!
    #1

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  2. bbfarm Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 2, 2012
    330 posts
    wisconsin
  3. Hellfire Member

    joined: Oct 2, 2012
    156 posts
    Sunbury , PA 17801
    Share it w/ the neighborhood i say!


    Another way to skin the --- Repeat as needed! [IMG][IMG][IMG] To & fro
    St croix York model insert with s/s liner DOB (installed diy ) 11.23.2005 Wheels out for maintenance & repairs.
    Hellfire, Sunday at 1:14 PMEditDeleteReportBookmark
    #96
  4. Fish On Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 19, 2009
    326 posts
    The other Cape..
    good idea, but what do u do when it is raining or snowing out. seems like your pellets would get wet?
  5. briansol Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 18, 2009
    1,144 posts
    central ct
    I don't see the point, other than if you had dust allergies/etc. wood is wood, and it all burns the same to me. why bother?
  6. Roadstar Member

    joined: Mar 11, 2011
    68 posts
    Puyallup, WA
    Here is a pellet vacuum video on YouTube:

  7. Hellfire Member

    joined: Oct 2, 2012
    156 posts
    Sunbury , PA 17801
    If you have a garage (perfect)just put fan inside a few feet (aiming outside of course)or as to what i have is a big front porch protected from the elements (roof) even after sandy blew through i am happy to say only the front 25% of my porch got wet .

    A shed may fit the bill too.

    The only time these would get wet is after i carry them from porch to inside the house about 25 feet.

    Not sure what you want from this style setup but i use it for dust removal ,just experiment w/fan speed and angle.

    I feel it exposes the pellet the most for dust removal IMO but equally works well for broken pellets (fines)

    Just pour back and forth for more removal if a bag just happens to be in poor condition. ( a lot of dust/fines)

    Sweep up excess dust/fines to use on spilled oil messes (works great).

    Sometimes i feel pig pen came for a visit==c with the dust in my house (just trying to keep dust to a minimum );lol

    I did one of those homemade PVC Vac. units and was not impressed (good if it works for other people ) with the results.(clogged a lot with subpar dust removal)IMO.
  8. saladdin Member

    joined: Dec 29, 2011
    231 posts
    West Tennessee
    I don't, no need. But give men free time and we find ways to complicate simple things with home-made gadgets.
    P38X2 and Eatonpcat like this.
  9. Likin'Fire New Member

    joined: Nov 1, 2012
    7 posts
  10. Likin'Fire New Member

    joined: Nov 1, 2012
    7 posts
    Havin' trouble with the forum...anyway, like I said above in the quote:

    Whether or not dust removal is value-added, that's one heckuva clever idea. ==c
  11. nailed_nailer Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 29, 2007
    704 posts
    Cape Cod, Ma
    NOPE!
  12. John Wallington New Member

    joined: Oct 15, 2012
    32 posts
    Upstate NY
    That is a cool gizmo...even if it might not be 'needed'.
  13. mark2m Member

    joined: Dec 30, 2009
    32 posts
    Orange County, NY
    I don't bother either. From the bag straight into the hopper. Never been an issue on my stove and I even dump a bag that had gotten wet where the pellets came apart. It was like dumping saw dust right in the hopper and not a hiccup from my P43 other than the auger squeal a couple times. I don't see what the benefit it would have other than the fines collection bin filling a little faster maybe. Also allergies as said above.
  14. cdodge04 Member

    joined: Oct 7, 2008
    177 posts
    Belfast, Maine
    The first 2 years I had my stove I used a setup similar to the YouTube video. After that I got lazy, said screw it and I just dump them in.
  15. sinnian Minister of Fire

    joined: May 28, 2008
    715 posts
    Limerick, Maine
    Nope ~ cut and pour ::-)
  16. Bigjim13 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 5, 2009
    451 posts
    Central Vermont
    I don't get it either, can someone explain why one would do this? Is your stove so picky that it can't handle a bag with a few fines? Better yet, if your pellets have enough fines to cause an issue with your stove, switch pellets. What am I missing?
  17. cdodge04 Member

    joined: Oct 7, 2008
    177 posts
    Belfast, Maine
    I did it initially because I thought I was some how helping my stove...I was trying to do everything "right"...then I realized that I was just doing unnecessary work.
  18. Northwoodneil Feeling the Heat

    joined: Feb 10, 2012
    311 posts
    Land of Cheese
    Cut and dump. Fines = BTU's
  19. imacman Minister of Fire

    There are forum members and/or their family members that had allergic reaction/breathing issues from the fines that became airborne while dumping the bags in. The cleaners fixed that problem, for the most part.

    Others wanted to reduce the dust that settled on the furniture.
  20. m159267 Member

    joined: Mar 12, 2009
    94 posts
    East-Central MO
    My Harman P38 eats fines for dinner. Nothing more than a tablespoon full at season's end.
  21. Bigjim13 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 5, 2009
    451 posts
    Central Vermont
    Ok, that makes sense
  22. Melissa220 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Aug 10, 2012
    310 posts
    central ME
    Not being able to lift a 40 lb bag to empty in my hopper, I bought a 24 oz plastic 'cup' at Home Depot by the pails. I use this to scoop pellets into the hopper. BY the time I get down to the bottom of the bag and I've scooped up fines with the pellets, I shake the cup to settle the fines at the bottom, pour out the pellets and the top and then finger sift the pellets from the bottom leaving the fines in the cup bottom.

    A little labor intensive, but it works for me at the moment.

    Alternately, you can dump the bag in and then use a scoop to scoop out the fines pile; weeding out the pellets you pick up too.
  23. glenc0322 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 30, 2011
    559 posts
    long Island NY
    Just dump and burn and no problems in my harman
  24. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,159 posts
    NE Ohio
    Ok... I will bite. All that say they don't need one.

    Naysayers ;). Quads dont a screw and cylinder type auger. Its an open spring. Which DOES NOT bring fines up the auger flight. So the fines build up and it lowers the feed rate on All Quads and Heatilators.

    The Hopper will need Vac'd if you don't Sift.

    Sifting also catches any foreign material. If you have burned pellets long enough. You have found a Bolt, Screw, Piece of wood, Rubber, Corn, Etc in your pellets. It happens. Pellet manufacturers are far from perfect :)



    2011-10-29_21-38-37_505.jpg
  25. Melissa220 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Aug 10, 2012
    310 posts
    central ME
    OMG. I can't even imagine beginning to construct that. Let alone have the space to put it!

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