Pellet coloration...

[Bigjim13]

Basically my question is this, I have burned several different brands of pellets. Some are a deeper, darker color than others. What causes this? Is it the type of wood, hardwood vs. softwood? Or is it something else?

For example: Last year I burned Premiers from TSC, they were fairly dark. This year I burned Maine Woods and they were much lighter. Does this tell you anything about quality when looking at them? I'm just curious, still kinda new at this and was thinking about it today while cleaning my stove. Thanks!

 

[Bigjim13]

Basically my question is this, I have burned several different brands of pellets. Some are a deeper, darker color than others. What causes this? Is it the type of wood, hardwood vs. softwood? Or is it something else?

For example: Last year I burned Premiers from TSC, they were fairly dark. This year I burned Maine Woods and they were much lighter. Does this tell you anything about quality when looking at them? I'm just curious, still kinda new at this and was thinking about it today while cleaning my stove. Thanks!

The color of the pellet really tells you nothing. There is no way you can just look at a pellet and tell if it's good or not. The dark color could be caused by bark or simply the species of wood...You HAVE to burn a pellet to see how good (or not so good) it is ......

Kinda what I figured about quality. Does the color tell you anything?

 

[smoke show]

The color of the pellet really tells you nothing.

 

[Ladderlieu]

Kinda what I figured about quality. Does the color tell you anything?

Been listening and listening and still have not heard the pellets say anything. The voices in my head, on the other hand...

 

[summit]

generally I find lighter colored pellets to burn better, but it is not set in stone: I had a lady burning freedom fuel (very light in color) and they were junk, burned the okies after the freedom fuel (just as light in color) and 100% improvement. On the other side: Maine woods pellets of a yr or 2 ago were very dark brown (lotsa bark and crap), but this yrs batches are alot lighter (i've been told the are debarking everything, now) and burn alot better. Corinth used to be a lot lighter color and burned OK, this yr alot darker and don't burn clean for beans.
The best thing to do is research and find out where the pellet maker gets their raw material: a maker that has access to good stock (shavings/sawdust from making lumber products, for example) will often make a way better pellet than those that buy their raw stock from all over.