Okanagan Quality

[Salty]

Well I don't disagree but whose gonna load them. Not my 48 year old back. I got to carry them upstairs that's bad nuff

I need to make a decision tonite. Do I pickup the other ton tomorrow morning or do I tell them to change to the black hills and add the other ton. I'd really like to burn straight okies thru January and February then save the trebios and infernos for shoulder season mixing. If I pass up this ton tomorrow then who knows when I will get any more?

 

[bugize]

I bought some spruce points like that last year,25 bags....burned good but wasnt impressed with all the fines and mushed pellets for the premium price. i never picked up anymore. I had SIB deliver 2 tons of mwp softies...awsome pellet...at 239 per ton even....
If you are gonna pay 300 per ton,i would try Cubex if you can get them....great pellet,but too pricey for me.
I would have thought okies would be better....no wonder your steamed....i would be too

 

[subsailor]

I had SIB deliver 2 tons of mwp softies...awsome pellet...at 239 per ton even....

It's funny, Harman owners tend to like MWP pellets more than other stove owners. The hasn't been much said here about the softies, but the few comments I have read people weren't overly impressed, other than Sinnian and now Bugize.

 

[jtakeman]

OK, Straight scoop! Doug emailed and said I should call him. So I did and all he would say is it was a hiccup at the bagging plant. Yep, New equipment blues! Problem has been addressed, corrected and Shouldn't happen again. Whats coming from the mill now is as dust free as he can get them. He also stated Salty has talked to him as well and No he won't send ten tons to ya salty. He might get ya a couple of bags for your troubles if you call.

They are not yet re-pelleting the dust, Its close but still not ready.

 

[jtakeman]

Jay said takem back, i doubt anyone is gonna tell you to go get more LOL

WTH do I know?

 

[Estarrio]

The first pic looks like water damage. I bought some loose bags from HD that ended up like that several years ago. As the pellets explode, the saturated sawdust has a puffy experience.

 

[Salty]

THEN THEY LIED TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE.

This was NOT discussed on MY phone call. It was discussed that they have a problem.

"It's been taken care of"

YA KILLIN ME.

You really believe this? Ya gotta stop stumping for these guys J.


Seriously if you popped some of these bags you can't even classify them as pellets. They're more CHIPS and CHUNKS than pellets. Even Doug admits they're like that.

But I find it LAUGHABLE that he told you it's been taken care of. Sure it has. On a Friday afternoon magically after I complain. Sure.

I told him flat out their quality was better with the white bags or anything that came out of the plant before this year. Plain and simple they're putting CRAP out on the market.

Now I'm pissed. Why? Because he fed you this line of shat and it's not true.

I'm done with phone calls. If I wanted CRAP I could have gone somewhere and gotten their cheapest pellet. I paid for high end quality. The local shop is selling them for $6.50 a bag. HIGH END QUALITY IS EXPECTED.

These are far from that. I'll post a video later and you guys can make your own decision. I've made mine..

OK, Straight scoop! Doug emailed and said I should call him. So I did and all he would say is it was a hiccup at the bagging plant. Yep, New equipment blues! Problem has been addressed, corrected and Shouldn't happen again. Whats coming from the mill now is as dust free as he can get them. He also stated Salty has talked to him as well and No he won't send ten tons to ya salty. He might get ya a couple of bags for your troubles if you call.

They are not yet re-pelleting the dust, Its close but still not ready.

 

[Salty]

And I don't expect anything for free as I said earlier. I expected at least the same quality that I've bought the last few years.

I didn't get that.. and others should know objectively before they waste their money too.

 

[smwilliamson]

been burning vermonts, every bit as good in the heat department and great consistancy...comes from New England...so there is a BONUS, and the company is owned by a woman...not that it should matter but I would say the pellet heating industry is largely male...

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

been burning vermonts, every bit as good in the heat department and great consistancy...comes from New England...so there is a BONUS, and the company is owned by a woman...not that it should matter but I would say the pellet heating industry is largely male...

Vermonts are awesome....only thing better IMHO is the Blazers and and not by much.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Really i didnt think they were hotter then the Somersets, guess ill have to try them again. I'd like to find Blazers to try

Turman 165-180 2.6
Hearthside 155-160 2.5
Vermont 175-185 2.5
Blazers 170-185 2.78
MWP 155-160 2.45
Timber Heat 180-187 2.9
NEWP 150-155 2.36
PWI 165-170 2.8
Natures Heat 155-160 2.5

This is some heat numbers I came up with...all done the same day...the only reason I give the nod to Blazers is because if their ridiculous ash content. T o be fair I do not have numbers this year for Somersets but I know their ash level was higherlast year. What you see is the heat range with a temp probe one inch from the exchanger....the other number is burn rate

 

[Pellet-King]

Those are some high numbers for Timber heat, they that hot??

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Those are some high numbers for Timber heat, they that hot??

They did for me but they also fed very fast....seemed to be a pretty dense pellet based just on a visual.

 

[Fish On]

Guys just a heads up I had talked to doug about this 2, I picked up 25 bags and they looked good but when I got home there was a lot of broken pellets. I could see from my other stash of oakies right next to them.
BUT they still burn wicked hot and I'm sure it will be fixed.

This was from East Coast lumber in Hampstead NH, I didn't call them to complain because they think a pellet is a pellet, but I'm sure all will be well soon.

I clean my pellets always so it is not that big of a deal for me..

And the sleeper for this year has to be the Turman pellets, hands down awesome little to no ash and the heat is like the old cubex of years past. Just picked up Two tons of them

 

[jtakeman]

THEN THEY LIED TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE.

This was NOT discussed on MY phone call. It was discussed that they have a problem.

"It's been taken care of"

YA KILLIN ME.

You really believe this? Ya gotta stop stumping for these guys J.

Salty, I'd say you should have "stated" you already talked to Doug. I was taken off guard once I found out while speaking with him. I would have stayed out of it. He did say you said that they were burning hot and not causing any issues with your stove. I'd think if they were causing problems Doug would have worked with you or anyone else.

I'm not trying to stump anyone, Just trying to "get" whats going on. I'm just reading between the lines! I haven't seen them and can only say what Doug said to me and what you are saying. Stuck in the middle tis all. We only discused the fines in the bag. I did not know there were lots of small or broken pellets like fish-on is saying. Only other thing he stated was the product from BC was in the bulk railcars since September due to the mill delays.

IMHO, We are only hearing Salty's side of the bash, All Doug would say is he will take his lumps on this one and assured they will fix it. He even suggested I will get lumped up with him if I said anything(guess he was right!). I'll back away and let you and doug hash this chit out. This really doesn't concern me as I don't want any fingers pointed at me. IMHO I should have kept far away from this one!

 

[jtakeman]

Turman 165-180 2.6
Hearthside 155-160 2.5
Vermont 175-185 2.5
Blazers 170-185 2.78
MWP 155-160 2.45
Timber Heat 180-187 2.9
NEWP 150-155 2.36
PWI 165-170 2.8
Natures Heat 155-160 2.5

This is some heat numbers I came up with...all done the same day...the only reason I give the nod to Blazers is because if their ridiculous ash content. T o be fair I do not have numbers this year for Somersets but I know their ash level was higherlast year. What you see is the heat range with a temp probe one inch from the exchanger....the other number is burn rate

Nice comparision. I gotta try those Timber heats(Local Lowes has em). Turmans, Vermonts and Blazers are right up there too!

I get the 180-187 is the temps, But whats the 2.9 number?

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Nice comparision. I gotta try those Timber heats(Local Lowes has em). Turmans, Vermonts and Blazers are right up there too!

I get the 180-187 is the temps, But whats the 2.9 number?

That is the lbs/hr.....everything was run on heatthe level one

 

[Salty]

What I SAID was that my stove burns fines ok. What I SAID was the worst I could see would be some hopper dams or auger jams. An inconvenience for anyone J. Last year I figured out how to get a burn that really worked for once. Their quality was great the last 2 years. This stuff stinks. I believe I said here earlier I talked to him.Again I am not looking for freebies or anything else. They made the decision to shut their plant down while the only electrician who knew what was going on in the plant went on vacation in the middle of this. Least this is what I was told. I placed this order 2 months ago. I got put off and put off, I had the chance to take 2 tons 3 weeks ago as I said. I declined so someone else was not inconvenienced.

But for them to say they're back online and shipping a really crummy product is just wrong. Their quality should have improved. It didn't. It declined. I chose to go with Lacretes this morning. We looked at the rest of the stock in the yard as best we could through the plastic. The stuff was crap. I paid the difference on the lacretes it was $80 more for a 1.3 ton pallet. I got 4 bad bags on the bottom which will go back tuesday when they are open again.

I saw a sample of the black hills today...this I will put in the black hills thread. I'm not impressed. LOTS of little dark flecks in the pellets I mean LOTS. I always understood this to be bark from not cleaning the trees properly...or filler. I always understood this was bad. Maybe someone can edumacate me

 

[jtakeman]

Really i didnt think they were hotter then the Somersets, guess ill have to try them again. I'd like to find Blazers to try

Robbins is the only place I know that has them. They are very pricey though! Another pellet to look for is these Orfords I have been seeing posted here. They might be a DF pellet. Still waiting for confirmation from Valfie on that part. I can't find them local, Hopefully you or IHATEPROPANE might. He seems to have the testing bug too(poor soul)!

I called my locals that sell okies. Only stock they have is before the mill upgrade. Or I'd get some and do the fines percentage on them. Also the size of them. I would imagine small would really pack the pellets in and throw high heat. Similar to the Somersets you(OMV) posted in another thread.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Hopefully you or IHATEPROPANE might. He seems to have the testing bug too

Yup...I do....the wife hates it but I try and test every brand I come across....that first year where I scarfed up Infernos over Greene Teams taught me a valuable lesson....to quote George Bush " fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice....well your not gonna fool me twice" or something like that.

 

[jtakeman]

What I SAID was that my stove burns fines ok. What I SAID was the worst I could see would be some hopper dams or auger jams. An inconvenience for anyone J. Last year I figured out how to get a burn that really worked for once. Their quality was great the last 2 years. This stuff stinks. I believe I said here earlier I talked to him.Again I am not looking for freebies or anything else. They made the decision to shut their plant down while the only electrician who knew what was going on in the plant went on vacation in the middle of this. Least this is what I was told. I placed this order 2 months ago. I got put off and put off, I had the chance to take 2 tons 3 weeks ago as I said. I declined so someone else was not inconvenienced.

But for them to say they're back online and shipping a really crummy product is just wrong. Their quality should have improved. It didn't. It declined. I chose to go with Lacretes this morning. We looked at the rest of the stock in the yard as best we could through the plastic. The stuff was crap. I paid the difference on the lacretes it was $80 more for a 1.3 ton pallet. I got 4 bad bags on the bottom which will go back tuesday when they are open again.

I saw a sample of the black hills today...this I will put in the black hills thread. I'm not impressed. LOTS of little dark flecks in the pellets I mean LOTS. I always understood this to be bark from not cleaning the trees properly...or filler. I always understood this was bad. Maybe someone can edumacate me

I think what he meant was they shouldn't be as dirty as what you have received. Whats going out now has less fines in the bags. I don't know about the small-broken pellet issue or what they could even do about that. I didn't ask as I was only concerned with the dust/fines chit! I'm also not real sure Doug got that we don't like fines(he called it a dirty Mercedes). They aren't what we want in our hi dollar pellets. 1.) It takes up weight in the bag that more pellets should be filling. 2.) They can clog our augers 3.) Fines don't make heat! They actually lower the heat a good pellet can produce. I with ya Salty, I would not be happy if I bought these either!

I'm trying to find a sample of these. Not having much luck. The dealers in my area bought there stuff in early spring and don't have the latest stuff. The dealers that waited(maybe too long) are the ones getting the latest stuff that has the fines issue!

I also heard the Lecretes might be having a fines issue. I didn't get the whole scoop on it. I can't get them in my area. Hopefully you don't have any issues them either! I would look at em carefully though!

Yes bark in the mix is bad, Bark contains 2-3 times the amount of ash compared to the cleaner wood fiber. But it might not be bark, The high heat of the mill process can darken the fiber. Not sure how to determine the difference. But you'll know if its bark, The pellets will be ashy as heck if it is! Wood also darkens with age and can be lighter/darker with each species.

 

[jtakeman]

Yup...I do....the wife hates it but I try and test every brand I come across....that first year where I scarfed up Infernos over Greene Teams taught me a valuable lesson....to quote George Bush " fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice....well your not gonna fool me twice" or something like that.

Well I for one are glad you caught the bug! Your getting a few I can't see down here and what you get is giving me a clue on them when I do! Thanks for sharing the goods with us! I see lots of lab equipment in your future! You'll be as poor as me!

 

[Salty]

yes the sample bag they had there was clearly flecked. I would say the color of the pellet was a medium brown to very slight tan but you could clearly see lots of flecks in each pellet. I did learn sumthin here then and passed on them for right now

The broken pellet issue they know about and are attributing it to having to add water to the mix to get them to pelletize. I dunno but they don't look like previous okies I've ever burned. The smell is the same though so it's the same wood.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Well I for one are glad you caught the bug! Your getting a few I can't see down here and what you get is giving me a clue on them when I do! Thanks for sharing the goods with us! I see lots of lab equipment in your future! You'll be as poor as me!

Broke but informed.....I can live with that

 

[jtakeman]

yes the sample bag they had there was clearly flecked. I would say the color of the pellet was a medium brown to very slight tan but you could clearly see lots of flecks in each pellet. I did learn sumthin here then and passed on them for right now

The broken pellet issue they know about and are attributing it to having to add water to the mix to get them to pelletize. I dunno but they don't look like previous okies I've ever burned. The smell is the same though so it's the same wood.

I have a sample bag too. I'll try to post some close ups later in the Blackhills thread. I even crumbled up a few to see if the specs are in the pellet. Looks to be only on the skin(outside).