BEST PERFORMING PELLET

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jackiec

Member
Nov 8, 2008
44
E. MA
the last time i purchased pellets 18 months ago,(4 tons) Okies were considered to be the best available in the Boston area. They were mentioned daily in this forum ..... Now, I need more and can find nothing about them here or more importantly @ any pellet dealers. What happened? What has taken over as the best pellet available in this area? Thanks !!!
 
You checked the "Fuel Price Reports" on the forum and there's nothing in the Boston area?

Have you called your local big box stores to see what brands they have on hand? Local stove shops? Lawn & garden supplies? Tractor Supply? Etc, etc, etc.
 
You need to tell us what you have available LOCALLY. If the "best" pellets are 500 miles from you, that isn't going to help you any.
 
Went to my local dealer, nothing in stock. Could you please tell me what is comparable to Okangan? They are the only pellet I've ever burned in 3 years of troublefree operation and would like to get them or at least something considered in their class. Would like to compile a list of potential candidates so I am able to pull the trigger if I happen to come across them.
 
I have found good reviews on the following:

Ambiance, Vermont, Spruce Pointe, Barefoot, blazer, turmans, cubix, harmers, dragon mountain, PWI, O’Mailey’s, Lignetics, Okies

That said, if you cannot get these in your area the list does you no good. For example from this list in my area I only have access to ambiance, vermont, spruce pointe, cubex, okiies, and pwi. The rest I cannot find in my area; driving 6 plus hours (round trip) or more is just too far no matter how good the pellet is.

The key is finding several suppliers in your area that carry pellets that you want.

Rick..........
 
Where are you located near Boston....Fallon home and Hearth up in Hampton Falls NH has Vermont pellets.
 
Last years regular oakies had quality issues.... search around for threads. most dealers stopped carrying them as a result.
Oakies has a new line called 'black hills' out now that have been getting good reviews.

your results may vary.
 
In the 5 years since I've been a pellet stove owner, my best pellets seem to be Lignetics when comparing quality and price.
 
I too was a devout Okie user for the last 3 years and would get my stash from Home and Hearth In Hampton falls.When I went this year they didn't carry any Okies but had Vermonts which I find almost as good (A little more ashy) I did find some Cubex locally and going on there reputation I bought about 20 bags. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT The cubex are terrible and I will NEVER buy them again My son got some Okies from East Coast Lumber in Hampstead N.H. And I borrowed a few bags to try. I find them as good as they always were. I am now mixing Okies and Cubex 50/50 to get rid of these Super premium dog turd ash producing Cubex pellets.It Is a shame we have no recourse when we spend good money ($7.00 a bag) for a product advertized as Super Premium and turns out to be garbage. If had an oil delivery and bought #2 fuel oil and received #4 you bet your butt Mr. oil man would replace It. CUBEX Boo Boo Bad Bad
 
In the 5 years since I've been a pellet stove owner, my best pellets seem to be Lignetics when comparing quality and price.
In my 1 month of pellet burning I have experienced the same thing! :p But I live out west so mine come from soft wood so no real comparison. But I like the QC I see from what I have burned. That says something about the company which is important.
 
I too was a devout Okie user for the last 3 years and would get my stash from Home and Hearth In Hampton falls.When I went this year they didn't carry any Okies but had Vermonts which I find almost as good (A little more ashy) I did find some Cubex locally and going on there reputation I bought about 20 bags. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT The cubex are terrible and I will NEVER buy them again My son got some Okies from East Coast Lumber in Hampstead N.H. And I borrowed a few bags to try. I find them as good as they always were. I am now mixing Okies and Cubex 50/50 to get rid of these Super premium dog turd ash producing Cubex pellets.It Is a shame we have no recourse when we spend good money ($7.00 a bag) for a product advertized as Super Premium and turns out to be garbage. If had an oil delivery and bought #2 fuel oil and received #4 you bet your butt Mr. oil man would replace It. CUBEX Boo Boo Bad Bad

East Coast Lumber has the Okie Black Hills pellet. They had both regular Okie and Okie Black Hills for a little while but ran out of the regular and only have Okie Black Hills. They told me they will not be getting any more regular Okies this year. FWIW, I was told this weekend that Cubex had a bad batch and pulled them and sold them to the utility pellet burners. Supposedly the ones being sold now are better and more like the previous Cubex pellets. I have burned a few bags of Northern (same pellet at Cubex) and they burned great for me. As good as some of the softwoods in my stove. I also have about five bags of regular Cubex to try that I bought up in Hooksett on Saturday. I'll post the results as soon as I go to rehab and get off my "two bag a day Vermont softwood habit". That stuff is like crack (not that I would know :p). My test burn of Maximum's got postponed because I had to try some Vermonts before commiting to the ton I got yesterday.
 
cubex is getting bad rep this year, but previously it was a dang good pellet. must have had fiber supply issues this year.

it's just even more important reason to always try a few bas before commiting to a full ton or 5.
 
Last years regular oakies had quality issues.... search around for threads. most dealers stopped carrying them as a result.
Oakies has a new line called 'black hills' out now that have been getting good reviews.

your results may vary.

Reason the BlackHills were brought in wasn't for the fines issue. It was for reduced quantities of Okies being available too us. Okies are popular in Europe and they are buying all they can get. So that left the market shy for New England. Mill issues also effected availability. Mill issue is supposed to be corrected and more Okies is being steered towards NE. So we should see both Okies and BlackHills along with a limited run of Okies Douglas Fir for the spring rush.

Pellet quality was a fines issue and not a burning issue. Pretty sure OMV has sampled the latest stuff from the mill. Hopefully he pops in and offers some comments on the quality?
 
Not much anything good this year around here, so for the money stick with FSU or Chow's, all you gotta do if it get's cold just raise the feed rate a notch
 
East Coast Lumber has the Okie Black Hills pellet. They had both regular Okie and Okie Black Hills for a little while but ran out of the regular and only have Okie Black Hills. They told me they will not be getting any more regular Okies this year. FWIW, I was told this weekend that Cubex had a bad batch and pulled them and sold them to the utility pellet burners. Supposedly the ones being sold now are better and more like the previous Cubex pellets. I have burned a few bags of Northern (same pellet at Cubex) and they burned great for me. As good as some of the softwoods in my stove. I also have about five bags of regular Cubex to try that I bought up in Hooksett on Saturday. I'll post the results as soon as I go to rehab and get off my "two bag a day Vermont softwood habit". That stuff is like crack (not that I would know :p). My test burn of Maximum's got postponed because I had to try some Vermonts before commiting to the ton I got

The Northerns burned well for me this year also. I'd buy them again.

Jackiec, as was mentioned above. Spruce Pointe, Vermont's, and Lg might be good for ya if you like the softwoods.
 
I was at a Oakie dealer recently That said they are screaming for more oakies. they even had to pick up another brand because they cant send them enough oakies. or black hills for that matter. They said they can go thru a 1 or 2 week dry spell
So i dont agree with that assumption Brian Seems there isnt enough Oakies to go around according to this dealer Thats the reason in my opinion

X2.....If I had an unlimited supply of Okies this past season, I could be a wealthy man today! And the only Okies issues that I heard about was what I read on this forum, and most of those came from a disgruntled "budge" on an unsuccessful quest in search of a Zoomba instructor. Not any real issues with my customers regarding the product. I have already put in my order for the spring and summer and I will sell every Okie that I get. And please, please people...It's "Okies", not "Oakies"
 
Where are you located near Boston....Fallon home and Hearth up in Hampton Falls NH has Vermont pellets.

I loooove my Vermonts. The best I have burned so far. Just sprung for another ton! I also liked PWI's and Cubex.
 
I too was a devout Okie user for the last 3 years and would get my stash from Home and Hearth In Hampton falls.When I went this year they didn't carry any Okies but had Vermonts which I find almost as good (A little more ashy) I did find some Cubex locally and going on there reputation I bought about 20 bags. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT The cubex are terrible and I will NEVER buy them again My son got some Okies from East Coast Lumber in Hampstead N.H. And I borrowed a few bags to try. I find them as good as they always were. I am now mixing Okies and Cubex 50/50 to get rid of these Super premium dog turd ash producing Cubex pellets.It Is a shame we have no recourse when we spend good money ($7.00 a bag) for a product advertized as Super Premium and turns out to be garbage. If had an oil delivery and bought #2 fuel oil and received #4 you bet your butt Mr. oil man would replace It. CUBEX Boo Boo Bad Bad

Jim, I haven't burned Cubex in a year and I'm disappointed that the quality has gone down. Sad, but there are too many other quality pellets out there to get upset. Cubex were always a bit too pricy.
 
Cubex has been the worst pellet I've burned.lots of ash and average heat.i'll be glad when they are gone.instant heat at TSC has been very good.also stove chow and Firesides.
 
Northeast Fence on Route 1 in Saugus has Okies $5 / bag

Would these be the water damaged pellets that were discussed on here a while back?
 
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