12/13 Pellet testing

[jtakeman]

Disclaimer: All stoves are different and As they say YMMV!. There are uncontrollable factors and variables involved. These tests are for reference only. I highly recommend that you try these brands in your stove before any large purchase. I am not connected in any way with the pellet people. Just a home burner testing in his basement for ha-ha's. I work for my stove and to heat my house with the highest quality pellet that I can obtain for the best possible price.

I had some samples giving to me by Scott at CTpellet and Mr. Warm. I am trying to get to them before the season ends. Hopefully I can get to them all before it warms up too much?

Same old format but with a new twist. I am getting the average temp like all the others I have tested, But I am then turning the feed rate up/down to get a temp of 250. So for 2 hours I let the stove burn at feed rate 3 trim level 3(like all the other pellets). Once I get that temp, I adjust the feed/trim up or down to get the 250 mark. I was told this would be a fair comparison. I'll also post the feed-trim level settings JIC.

I am also figuring the average pounds per hour for each pellet. Some thing member Ihatpropane has been doing, So I stole it from him.

Brands I will try to get to are(in this order!): Details will be posted as I go along!

Orfords(done)

LaCrete's(done)

Okies Douglas Fir(done)

BlackHills Heat(in progress)

MWP Softwoods

Country Boy White Lightning

Turman's

I have a few others, But I doubt I will have time to get to them. If I do I will add what I can!

I hope some of the others join me in posting what we found with this seasons goods.

Hope you all enjoy.

 

[jtakeman]

Orfords

Temp average 245ºF(250@ feed level 3 trim level 4)

Fines volume 4 ounces

Fines weight 1.52 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.12%

Ash volume 12 ounces

Ash weight 3.76 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.29%

Density 43.8 LBS.

Bag Weight
bag1 40.06 lbs.
bag2 40.15 lbs.

Diameter .256

Length 1/4 to 1 3/8 inches

Total Burn Time 28 hrs. 8 min.

Pounds per hour 2.85 LBS/hr.

 

[jtakeman]

La Crete's

Temp average 260ºF(250 @ feed level 3 trim level 1)

Fines volume 6 ounces

Fines weight 2.56 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.20 %

Ash volume 11 ounces

Ash weight 3.98 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.31%

Density 45.09 LBS.

Bag Weight
bag1 40.08 lbs.
bag2 40.11 lbs.

Diameter 251.

Length 1/8 to 1 3/4 inches(there was a few long pellets, But nothing excessive!).

Total Burn Time 29 hrs. 22 min.

Pounds per hour 2.73 LBS/Hr

 

[jtakeman]

Okies Douglas Fir

Temp average 280ºF (250@ feed level 2 trim level 3)

Fines volume 8 ounces

Fines weight 4 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.31%

Ash volume 5 ounces

Ash weight 1.42 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.11%

Density 45.60 LBS.

Bag Weight
bag1 40.38 lbs.
bag2 39.99 lbs.

Diameter .254

Length 1/4 to 1 inches

Total Burn Time 31 hrs. 43 min.

Pounds per hour 2.53 LBS/Hr.

 

[jtakeman]

Black Hills Heat

Temp average 254ºF(250@ feed level 3 trim level 2)

Fines volume 10 ounces

Fines weight 4.4 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.34%

Ash volume ounces

Ash weight ounces

Ash Percentage %

Density 44.2 LBS.

Bag Weight
bag1 40.03 lbs.
bag2 40.02 lbs.

Diameter .253

Length 3/8 to 1 1/2 inches

Total Burn Time hrs. min.

Pounds per hour

 

[jtakeman]

MWP Softwoods

 

[jtakeman]

reserved

 

[jtakeman]

reserved

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

As always I cannot wait for your results!!

 

[smoke show]

hurry up.

 

[sinnian]

Looking forward to the MWP Softwood, and DF results

 

[jtakeman]

As always I cannot wait for your results!!

Did you test anything this season?

hurry up.

Yes em boss!

Looking forward to the MWP Softwood, and DF results

I tested the MWP softies earlier(decent heat-low ash), Scored a couple more bags to retest with the others. I almost did the DF first, But I have had the Orfords and the La Crete's longer.

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Did you test anything this season?


Yes em boss!


I tested the MWP softies earlier(decent heat-low ash), Scored a couple more bags to retest with the others. I almost did the DF first, But I have had the Orfords and the La Crete's longer.

I did but I am not sure if I have the results......I will check my files

 

[Eatonpcat]

Apparently the new boat isn't in the water yet!!

 

[sinnian]

I tested the MWP softies earlier(decent heat-low ash), Scored a couple more bags to retest with the others. I almost did the DF first, But I have had the Orfords and the La Crete's longer.

Did you post the results and I missed them?

THANKS!

 

[jtakeman]

Apparently the new boat isn't in the water yet!!

Nope, This is just taking the jitters out of waiting for it.

Did you post the results and I missed them?

THANKS!

Just posted verbal results for subsailer. I had a drive failure and lost the details.

 

[imacman]

Nope, This is just taking the jitters out of waiting for it.

ANOTHER new boat??? Wow....someone is a big shot at his job.

We need pics or it never floated!

 

[DexterDay]

ANOTHER new boat??? Wow....someone is a big shot at his job.

We need pics or it never floated!

It happened.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/spring-fever-has-struck-guess-what-we-done-did.108320/
Here

 

[subsailor]

I tested the MWP softies earlier(decent heat-low ash), Scored a couple more bags to retest with the others. I almost did the DF first, But I have had the Orfords and the La Crete's longer.

IIRC the temp was around 250. Your comment was they were almost as hot as the Vermonts with a little more ash.

 

[jtakeman]

ANOTHER new boat??? Wow....someone is a big shot at his job.

We need pics or it never floated!

The other boat was new to me, But being 13 years old. It was slightly outdated. It happened, And we're getting pretty close to going to bring it home. Just waiting on some factory options to arrive and be installed. Hopefully next weekend?

 

[jtakeman]

LA Crete's done and the Okies DF are in. Holy snizits are they freekin hot!

 

[briansol]

wow, turned it down AND its up 30. lol those might be worth their price afterall....

 

[iron stove]

LA Crete's done and the Okies DF are in. Holy snizits are they freekin hot!

If you cant stand the heat.......

 

[fmsm]

Thank you for your efforts. I really appreciate your testing!

 

[jtakeman]

wow, turned it down AND its up 30. lol those might be worth their price afterall....

If its really cold and your stove can't keep up? These might the ticket for ya.

If you cant stand the heat.......

I hope a few others get a chance to try these. Love to hear the comments.

Thank you for your efforts. I really appreciate your testing!

I have fun doing this, And every new pellet is exciting to me. I hope to try them all someday.