Are there really bad pellets out there?

[Yooperburner]

Are there really bad brands of pellets out there. I suppose there is .

Maybe a pellet doesn't burn properly because of improper storage or handling, which I would guess is probably the case most of the time.

I've only had my stove burning for a month and only burned 2 brands so far, so I'm curious.

Is there a brand you would never buy?

 

[zrock]

yes their are extremely bad brands. when we got ours i got a couple bags of each brand and ran them until i found the one that gave me the most heat. Even this year i have noticed my go to pellet is not burning as hot as normal this year and my other go to does not seem to be available this year.

 

[jackman]

It probably depends a lot on where you live. Out in the PNW I only burn the Packsaddle doug fir pellets. I tried Bear Mountain many years ago but I found them to be smelly. I think they spiked them with a petroleum product.

 

[Dataman]

I have not found any. Only 2 Brands up here. North Idaho Energy Logs and Purcell. Once got bags with lots of Decomposed Pellets. Those ran thru my stove just fine (Harmon XXV). About 2 full ash pans per Ton. (small ash pan). I like Purcell bags they come in better. No Vent Hold for moisture to get into and less decomposed pellets (None So Far). Delivered this year was about $900 for 4 tons. Checked temp other day (Meat Thermometer) it was over 200f (Guess about 220f). Heat output depends on Room Temp and Settings.

 

[Yooperburner]

The two brands I tried were made in WI pretty close to me in the UP of mi. I would reckon the closer they are the less likely they are to get messed up during shipping. I can't remember the brand names right now but they were purchased at TSC and Menards

 

[bogieb]

A couple of brands that I haven't seen in a while were really bad. They literally only put out luke warm air from the P61a: Maine's Best (NOT MWP) and Therma Glo's.

Luckily, I got the Therma Glo's for very cheap during the fire sales of 2016 when HD sent me a couple of tons (I don't even know where those came from since I had never seen them at an HD around here). The P61a does not heat a large space, so they weren't a total loss. The Maine's Best, I just got a couple of bags to try.

I tend to buy middling brands (not DF or full softies) because I have a small house so the stoves don't work hard. Really hot burning pellets will cause the stoves to short cycle, and cause a mess in the stoves and pipes. If I find an excellent deal on FBM/CL, then I usaully burn those in the P43 or blend them with some worse pellet s in the P61a.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

In the Upper Midwest, Hay Creek pellets are recycled pallet wood. They're pretty bad. Marth pellets have gone downhill in recent years. Indeck pellets are decent -- not world-beaters, but they'll warm your house.

I believe Rib Mountain is making pellets again. They used to have a good reputation -- I haven't heard anything recently. Dejnos pellets are a very good blend -- you can smell pine resin when you open a bag. They have a 100% softwood pellet as well, but the blends are almost as good and cheaper.

In the UP, Vulcan Wood Products in Norway makes pellets. They've been so-so quality in the past but their Facebook page says they had a preseason price of $225/ton. You may also be able to find Pro Pellets or Magic Spark, which are made in Michigan. You can buy those with confidence.

EarthSense, a big pellet stove retailer in Wisconsin, sells their own brand of pellets, Uncle Jed's. They have several affiliates in the UP: Joe & Sons in Gwinn, Bay Area Fireplace in Escanaba, Engadine Feed in Engadine.

 

[Oregun]

It probably depends a lot on where you live. Out in the PNW I only burn the Packsaddle doug fir pellets. I tried Bear Mountain many years ago but I found them to be smelly. I think they spiked them with a petroleum product.

I have used Bear Mountain for many years. Not this year as I couldn't get them. I believe BM mixes cedar and doug fir. Maybe you are smelling the cedar.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

In the Upper Midwest, Hay Creek pellets are recycled pallet wood. They're pretty bad. Marth pellets have gone downhill in recent years. Indeck pellets are decent -- not world-beaters, but they'll warm your house.

I believe Rib Mountain is making pellets again. They used to have a good reputation -- I haven't heard anything recently. Dejnos pellets are a very good blend -- you can smell pine resin when you open a bag. They have a 100% softwood pellet as well, but the blends are almost as good and cheaper.

In the UP, Vulcan Wood Products in Norway makes pellets. They've been so-so quality in the past but their Facebook page says they had a preseason price of $225/ton. You may also be able to find Pro Pellets or Magic Spark, which are made in Michigan. You can buy those with confidence.

EarthSense, a big pellet stove retailer in Wisconsin, sells their own brand of pellets, Uncle Jed's. They have several affiliates in the UP: Joe & Sons in Gwinn, Bay Area Fireplace in Escanaba, Engadine Feed in Engadine.

Oops, made a mistake. That $225/ton was at a retailer, not Vulcan itself.

 

[Yooperburner]

Oops, made a mistake. That $225/ton was at a retailer, not Vulcan itself.

They are 295.88 plus 30 delivery at a local place now

 

[Yooperburner]

So far I've tried

Indeck hardwood
Michigan wood fuels
Snow timbers

They all seem to be fairly good. I'm new to this but nothing jumps out as bad. They all burn good with about the same amount of ash. Seem to heat good. Hard to compare unless variables are the same.

I got a bag of Marth pellets to try

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

They are 295.88 plus 30 delivery at a local place now

Too much for Vulcans, IMO.
If MWF is actually using oak, that's probably a good choice. A buddy got some of them from a local Tractor Supply, didn't have any complaints.
I hadn't heard of Snow Timber before. They claim to be hardwood with 8500 btu/lb. That's an extravagant claim -- most fuels in that btu range are softwood. But it looks like the factory is in Hurley, certainly there's no shortage of softwood around there. Some people mistakenly think that hardwood pellets produce more heat than softwoods when usually, the reverse is true. It may be a marketing ploy to claim hardwood content. But that's just speculation on my part.
Some of these pellet outfits make claims that, well, aren't based on reality. Usually the only way to get a true impression of quality is to try them out. You have a bag of Marths, probably a couple-three bags will give you a pretty good base to judge by. In the case of Marth, one may be enough.

 

[Yooperburner]

Too much for Vulcans, IMO.
If MWF is actually using oak, that's probably a good choice. A buddy got some of them from a local Tractor Supply, didn't have any complaints.
I hadn't heard of Snow Timber before. They claim to be hardwood with 8500 btu/lb. That's an extravagant claim -- most fuels in that btu range are softwood. But it looks like the factory is in Hurley, certainly there's no shortage of softwood around there. Some people mistakenly think that hardwood pellets produce more heat than softwoods when usually, the reverse is true. It may be a marketing ploy to claim hardwood content. But that's just speculation on my part.
Some of these pellet outfits make claims that, well, aren't based on reality. Usually the only way to get a true impression of quality is to try them out. You have a bag of Marths, probably a couple-three bags will give you a pretty good base to judge by. In the case of Marth, one may be enough.

We know some hardwood burns longer than softwood which is better as far as woodstoves go just because you get a longer burn, I reckon some softwoods burn faster with more BTUs. I don't know if it's the same with pellets , but I would think it is. I can't find any locally to burn to try.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I usually buy from a couple of big-box stores, Tractor Supply and Menards. TSC usually has a good preseason sale where you lay away pellets in July and pick them up in September. The checkout process can be agonizing but the prices are very good. I usually have to return some moisture-damaged bags.
If you're within a reasonable distance of a Menards, they usually mark their pellets down in February, about the same time they offer an 11% store-credit rebate.
The problem with both stores is that they offer several different pellet brands depending what's available for (their) cheapest price. Menards often has Marth but sometimes gets Somersets, a pellet from Kentucky that's the byproduct of their hardwood flooring factory. Those pellets have a lot of oak content and burn hot. Buy them with confidence.
TSC is a total crapshoot. As I mentioned, they had Michigan Wood Fuels at my store this fall. Last year, they had Lignetics Appalachian blend. Those are probably the best Lignetics pellets because they have a high oak/hickory content (BTW, Lignetics now owns Marth, which are mediocre pellets).
On the plus side, TSC sells hardwood and softwood pellets for the same price. I've had Rapid Heat softwood pellets out of South Dakota from TSC, a pretty decent pellet. This year it's Timberland Peak softwoods, either from North Carolina or Idaho. I'd rate them pretty good, not great.
The big-box stores generally stock on the basis of price, not quality. If you want the best, look for an Uncle Jed's retailer. Jed's softwoods are very good. But in the end, whatever you buy is going to go up in smoke.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

We know some hardwood burns longer than softwood which is better as far as woodstoves go just because you get a longer burn, I reckon some softwoods burn faster with more BTUs. I don't know if it's the same with pellets , but I would think it is. I can't find any locally to burn to try.

Yes, if you look at BTU output per pound, softwood pellets deliver more heat. They also produce less ash, because they have a lower mineral content. A lot of people with smaller stoves prefer softwoods because they require less stove maintenance.

 

[Yooperburner]

I usually buy from a couple of big-box stores, Tractor Supply and Menards. TSC usually has a good preseason sale where you lay away pellets in July and pick them up in September. The checkout process can be agonizing but the prices are very good. I usually have to return some moisture-damaged bags.
If you're within a reasonable distance of a Menards, they usually mark their pellets down in February, about the same time they offer an 11% store-credit rebate.
The problem with both stores is that they offer several different pellet brands depending what's available for (their) cheapest price. Menards often has Marth but sometimes gets Somersets, a pellet from Kentucky that's the byproduct of their hardwood flooring factory. Those pellets have a lot of oak content and burn hot. Buy them with confidence.
TSC is a total crapshoot. As I mentioned, they had Michigan Wood Fuels at my store this fall. Last year, they had Lignetics Appalachian blend. Those are probably the best Lignetics pellets because they have a high oak/hickory content (BTW, Lignetics now owns Marth, which are mediocre pellets).
On the plus side, TSC sells hardwood and softwood pellets for the same price. I've had Rapid Heat softwood pellets out of South Dakota from TSC, a pretty decent pellet. This year it's Timberland Peak softwoods, either from North Carolina or Idaho. I'd rate them pretty good, not great.
The big-box stores generally stock on the basis of price, not quality. If you want the best, look for an Uncle Jed's retailer. Jed's softwoods are very good. But in the end, whatever you buy is going to go up in smoke.

Indeck- TSC
Snow timbers - Menards
MWF- Lowes
Marths- local hardware store

Most are made what I would consider semi local to me

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Indeck- TSC
Snow timbers - Menards
MWF- Lowes
Marths- local hardware store

Like I said, I am OK with Indeck, and my buddy seems to think MWF are OK too. In my area, the local hardware charges a premium for whatever they sell. If you can get Marths on a deep discount, they will heat your house. But they aren't my favorite.
You can tell us what you think of Snow Timber compared to your other options. This guy liked them in 2016, but products can vary from year to year.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/snow-timber-pellets.154401/

 

[johneh]

softwood pellets deliver more heat

The soft wood pellets I use in shoulder season have a rating of 8500BTU
The hardwood pellets I use in cold weather have a BTU rating of 10000 BTU
It all has to do with the dies in the pellet extruder the tighter the pellet the more heat produced
The people I get my hardwood pellets from change out and rebuild their dies on a weekly rotation
Maintaining a consistent pellet

 

[Yooperburner]

Like I said, I am OK with Indeck, and my buddy seems to think MWF are OK too. In my area, the local hardware charges a premium for whatever they sell. If you can get Marths on a deep discount, they will heat your house. But they aren't my favorite.
You can tell us what you think of Snow Timber compared to your other options. This guy liked them in 2016, but products can vary from year to year.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/snow-timber-pellets.154401/

The Snow timbers are just as good as the others so far, at least the difference is unnoticeable. Tho I bought them 100 miles in the other direction, they are made about 100 miles from me

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

The soft wood pellets I use in shoulder season have a rating of 8500BTU
The hardwood pellets I use in cold weather have a BTU rating of 10000 BTU
It all has to do with the dies in the pellet extruder the tighter the pellet the more heat produced
The people I get my hardwood pellets from change out and rebuild their dies on a weekly rotation
Maintaining a consistent pellet

What's the brand name of the 10k hardwoods? The ones I see here are rated 7.9k-8.1k. Your pellet folks sound like pellet crafters, like craft beer.

 

[johneh]

What's the brand name of the 10k hardwoods

My bad the actual BTU output is 9000
Lauzon makes the pellets and the raw material is from their flooring plant
In Quebec Canada There number one product is Cubex. Specs and other pellets on this page

About - Lauzon

Wood pellets High energy efficiency pellets for heating or cooking that we produce in order to enhance wood residues. North American leader In 1995, faithful to our environmental commitment and zero waste policy, we created Lauzon Bois Énergétique Recyclé. This manufacturing division is...

www.lauzonhardwood.com

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I don't anticipate pellet manufacturers can verify their products' BTU output to the unit, of course. Often the same pellet brand can produce different results over time. And really, how can we verify the claims? I don't have a BTU meter in the basement.
I've heard of Cubex. It sounds like the pellets are very good, and they're clearly well-liked on the forum.
I looked at the Lauzon page and the spec sheet on the site. It doesn't say exactly that Cubex produces 9000 BTU consistently, it says up to 9000 BTU. I don't want to sound like a stickler (well, OK, I am), but that kind of wording reminds me of promises I get from Internet providers about "lightning" speed.
I was looking at the website for Somerset's pellets, where they list their BTU rating as "at least" 7900 BTU. Somersets also get high praise around here, and for good reason. The pellets burn hot, fines are minimal and they aren't very ashy. They also come from a flooring manufacturer. But who says their BTU number is accurate. It certainly could be an underestimate. Either way, I'll never know.
BTW, John, I wonder if you've seen another pellet brand in your area -- BioPower out of Atikokan, Ontario. My local Tractor Supply was selling them a few years ago. I thought they were pretty good -- they smelled resiny, had very few fines.

 

[johneh]

Personly I feel that you should find a pallet that does the job you need it to do and
when it comes down it I and most people on this forum want a product that is
clean burning not too much ash and KEEPS US WARM AT A REASONABLE PRICE

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I hear that. I've been burning for only a dozen years or so, but I long for those days when I could pick up a ton of decent pellets for $180 toward the end of the season. Now $250 is more like it.
With the situation in Europe, I don't expect things to get much better. When you can't get natgas, pellets are an attractive option.
For a while I thought the shrinking paper industry would improve the pellet market -- Several years ago some pulpwood cutters in Wisconsin started up Lumberjack to create a market for their output. The quality of their product was a little uneven, though, and eventually Lignetics bought them up and turned their label into a brand for barbecue pellets.
Seems like efforts like that run on a shoestring. For a business like Lauzon or Somerset, pellets are a byproduct that's a side gig for their main business. Same thing for the pallet guys like Easyheat.

 

[Tonyray]

living here in the Northeast hands down worst pellets sold are Easy Heats.. lot of the mixture is from old wood pallets.
it's why they can sell them cheaper but they are a mess.. nickname is "Ole Roy's" after the sams club dog food..
Lot's of ash in my expirience burning most hardwoods. that said been using good softwoods for past 8 yrs now. EZBlaze[virginia], Matra [Canada] doug firs [oregon]..
upper 8K to 9k btu and much less ash.. box store stuff usually lower 8K.
yes.. pay about 150.00 more per ton.. not alot concidering the product lasts month or more compared to what the average person spends on take out, restaurants in a week and and it's gone in few hours... silly logic but true if u think about it..