Compressed Wood Logs - Anyone have an Update?

[Mike Wilson]

A few months ago on the old board we were discussing the use of compressed wood logs... basically very large pellets. A few people said they bought some. How are they working? Reports?

-- Mike

 

[wg_bent]

I can't speak from personal experience, but my sister uses them exclusively.

She lives near Seattle, so not super cold there. She has a Lopi Answer insert.

She likes them, and seems to have very few issues with chimney cleaning. They don't seem to do an overnight burn.
She was here last week and commented on the logzilla's that I was tossing around out in the yard and how much nicer the fire looked during the burn.

I know this is all subjective comments at best, but it's all I have to offer and since no one else responded....

 

[jfsharron]

A few things to consider when you burn those compressed wood logs. The binder that holds those thing together is either parrafin wax or some kind of petroleum product. Guess where that binder travels to and sticks - as it contributes to the creosote buildup in your system? And the heat is so intense from those logs, that the manufacturers suggest that you only burn them one at a time! How, much heating time can you expect from one log? Three hours? The log is so dense, that when it burns, it warps the inner baffles, side walls and plates and leaves an oily residuse that is unsightly and difficult to remove. And they're not cheap.... when you consider the BTU's needed to equate to the same amounts in both kinds of fuel.

The Compressed logs we are discussing here ARE NOT wax logs (wax logs can not be burned in a stove). The only binder in the logs we are discussing is WOOD (with heat and pressure applied during manufacture).

Burning all-wood compressed logs will greatly reduce the amount of creosote produced because they are so low in moisture.