This is an update to my earlier thread on BioBricks:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/9889/P0/
My husband and his mother have been generally pleased with the BioBricks. The heat is not as intense as cordwood, but it does seem to burn longer. And there is less ash. There are some other advantages that I won’t re-hash here.
Unfortunately, our local BioBricks supplier --Ken of South Shore Wood Pellets in Holbrook, MA-- has run out and he can't get any more. However, he is committed to buying 3 truckloads of "Envi-Blocks" from the manufacturer that bought its equipment from BioBricks. If I understand correctly Tom Engells of BioBricks oversaw the installation of the equipment and did the training for Envi-Blocks. The manufacturer of the "Envi-Blocks" is “Barefoot Pellets”. Ken believes they've been making pellets for 10 years.
The first truckload came in yesterday morning and it’s already sold out. Given how quickly the BioBricks sold out he doesn't know if he'll be able to sell "single" packs or how much they would cost ... since he doesn't know how many there are per pallet.
Because Envi-Blocks is further away (Pennsylvania instead of Connecticut) he will have to charge $10.00 more per pallet than he did for the BioBricks ($255.00 rather than $245.00). The pallets are the same size.
I couldn't find a link for the manufacturer but here is a link to South Shore Wood Pellets.
http://www.southshorewoodpellets.com/envi-blocks
620 South Street
Distribution Facility
Holbrook, MA 02343
1-617-590-1788
I'm optimistic they will burn comparably to the BioBricks.
Ken also mentioned that BioBricks may be building two more plants. One may be located in Maine which should reduce the shipping costs; therefore the price should be lower. Who knows when that might happen.
When he received the first truck load Ken learned that although the pallets are shrink wrapped that there are no smaller packages or sample sizes. The individual Envi-Blocks are loose once the shrink wrap is taken off of the pallet.
I'm guessing they were in a rush to fill the void in the market. They should have better packaging at some point but it could be awhile. It's something to take into consideration since it affects some of the convenience of the product in terms of unloading and stacking it.
He did sell me a small amount out of the one pallet that he opened but I suspect it will be difficult for him to sell smaller amounts in any real volume.
The delivery charges for 2 to 4 tons are as follows: up to 25 miles $36.00; 25+ $40.00. The rate probably drops for 5 tons or more.
The Envi-Blocks are significantly larger than the BioBricks: 4.5 x 4 x 10.5 versus 3.5 x 3.5 x 6. There are 300 per pallet.
Again, the cost per pallet is $255.00. I paid $1.00 per block for the Envi-Blocks I got yesterday.
We put one in my Dad's fireplace, which isn't much of a real life test but for what it's worth it did hold its shape for quite awhile.
I'll post back when we have a chance to do a test fire.
I'm guessing the other two truckloads load will go quickly despite the packaging. He got a couple of phone calls while I was there and he was careful to explain that only the pallets are shrink wrapped but one caller from Cape Cod was going to make the trip anyway.
At the risk of stating the obvious, South Shore Wood Pellets does in fact carry wood pellets. What may be noteworthy is that he currently carries 2 brands of premium pellets and he's working on a third.
Apparently he doesn't want to be too dependent upon one manufacturer if they run into production problems.
He did carry a corn product but no longer carries it due to quality issues.
Craig,
Let me know if I should cross post this in the pellet forum.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/9889/P0/
My husband and his mother have been generally pleased with the BioBricks. The heat is not as intense as cordwood, but it does seem to burn longer. And there is less ash. There are some other advantages that I won’t re-hash here.
Unfortunately, our local BioBricks supplier --Ken of South Shore Wood Pellets in Holbrook, MA-- has run out and he can't get any more. However, he is committed to buying 3 truckloads of "Envi-Blocks" from the manufacturer that bought its equipment from BioBricks. If I understand correctly Tom Engells of BioBricks oversaw the installation of the equipment and did the training for Envi-Blocks. The manufacturer of the "Envi-Blocks" is “Barefoot Pellets”. Ken believes they've been making pellets for 10 years.
The first truckload came in yesterday morning and it’s already sold out. Given how quickly the BioBricks sold out he doesn't know if he'll be able to sell "single" packs or how much they would cost ... since he doesn't know how many there are per pallet.
Because Envi-Blocks is further away (Pennsylvania instead of Connecticut) he will have to charge $10.00 more per pallet than he did for the BioBricks ($255.00 rather than $245.00). The pallets are the same size.
I couldn't find a link for the manufacturer but here is a link to South Shore Wood Pellets.
http://www.southshorewoodpellets.com/envi-blocks
620 South Street
Distribution Facility
Holbrook, MA 02343
1-617-590-1788
I'm optimistic they will burn comparably to the BioBricks.
Ken also mentioned that BioBricks may be building two more plants. One may be located in Maine which should reduce the shipping costs; therefore the price should be lower. Who knows when that might happen.
When he received the first truck load Ken learned that although the pallets are shrink wrapped that there are no smaller packages or sample sizes. The individual Envi-Blocks are loose once the shrink wrap is taken off of the pallet.
I'm guessing they were in a rush to fill the void in the market. They should have better packaging at some point but it could be awhile. It's something to take into consideration since it affects some of the convenience of the product in terms of unloading and stacking it.
He did sell me a small amount out of the one pallet that he opened but I suspect it will be difficult for him to sell smaller amounts in any real volume.
The delivery charges for 2 to 4 tons are as follows: up to 25 miles $36.00; 25+ $40.00. The rate probably drops for 5 tons or more.
The Envi-Blocks are significantly larger than the BioBricks: 4.5 x 4 x 10.5 versus 3.5 x 3.5 x 6. There are 300 per pallet.
Again, the cost per pallet is $255.00. I paid $1.00 per block for the Envi-Blocks I got yesterday.
We put one in my Dad's fireplace, which isn't much of a real life test but for what it's worth it did hold its shape for quite awhile.
I'll post back when we have a chance to do a test fire.
I'm guessing the other two truckloads load will go quickly despite the packaging. He got a couple of phone calls while I was there and he was careful to explain that only the pallets are shrink wrapped but one caller from Cape Cod was going to make the trip anyway.
At the risk of stating the obvious, South Shore Wood Pellets does in fact carry wood pellets. What may be noteworthy is that he currently carries 2 brands of premium pellets and he's working on a third.
Apparently he doesn't want to be too dependent upon one manufacturer if they run into production problems.
He did carry a corn product but no longer carries it due to quality issues.
Craig,
Let me know if I should cross post this in the pellet forum.
