Maine's Choice Pellets
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MainePellethead said:
A quick google cuz inquiring minds wanna know: (broken link removed to http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2273)
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compressedwoodsupplier said:Look very small not sure how well they will burn!! Let us know
The size is in line with LG's which burn very good, just have too many fine IMO.
But yes, please let us know what you thought about them.
Thanks!
~Jeff
I have to say I was impressed on how well the pellets burned, very good heat and little ash. I hoping to get a few more bags to try before deciding to buy a ton.
We've just received our first truckload of Maine's Choice from Strong, Maine this morning. Our initial test results confirm that these pellets burn hot and leave very little ash. In a non-scientific test that I conducted using my Enviro Pellet stove, three bags of Okanagan (Westwood softwood) pellet yielded 4.9 oz. of ash for three bags burned...the hottest pellets that I have ever burned! A close second place were the three bags of Maine's Choice which yielded 6.1 ounces, and very hot burn as well. Finally, I compared the ash content from three bags of Energex (Lac-Megantic Canada blend). Three bags yielded 11.5 ounces of ash. Again, please note that this is totally non-scientific but before I burned any pellets, I thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed the stove. After burning the three bags of each brand, I thoroughly brush all ash down into my ash pan and collect in a plastic bag and weigh on a very accurate postal scale. I followed the exact same procedure for all three test so I am confident that my ash collection technique was consistent. I'm currently running a test on the new Maine Woods from Athens.
Hope this information helps. These pellets will be available for home delivery throughout York & Cumberland Counties through Southern Maine Renewable Fuels of Windham and Wells, Maine. Our new web site will be up in one week, at which time we will be providing all of the information from Independent test labs such as Twin Ports on all of the pellets that we sell. As many of you know, the PFI is implementing their new Quality Control / Quality Assurance (QC /QA) program in which all participating pellet manufacturers will be asked to submit one bag of product for every 1,000 tons that they distribute. Independent labs will analyze the products, and the results will be made available through the PFI to manufacturers and consumers. This should help all of us identify a quality product and provide timely feedback directly to the mills in order for them to maintain or improve the quality of their product. For more information on the new QC/QA program, visit the Pellet Fuels Industry web site at www.pelletheat.org. Look for the PFI Standards Program on the home page. Bob Maurais
Hope this information helps. These pellets will be available for home delivery throughout York & Cumberland Counties through Southern Maine Renewable Fuels of Windham and Wells, Maine. Our new web site will be up in one week, at which time we will be providing all of the information from Independent test labs such as Twin Ports on all of the pellets that we sell. As many of you know, the PFI is implementing their new Quality Control / Quality Assurance (QC /QA) program in which all participating pellet manufacturers will be asked to submit one bag of product for every 1,000 tons that they distribute. Independent labs will analyze the products, and the results will be made available through the PFI to manufacturers and consumers. This should help all of us identify a quality product and provide timely feedback directly to the mills in order for them to maintain or improve the quality of their product. For more information on the new QC/QA program, visit the Pellet Fuels Industry web site at www.pelletheat.org. Look for the PFI Standards Program on the home page. Bob Maurais
I've been tring to find some of these for over a week now, I even drove through Strong yesterday looking for some. Anyone selling them in the central Maine area ? I want to try some before the burning season is over. After the Athens fiasco, I will not buy any pellet in bulk without burning a few bags first.
I bought some fireside ultras this season(approx. 20 bags or so).....their size was smaller than these.....had no problem burning them...
compressedwoodsupplier said:Look very small not sure how well they will burn
BJN644 said:
Yes! Just found a great deal on them in Waterville.
Call Sandy Irving at Springbrook Ice and Fuel....he's selling for $238.00 per ton and offers a very reasonable delivery fee if you buy in bulk. I found him thru an ad that he placed on Craigslist.
Am picking up a bag tomorrow to try.
My dealer showed me some....said they were well made....he said you can tell by how shiny they are...said those pellets from Strong, ME look great
I got 3 bags from Spring Brook in Waterville to try. Very hot with low ash. After a thorough stove cleaning, I got 3oz of ash from each bag. Very scientific...I used my wife's kitchen scales! but clearly much lower ash than other pellets that I have tried. Burning flame is very aggressive. I just bought five tons at $238.
I bought Maine's Choice pellets this year, and I will look for something else for next season. I used Blazers from HD last year and rarely cleaned out the ash pan on my stove. With the Maine's Choice I can barely make it a week. They burn cleaner than the Blazers as far as sootiness but FAR more ash. The ash in the floor of my stove will fill to above the height of the firepot in 5-6 days.
phitchco said:
Burn a lot, do you? Just curious, never had Blazers, I've heard they're a good pellet. BTW, welcome aboard.
I just bought my QuadraFire Mt Vernon AE insert last fall. I use it for my primary heat. I burned 3 tons last season, using the programmable thermostat to turn back the heat at night and during the day. My house (a 1 3/4 story cape) was built in the mid 60's and was not really recovering well from the cooler temps. This year I bought 3.6 tons and vowed to leave the thermostat alone. We leave it set at 75 and it maintains nicely at 70. I burn 1 or 2 bags/day depending on the outside temps. I just cannot believe how much ash I am getting compared to the Blazers.
Thanks for the welcome!
PJ
Thanks for the welcome!
PJ
phitchco said:
The Maine made pellets all seem to run high in ash, some people think it may be because it's a heavier ash than some others, therefore, more ash in the pan, less flyash blowing out the vent. Not a scientist, myself, not sure. I made the decision to go with local product this heating season. Next year may be different, maybe not.
i bought a couple bags from the local Aubuchon store .they burned well but at almost $7.00 a bag they seem too pricey.especially when i can get Lignetics for under $6.oo delivered.
I just burned 2 bags as well from Tractor Supply. They had half the ash of everything else I have tried so far, but was still a lot compared to what I read others are getting. The flame was tiny and it took a lot of pellets to keep my room at 72*. There was some ash clumping in the burn pot, though not as bad as Lignetics. The volume of the pellets seemed on the smaller side too (how much it filled the hopper) though the bag was 40# as claimed. The coating of ash inside the stove seemed "sticky", though the glass cleaned off easy with just a shop vac.
I would buy these again, but there is certainly a lot of pellets I would rather try out first.
I would buy these again, but there is certainly a lot of pellets I would rather try out first.
phitchco said:
Check out jtakeman's testing, they don't seem to be very bad ash wise compared to some others.
Link to chart
I'm burning my way through 3 tons of Maine Choice pellets. It's my first year, but they seem to be burning fine for me. Yes the Okanagans I tried burned with less ash, but there is a significant price differential between Okies and Maine Choice pellets. Would
I burn Maine Choice again at the right price yes, but seeing that they haven't to my knowledge rebuilt the plant after the drier explosion I am wondering how long it will be before they come back on line.
The latest I read was that the company Geneva Wood Fuels had received a bridge loan of $500,000 from the Maine Finance Authority to rebuild while waiting for the insurance to be settled.
I burn Maine Choice again at the right price yes, but seeing that they haven't to my knowledge rebuilt the plant after the drier explosion I am wondering how long it will be before they come back on line.
The latest I read was that the company Geneva Wood Fuels had received a bridge loan of $500,000 from the Maine Finance Authority to rebuild while waiting for the insurance to be settled.
I really hope they get back up in time to have product out by mid-summer, I would definitely buy more for next year.
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