Outside pellet storage

[Lake Girl]

Hope you have lots of storage area New brand to me ... you'll have to let us know how they burn or are you already using them?

 

[crf450ish]

Hope you have lots of storage area New brand to me ... you'll have to let us know how they burn or are you already using them?

Ive already been burning them. Lots of dust but I don't care. Hardly any ash or clunkers. Compared to North Idaho energy brand, they are a tie in terms of heat output. Very happy. They smell the same as what it smells like when I'm sawing doug fir firewood....just beautiful to the nose. I love it.


My only complaint is the sandwich bag quality plastic they use. Rips very easily. Ask me how I know...

 

[Lake Girl]

Softwood pellets do smell good! Too bad about the bags though... keep some tuck tape handy Unless they are real bad, then have some buckets handy.

 

[Joey_C]

Has anyone used one of these?

 

[smalltown]

Joey_C That's an interesting idea. Do you load these from the top ? Off hand I wonder if the pellets would "flow" out ok though that nozzle ?

Just took a quick look around, and saw that they load from the top ~6" opening, and if you get the right one they can have a 2" nozzel opening.
I'm thinking there might be some issue (if the pellets would pour out) when you get toward the bottom. Mabey if the container was tilted forward on some kind of rack.
Sure should solve issues with water getting on the pellets or some animal chewing through bags if outside.

I wonder how to calculate how many pellets you could empty into the container?

 

[FirepotPete]

I have two 275 gallon IBC totes like the one in the picture. I use them to store corn. I've mixed in some pellets but the problem with just storing pellets in them is breakage. When the pellets hit the bottom of the tote (when empty) they will bounce and break, making a lot of small pellets and dust.

You will never fill the tote as corn or pellets pyramid, leaving unused space towards the sides. To give an idea of how much you can get in one, when I get a ton of corn I fill one tote, try and brush/push as much to the sides as I can, then I start filling the second tote and it will get about 1/2 to 2/3 full. So if you want to try and use these you will need more than one for a ton of pellets. Of course that is with the 275 gallon tote.

The easiest way to get the pellets out is to use a corn/pellet vac of some sort. Some people buy them or make them. I made one the first couple of years and then bought one (cornvac brand). You will need to either vac out into a 55 gallon drum or 5 gallon pail. I would suggest the 55 gallon drum and then scoop the pellets into a 5 gallon bucket.