Pellet cleaning device?

[G00k]

A while ago, I scanned the forum and there were links to a pellet cleaning system "invented" by (or at least developed by) one of the members. It would be really helpful to have a stickie to keep it available for us to find again.

I just received a ton of Bayou pellets, and so far the only complaint I have is the amount of dust they throw out when filling the hopper. Now I would look into building one of those pellet sifter/cleaner contraptions.

Can someone point me back to the thread?

Thanks,

G00k


This Just In I found the post. If you search on "Homemade Pellet Vac", you will get the threads that have all the good stuff about cleaning your pellets. The opinions run pro and con, and I wonder if the "cons" have basement stoves, or have no need to worry about the extra dust being released into their living areas. Myself, I would prefer to keep my wife as happy as possible. Then I can clean our pellet stove and not the entire first floor.

 

[weatherguy]

Damn! Ive been using a scoop with holes drilled on the bottom to screen mine, this looks a whole lot easier, not sure what device Ill build.
Are you going to build one of the devices illustrated?

 

[G00k]

Thinking about it.

These Bayou pellets are dusty, but I'm amazed at my firepot - it's not filling up with clinker the way the O'Malleys did. I guess there's a lot to learn about all the different brands of pellets and nuances of the stove.

 

[weatherguy]

I just bought a few bags of bayou, they're not any more dusty than the other kinds Ive bought but that may be because I havent bought the best pellets. I had 1.4 tons of eagle valley softwood, they burn hot, not too bad on the ash but they're dusty as all hell.
Maybe instead of all these devices to clean pellets I can buy some dustfree pellets for once, lol

 

[Raven20]

Gook, Just went to Courtlands and the guy talked me into Okanagans pellet, Burning them as we speak...He said they were a hot seller....

 

[G00k]

I'm surprised at the variety of brands in the area, being a beginner. My wife's friend gave us a bag of Statesman Hardwood Heat pellets from Southern States to try, saying they're kind of dusty. Kind of? Well, there was a good cup and a half of sawdust in that bag, but it burned over night without much clinker. (I'd prefer to burn 2-3 bags in a test, with a cleaning in the middle.) Which Courtlands do you visit?

And since I'm a beginner, there are terms and concepts I'll probably put in a separate post to ask for definitions. When They say "ash", (and low ash, no ash,etc), do they mean in the burn-pot or the drifting dunes in outside the burn-pot? When They say "burns hotter", does that mean the actual air being blown out into the room should be hotter? I thought the thermostatic control in the stove would change the feed rate or internal blower speed to maintain a consistent output. I'll probably cut and paste this into a new thread later, after thinking up some more newb questions...