Pellet House pellet search and review "Ultimate Pellet search"

[jtakeman]

Thank you Brian and Debi at BT Enterprises for the free samples. Much Appreciated!

Testing is complete! See you next season.

Disclaimer: All stoves are different and your results may very. There are uncontrollable factors involved. Time is also a restraint. I have a real job and real life issues. This will be as time allows an I don't want to rush anything.I am not a pellet Salesman,Dealer or am I connected in anyway shape or form. Just a addicted pellet burner looking for deals like everyone else! And I got addicted to this testing stuff!:

Please don't use this for my results. Use it as a test reference for your own testing at best. I have a multifuel stove and can burn almost anything. I am not bothered by clinkers, Chute backups or burnpot clogging. I may actually be the wrong person doing these test's because of this. Please always try before you buy!


I am trying something a little different this time. Try to keep all the results on the 1st page of the test. I hope it works. I have 2 reserved at the end for future's if I find any. I want to try Dragon Mountain's, and Lignetic Green Label hardwood only. I do have M&M and Quality One purchased if I can't find any of the others. I may also get some Uncle Jeds if things work out. Again time is tight and I have limited cash. I will get to them sooner or later.

I got most of these pellets pretty close to home. Tried to stay as local as possible. Most came from Burn Time Enterprises in bristol. The Turman and the Kentucky Kernel cam from CT Pellet. I couldn't make it to CJs in Enfield. I don't know if they sell by the bag anyway. I wish I could have hit more places! Burn Time Enterprises seems to have the best deal's lately. CT Pellet is still to rich for my blood! If I buy Turman this year, It will be from CJ's. The Barefoots and Okanagan's were donated by friends. Some other brands were also donated by BT Enterprises. I like DONATIONS!

This test is aimed at finding the Ultra hot pellets at an affordable price. Comparing this test with the other test that had a dozen or so candidates for the cold season pellets. Shoulder are easy for me to find. Just about anything is acceptable for my stove. Last year for the cold season it was Turman at $265/ton(I bought a ton and split a ton with a friend) for the cold and O Malleys at $240 for the rest of the season. I also scored(40 bags at $4.00/bag) some Premiers hardwoods(made by energex) at TSC for the shoulder season. My budget is similar this year so the price ranges are close. Probably looking at a 2 ton total purchase.

Link to the other "BIGBOX" test:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/42511/

During a recent cold snap. I was burning the O Malley. Temps were very close to zero. And my stove was not raising the house temps at medium heat setting(3). Looks like my winter pellets heat has to be above the O Malley average temps. I was able to raise my stove setting to medium high(4) and the stove was raising the temps. I prefer to run my stove on medium heat setting(3) and basically reduce the wear and tear on the stoves vitals. So I need to get my winter pellets at or above the 245ºF heat average to be sure I can get good heat in the very cold -20ºF extreme weather.

Hardwoods
Barefoots* √
Corinth √
Cubex √
Dry Creek √
Hamer √
Juniata √
Kentucky Kernel √
Nature's Own √
O Malley √
Ozark √
PA pellet √
Propellet Burning
Turman √
Wood Pellet Co. √

Softwoods
Dragon Mountains
Lake Region √
Okanagans* √
Pure Fire Next
Rocky Mnt* √
Spruce Pts √

Blend
ACP √
Energex Canadian √
Lignetics* √
NEWP S1 √
NEWP J1 √
NEWP S2 √

* note these results
will be taken from
the other test

√ =Complete


Check the chart attached here!(here he goes with them charts again!) :lol:

Some other pellet info for you(Just FYI).

Michigans are the same as North Country
Cubex are the same as Northern and Comfort
Quality One is the same as M&M
Uncle Jeds fir are the same as Bear Mountain
Dragon Mountain are made by Pinnicle Pellet(also made NEWP's Greene supreme)
Hamer also makes Winter Warm and Hardwood Heat pellets
Energex makes the Premier pellet both hard(Appalachian) and softwood. Natures Own
NEWP makes CleanFires for woodpellets.com

Hope you guys and gals enjoy.
jay

 

[jtakeman]

HARDWOODS

Barefoot results

Temp average 265ºF

Ash volume was at the 15 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 6.08 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.48%

Fines were at 1/8 cup both bags

These pellet’s were donated by a very good friend. Thanks Chris!

Notes: From bigbox testing.

 

[jtakeman]

Corinth results

Temp average 218ºF

Ash volume is above the 32 ounce mark.

Ash weight 8.64 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.675%

Fines were low at 3/4 cup both bags

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

Cubex results

Temp average 269ºF

Ash volume was about the 10 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 3.6 ounces

Ash Percentage .281%

Fines were about 1/8 cup for both bags

Notes: A good clean and hot pellet.

Note to benski,
I tried these on heat setting 4 and I shot the heat exchanger with my IR gun in the same manor as you did in your testing. I got an average of 494ºF. So our results seem similar!

 

[jtakeman]

Dry Creek results

Temp average 245ºF

Ash volume was above the 12 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 4.8 ounces

Ash Percentage .375%

Fines were at 1/4 cup both bags

Notes: No issue's noticed

 

[jtakeman]

Hamer Hot Ones results

Temp average 266ºF

Ash volume was below the 12 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 5.35 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.42%

Fines were at 3/8 cup both bags

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

Juniata results

Temp average 242ºF

Ash volume was just above the 16 ounce mark

Ash weight 6.40 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.50%

Fines were at 2/3 cup both bags

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

Kentucky Kernel results.

Temp average 243ºF

Ash volume was about the 13 ounce mark.

Ash weight 6.592 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.515%

Fines were very low at less than 1/8 cup both bags

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

O Malley resulis

Temp average 227ºF

Ash volume was above the 20 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 9.6 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.75%

Fines were slightly less than 1/4 cup both bags

Notes: Quite a few pellets over 1 1/2" long Some were 2" overall.

 

[jtakeman]

Turman results

Temp average 256ºF

Ash volume was just above the 8 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 4.48 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.35%

Fines were less than 1/4 cup both bags

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

Wood Pellet Co. Results

Temp average 234ºF

Ash volume was at the 16 ounce mark on jar.

Ash weight 8.00 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.625%

Fines were at 1 1/4 cup for both bags.(5/8 cup each bag) medium.

Notes: Very Dusty. Found several pellets longer than 1 1/2 inches.

 

[jtakeman]

SOFTWOODS

Lake Region results

Temp average 230ºF

Ash volume was at the 18 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 12.8 ounces

Ash Percentage 1.00%

Fines were at 1/2 cup both bags(1/4 cup average)

These pellet's were donated by BT Ent. Thanks BT for the help in my testing challenge

Notes: Proceed with caution!
Found silica like peebles in the burnpot during clean up. Pictured with the peebles I got from the
Energex Switchgrass pellets I burned last year. Lake Region peebles are on the left. About the size of raisin's.

 

[jtakeman]

Okanagan

Temp average 262ºF

Ash volume was at the 10 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 3.52 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.275 %

Fines were less than 1/8 cup both bags

These pellet’s were donated by a good friend. Thanks bud!

Notes: From bigbox testing.

 

[jtakeman]

Pure Fire results.

Temp average 241ºF

Ash volume was at the 12 ounce mark on jar.

Ash weight 4.184 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.3269%

Fines Just about 1/4 cup for both bags.

Notes:

 

[jtakeman]

Rocky Mountain

Temp average 235ºF

Ash volume was above the 15 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 5.76 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.45%

Fines were at 1 cup both bags

Notes: From bigbox testing.

 

[jtakeman]

Spruce Pointes results Burning

Temp average 259ºF

Ash volume was above the 12 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 3.36 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.263%

Fines were at 1/2 cup both bags

Notes: A good clean and hot pellet.

 

[jtakeman]

BLEND

ACP results

Temp average 225ºF

Ash volume was at the 24 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 11.52 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.90%

Fines were at 1 cup both bags(1/2 cup each bag average)

Notes: Better but still need some work!

 

[jtakeman]

Energex Canadian results

Temp average 245ºF

Ash volume was at the 14 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 7.36 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.575%

Fines were at 3/4 cup both bags

Notes: No issue’s noticed

 

[jtakeman]

Lignetics

Temp average 250ºF

Ash volume was at the 16 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 7.52 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.59%

Fines were at 1/2 cup both bags(1/4 cup average per bag)

Notes: From bigbox testing. This is the Green Label Hardwood Conifer Blend.

If I get a chance and find the Green Label Hardwood only. I will post results in this test.

 

[jtakeman]

NEWP results.

Temp average 206ºF

Ash volume Was at the 20 ounce mark on jar.

Ash weight 9.18 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.72%

Fines about a 1/4 cup for both bags

Notes: These are from the Schuyler plant. There are several long pellets in the mix about 1 3/4 inches long. Code on bag was 9221.

Due to some issue's, I will retest these pellets. There will be 3 burns total.

1.) NEWP-S1 =For Schuyler plant burn #1(this burn) results

2.) NEWP-J1 =For Jaffery plant burn #1 results see post #59

3.) NEWP-S2 =For Schuyler plant burn #2 results see post #60

 

[jtakeman]

HARDWOOD

Natures Own results.

Temp average 240ºF

Ash volume Was at about the 18 ounce mark on jar.

Ash weight 7.016 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.548%

Fines were at 1/4 cup both bags

These pellet's were donated by BT Ent. Thanks BT for the help in my testing challenge

Notes:

 

[ChandlerR]

Bump!

Chan

 

[wjmvas]

Thanks for all you work on this subject.

 

[tinkabranc]

keep up the good work

 

[jtakeman]

Hey Gang

I just got some good news. I will be meeting with Brian from BT Enterprises this Saturday. He has offered to give us more free samples to test in the thread/forum. I will be picking up Nature's Own and PA pellets. This is very cool in my book. I have to give them a big THANK YOU. This is much appreciated by me and should give us some more pellet insite!

http://www.btpellet.com/

I also have to THANK Debi for dealing with me and all my questions over the last few years. She has been great and always willing to help! Debi is the best!

Just some FYI.