Pellet Storage

[MommyOf4]

What is a viable way to keep my pellets dry and have easy access to pour into a pellet stove hopper? I saw a picture of a wooden box filled with pellets and a metal scooper used to pour the pellets into the hopper. Is this a viable solution?
I'm not trying to make caring for the stove a "husband only" thing (LOL). I'm a female who only weighs 125 so anything to make my life (and his) easier would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[Cozy Old Coot]

My son & DIL have a old lane cedar chest that they picked up at a yard sale. They refinished it and placed it in their lliviing room close to their stove, they use a large feed scoop to fill the stove.

 

[subsailor]

If you're not worried about looks, a cheap tote from Walmart and a grain scoop work well too.

 

[MommyOf4]

So I'm figuring that I can just put the pellets in any container as long as the pellets stay dry?

 

[Rick5472]

Watch out for the cat though...

 

[Bank]

I use a large plastic flower pot that holds about sixty lbs of pellets, it's a light coffee colored plastic and use a plastic scoop. Works perfect and looks decent too.

 

[djs_net]

I have a large storage bin that holds about 5 bags of pellets and a scoop near my stove. It's especially nice because loading pellets into the narrow opening of an insert is difficult if you're trying to pour directly from the bag. I keep a utility knife nearby, lay the bag in the bin and slice open the side of the bag. I pull out the bag and leave the pellets in the bin. This method keeps the fines/dust to a minimum and makes it easy for my wife and kids to feed the stove without having to lift 40 lb bags.

I bought the bin for $20 at Walmart, it looks similar to this:

There are plenty of other (nicer) bins available if you want to match the decor of your living room but the cost goes up accordingly.

 

[smalltown]

If there is a Tractor Supply store around I use this feed scoup. http://www.tractorsupply.com/3-quart-feed-scoop-assortment-5051501

 

[silverfox103]

I have a large storage bin that holds about 5 bags of pellets and a scoop near my stove. It's especially nice because loading pellets into the narrow opening of an insert is difficult if you're trying to pour directly from the bag. I keep a utility knife nearby, lay the bag in the bin and slice open the side of the bag. I pull out the bag and leave the pellets in the bin. This method keeps the fines/dust to a minimum and makes it easy for my wife and kids to feed the stove without having to lift 40 lb bags.

I bought the bin for $20 at Walmart, it looks similar to this:

There are plenty of other (nicer) bins available if you want to match the decor of your living room but the cost goes up accordingly.

Blends right in for the Christmas season!

Tom C.

 

[bill3rail]

If you want the cheap and easy method...I like cheap and easy!

I went to the bakery dumpster and grabbed a couple empty 5 gallon buckets and keep them near the stove. You will need to clean them of the icing or jelly filler first. They hold about 20 pounds of pellets each. You may also be able to score some lids if you keep returning to the same area.

This method also makes it easy to carry from the garage/shed into the house. I hate trying to hold a door open with a 40 pound bag in my hands.

Bill

PS. The buckets are great for many different things around the house. Tools, gardening, watering, turtle tank cleaning and holding scraps for a trip to the mulch pile.

 

[briansol]

Go to the gym get stronger.

scopping takes forever IMO. so much easier to just pour a bag in. At least half-bags.

 

[whlago]

Where are your pellets stored? Mine are in the garage and I just open the bag in the garage and pour into a 5 gallon bucket to top off the stove a 3-4 times a day - wake up, leave for work, come home from work, go to bed....no need to top it off that often but i guess it keeps me out of trouble

Point is you probably only need half of the 5 gallon bucket filled each time. A little heavy pouring from the bag to the bucket but this can be done without too much strain with a little smarts.

 

[jgrz0610]

I travel during the week and the wife takes over feeding the dog and the stove. She CAN pick up a 40lb bag of pellets but I choose not to make that a requirement. I have a plastic tote in the closet that holds about 5 bags and a really big plastic serving bowl. She scoops and dumps it in the stove, topping off before going to work, after coming home, and before going to bed. It doesn't matter what you store them in as long as it isn't your swimming pool. Direct contact with water will ruin them. Other than that...don't obsess too much, you're just going to light them on fire...

 

[thedude110]

I use an ash bucket/shovel similar to:

http://www.amazon.com/Panacea-15343...TF8&qid=1353158899&sr=8-1&keywords=Ash+bucket

But I'm "warming" to the idea of a larger container.

 

[LMPS]

Does anyone screen the pellets before putting them in? I am also thinking of changing my method, right now I have an open metal bucket next to the stove that holds about one bag, I dump the pullets from the bag in it and either use the grain scoop or pick up the bucket to dump them in the stove. The fines will drop to the bottom of the bucket but I know from cleaning the hopper I am not getting all the fines. So I was thinking some kind of screening built into the storage container might help. By the way five years with the stove and still making rookie mistakes.......did not top off last night before bed and slept a little too long this morning....which equals no pellets in the stove this morning and an unhappy wife......and we all know what means.....if Mom is unhappy we all are unhappy

 

[Utilitrack]

Has anyone made a custom pellet storage box that would hold 2-3 bags of pellets and cleaning tools? If so could you post your plans? I have basic power tools not a woodworking shop, so the simpler the better. Thanks in advance!

 

[gfreek]

TidyCats cat litter bucket, with or without lids, works for me. After sifting them, I pour into the hopper...

 

[imacman]

Found this on eBay 3 yrs ago....holds about 1 1/4 bags of pellets, and use a grain scoop. It's an old copper washtub....paid $75 for it then, but cheapest I've seen lately is $100++

 

[DOLLARBILL]

Mine are stored in the cellar so I just fill a couple 5 gal plastic pals and bring them upstairs as needed cheap but does the trick !

 

[Harvey Schneider]

scopping takes forever IMO. so much easier to just pour a bag in. At least half-bags.

You just need a bigger scoop:

This holds four quarts so 7 1/2 scoops is a bag of pellets. I use this to transfer pellets to a coal hod and pour from that into the Mt Vernon insert. The coal hod holds about three+ scoops or

about a half bag, which is a convenient size for topping of the hopper.

 

[Darryl]

Watch out for the cat though...

I read that and then looked at your avatar.....damn near spit me soda all over me laptop, LMFAO Holy crap man

 

[Utilitrack]

Has anyone made a custom pellet storage box that would hold 2-3 bags of pellets and cleaning tools? If so could you post your plans? I have basic power tools not a woodworking shop, so the simpler the better. Thanks in advance!

Apologies to OP for thread hi jack will post new thread.

 

[CT-Mike]

Mof4,

This blanket chest I made for the wife years ago is now our pellet storage. It holds 4 1/2 bags or so and a very large grain scoop from TSC is used to transfer the pellets.

 

[RCR]

I store my pellets in garage. See attached photo .. I bought an antique trunk ( idea i stole from villige idiot here) holds 4 bags easy. I am staying away from the scoop thing too time consuming.

I make a mental note not to ever walk in house empty handed. Come home from work.... bring a bag run an errand bring a bag . let dogs in bring a bag.


When me and the mrs cant handle the 40lb bags anymore. we will slide bag off pallet horizontally and let each half fall into 2 pails. Cut the bag between the pails , now you got 2 20 lb bags to pour into hopper.

 

[CT-Mike]

Wow Mike that is beautiful Did get plans for that? If so where? Looks like you were still doing trim work when the picture was taken. I'd love to see a completed picture!

I don't recall where I got the the plans, I believe it was one of the wood-working magazines. All the hardware came from Rockler. It was originally supposed to have a rounded top like an old steamer trunk, but the wife wanted it flat. I didn't complain because it made my job easier. I had to remove the lock from the trunk as my grandson kept locking it and I can't find the key.

That pic was taken two days ago, I still have the trim work to complete.