pellet test

[yooper81]

Last night at work I decided to "test" the 2 brands of pellet I find to work best for me. Somerset and Indeck energy. 10gr each went into a 900' C oven for 1 hr. End result was that the Somerset produced 1.2% more fines and fillers (ash) than did the Indeck energy pellet. Highly UN-scientific, but interesting non-the-less

 

[Outerlimits]

I have tested both brands. My test consists of similar weather, running stove on stove temp., clean stove, etc. I found that the somerset must have put out more heat as I had more pellets left after an 8 hour burn, for example. I do think the Indeck are a good pellet though. If given a choice between the two, I would have to pick the somerset over the Indeck.

 

[yooper81]

Yeah have been bouncing back and forth between the 2 and I also start out with a clean stove. My results show the indeck to be a bit cleaner and much hotter with the exact conditions, I had much more heat with the Indeck pellet. My thermometer maxed out past 600' in the box and was throwing 250'+ out with the fan on low. The somerset was far less under the same conditions. They are noticeably different pellets from a color and scent standpoint. The Indecks are a darker pellet with a much different scent and I am pretty sure I know why. The 2 come from very different raw materials. The bottom line for me is the price. Both very good, $$ wins every time, AND they are a Wisconsin product, so unless their quality goes to sh!t I will be stock piling the indeck energy pellet for the 2012/2013 winter.

 

[Outerlimits]

To be fair, there wasn't a substantial difference in my results either. Stove variation is another variable. Indeck are at every TSC around here. I wonder I how much they vary batch to batch though. If I was out of pellets, I would buy Indeck today. Also, how do the Vulcan wood pellets burn? What other brands do you get up there?

 

[yooper81]

I have somerset, Indeck, wood fibers inc., American WF, vulcan, and penington(Walmart).... Not a great selection. If I wanted to drive a 80 mile radius I could expand my selection quite a bit. Vulcans were real good at first but not so much any more from what I hear. Never burned them.