Screener / cleaner

[IanT.]

How many of you use a pellet screener or I have also hear it called a corn cleaner for you pellets to eliminate the saw dust from the bags.

How important is this?

I have read that it may not be good the have the saw dust in the auger all the time.

For those who use one did you make yours or purchase it?

 

[kappel15]

Pellet fines or dust are not detrimental to a stove, but they can start burning in the drop chute and create a "bridge" that can stop feed. Also it is not good to have all the dust in house when filling hopper. You can google pellet cleaners and find plans for some. I made one out of pvc pipe, a bucket and shop vac. Does a pretty good job. kap

 

[fmsm]

I screen all of mine. I have a storage hopper called Pellet Decor/Pellet Can. When I load it the pellets are screened then stored. It holds about 300lbs and was very acceptable to my wife when we had it in the corner of the living room.

 

[tlc1976]

My stove doesn't have a problem with the fines. But with the stories of random things people have found in bags, I've been thinking about doing something. All it takes is once to really mess up my stove.

 

[bogieb]

Don't screen my pellets and my stoves don't have any issues with fines/dust. I don't have an issue with dust in the house either - as in I'm not a neat freak and my pets create their own shower of hair, feathers and dander/dust. I don't have any health issues that would be aggravated by dust, so it is a total non-issue in my house.

 

[Dataman]

My Harmon XXV handles fines just fine! Even bags of pellets that have been wet go thru with zero issues. Easy enough to vac the auger box where the fines collect.

 

[Tonyray]

agree.... fines burn up along with the pellets..
no issue for harmans and prob some others....

 

[drizler]

Never had an issue at all. I made a filter for bulk corn . Just a trough made from 2x4 with some hardware cloth 1/8” mesh . Leave it loose so it forms a slight U or V shape. Works very well.

I just never saw the need with pellets though.
To keep the dust in the stove not in the air I do it this way. Set the bag right in the bottom of the bin then slit it along bottom edge all across. Just lift slowly and no dust flies up.
I have an old kitchen knife I use. It’s only 2”long since it broke and got ground down to look a bit like a skinning knife.


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[FirepotPete]

My stove doesn't have a problem with the fines. But with the stories of random things people have found in bags, I've been thinking about doing something. All it takes is once to really mess up my stove.

A couple of rare earth magnets or old hard drive magnets placed at the bottom of the hopper near the auger will catch any magnetic junk before getting into the auger.

 

[DneprDave]

My stove has no problem with fines, it'll eat anything, even Legos.

 

[Manly]

I built a pretty good pellet cleaner when I first purchased my stove. It was kind of a slow process to clean every bag. I only use premium softwood pellets and have not had much fines to speak of. Gave up on the cleaner and decided to use good pellets only. I tried a couple of bags of hardwood pellets from Big Y a couple of weeks ago. Never again. These l should have run through the cleaner. I too use the pellet decor to store pellets near the stove. When I pour into the container I keep watch for nebulous materials. Haven’t found anything as of yet. Our Ravelli pellet miser has been doing an admirable job thus far.