this year's Okanagan Platinum

[batchman]

Lat year I burned these with excellent results outside of some fines, in general, but also for-sure in some apparently compromised bags.

This year they smell different, not in a good way, and I can't reliably get 3 bags into an empty 130lb hopper. The individual pellets do seem longer but that's just an impression. I seem to be getting more ash than expected, and the ash seems "stickier" but I can't say this for sure as the first 3 bags I ran through were FSUs from last year. Also, my stove picked up a little surface rust/scaling that probably makes it "grabbier" for the ash.

I do have one ton left of last year's, I started with one of the "fresh" tons since it's packaging was in rougher shape. I'll try to update once I'm into the older ton.

Your mileage may vary,
- Jeff

 

[batchman]

Have now burned 1 ton minus 8 bags, and filled my ash bin. In fact the last week or so I needed a twice-daily "push the ash around in the bin" to keep it from flowing over the sides. Last years' OkieP's burned a full ton, plus 12-15 bags of FSU and another brand or two, and was only 3/4 full. So I estimate this years' Platinums to be 30-40% higher ash than last years'.

Still not complaining, "Whaaah, I had to open my door before burning a ton, Whaaah"

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[TimfromMA]

This year was the first year I didn't get any Platinums. I had about 1/2 ton left over from last year then it's been Douglas Fir exclusively.

 

[batchman]

Forgot to mention another annoyance - at the bottom of the pallet last years' stash had a sheet of "shirt cardboard" between the pallet and the first bags. Not so this ton, so getting the last course of bags means not dragging it across the pallet....

We'll see what the next ton is like...
- Jeff

 

[TimfromMA]

I keep a roll of duct tape handy when ustacking pellets to quickly repair holes.

 

[batchman]

Good idea, but mine live outside in the dark and cold, surrounded by snow and/or other pallets. A little tougher to get the very last bags without sliding due to the tarps, retaining wall behind etc. So the rip, when it happens, will be on the bottom...

 

[batchman]

Update on my 2nd ton, HUGE amount of ash. About 40% through, my ash bin was overflowing. A significant amount of it vaguely retained the shape of pellets rather than the usual "ashes to dust".

I am not entirely certain of the cause; I was late with my cleaning but found less ash than I was expecting in the venting. Suspect that somehow my vent change (change upper 90deg to a cleanout T) has kept more ash in the stove? Maybe this is why the first ton above seemed more ashy.

On the other hand I've noticed in this particular ton I have crystalized "snow" between and among the bags. I'm thinking maybe this ton got damp along the way. Burn seems fine.