Turmans, Hamers,or Lignetics

[OnlyWhnChasd]

Hard to believe, but it's that time of year again. We're looking to purchase our winter stock of pellets (2-3 tons) and have three options to choose from:

Turmans @ $219/ton
Lignetics @ $235/ton
Hamers @ $249/ton

We have a Mt Vernon AE and have burned Hamers for the past two years (had the stove installed in 2014). I've heard good things about both Turmans and Lignetics though, so I'm wondering if one or the other would be worth trying? No complaints on burning the Hamers, though they do clinker a bit in my stove and I have to make sure to scrape the pot well every day or else enough residue is left that it causes the autoclean to stick. That might be with any pellet though.

 

[Peterfield]

Envious of your price points. Here in the northeast, our trees are much more expensive than your trees, at least that's what the vendors keep telling us. Of those brands, Turmans is definitely the best bang for the buck. I burned some test bags a couple of years ago and they blew me out of the living room with the heat output. I have also used Lignetics and Hamers and both throw good heat but were a little more ashy than I expected. I'd use both brands again without hesitation.

 

[OnlyWhnChasd]

I think we are not far from the Hamer and Turman plants, so that probably accounts for the pricing. Not sure about Lignetics. Prices are definitely down this year though. Last year I think we paid around $275 for Hamers. They didn't have Turmans then, at least not when I got my pellets.

I am leaning towards the Turmans right now. $219 is hard to beat for a quality pellet. The Home Depot here is selling EasyBlaze for $199!

 

[Tonyray]

Excellent price for the Turmans...
buy 100 skids...!!

 

[corkman]

New Excellent price for the Turmans...
buy 100 skids...!!

What he said. Wow.

 

[PelletPirate]

I have burned all 3 and would go with the Hamers. I was disappointed with Turmans last year. They did not warm the house as well as others.

 

[Tonyray]

I have burned all 3 and would go with the Hamers. I was disappointed with Turmans last year. They did not warm the house as well as others.

I sprung for a ton of Hamers this spring...
never burned them before..

 

[ABusWrench]

JUST picked up first ton of Hammers for the season today @ Farmers Exchange. $263 w/tax. Only a 6 mile round trip. They have Lignetics for the same price. Hammers are the hottest pellet I've tried, though not the cleanest. Lignetics are a tad behind the Hammers heat wise, but seem to be slightly cleaner burning with lighter, fluffier ash. Haven't seen Turmins around here. Menards has their brand for $200, thinking of getting a ton to try. Off to unload the truck.

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Just took delivery of a ton of Turmans. They are DARK and when I took the wrap and cover off of the pallet, the smell was like climbing into a red oak wine cask! It's competing in the garage with the piney good smell of the Vermonts which smell like pine incense throughout the neighborhood when they burn. Wonder if the neighborhood will smell like a wine tasting when the Turmans burn

 

[OnlyWhnChasd]

I ended up going with Turmans, and so far I'm really not happy with them. It's been unseasonably warm here until recently so I've only burned about five bags, but they make a mess of the stove. Lots of soot and even creosote!! I never, ever had a problem with Hamers and wish now I'd paid the extra for them. I have two tons of Turmans now though, so I have to figure out how to make them work.

 

[PelletPirate]

I paid my dues and burned through my Turmans. Never again. The heat output was not good. Burning my Hamers today and the house is toasty inside!

 

[OnlyWhnChasd]

I paid my dues and burned through my Turmans. Never again. The heat output was not good. Burning my Hamers today and the house is toasty inside!

I wish I had heard your dissenting opinion before I bought them. I had only ever heard positive reviews, and couldn't figure why they would be so much cheaper than Hamers. Here I thought I had scored big, but now I know the truth! Based on some other posts I drug up on the forum, I switched to "Sunflower Seed" mode (I have a Mt Vernon AE) and that seemed to help some. Still sooty, but I don't seem to be getting the sticky creosote mess. I'm going to have to the make the best of it, but next winter I'm going back to Hamers!

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

See, that's odd because I had my bad experience with Hamers! One year they were good, the following nothing but ash clods and soot. I have not worked my way down the pile to the bags of Turman yet, but I hope your experiences are only because of shoulder season cycling of the stove. That alone will tend to make clinkers and sootiness. I must say the Northern Warmth (aka Okanagon) are burning awesome and squeaky clean. Will need to bust out the Turmans and see what findings I get though.

 

[Tonyray]

See, that's odd because I had my bad experience with Hamers! One year they were good, the following nothing but ash clods and soot. I have not worked my way down the pile to the bags of Turman yet, but I hope your experiences are only because of shoulder season cycling of the stove. That alone will tend to make clinkers and sootiness. I must say the Northern Warmth (aka Okanagon) are burning awesome and squeaky clean. Will need to bust out the Turmans and see what findings I get though.

your right about shoulder season burning..
always seems to be a bit dirtier due to the on/off/ rinse/lather /repeat of the outdoor temperature swings