Vermont Wood Pellet tour - success

[rparker]

Thanks to those of you who made it. The weather / roads were a little "interesting".
I hadn't realized just what goes into making a good pellet.
They are always willing to give tours and welcome those that couldn't make it this time. Maybe next one will be a combo tour: Vermont Wood Pellets and then Otter Creek Brewery?
Side note: I had forgotten just how much difference there is in pellets. Came home, cleaned the stove and emptied the hopper. Put in a bag of Vt's and running on low, the heat output is MUCH greater than Firesides on high.

 

[briansol]

nice! glad you guys are home safe. Im glad i didn't go due to the weather, but mad i didn't, if you know what i mean....

 

[subsailor]

How many guys made it?

 

[seige101]

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[iceguy4]

Tour was a great success...9 of us... I picked up 1/2 ton and all I can say is OMG I emptied my hopper and cleaned my burnpot and put a bag in ...having a boiler I figured it would be hard to tell if it was THAT much better of a pellet...MAN was I wrong.. when it started It was hard to tell (my auger was filled with north amaricans) when the vermont pellets hit...OMG what a difference. the flame was so bright it was kinda herd on my eyes. Way bigger flame and it filled the firebox (never seen that before) I cut my feed rate down ,,,the next thing it started shutting down At first I thought I had problems...NOT . ..my boiler was up to high limit WAY faster. these pellets cost only $60/ton more but my first observations...worth every penny...Chris and his crew at Vermont pellets make one hell of a pellet
also pic's to follow if I can figure out how to mail them to my e-mail...

 

[iceguy4]

vermont tour....Chris (owner) is 2nt from right

 

[iron stove]

Thanks to those of you who made it. The weather / roads were a little "interesting".
.

Ineresting, as in Icy? Slippery ? Weve had 8" in only 5 hours and more in places, and TV reporting very slow roads in the area. I can say it snowed so hard and fast, they only have the main drags open, unplowed side roads, and plenty of cars stuck on the hills.

 

[hoverfly]

The ride home was much worse than coming up, but the ski resort trafic, oy! That took a while to get through,should halved gone around that. Oh well I was actualy enjoying the scenery. It has been some time ago since the last time I was there, over 20 years ago!

 

[iron stove]

I see. Yes, figured we would get up there, but have a difficult drive home. We are almost at double digit snowfall here. More than expected ! 3rd snowfall this week.

So did VT have a lot of pellets in stock, or flying out the door ?

 

[briansol]

I went out shopping with the g/f tonight... it is pretty slippery out there. Had to switch into 4wd a few times just to get going at flat stop lights. I'm glad we didn't venture out. We might still be on the road right now if we had.... it started snowing around 1pm here.

 

[rparker]

They probably have 75-100 tons inside right now. One thing that impressed me (out of many) is the quality control. If ANYTHING is off with a run, it becomes bedding. Looking at what they consider bedding, it could easily pass for any of the lower tier pellets (just a different color).
Also the smell of the whole place is intoxicating!! Love the white pine.

 

[iceguy4]

yes the

I see. Yes, figured we would get up there, but have a difficult drive home. We are almost at double digit snowfall here. More than expected ! 3rd snowfall this week.

So did VT have a lot of pellets in stock, or flying out the door ?

Yes and no ...they did have some inventory on hand but their hours were till 12 noon and we were there after hours..but as I loaded my truck I had a conversation with a nice fella there (all were great to us) he said "they will fly out of here come monday, tuesday...) ... As for their "bedding" It looks better then what I have been burning!. Chris said his employees have a "would I burn this" mentality and will direct the line to the "bedding" pile with no repercussions. Chris is "old school" and is only interested in putting out a good...hell great product. He has zero interest in becomming bigger if his product will suffer...in any way! This company is very impressive... and seems to "dot their i's and cross their t's" ...right down to a framed welcome sign in the entrance to welcome us(our forum members)...class act, great product, nice people. I only wish I lived closer so I could become part of it...

 

[iron stove]

Cool. Even more interested in going up. Probably wouldnt mind burning some of the " Bedding" grade pellets. Wonder what ththose cost compared to the grade A pellets.