newbinct . You have many great pointers already, but to me the first and most important thing to do is dump the current store. If they cannot deliver your pellets in 1 trip and then charge you 100.00 per trip-that's BS and its time to find someone with a real delivery rig. I get my yearly stockpile in the spring and in one delivery by someone that can get 12 ton on his rig, has an attached fork lift and a pallet jack that will put them anywhere you want them. All for an approx $45-50 delivery charge depending on fuel prices. This guy comes from about 40 miles away as well. Overall get yourself situated early with some good chit to carry you through and then start beating the bushes for deals on pellets you have tried and liked in the past. Pick up 5-10 bags here, half a ton there or whatever you can get in your vehicle. Whatever is left over of the good stuff you bought early is still good for the next year. I have used this formula for 5-6 years now and have ended up some seasons with as much as 2 ton left over of good stuff because I scored big time during the burning season. That means as much as 2 ton less of an initial purchase of good stuff the next spring
Well 'Judge Judy', pellet variety is the 'spice of life', so to speak. Maybe that's the justification for some of the higher pricing on Hardwood only, or Blended pellets? Dunno. (Need a Beer, or three to ponder that question.) newbinct, +1 on La Crete pellets, burning excellent here - I would pickup some test bags and also try out the Platinum pellets recommended, most (all) who have burned them seem really pleased w/ them this season.
Stick with them... IMO only!!... Unless you spring for some DF's, I doubt you will find anything locally that you will wish you bought instead of the La Cretes....... Dan
since they are using a Harman, they could get away with some 259- 269. ton stuff from HD like Stove chows for ex.. some of the BBS stuff makes great heat if you don't mind the abundance of ash.. there's ashy pellets and then there's " Old Roys" stuff like Nations choice etc. just gotta know which is which.
no duh.... no one said ALL pellets at HD are high ash.. bought Presto logs. blazers there in the past but never seem to be more than i truckload a season here.
What Dan said. One cannot generically classify "BBS stuff" as being high ash or ashy. It has not been my experience, in fact I would say the vast majority of what I have bought at HD and TSC have been very good. Maybe it's a regional thing. You really just have to know what to buy and what to avoid and this forum gives you all you need to know to make that determination. With prices being what they are, it really doesn't matter very much anymore. Rather than hoping for something you like to show up, these days you are better off going to a store where you can order exactly what you want.
I was actually referring to the fact that not all HD's have the same "brands"... For instance, the one near me (1/4 mile away!) does not usually have brands that folks here prefer.. Other places have better selections/quality stuff.. and people like the convenience/pricing. It just varies too much to paint with a roller... We have found this season, more and more people stopping by because the spread is so much closer from what we have to what HD has, and we are better than Lowe's (at the moment). Trying to figure their pricing schedule is not worth the time! more like a roller coaster... For instance, you had good luck with stuff from HD and TSC. I did not find the FSU to be all that bad... but did not care for the TSC stuff... But that is "here". Everyone doesn't get the same stuff as "here".. Or where you are.. All I know, is I am burning some Platinums right now... and they are doing a good job! I'm not knocking anyone's stash... Dan
X2, But for some odd reason we see it lots. What gets me as many of the BBS store brands have sister brands available at many of the pellet houses. Not all but some, So these high ash myth also are at the fabled pellet house and Guess what?? They sell em for more?? Myth busted? I think so! Sure wouldn't mind some BBS PTL softies or AWF WP. Heck I see them touted Energex gold softies on some ones web site(Geez, HD's??), Haven't see them yet. But they could be out there for some to scarf.
Didn't say you were, And not what we are getting at. Labeling BBS as selling high ash seems to be the topic(Not saying you were saying that either BTW). Seems we are just setting some record straight. Not all BBS sell high ash and not all pellet house sell low ash is what I'm hinting at.