My stoves liked them. Couldn't tell the difference between Blackstones and PTL's in the P43. Ran well in the P61 also - of course just about anything runs well in comparison to the ThermaGlo's I've been running in that stove . Sorry your stove doesn't seem to care for them.
I'm surprised to hear you putting the TG's down so much. I burned some last year and didn't think they were too bad. Not great but not awful. You also seem to have a higher opinion of the Inferno Golds than I do. Or maybe they're better than your TG's so your happy with them.
Last year I ran some TG's and they were better than this year's - sure they left a reddish residue, but the heat was okay and ash wasn't too bad. This year they run very cold (seriously after the stove has run for 10-15 minutes I really kind of expect hot, not luke-warm, air to be coming out of it) and very, very ashy. The IG's I ran a couple of months ago were pretty much like the PTL's in the P43. In case you are wondering - yes, I have run stuff in the P43 that wasn't pretty much like the PTL's . The IG's also ran pretty well in the P61 too. And here is the reference point - it was after I had been running Platinums (I ran thru about 25 bags). And actually, during winter I had been mixing the TG's with FSU's to keep ash down and heat production up a bit. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I started running strictly TG's in there. TG's are a pellet that I wouldn't be too upset if I found bags of sawdust as they would be better used in the cats' litter boxes I think.
Bummer, I was hoping they would do a better job than the Penningtons. But they don't sound like they improved things much. I've yet to see them, But I will likely run as fast as I can when I do so I won't be tempted!!
I've burned probably 80 bags of Blackstone in my 52I with no problems. They are ashier than say the EasyBlaze SYP i burned in the coldest part of this past winter, but thats pretty much expected with a hardwood. I cant say that there was any difference from the Green Teams of a year ago. Others on this board, and my customers, are happy with them. But your stove doesn't seem to like them, for whatever reason.
Bags burned depend on the severity of the winter and my wood supply. Last year I burned 37 bags of Dry Creek. This year I finished the Dry Creek and have burned 20 bags of Blackstone. I'm using them up, so the slightest bit of a chill in the air, the insert goes on.
Batch variance has bitten even the best brands. Not uncommon to see it accrue. Specially from newer mills just getting their stuff worked out. If they seem that bad, You could try contacting them? They may ask to have a sample of the batch sent to them to test.
If you are burning less than a ton a year , I suggest you go buy a nice softwood like LaCrete's or one of several others out there Spring buys are starting . I don't know if you are any where near artc he could hook you up with some softies , just my 2 cents
Thanks for the input guys. Going to go with softwood next year for sure, burning Blackstones out is my first hurdle!
