Better than Blazers and better than Okies of three years ago.( will see if the Platinums challenge them). Not many left to beat that I haven't tried. Okie DF, North Idaho and Purcell maybe??
Over the last few years, I've burned 5 tons of VTs - live about an hour from the plant so local dealers have them. They're good, but I'm not sure I'd call them the best. When I'm running the stove hot, they get sticky against the warmer walls of my hopper so feed slower than some. The ash has varied for me - some good, some not as good. I've had Cubex and PTL batches that were as hot or hotter with less ash.
May just be I am lucky with the Vermont's I have had. I have tested numerous pellets and when I adjusted for different feed rates and compared actual pounds per hour almost all the pellets were the same....except Vermont's, which were considerably hotter than the rest. Blazers had the least ash but Vermont's were a close second. Now some of these pellets that are hot feed a lot faster, I remember some Timber Heats that were off the charts. Then I looked at the pounds per hour and they were feeding about a half a pound faster than the average pellet. So they really should be hotter. Anyhow, until something beats the Vermont's they are my Champion. But I am always looking for someone to dethrown them.
and you say this as a stove guy? I've heard so many stove owners equate a high quality pellet with a low ash output but it would seem to me that the only thing that should matter is how much heat you get out of a given amount of pellets over a given amount of time regardless of the ash quality or quantity. As I said I've not noticed a huge difference from one brand to another but part of me is curious to find out if there are slight difference. I think that it would be difficult to do for a significant period of time given all the variables (batch variability, weather conditions, hot water usage (boiler), etc etc etc) You'd kinda have to ensure all the variables were kept constant as you try each different pellet.
There are a lot of variables, and ones results should be taken with a grain of salt. I try to keep things as consistent as possible but it is far from perfect.
Nothing, they were something like 290 at the spring special price so I went with something else this year. I bought most of my current stash at 225nd some more at 250. A better use of my cash IMHO Edit: For clarity, my left over Vermints were something like 270....the rest if my stash was at the mentioned prices.
I see that the majority of your current stash is MWP. That's the majority of what I have as well. I didn't get them from TSC as they don't deliver. i got them form a local hardware store for $250/ton with a $10 flat rate delivery fee. I think the Vermont's in my area are currently over $300/ton.
That's a sweet delivery fee and most if my stash is the TSC MWP. Vermont's are not available in my area at the moment but they for sure will over 300 or more.
Yes I think you're correct.. You could email though.. Doesn't Google have some type of free spreadsheet that you can share with others via a link?
we find that different folks will say different things, based upon their tastes....their tastes varying....for some, its the wallet. For some, its the heat. For others, its the ash. Now, I know the Vermont's are a great product, given their somewhat limited availability. But I suggest you try some of the firs, keep an open mind, and see what you think. "Vermonts are the best......I've tried...so far" ?
If ya go by heat? The Vermonts didn't crank like some, But They were one of the lowest I have seen in ash content from a SPF pellet. I'd burn them if the price was right. So far the Okies DF and Bear Mountains are my best. Second best were the all oak Cubex or Turmans. But they are all pretty spendy $$$$. Gotta get me some of the North Idaho and Percells.
My mind is open, as I mentioned in a later post I am trying to find the pellet that dethrones them. I would love to try the firs, maybe one day I will find a few bags.
I'll pick ya up on the way by. When I burned the Blazers they were close to the Vermonts(somewhere in the mid 0.20's). The DF's I mentioned are in the low teens for ash content. The lowest I have seen. If the North Idaho's and the Purcells are close, You should be impressed. In perspective, I burned 4 bags of Okies DF and I got the about same ash volume as one bag of MWP. Roughly 3 to 1 by weight.
When I compare ash my baseline is the MWP and Green Supremes, which I need to clean after about 6-7 bags. With the Blazers and Vermont's i can go around 20. Somersets and Spruce Point were also very good for me.
Barefoots are my favorite so far. Hottest burn and longest burn time. Ash is definitely more than softwoods, however is is coarse heavy ash that ends up in the pan where it belongs. No problems with burnpot build up whatsoever!!
I've see these around here but thought better of it buying a bag for reviews. I took one for the team when I grabbed a bag of Freedom Fuel for reviews...lol
