A Ton of Hammer Hot Ones followed me home.

Just grabbed a ton of Hammers from Acushnet Alternative Energy (SE Mass) today.
My first day off in 17 days and only day off till end of year (ex-Christmas Day) so I had to act quick. I'm a mailman and we are a bit busy right now

Paid way too much for them but I was in a quandary.
Home Heating Oil is $2.30 a gallon around me. I have about 6 gallons left in tank.
HD has Fireside Ultras for $249.00 a ton
AAE had EZ-Blaze or Hammers for $300.00 a ton.
I needed a hot pellet for the cold nights.
So I pulled the trigger on the Hammers. (Probably wrong decision but 'F' it)
Have them unloaded and ready to try tonight.

Have about 15 bags of FSU left from the October HD buy for warmer days/nights.
Next pay check I'll get an Oil tank fill (about $600 by then) and I'll be just about set for the year.
---Nailer---

 

If I’m not ready to fill my tank due to oil market spike, budget or otherwise, I’ll grab a couple of 5 gallon cans of diesel and pour it in the tank to get me by. I pay the road tax but if I’m able to get 150-200 gallons later for $.10-15 less per gallon, I end up on top in the end. I’m at about 1/4 of a tank now and I’m considering using that strategy in the near future... I use HO primarily for domestic hot water. Have 4x5gallon cans just in case I need them. Should have filled up at $1.88 when I had the chance but only got 150 gallons...

 

That's pretty much my motto too

 

Nailer I don think you can go wrong with Hamers , even for 150 twice. Enjoy the heat.

 

So last night I did a fairly simple comparison between the FSU's and the Hammers
I have a Fluke Multimeter with Temperature readings on it and a thermocouple bud to plug into it.

I curled the T-couple wire around and put the "ball" into my #2 heat exchanger tube. Made sure the sensor was in air stream not on metal.
I had about 1/4 of a hopper of FSU's burning and the MM reading was 135-155 Deg F until it was burned off (Scooping pellets to middle to burn 99% of them)
Once the FSU's were gone I filled up with the Hammers and let it run a few hours (Watched No Country for Old Men).
Without moving the probe from when the FSU's were burning I was getting MM readings of 130-155 Deg F. Basically the same.

Think I might be regretting not getting the EZ-Blaze
---Nailer---

 

The price difference might not justify the potentially additional BTU's that EZB may or may not have. Let's say the Hamer's are 8000 btu and the EZB are 8600....does that additional 600 BTU's justify the $50 difference in price? I have no f'in clue

 

Suck part is the EZ-Blaze and the Hammers were the same price. $300 a ton.
Oh Well, Knew I shoulda gone soft.
---Nailer---

 

Interesting experiment , just for chits and giggles I would pick up a couple of bags of the high end designer softies and do the same thing and see what happens you may be the new Myth Buster

 

I probably would have gone for more FSU's....they always burned good for me.

 

All you need now Jay is some kind of Temp sensor/display. I have had the Fluke for years and the thermocouple found its way into my pocket from a few companies ago. .

The Hammers are burning well just not as hot as I would have expected.
Suppose I should adjust the damper for max efficiency using the magnahelic gauge.
It is reading the same ~.25 inches H2O with both brands but didn't adjust for either. That is on Heat level 3.
I set the damper back in October (.17 inches H2O) with some leftover FSU's from last year. Heat level 5 for 1 hour.
On the Cast M-55 it is a PITA to get to the damper rod (under a cast side panel)

So we'll see, if I get some free time.
---Nailer---