Ok here is my list of go to places... Smart Energy Solutions, Grant Mi Michigan Wood Pellet, Gaylord Mi ( No not Michigan wood pellet Holland Mi they turbo suck ) I was basically told to go away on the phone.... The one in Gaylord talked to me for a good long while and I liked them a lot soo.. The few reviews I have found on their products have been positive. Anyways has anybody here gone to SES in Grant? I see they carry a big lineup of pellets..
I used to get a lot of my pellets there until Family Farm and Home opened up a few miles down the road from me. SES has a decent variety, prices are fair, and all their pellets are stored indoors. You can buy in the spring and pick them up as you drive past. They're about 15 miles north of me. They have a house brand that I've always wanted to try ($199/ton last I knew). Nice guys there, locally owned. Family Farm and Home is based in Muskegon, so I don't mind buying from them either. Corn Energy is in Newaygo on M-82. They have a bit less selection, but prices are about the same. H2 Oasis is near M57 and 131, but they're a bit pricier. I thought there was a pellet dealer in Saranac too, but I don't remember if they are still around. There has to be someplace around Lansing that has decent pellets. Have you checked TSC on Grand River Avenue down the road from the Lansing airport yet? They had Hardwood Heats pellets when I stopped in there a couple years ago on my way back from a job in Lansing. Hardwood Heat pellets weren't bad.
Names would help (pellet brand) rather than location. Some names are known throughout numerous states. Only the people in your locale, may know exactly the store/dealer your talking about. Price and Product name will help a lot
Pete we have dealt with the owners of SES in Grant through another store that they own for close to 20 years! Great people. They currently have 2 party stores that we supply up in the area. I have no idea of how they run that store though. Gary
Thank you 343! Yes we have more than a few pellet places around me but almost nobody carries anything other than Michigan pellets out of Holland which are green wood... You should see their log yard it's literally full of green trees. We went buy their the other day what a mess... I did find Magic Spark at Menards but they only have 6 tons left in stock and I don't know how they will burn so I picked up 3 bags to see. Everybody else who has pellets are stove dealers and very expensive per ton. The dealer by the capital wants $275 a ton for a hardwood non branded pellet... Basically I'm being forced to look elsewhere for a good softwood pellet.
I'll tell ya what I'm going for it... My friend with the same brand and type of stove ( except no auto ignite ) said they burn great in it so I am going after the Magic Sparks today. They are a good price plus the 11% rebate that's about 168 a ton.....
Almost everything is green when it's turned into fiber. The fiber is then dried before pelletizing. Even after it comes out of the mill, it has to be cooled/dried again. If they were to bag immediately, the heat from the pellets being extruded would make a lot of condensate in the bag and return them to a fiber like form. The fiber quality is the largest factor in pellets. Things like having little to no bark, a good species with good burning characteristics (softwood generally reign supreme here), and a good density is what makes a good pellet. They couldn't "season" the wood the way us cord wood guys do. The battle killed lodgepole pine may be pretty dry when they turn it into fiber, but I imagine they still dry it as well (kiln).
Magic Sparks (Pro Pellet) is a great pellet. They are one of the few mills that have 100% indoor storage and shipping for their pellets. I have always liked Pro Pellets. They are just a little harder to find by me (can be had about 1.5 hrs east at Kinsman stoves).
The moisture content of a pellet is lower than cord wood could possibly ever be (because of drying). But that is also the reason they burn so well and clean.
Dex this is so frustrating to me... I feel like everybody I've called except grayling has been full of BS... For example I've been told they use only dry sawdust from furniture makers by a few which is possible as we are in a furniture state... Holland basically told me to go away when I started asking questions and so on... I'm glad you guys are here to help brother....
We don't like to see the new burners get the run around. What we have learned will pass on! No need for you to go through the tizzies we had to. We're here for ya!! Fiber quality like Dex said is the first key. Second key is density or how hard they are compressed. Higher compression gives better heat(more fuel added per auger turn). Then size mainly length. because the auger is adding fuel by volume. A shorter pellet will allow more volume to be added. The last 2 are gonna be key for your little work horse. A low BTU stove will need all the assistance it can get once it gets cold(I mean really cold-them sub zero nights). Although not as important to you with the wood eater as an assist. But if you want the max heat you can get from the pellet eater. Try to avoid low density and pellets that are over an 1 1/4 in length. Long pellets over 1 1/2 really kill the volume fed to the fire.
I have finally found somebody with good pellets..... Menards has magic spark and Family Farm and home carries their sister Pro Pellets. It's 3.79 a bag at Menards but 1 hr away vs farm and homes 214 a ton with 5% off total purchase and 15 minutes away. I'm gonna start grabbing those two pellets over the next few weeks. I bought a bag of Menards cheap softwood and it was full of sawdust and said brand may vary on the bag lol. That cracked me up.
ProPellets and their sister Magic Sparks have decent reviews. Eric at Kinsman stove's swears by them and it all he'll sell. One last thing is storage. If you see open skids/pallets left out in the elements. Tread lightly!! Pellets don't like getting wet as they turn back into saw dust once moisture gets to them. If I didn't mention that Eric would kick my tail and take my beer privileges away!!
Menards thankfully keeps them under a roof and farm and home also stores them indoors. I asked her if they still had some and she laughed out loud and said o do we! Lol I'm going in a few hours for a big load from menards.. I need to go to harbor height too so I'll stop and get what I can for the day. My 3500 lb trailer outa hold a lot. I will load the back of my blazer too and go redneck lol..
Oh please, NO! I have been good at avoiding the skillet. But I still get the kick just because she can and seems to enjoy it!
You know what if I had a member close enough I'd go support them.... So far they are pretty far away though.
