I ran out of pellets of the weekend. Since I have some $80.00 in Christmas gift cards on hand for my local farm store I went out Sunday PM and bought a few bags of Marth pine pellets. While they sell the Marth branded pellets they also have their house brand pellets... a "premium" grade hardwood. Bu now I see a "standard" grade hardwood... 20 cents per bag less than the "premium" hardwoods" and 40 cents less than the pine. At those prices I'll pass.
Not even gonna try a bag and tell us how they burned? Don't see much standard grade much in these parts. But IIRC there are a few that peddle them. Lumberjack was one. IMHO they would need to be far less to be worth the extra struggle. 3X the ash compared to premium grade.
I'd give a "standard" grade pellet a try, at least a bag or two, you just never know. Check out my review of a "super premium" pellet. I wouldn't give you a nickel for a truck load of these. ★★☆☆☆ - Rocky Mountain Pellets (Review) | Firewood Hoarders Club
years ago we sold Standards and Industrial grades. Beware, and try a few bags first.....we no longer sell them because of the little bit that might be saved isnt worth the risk that certain stoves cant handle the ash.....as I recall, standards were 1-3% ash, and industrials, well, all bets were off...those things were chocolate brown, full of bark, amazingly high ash.....kinda like Michigan pellets, which are purported as premium....when using them, was emptying a P61 ash pan EVERY WEEK! the issue was, folks would buy them, wanting to save 15 or 20 bucks per ton.....then, after getting a tan, would find out their stove didnt like them at all, and they'd want to send them back, which is a pain all the way around...
I bought 2 tons of them back in November when they had them on sale for $180/ton. Plus received 2 $25 gift cards for getting there first thing in the morning and waiting in line for 15 minutes. The pellets are very dusting in the bag. Probably at least 1/2 cup of dust in each bag. Very ashy as well. But what can I expect for $155/ton (after gift cards). I think that Marth bags them. Definitely reminds me of Marth hardwood pellets that I had tried years ago.
Snapped a pic last night... "quality" grade... 20 cents per bag less than hardwoods... 80 cents less than pine.
lol! whats "quality grade" anyhow? Ash content, BTU/lb, etc......sounds like a grade someone made up.....like "super duper awesome grade"......
I'll try to get that for you this week. I bought the Marth pines and they are really low in ash BUT heat? Not so much. The 'Wood Pellet' brand I've been using this year are really ashy but way hotter. I have my St Croix on #3 right now for the first time all year. Kinda brisk out there tonite...
0-01320-33010-5 off of bag Ash <= 1% Moisture <= 8% BTU's 8000/# These really are dusty. I screen them before I bring them into the house to pour into stove and there is still an excessive amount of dust brought into the house. I have been burning them in my Castile insert. Last year, I burned them in my boiler and really didn't notice that they were quite so dusty, but were very ashy. Double the amount of ash from burning Uncle Jed's Cold Remedy (La Crete's). Very ashy this year as well. I have screened out about 2 gallons worth of dust and fines from 40 bags.
I've been burning Dejno's pellets this winter and like them a lot. They supply a lot of small, sideline pellet dealers around here in southeast Wis. I can get them for $225 a ton from a number of vendors. They're blends, have next to no dust/fines and produce only a few small clinkers and moderate ash.
