» Why make Your Own Pellets?

Who heated the entire winter on their pellets?

(12 posts)

  1. tjnamtiw
    Member

    Hey all,
    I've followed this forum for a long time now and have learned a lot, although I haven't taken the plunge yet into buying the equipment. Now that we are just about through the winter, I'm curious to know how many of you have used your home made pellets exclusively for heat this winter. Also, if you have, :
    1. How many tons did you use
    2. What raw materials did you use for the pellets
    3. What brand/model stove do you have
    4. What was your experience with ash and clinkers? How often did you clean burn pot, etc.
    5. What model pelletizer and hammer mill did you use? HP, etc.
    6. Considering ALL your time, guesstimate the hours used to make one ton.

    I'd really appreciate the feedback as I'm sure others would also find it very informative. The big question everyone has is 'does it work and is it worth it?' Please be honest with your feedback.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  2. sxviper04
    Member

    I for one only burn pellets. I have 2 Harmon P38 stoves and burn 5 ton per year. I use white ash sawdust. I have a 200mm mill running stock. Well maybe a slight modification. See the photo page. The ash content isn't bad. Any one who's burned for a long time knows you don't clean your stove after a ton is burned. you should be emptying and cleaning the burn pot weekly. I use a old Harvry H11 hammermill. Takes about 10 Hrs of run time to make a ton. I run 3-4 hours then shut down. I still have a life. Actually the wife starts nagging! I think it's worth it. It adds up for me to about $40 per ton with gas. would be much less with more efficient motor. Hope this helps. Viper

    Posted 6 months ago #

  3. Jide
    R & D

    I also burn the pellets I make. I also do alot of demos and I burn all different types of pellets. I am the manufacturer of the machines for Make Your Own Pellets.com.
    As far as tons that I use it depends on the type of pellets you make. Raw materials are anything from, wood, straw, corn stalks, leaves, paper, cardboard, manure, and kitchen trash waste. I currently have a st. croix but this will not burn a high ash content. USS stove is one to look into for high ash and Ashleys. Cleaning out your ash pot depends on the type of pellet you burn. We have used all models that we manufacture as far as the pellet mill. As for the hammer mills, the ones we sell. Hardwood takes longer to make and the quickest would be cardboard and paper. My 16 yr old son runs the pellet machine and has many customer that buy pellets from wood to cardboard. He sells the cardboard for bedding. He started running the machine at the age of just 14. He employees 2 friends that help on and off for xtra money. As far as honesty goes, making the pellets at first does take some experimenting. You will eventually get the hang of it and you will be making pellets for yourself or others. This will not happen over night and it is trial and error, but in the end it is well worth it. Make Your Own Pellets.com is here to help in anyway possible. We have no secrets and we are here to help. When you go to our website we have an excellent guide you can purchase on making pellets. You can also contact us anytime. I hope this is helpful.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  4. Jide
    R & D

    Hey Viper, how is everything going? Have not heard from ya for awhile.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  5. tjnamtiw
    Member

    That's some great info! Thanks! I have two Quadrafire's. One is a Sante Fe and the other a Castile. Yea, I don't think you want to wait for a ton to be burned before cleaning the burn pot. I do mine daily since it takes about 2 minutes, empty the ash pan once a week, and a good cleaning once a month. That's a great idea to give your son a 'small business' like that. It will really be a good experience for him.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  6. sxviper04
    Member

    I'm still alive. been working alot.Considering the economy, I won't complain. It's been real mild this winter. we have no snow. The ground really didn't freeze this winter. Been lucky I guess but my sled keeps scratching at the garage door! I haven't heard from anyone in a while. I think Wayne don't love me anymore, haven't heard from him since last summer!HaHa Take Care

    Posted 6 months ago #

  7. mstief
    Member

    Hey Viper
    If you need some snow come on down it's free for the hauling I'll give you all you need we've got 62" and still counting up right now it's -1.5 and the winds blowing about 20mph gives us about 10-15 below wind chill To tjnamtiw I sell all that I make to people and it's all they use to heat with after you get the hang of it their fun to make butttttttt til then I have two pellet machines and it's therapy to make pellets at nite just to see if you can

    Posted 6 months ago #

  8. sxviper04
    Member

    I'll take the snow but you can keep the below zero temps!

    Posted 6 months ago #

  9. tjnamtiw
    Member

    Hey, Jide. You said you're the manufacturer. Do you mean importer or are you making these mills here now? Making them here would sure take some of the 'China Syndrome' fear out of buying them. :o)

    Posted 6 months ago #

  10. Jide
    R & D

    We make the machines right here in the good ol USA!!!!!! Right now we're 10 machines behind and orders are comming in since we announced the USA machines. I cant get the admin to come out and help he just likes taking the orders.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  11. tjnamtiw
    Member

    That's great! Hey, being behind on orders is a situation not many companies are facing right now so count your blessings!!!

    Posted 6 months ago #

  12. admin
    Key Master

    all-

    The announcement is not planned yet. It's true the US mill is almost ready to announce, and that orders are being taken, but the website has not caught up. There is still lots to do to make it website ready. While there will still be imports available as usual, we recognize the demand for a US made mill is great. I know March will be here before the website is updated. Lots of work to do there. Stay tuned as they say...

    Posted 6 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.