2010-2011 Best Softwood Pellet winner...

[Fish On]

I have well over 2 tons of okies, and I'm going to be getting a ton of Vermont's! there that good....

 

[jtakeman]

I think Vermont Wood Pellets was very bold producing a softwood pellet in the haert of hard headed hardwoods New England. I don't think this would have flown to far if done a few years back. I don't know how many times I have heard from the so called people that know pellets, That you should only burn hardwoods in your pellet stove. I think even a few stove manual state that.

As far as I know right now. They are the only softwood pellet producer in New England. I say kudos to them.

Can I add that. My head to head isn't meant to step on any toes or belittle either pellet. And I am really hopping the New England softwood can run toe to toe with what we have available from the west. I still say there both winners!

 

[mascoma]

1. Been working my way thru a ton of vermonts and they seem to be fro 2 different batches. Some bags have dark pellets that seem to break easily and burn a bit dirtier. Other bags contain lighter colored pellets that seem to be harder and burn quality is very close in all ways to the okies I have burned.

2. manufactures can do two things regarding how dealers store pellets. First they could not sell to retailers that do not have inside storage facilities. Second they could do what some others have and use a tougher hood over the skid to add protection from the elements as I doubt there are many skids that will not be left outside at somepoint in their life.

 

[coobie]

I sure like my Uncle Jeds softwood pellets,low ash and burn great.coobie

 

[jtakeman]

Hey Jay. I'm thinking that your reviews would be great on my site. I realized that I am not going to try to get mills to advertise.

Rob, I am thinking we could make something work. It could be good for both of us. I'll be in touch!

 

[Toycruiser84]

Does anyone know where i can get some vermonts around central maine?

 

[captkirk5858]

Try here. You might find a Dealer close to you...

http://vermontwoodpellet.com/

 

[perchin]

I sure like my Uncle Jeds softwood pellets,low ash and burn great.coobie

I couldn't agree more.... ;-)

 

[captkirk5858]

Jay...... Are you close to the Head to Head Yet?????

 

[jtakeman]

Vermont Wood Pellets results

Temp average 249ºF

Ash volume 12 ounces

Ash weight 3.25 onces

Ash Percentage 0.246%

Density 42.76 LBS.

Fines volume 8 ounces

Fines 3.63 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.276%

Bag Weight Bag 1 41.03 LBS
Bag 2 40.41 LBS

Diameter .254

Length 1/4 to 1 1/4

Total Burn Length: 27 hrs 37 min

PRO's

Not too dusty. Good heat. Price?(about the same as Okies in my neck of the woods) Good long burn length.

CON's

Coarse texture= hopper slide issues. Fluctuating flame hight(I would need to raise the feed rate).

 

[jtakeman]

Okanagan results

Temp average 265ºF

Ash volume 12 ounces

Ash weight 3.68 onces

Ash Percentage 0.284%

Density 44.98 LBS.

Fines volume 4 ounces

Fines 2.08 ounces

Fines Percentage 0.161%

Bag Weight Bag 1 40.59 LBS
Bag 2 40.28 LBS

Diameter .255

Length 1/4 to 1

Total Burn Length: 23 hrs 42 min

PRO's

Excellent heat. Very dense. Slides nice in the hopper. Big BOLD fire!(because of the burn length being timed I can't drop the feed. I must be fair!) Consistent flame!

CON's

Wimpy bag But BTU is on it. A bit dusty.

 

[imacman]

Looks like BTU will have a big smile on his face!

 

[jtakeman]

I think there both winners. I am really glad to have both a great western softwood and a New England softwood available.

BTU's Okies are just as good if not better than last season. Great heat! Pretty sure there going to get burned faster than the Vermonts. But If I wasn't doing the length study, I would turn them down. Flames are licking my convection tubes(save$ these had the largest flames in this seasons testing!). The Vermonts had a good long burn lentgh, But I would have turned them up some to stablize the flame. So in the end the burn lentgh in the real world would be much much closer.

BTU the bag is the lightest one I have seen at .120 lbs/1.96 ounces. Pretty easy to poke a hole in them. And the worst thing I can say is the Vermonts are pretty bad in the hopper slide area. It wouldn't hurt to raise the density some more to help get even more heat from them. But were talking a chipped pellet so? This might be all they can get.

The biggest thing I liked about the Vermont Wood Pellets is they are the "ONLY" softwood pellet in New England! Competing with the hardwoods mills and doing a darned good job of it too! This took some guts in hardheaded hardwood land! Second is they are making a pellet from whole logs which will help the burners if there ever is another fiber shortage. The Okies are a very consitent product, Quality fiber makes them one tough pellet to beat!

I honestly would have a tough time choosing between the two of them. I'd have to let the price decide that for me. What makes it even tougher is there pretty close in price locally(Okies $260 and Vermont $255). So I might end up just buying BOTH!

 

[Bigjim13]

I think there both winners. I am really glad to have both a great western softwood and a New England softwood available.

BTU's Okies are just as good if not better than last season. Great heat! Pretty sure there going to get burned faster than the Vermonts. But If I wasn't doing the length study, I would turn them down. Flames are licking my convection tubes(save$ these had the largest flames in this seasons testing!). The Vermonts had a good long burn lentgh, But I would have turned them up some to stablize the flame. So in the end the burn lentgh in the real world would be much much closer.

BTU the bag is the lightest one I have seen at .120 lbs/1.96 ounces. Pretty easy to poke a hole in them. And the worst thing I can say is the Vermonts are pretty bad in the hopper slide area. It wouldn't hurt to raise the density some more to help get even more heat from them. But were talking a chipped pellet so? This might be all they can get.

The biggest thing I liked about the Vermont Wood Pellets is they are the "ONLY" softwood pellet in New England! Competing with the hardwoods mills and doing a darned good job of it too! This took some guts in hardheaded hardwood land! Second is they are making a pellet from whole logs which will help the burners if there ever is another fiber shortage. The Okies are a very consitent product, Quality fiber makes them one tough pellet to beat!

I honestly would have a tough time choosing between the two of them. I'd have to let the price decide that for me. What makes it even tougher is there pretty close in price locally(Okies $260 and Vermont $255). So I might end up just buying BOTH!

Good comparison! I would love to get ahold of some Okies to compare-just haven't seen any to grab. I have noticed the hopper sliding issue with the Vermont's, never had that issue with another pellet but they burn so well that I don't really worry about it.

 

[Rooscooter]

This thread and others like it are great for new comers like myself. I like seeing real world results rather than just boring test lab data etc. from pellet producer websites.

We have a couple of locations in our area that stock Westwood Premium Wood Pellets which I have been told are identical to Okanagan's and produced in the same mill in B.C.

I can confirm that the Westwood's are the hottest in my less sophisticated tests with my Bosca Stoves. I get anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees hotter air from my stoves when using Westwood Pellets than with my other favorites (North Idaho Energy Pellets, Atlas Ultra Premium and Ricky Canyon Premium. I don't measure ash and flame characteristics however I can tell you that I can set my stoves lower with the Westwoods than the others I typically use.

The only problem is that there is only one location with any left this year!!

 

[jtakeman]

I have finished updating the info on the Okies. The ash was darned close to last seasons. Very consistent!

Hope this helps some but please please please! YMMV so try yourself in your stove!

I don't know crap about pellets!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I don't know crap about pellets!

Yep, sure, and you also ain't a Pellet Pig :lol: