tree cycle followup

[Genetto]

I bought 2 tons of the Treecycle pellets. With my normal settings, my first burn resulted in monster, hard, glassy clinkers. I have a Bixby stove that I can fine tune via a computer interface. To get around the clinker formation, I set parameters for a cooler flame and shorten the ash-dump intervals quite a bit. Doing so allows me to burn the Treecycle pellets but decreases the burn efficiency and dumps a greater amount of partially burned pellets.

Since the Treecycle pellet mill is only several miles from my home their price is much lower than other brands but I don’t believe I’m saving anything.

Steve

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[jtakeman]

Jim H.

Mike has sent me the sample and they arrived today. I sent you a PM. I will try to burn them ASAP.

jay

 

[Jim H.]

PM sent right back at ya! I look forward to what you find. I have been in touch with Mike as of last week. He said he is sending you his latest batch. Let me know if/when you come by, I live about 12 miles from the plant. Being out of work right now gives me some freedom! LOL

 

[jtakeman]

Jim H.

I have the pellets burning in the stove. I will post results here.

Temp average 224ºF

Ash volume was about the 30 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 22.504 ounces

Ash Percentage 1.758%

Fines were low at 3/8 of a cup both bags(very good seeing these were UPS to my door step)

Notes: Very small pebbles in the burn pot.

jay

 

[namz111]

from the looks of the bag looks like he sent you the old batch you find the date on the bag? (08/09) The newer ones came in a bag with green and black on it, I did notice a diff in the old vs new.

 

[namz111]

from the looks of the bag looks like he sent you the old batch you find the date on the bag? (08/09) The newer ones came in a bag with green and black on it, I did notice a diff in the old vs new.

 

[jtakeman]

from the looks of the bag looks like he sent you the old batch you find the date on the bag? (08/09) The newer ones came in a bag with green and black on it, I did notice a diff in the old vs new.

Mike from Tree Cycle said they were hot off the press's when he shipped them to me. As far as I know they are the latest batch. Maybe just old bags? There is no date on the bag that I can see. Seem to be pretty decent so far!

 

[glockshooter]

I started the season with a ton of Tree-Cycle, from Pinnacle Logistics. $250 delivered into my garage made it worth a shot. I haven't had any real issues with them, but I don't track it as closely as some here. I do notice more ash, and its a puffy paper looking ash, not the talcum powder ash I had last year. My father in law went with 4 tons, he burns full time. He experienced a lot of clinkers and more ash, but he was burning at a very low feed rate.

 

[BadDad320]

Batch 1 clinkered badly..... 2 or 3 large glass like clinkers in every bag ......... Batch 2 was nearly the same...... Batch 3 works quite well.... TreeCycle just needed to adjust the formula and they did pretty good on the 3rd batch.....................

 

[glockshooter]

How do you tell the difference in the batch? I'll check my bags when I get home.

 

[Jim H.]

Hey Jay, thanks for yet another test. I wish I had a temp guage to see my temps. I have the older batch and when it is on a full burn I literally cannot keep my hand in front of the stove a good foot or more or it will cook! 224 seems a little low? Again, when you are in the area, make sure you get a bag from me of the older stuff. As far as the clinkers go, maybe it is the type of stove. With the XXV the ash groups together across the burn pot and easily pushes right over the edge. I also just opened up the stove (off at night), and the ash on the front of the pot can be easily crushed into a smaller ash. It is still course, not light the real fine light grey ash of the lignetics that will just blow. That might be why the glass stays cleaner longer with the Treecycle as well. I also wondered if the outside temps had anything to do with temps. When it is in the teens the stove really kicks in to keep the room temp set.....? Take care all.....
Jim

 

[jtakeman]

Jim,

The heat value is an average. I got a max temp well above 235ºF. Also this is just air temp not stove temp. Stove temp is much higher. Mike and I are going to try it again. He has another batch that should be much lower in ash. He is working hard at making a better product.

He is putting my samples in the old bags, Here is his reply.

The bag was our older bags. The pellets in the bag was the latest. I switched bags so I could keep the newer material separate. Mike

Just FYI.
jay

 

[slvrblkk]

Jim H.

I have the pellets burning in the stove. I will post results here.

Temp average 224ºF

Ash volume was about the 30 ounce mark on jar

Ash weight 22.504 ounces

Ash Percentage 1.758%

Fines were low at 3/8 of a cup both bags(very good seeing these were UPS to my door step)

Notes: Very small pebbles in the burn pot.

jay

This is the problem I have with companies that mark their bags "Premium" when they clearly aren't. This is the same ash content I see with my Treecycles but I bought mine over the Summer in July. Honestly, it looks like nothing has changed since then. I still have 25 bags to go through and it's not worth my time to pull them out of my basement...load in my truck....and take them back. Like I said, live and learn.

 

[jtakeman]

I just put the latest batch that Mike from TreeCycle sent me in the stove.

I will post my results here.(Please remember your mileage may very! I almost don't want to do these tests anymore do to all the bickering in the other forum threads, But I promised Jim H and Mike I would.)

Temp average 243F (pretty impressive!)

Ash volume Just under the 12 ounce mark on jar.

Ash weight 8.28 ounces

Ash Percentage 0.646%

Fines were very low at 1/8 of a cup both bags(very very good seeing these were UPS shipped to my door step)

Notes: Very good heat! Very much improved on the ash amount. They are within the premium grade standards for pellets. Very much improved.

jay

 

[Jim H.]

I talked to Mike today, He seems excited about this latest batch. I will hook up with him next week sometime to get some and review as well. Thanks for all your hard work Jay! Get some much needed rest! LOL This testing is a great benchmark to get an idea of what works well and not so well. Again thanks and don't forget to give me a shout if you go to see Mike.

 

[jtakeman]

Jim H,

I finished the burn this morning. I updated the ash volume and will weight the ash Monday at work. But it looks much much better than the 1st batch I burned. I think you will like this new batch. When you see Mike tell him I said Great Job! in refining the process! Way less ash from this batch.

See if you can get him to tell you how he got more heat from them. Without disclosing his trade secrets! The pellet size was the same as the 1st batch I burned. So it wasn't more fuel = more heat as far as I can tell. Really just curious if it was a better quality fiber or a higher BTU content fiber. And or both?

See what you can find out?
Thanks
jay

 

[slvrblkk]

Jim H,

I finished the burn this morning. I updated the ash volume and will weight the ash Monday at work. But it looks much much better than the 1st batch I burned. I think you will like this new batch. When you see Mike tell him I said Great Job! in refining the process! Way less ash from this batch.

See if you can get him to tell you how he got more heat from them. Without disclosing his trade secrets! The pellet size was the same as the 1st batch I burned. So it wasn't more fuel = more heat as far as I can tell. Really just curious if it was a better quality fiber or a higher BTU content fiber. And or both?

See what you can find out?
Thanks
jay

Thanks Jay....I've been patiently waiting for your results before I go and exchange my pellets for the new batch. Despite what some people say, I think the tests you are doing are GREAT and I enjoy reading the update! Thanks again!

 

[glockshooter]

Thanks Jay, I don't have a lot of options as far as pellet suppliers, your test do make a difference!!

 

[jtakeman]

Everything is tallied and I updated the results. I would say these pellets are within the PFI's rated spec's for a Premium grade pellet. Very much improved.

Again Nice job Mike, You did very well on the changes to the process.

 

[namz111]

how soon will the consumer be able to buy these new and improved pellets?

 

[Jim H.]

I just burned thru a little over 2 bags since sunday afternoon of the new and improved pellets. They are definately hot! I had to turn back the setting on the temp a little bit to keep from being to hot. Also the ash is now fluffy if you will. Does not stick together like the last version did. I just opened up the stove and lightly started to brush the ashes from the flame and works extremely well. You all will be happy with this one. Mike has a great supply of quality wood and uses wooden fibers (if I understand that correctly). He mentioned something about having hammered them and that was why they were a darker color and why they clumped together as well....? Don't quot me on that part.....It was a busy saturday and I was in and out so did not get a chance to do much talking.
The new pellets are available now! If need be I can look for a batch code of some kind. The bags are idenical to the old though......Good luck out there!

 

[poconoman]

I just burned thru a little over 2 bags since sunday afternoon of the new and improved pellets. They are definately hot! I had to turn back the setting on the temp a little bit to keep from being to hot. Also the ash is now fluffy if you will. Does not stick together like the last version did. I just opened up the stove and lightly started to brush the ashes from the flame and works extremely well. You all will be happy with this one. Mike has a great supply of quality wood and uses wooden fibers (if I understand that correctly). He mentioned something about having hammered them and that was why they were a darker color and why they clumped together as well....? Don't quot me on that part.....It was a busy saturday and I was in and out so did not get a chance to do much talking.
The new pellets are available now! If need be I can look for a batch code of some kind. The bags are idenical to the old though......Good luck out there!

Yeah Jim, a batch or code of any kind would be helpful!

 

[Jim H.]

The top of the new bag on the corner says 10-09 where as the previous one I had says 09-09.
These are the only numbers I can see...hope this helps.

 

[namz111]

I have to chime in here also I had just finished burning 2 bags of the pellets marked 10/09 and all i can say is WOW WOW WOW! much much better I am sure everyone will be much happier with them now! I was told they are shipping them out to suppliers now. Run dont walk to get the new ones....

 

[mark2m]

I had picked up 4 bags of the previous batch marked 9-09 and I have to say I was not impressed at all. They burned with an average heat but would clinker and form carbon deposits on my burn pot so quickly that I had to shut the stove down to fully scrap the burn pot of the carbon after a day. I didn't have any other pellets give me so much trouble. I would say the bags were fairly clean of fines. I've practically poured saw dust into stove with no issues so that didn't worry me very much.

As I said this was the previous batch and they did change their formula. Sounds like they got it right now from what guys are saying about how the new batch burns. Well I guess I would just stay away from the old batch if you are out shopping around.