What do you do when you look in the hopper

[Tim Linden]

Lately I've been a forgetter. I come upstairs (work in basement) and find house cold. Look in hopper.. FORGOT AGAIN! lol

 

[Xena]

Xena, Are you sure you don't touch em? Come on fess up!

Lmao, ok legit Jay. I'm a reformed mountain former. I did it until
I realized that (in my Prescott anyway), either way they happily meander their way down the chute.
Have been free of fondling for several years now and it feels great!
Once in a while I get the urge but it quickly passes and I pour a shot of Patron on ice
- for me not the stove.

 

[briansol]

I cram my hand though the narrow opening and push the pellets to the back of the stove. It helps me get more in, and when its not full they fall straight to the auger.
Who designed the opening on some of these things?

get yourself a big 1-piece cast metal spoon. no rivets, no handels. you don't want to be sticking your hand into the stove.... i know i know, its way down, but you can never be too safe.

plus, the spoon does double duty of scooping out the burn pot when needed.

 

[Shaw520]

open lid,.. swish the pellets around with extended fingers,... if my GF or my daughter is in the room I grab a handful and make them smell,... (my daughter will hide her face when she see me coming with a handful),.. but I wrestle her on the couch till she submissively smells..... then I make the "imacmountain" and close the lid with a look of satisfaction. BTW,.. best smelling pellets I ever smelt:; Rocky Mountain Softy's (not available on the east)

 

[JonSkow]

get yourself a big 1-piece cast metal spoon. no rivets, no handels. you don't want to be sticking your hand into the stove.... i know i know, its way down, but you can never be too safe.

plus, the spoon does double duty of scooping out the burn pot when needed.

I was thinking an extra long grill spatula. You know the ones with the bottle opener on it...

 

[DBCOOPER]

What do you do when you look in the hopper?

I usually say "did that really come out of me?" Then I flush...

 

[mfglickman]

I curse when the Rangers beat the Bruins, GO B's
P38X2, You Best move that lantern..

P38 Is that in reference to the old TV38 Boston Bruins broadcasts? back in the day with Fred Cusick and Derrick Sanderson, Man they were great Bruins game commentators.

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I wanted to *be* Bobby Orr when I was 4 years old.

 

[Bioburner]

Level out, then start the organic calculator. It was 12 hours to use 40 lbs and the wind was 25 to 35 and the temp was -12, @&$!, who cares, BP can kiss my warm butt!

 

[bostonfan49]

I am thinking of taking a pic of our next vacation destination,enlarging it and cut to a rectangle shape, then Tape to the inside of the hopper and cover with pellets.. Then when my wife goes to add pellets, I can surprise her Bill

 

[kcellwood]

I'm a mountain builder also. Pull up side to form a mound in the middle over the auger infeed.

 

[Dinger]

BTW,.. best smelling pellets I ever smelt:; Rocky Mountain Softy's (not available on the east)

They are delicious arent they. New Earth smell great too, and Eco-Flames aren't too bad either.

 

[Bob E]

Man, finding this thread makes me feel a little better. I do it all. If the hopper is still fairly full I level it off, if it has worked it's way down I mound the pellets over the auger, and I break up most of the long pellets on the surface. I was half tempted to pull the lid off for easier access, but it's riveted on and I'm pretty sure its there to smother out any hopper fires.

 

[fireitup]

Is the hopper half empty, or half full??? I'm a fondler, flattener, and finally a flicker! I flick everything to the back of the hopper with both hands...every square inch of hopper volume is to be utilised at all times.

 

[bill3rail]

If it's not close to full, I pull the side pellets up to the middle to form a mountain directly over auger opening. Other than that, just dump a bag of pellets in.

I do this also.

But when filling, I try to get every possible pound of pellets in there so I push up to the sides and top off the hopper.

Bill

 

[lagger]

My AGP only holds about a bag at a time (zero clearance insert install) I stick my flattened out hands into the pellets and assist them that remain into the funnel end of the hopper then fill and level close the lid and continue to stay warm.

 

[Tonyray]

All Pellet Stoves should have www.hearth.com printed on the inside Hopper Lid for tips, problems....
might even help with OCD concerning Pellet Hopper Organization of which I am quilty also.

 

[Husky]

You guys just made me go play with my hopper.

 

[Chrisnow86]

I have a englander and always mound the pellets up in the middle of the auger haha

 

[mustangwagz]

i build a mountain, and hunt for oversized pellets while doing so. Imma Trophy Hunter tho when it comes to pellets, if i find any that are longer than 2" i keep em for bragging rights!! LOL You know the rules...Pics or it never happend..

 

[Chitownhillbilly]

What's up with the Mountain? Do you're hoppers not funnel very well?

I level so I can judge use, I've got lines marked at 1, 2 and 3 full bags.

 

[Chrisnow86]

One of englanders faults they need some assistance sometimes the bottom of the hopper isn't very steep and the have trouble falling down

 

[chken]

Interesting, my stove has a screen that prevents you from fondling your pellets. Having said that, I removed the screen after about 2 months so I could get a vac to suck out any fines. Forgot to replace the screen. Usually I do nothing when opening the hopper other than to check the level, if it's low, but not low enough for me to add a whole bag, I'll just move some pellets to the middle, a small hill. That's it.

 

[Lfdp13RET]

I flick as the insert opening is not very big.. There was one day though when my iPhone slid out of my pocket and I had to go digging in the hopper for it, then I couldn't get my arms out cuz the opening is so small. iPhone is no longer allowed in shirt pocket pouring pellets in

 

[woodmakesheat]

If it's not close to full, I pull the side pellets up to the middle to form a mountain directly over auger opening.

X4

 

[thundercracker]

funny thread everyone. what/how do you guys get the dust out of the hopper, when the pellets are still in the hopper? vacuum? should i be "sifting" my pellets from the bag before they go in (please say no).
1st year burner.