Northern Idaho Energy Logs
Compressed log fuel wiki This wiki is for reporting compressed wood log results. Please use this format and include all specifics in future additions. Copy this wiki and paste into a new one to create another review. Change the last child category above to the product being reviewed. - BeGreen
Product: North Idaho Energy Logs
Manufacturer: North Idaho Energy Logs, Moyie Springs, ID
Website: http://www.northidahoenergylogs.com/Phone: (208)267-5311.
Reviewer: BeGreen
Date of test: 2/03/06
Packaging: sold by the pallet of 240 logs or partial pallet or box of 3. A palette measures 36 x 41 x 39.
BTUs: 8,600 btus/lb. Each log is 8 lbs or 68,800 btus
Size: 12.75 in. x 4.25 in. diameter.
Price: WA State; at NW Fuels a pallet is $245.00 plus tax
1/3 $95.00, 40 logs $49.50, 1-39 $1.35 each
Testing environment-
Jotul Castine F400 stove, rear exit to 19 stack with draft
Damper.
House: 2000 sq ft, 2 story farmhouse
Region: Puget Sound, WA state
Outside Temp: 32 deg.
Method: 3.5 logs, 3 half-logs at right angles to the glass, with supercedar starter on both sides of the center half-log, then 2 more logs placed on top at right angles (parallel to the glass) with about 1 in between. The logs are round and can roll, so I put a small wood block spacer between the upper logs. SuperCedar starter was placed on 1 full sheet of crumpled newspaper to facilitate lighting. The stove was completely cold at the beginning of the test. Temperatures were measured using stovetop thermometer placed at the right center side about 4 from edge.
NOTE: If there is an ongoing fire that has burned down, one should only add one or two logs to refresh the fire depending on the stove size. These logs have a great deal of stored heat. One should respect the potential for overfiring the stove if too much fuel is added to the stove. When used as recommended this product seemed very safe and clean burning.
Results
5:45 pm --- Ignition --- temp 68 degrees, dampers wide open, door open about in.
6:00 pm --- Reading --- temp 175 deg., logs burning on the inside edges closest to starter
6:10 pm --- Reading --- temp 450 deg., logs burning partially, but well, surface 50% black
--- Action, close stack damper about 3/4, stack temp 300, secondaries starting
6:20pm --- Reading --- temp 600 deg., logs fully involved, good secondaries
--- Action, close air control to , stack temp 400
7:15 pm --- Reading --- temp 625 deg., great fire, mostly blue secondaries, logs black but little flaking
7:30 pm Reading --- temp 650 deg., still strong roiling secondaries
8:00 pm Reading --- temp 500 deg., strong glowing red logs, ashen in color
--- Action, open air control to 50%
8:40 pm Reading --- temp 400 deg., still glowing strong
Action, stirred logs, opened air control 100%
9:00 pm --- Reading --- temp 400 deg. Many glowing chunks burning
10:00 pm Reading 300 deg.
-- Action, added another log
Observations
The logs are dense and really need either a hot kindling bed or a starter. Supercedars worked great and facilitated predictable starts each time. The logs are completely round which presented some challenges. A couple times they rolled against the glass which fortunately happened early enough to correct. (Where are the andirons Jotul?) The Home Prest-Logs have an advantage here with their flat bottoms, though this is less of an issue with a square firebox. Thomas recommended building a fire lean-to style with one log in the back and two logs resting on the one edge on the bottom log. This should work well in square fireboxes, but alas ours is rectangular and would only accept full logs sideways. These logs need about 1-1.5 between the logs to allow for good air/fire circulation. Once I had the hang of it, starting and maintaining a fire was easy. To get the longest, most efficient burn time the stovetop temperature and the air control needs to be watched and adjusted for the first hour as the logs start to outgas and combust. You want to take full advantage of the great secondary combustion heat available with these logs. No adjustments were needed to the position of the logs. If allowed to burn to exhaustion, the coals will last about 7-8 hrs.. Notable is the clean burn with the Energy Logs. The glass stayed clean at all times and there was virtually no smoke from the flue except for a little at startup. When NIEL had their logs tested by Omni labs it was found that they reduced particulate emissions by 93.5% in an uncertified woodstove and by 61.5% in a certified EPA phase 2 stove. Unlike the large pellet logs, these logs held their integrity much better and did not flake apart like a cigar ash until they were mostly exhausted. This contributes towards a longer burn. For a video of the beautiful secondaries one gets off these logs go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR98Z4zvX8k
Historical note:
These are the original Pres-To-Logs. The equipment designed for manufacture was made in the 1930s and is still in service 24/7. Originally designed and made for the very forward thinking owners of the Potlach Mill in Idaho, they were a solution to using the waste products of milling to run and heat the mill. They are still an amazing product. If you have to buy your wood, this is a fuel worth consideration.
Where to find them?
In WA state:
NW Fuels - http://www.nwfuel.com/logspellets.html
You can buy North Idaho Energy Logs in any of the following states:
Alaska
California
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Washington
Wyoming
To find the dealer nearest you or to find out how to become a dealer, please contact us at
[email protected] or call: (208)267-5311.
