what is the lifetime of a pellet stove burning corn? How much does burning corn shorten the life of components and which ones. Another question Mary. Does moisture content of the corn you buy matter. I buy probably about a 1000lbs a year for camp. Sometimes you get high moisture corn that a 100lb bag looks about like a 75 lb bag of properly dried corn. Granted you would get less for your money but does it still burn well?
Last edited by Lloyd Smale; 11-07-2018 at 03:05 PM.
Needs to be 15% or less moisture, 13 is best. I buy direct from the grain elevator by the pickup bed load(1500 pounds at a time) that I store in a shed. I use a vacuum system to move corn into the house to a smaller bin for use.
Major life shortening is exhaust vent where the nitric acid can mix with humidity. Mine needs replacing... outside end is rotted back an inch... That is after 5 years burning... I consider venting a wear item. If you have a stirrer style stove the stirrers don't last with corn... once a season at least to replace it. Might see a bit more rust scaling on the internals if you don't spray them down with pam every spring like I do... fired it up tonight for the first time and the neighbor called to ask if my house was on fire LOL as the pam burns off it smokes a wee bit...
Yes, Simpson Dura Vent makes a corn rated pipe but even then they rot... the acid precipitates out as the exhaust cools. I have mine running right now and stepped outside and got the burn of acid in the nose...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simpson-Dur...:rk:7:razz:f:0
Have you been looking for the free wood, pallet wood is usually oak, cut it with a saw a pallet is a days fire or 2. I know cause we sell low grade wood for that.
Find a sawmill they have slab wood that you can have for free. We can't get rid of it fast enough. I know cause I have a small mill.
True, I worked saw mill for about 10 yrs when I was young. Most lumber today is pine or other soft wood. It will work but is not ideal.
I always burned Oak with some Pecan since wild Pecan is plentiful here. I've burned Ash too but it's considered a soft wood. The good thing about Ash is you could cut it down today and use it in the fireplace tomorrow. Oak needs to cure for a few months. Red Oak was my favorite. I used to cut my wood around July ,"yeah hot weather".
I had a wood rack that would hold about 2-1/2 cords with a tin roof over it. I'd let it cure until needed, about November in our area.
If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.
Samuel Adams
Sam
Red elm... very sweet smoke when burning, heavy and dense hard wood... and a massive pain to split! Tends to tear not split...
Most around here burn maple mostly because there everywhere.
Same here in the Northeast. Technically oak which is pretty common as well might be the best for heat output when perfectly dry but that typically takes two years in this environment. So maple is the best compromise and probably the most common as well.
Just getting a UPS on my pellet stove this weekend to help ride out those power outages.
WOW, slabwood is never free around here...but it usually does go for about half price as cut-split-seasoned firrewood.
as to wood choice?
I prefer Ash, it seasons quick and burns hot and makes a nice bed of coals. Oak if fine at add in the evening cuz it burns slow, but for the same reason, I won't start a fire with Oak for a cold house cuz it doesn't throw off enough heat quick enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |