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Wood pellets


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  • #1293689
    Donna C
    BPL Member

    @leadfoot

    Locale: Middle Virginia

    I came across this video where this man is using wood pellets for his stove. Now, I wouldn't carry the amount he used, but to get a fire going or even for a small fire, has anyone tried using them in their backpack woodburning stoves?

    YouTube video

    #1908917
    Kevin Babione
    BPL Member

    @kbabione

    Locale: Pennsylvania

    I can't see the YouTube video here at work, but I have been known to "cheat" a little with starting fires. I have some of the small Esbit tablets that I carry to help me get either a real fire or just the one in my woodstove started. They work pretty well for that purpose.

    I also carry, depending on the length of the trip, a trick birthday candle or two for getting my fires started. I light the candle with my mini-Bic and then use the candle for lighting the fire. It's nice to have something that doesn't easily blow out and will burn for a full minute or more without you having to worry about your fingers.

    For car camping I've used 2-3 Matchlight charcoal briquetes in lieu of proper kindling.

    #1908921
    Michael Duke
    Member

    @mpd1690

    Vaseline cotton balls are the best thing I have found. They are great. I use them with my bushbuddy and have no problem getting a fire going with them.

    #1908922
    Stephen Barber
    BPL Member

    @grampa

    Locale: SoCal

    A small baggie of cotton balls smeared with vaseline will work wonders. Nice and light, easy to use, burns well in any conditions.

    #1908932
    Donna C
    BPL Member

    @leadfoot

    Locale: Middle Virginia

    The video shows him using the pellets as his main fuel and the thing burned close to an hour without adding anything. Just a small handful would certainly keep things going without adding any wood. They may not be heavy but the bulk adds up…unless one could use them as a pillow….

    #1908935
    John Almond
    Member

    @flrider

    Locale: The Southeast

    +1 on the cotton ball and Vasalene trick. I use an old snuff can to hold them (one of the guys I work with is addicted to the stuff, so I get 'em for free), and it makes it a lot easier to pull just one without getting too much Vasalene on my hands.

    They also double as chap stick, anti-hot-spot treatment, and post-chafe relief.

    #1908942
    Duane Hall
    BPL Member

    @pkh

    Locale: Nova Scotia

    I have various wood burners in my backpacking kit (Sierra Zip, Kelly Kettle, Titanium Caldera Cone, Backcountry Boiler). Just for the sake of experimentation, I have tried wood pellets in my backyard, and yes, they do burn well. But it seems to me that the whole purpose and joy of a wood burning stove/kettle is that we don't have to lug our main fuel source with us, and are free to forage around the campsite when it's time to cook our supper.

    Cheers

    #1909094
    Chris
    BPL Member

    @staplebox

    Locale: New England

    I primarily heat my house with woods pellets – about 3-4 tons/year.(Easy and cheap) I think you'd need a special stove to make this work well. I'm not sure what stove was used in the video but it seemed to create a decent draft and strong flame.

    If you just light pellets in a loose pile they kind of smolder and don't burn strongly without a lot of air. They are themselves very dense and don't allow much air between them. (Pellet stoves use a combustion blower). Scavenged dry wood is much better imo.

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