Question for pellet heads

jpw23 · 04-27-2008, 08:39 AM

are the pellets you guys use 100% wood or is there some sort of binding agent used?

qman · 04-27-2008, 08:42 AM

100 per cent wood. Bound by pressure in the extruder.

jpw23 · 04-27-2008, 08:45 AM

would a binding agent such as flour be a bad thing?

qman · 04-27-2008, 08:51 AM

That I do not know.

River City Smokehouse · 04-27-2008, 08:56 AM

The binding agent is naturally occuring in wood. It is called Lignin.

From a pellet producer's website:
Q. What makes them stick together if you don’t use additives or plastics?
A. Good question. Lignin (which is a natural binding agent from the tree itself) combined with the high pressure from the pellet mill as the pellet is pushed through the mill, holds the pellets together.

jpw23 · 04-27-2008, 08:58 AM

Here's the reason for asking....Last year University of Ky bought a pelletizer in the hopes that they could make fuel pellets from sawmill waste.....thier machine does not have enough horsepower to do the job and it requires a binding agent which also cuts into cost effectiveness. They asked me to get some info from you guys about this so that they might find a niche market and try to have this machine earn its keep. Their hopes are to make custom blends of smoking pellets, a person could call in their own custom order.

Ron_L · 04-27-2008, 11:02 AM

Why not sell those pellets to folks you use them for heating their home? There are a couple of reason that cooking pellets do not use a binding agent. One is to make sure that they are food safe, but the other is to cut down on ash.

FatBoyz · 04-27-2008, 11:25 AM

i can get you a name and # off one of my bags if you want it

dwwright · 04-27-2008, 11:29 AM

My understanding is that the wood has to be heated to 100+ degrees then compressed. The lignin then becomes sticky enough to bind. Are they heating the wood prior to running through the pellet machine? Many manufacturers are running the saw dust through a hammer mill prior to the pellet machine also.

Bentley · 04-27-2008, 11:42 AM

I think its a 140*.

jpw23 · 04-27-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

Why not sell those pellets to folks you use them for heating their home? There are a couple of reason that cooking pellets do not use a binding agent. One is to make sure that they are food safe, but the other is to cut down on ash.

The machine is not big enough to make large amounts of anything and there are a few other problems. This is just one application that they are looking into.....I don't think they know about heating the saw dust, gonna mention that to him today.

smknwhlswife · 04-27-2008, 12:06 PM

There are other things you might be able to do with that. animal feeds, etc? Cooking pellets you will not want any other binders in... Fuel pellets can get away with some, but when running a pellet stove, the lower the ash (lower maintenance) the better. You can get 100% oak pellets (high btu, low ash) for under $4 for a 40lb bag - typically generally available. Blend pellets can be cheaper... The real question is, can you produce/bag in the smaller scale something that will be able to sell, based on market pricing. I understand why you would like to do the cooking pellets, as they bring more of a premium on price.

Have you thought about adding a stronger motor/engine to run you pellet mill? Might be a better route to consider as well.

jpw23 · 04-27-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smknwhlswife

There are other things you might be able to do with that. animal feeds, etc? Cooking pellets you will not want any other binders in... Fuel pellets can get away with some, but when running a pellet stove, the lower the ash (lower maintenance) the better. You can get 100% oak pellets (high btu, low ash) for under $4 for a 40lb bag - typically generally available. Blend pellets can be cheaper... The real question is, can you produce/bag in the smaller scale something that will be able to sell, based on market pricing. I understand why you would like to do the cooking pellets, as they bring more of a premium on price.

Have you thought about adding a stronger motor/engine to run you pellet mill? Might be a better route to consider as well.

I have not seen this machine in person yet.......just a chit load of phone calls from UK's forestry dept. Might need to go down and take a look at it and the operators manual.

04-27-2008, 08:39 AM	#1
jpw23 Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-02-05 Location: Ky Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Question for pellet heads are the pellets you guys use 100% wood or is there some sort of binding agent used? __________________ __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Chargriller pro offset X 2 Brinkman Gourmet Smoker 7-N-1 r2d2 looking cooker(on loan never to be returned) Slightly bent Weber kettle Scratch and dent wally world Uniflame kettle new link to new musical adventure coming soon!!!!

04-27-2008, 08:42 AM	#2
qman Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-08-05 Location: Ocoee, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	100 per cent wood. Bound by pressure in the extruder. __________________ qman Para Bellum

04-27-2008, 08:45 AM	#3
jpw23 Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-02-05 Location: Ky Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	would a binding agent such as flour be a bad thing? __________________ __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Chargriller pro offset X 2 Brinkman Gourmet Smoker 7-N-1 r2d2 looking cooker(on loan never to be returned) Slightly bent Weber kettle Scratch and dent wally world Uniflame kettle new link to new musical adventure coming soon!!!!

04-27-2008, 08:51 AM	#4
qman Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-08-05 Location: Ocoee, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That I do not know. __________________ qman Para Bellum

04-27-2008, 08:56 AM	#5
River City Smokehouse is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-05 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The binding agent is naturally occuring in wood. It is called Lignin. From a pellet producer's website: Q. What makes them stick together if you don’t use additives or plastics? A. Good question. Lignin (which is a natural binding agent from the tree itself) combined with the high pressure from the pellet mill as the pellet is pushed through the mill, holds the pellets together. __________________ "Please let me be the person my dog thinks I am." ~Author Unknown 8 x 18 Haulmark Trailer Fast Eddy FEC 100 Traeger Texas BBQ 075 UDS "Cool Hand Luke" 3 Weber Kettles and a Yellow Thermapen KCBS Certified BBQ Judge #8425

04-27-2008, 08:58 AM	#6
jpw23 Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-02-05 Location: Ky Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here's the reason for asking....Last year University of Ky bought a pelletizer in the hopes that they could make fuel pellets from sawmill waste.....thier machine does not have enough horsepower to do the job and it requires a binding agent which also cuts into cost effectiveness. They asked me to get some info from you guys about this so that they might find a niche market and try to have this machine earn its keep. Their hopes are to make custom blends of smoking pellets, a person could call in their own custom order. __________________ __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Chargriller pro offset X 2 Brinkman Gourmet Smoker 7-N-1 r2d2 looking cooker(on loan never to be returned) Slightly bent Weber kettle Scratch and dent wally world Uniflame kettle new link to new musical adventure coming soon!!!!

04-27-2008, 11:02 AM	#7
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Why not sell those pellets to folks you use them for heating their home? There are a couple of reason that cooking pellets do not use a binding agent. One is to make sure that they are food safe, but the other is to cut down on ash. __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Weber Gasser/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

04-27-2008, 11:25 AM	#8
FatBoyz is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-16-07 Location: Mukwonago, Wi Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i can get you a name and # off one of my bags if you want it __________________ i feel i should say something profound .... so drink up the beers getting cold

04-27-2008, 11:29 AM	#9
dwwright Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 04-23-05 Location: KC, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My understanding is that the wood has to be heated to 100+ degrees then compressed. The lignin then becomes sticky enough to bind. Are they heating the wood prior to running through the pellet machine? Many manufacturers are running the saw dust through a hammer mill prior to the pellet machine also.

04-27-2008, 11:42 AM	#10
Bentley Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-14-07 Location: Eden After the Fall Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think its a 140*. __________________ Certified Master Judge #5382 What is best in life? "To crush your BBQ opponents, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."

04-27-2008, 12:06 PM	#12
smknwhlswife is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-05-06 Location: Kansas City, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	There are other things you might be able to do with that. animal feeds, etc? Cooking pellets you will not want any other binders in... Fuel pellets can get away with some, but when running a pellet stove, the lower the ash (lower maintenance) the better. You can get 100% oak pellets (high btu, low ash) for under $4 for a 40lb bag - typically generally available. Blend pellets can be cheaper... The real question is, can you produce/bag in the smaller scale something that will be able to sell, based on market pricing. I understand why you would like to do the cooking pellets, as they bring more of a premium on price. Have you thought about adding a stronger motor/engine to run you pellet mill? Might be a better route to consider as well. __________________ Kim Wife of HoDeDo Smoke On Wheels www.smokeonwheels.com Yoder Cookers YS-640 & YS-480 / FEC-100 Fast Eddy + Q-Kitchen / Big Green Egg / $25 Hasty-bake Model 410 / Weber Kettles

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