Pellets

[ProfessorM]

Yes pellets have gotted very expensive and I would not buy a stove either. I also burn wood. I got mine for free from a family member. They just didn't allow for how the pellet stove buissness was going to take off. They can't produce enough pellets to supply all the stoves, but they are building the manufacturing facilities as fast as they can. Sounds sort of like the oil buissness doesn't it. Not enough refineries. They learned well. Hopefully in the future there will be more competition and prices will fall.
Raven I think it would work, worth a try anyway. You just need to get the jelly type starter fluid that you put on pellets to get them going, like starter fluid. I just use pine to start my fires. People always are trying to get rid of it and I find it to work perfect. I have a cord of pine and I just use it for starting the wood stove. P.

[Raven]

i can usually just take a walk and get kindling PM
but if its pouring rain...i might want to have
and alternative fuel to start my logs
when my kindling is wet...

great idea on the starter jelly
prolly doesnt stink....eh?

[Karl F]

Kindling.. scrounge job sites, (ask first), middle school wood shop trash barrels.. (usually can make a deal with the teacher ), also look for shops that have a pile of pallets.. most time says "free".. a little time with the hammer, nail pik, & table saw.. nise pile of dry kindling.. or maybe ya know a cabinet or box maker

I'd be leary of wood from pine trees (not kiln dried lumber scraps).. unless it had sat and seasoned for at least three years, and that's cut and split first.. that crap can build up creosote real quick.

I make sure I got plenty on hand, boxed and in the basement, well before heating season starts.. keep your wood covered (top it with a tarp) outside, and keep an emergency stash in the cellar too...

looked at pellet stoves once.. just couldn't buy into the idea of it.
anytime you have to buy something that is processed.. there goes the economy of it.