Wood chips

Connacht

Lads, I see wood pellets from Balcas cost Euro 185 per tonne, excl. VAT at the mo. I guess that's if you buy 3 t at a go and have a storage area for that amount.
But can anyone tell me how much wood chip costs and does it matter what the chip comes from (e.g. conifer wood, willow, etc.).
Who supplies ? Thanks to all.

Macha

Hi Connacht,

It might also be worth your while to look in this forum:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1041
Also, check out www.sei.ie - they might have some info.

Are you looking to buy wood pellets or wood chips? as there is a difference between the two. From what I understand through Coillte testing, wood pellets are the better option.

Oldtree

As a general rule if you burn wood you need to clean the chimneys more often than a coal fire, maby twice a year. If you burn conifers as against broadleaves then you need to again clean the chimney more regularly then that, as there can be more of a residue from the conifers on the inside of the chimney. This residue can lead to chimney fires.

I am unsure if this would apply to chips or pellets due to the higher temperatures involved. worth keeping an eye on the chimney anyway.;)

towel401

mmm chips :pac:

CJhaughey

Oldtree wrote: »

As a general rule if you burn wood you need to clean the chimneys more often than a coal fire, maby twice a year. If you burn conifers as against broadleaves then you need to again clean the chimney more regularly then that, as there can be more of a residue from the conifers on the inside of the chimney. This residue can lead to chimney fires.

I am unsure if this would apply to chips or pellets due to the higher temperatures involved. worth keeping an eye on the chimney anyway.;)

Pine doesn't leave any more creosote in a chimney than a hardwood, this is an old wives tale.
Unseasoned wood of any kind will create creosote deposits but seasoned wood with a Moisture content of <20% will be fine.
Burning green wood is not recommended for this reason.
Open fires are the worst for soot deposits due to the lower heat of combustion, a stove burns much hotter and will usually have far less problems with sooting.
Wood all has the same energy, just different densities, if you are buying by the weight then the type of pellet is irrelevant as long as the water content is the same.

Oldtree

I was speaking from experience. however it must be said that the moisture content of the woods was not measured (but was well dried outside and then dried in a shed with ventilation for 3 months), but in years where more softwood was used there appeared to be a bigger build up and at one point a chimney fire. Now a mix of hardwood and softwood is used.

See: Australia EPA

http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/woodsmoke_pollution.html

Hardwoods, such as mallee and redgum, are preferable to softwoods such as pine. Softwoods contain more resins, creating smoke and deposits in the chimney.

CJhaughey

In my experience , what happens is that people that burn hardwood try to make softwood last as long, so they choke the fire down and it then forms creosote.
If pine is burned with the same air supply as oak/ash/beech and it has been seasoned properly it will burn clean, if you try and make a piece of pine last as long as piece of oak you are asking for trouble.
Burn it hot and fast and you will have no problems.

Connacht

Great stuff guys, but any idea on where I get wood chip and the price ?
Cheers.

CJhaughey

Ask a tree surgeon with a chipper, they chip limbs.
I don't know where you buy chips, If you are going to buy a chip stove I would think about buying a chipper, make your own chips and dry em in the summer.
Hard to justify buying a stove that has special fuel requirements and fuel not easily got no?
Even if chips are available what will transport be like?

Oldtree

CJhaughey wrote: »

In my experience , what happens is that people that burn hardwood try to make softwood last as long, so they choke the fire down and it then forms creosote.
If pine is burned with the same air supply as oak/ash/beech and it has been seasoned properly it will burn clean, if you try and make a piece of pine last as long as piece of oak you are asking for trouble.
Burn it hot and fast and you will have no problems.

Haven't heard that one before. My aim is to burn wood as against coal.

CJhaughey

Oldtree wrote: »

Haven't heard that one before. My aim is to burn wood as against coal.

Same as that, My stove has never seen coal!

djmc

wood chips are around 100 to 110 euro per ton but take up a lot of space and are harder to handle as they dont flow like pellets
grain wheat barley are around 150-160 per ton but have more ash and clinker to be removed
Something is wrong when burning food is cheaper than fuel
look at fuel suppliers at sei.ie greaner homes scheme
or google wood chips ireland