Lidl logs, 10kg for €3.99

aligator_am · 12-11-2013 1:59am #1

Saw these earlier, look like condensed chipboard but would say they burn like bejaysus. Not sure if it counts as a bargain but look like they could be fairly handy for the coming Winter. Looked like there were 6 "logs" per pack.

kaizersoze · 12-11-2013 2:09am

Aldi do them for 3.99 as well but with 8 in the pack.

You're right, they do burn like bejaysus.:D

PeterDuggan · 12-11-2013 3:17am

Would a bale of briquettes for about the same price be better value?

paddyp · 12-11-2013 3:31am

PeterDuggan wrote: »

Would a bale of briquettes for about the same price be better value?

Yes, a bale briquettes is 12.5kg and very slightly higher calorific value. The compressed logs are just 0.7% ash though so burn away to almost nothing.

Briquettes ~ 67kwh / bale, Compressed logs ~ 49kwh / 10kg

Banjo String · 12-11-2013 10:32am

I'm generally a lover of Aldi, but be careful of logs and kindling from them.

Bought both last year, both put the fire out, they seemed to have been pretty damp or just crap wood.

paddyp · 12-11-2013 10:39am

Banjo String wrote: »

I'm generally a lover of Aldi, but be careful of logs and kindling from them.

Bought both last year, both put the fire out, they seemed to have been pretty damp or just crap wood.

The normal logs are a waste of time. The manufactured logs in aldi ones are hetas certified and very highly compressed.

PeterDuggan · 12-11-2013 10:46am

paddyp wrote: »

Briquettes ~ 67kwh / 12.5kg bale, Compressed logs ~ 49kwh / 10kg

I presume they're harder to light than a briquette as well?

Good point about the ash.

kaizersoze · 12-11-2013 10:59am

I burn them in a Kingstar stove and find these logs burn longer and give off better more consistent heat than briquettes. Tiny amount of ash as well as mentioned.

jameshayes · 12-11-2013 11:13am

Banjo String wrote: »

I'm generally a lover of Aldi, but be careful of logs and kindling from them.

Bought both last year, both put the fire out, they seemed to have been pretty damp or just crap wood.

Yip - found this also, measured 35% on the moister meter

paddyp · 12-11-2013 2:00pm

PeterDuggan wrote: »

So based on those calorific values and taking weight into account, the Aldi logs would be worthwhile at a price point at or below €3.65?

I presume they're harder to light than a briquette as well?

Good point about the ash.

They're harder to light alright, I get briquettes for €3.66 a bale at the moment so the aldi logs would have to be 3.66 x (49/67) = €2.68 for the same energy per euro.

With regard to the briquettes not lasting as long a briquette is only about 550g so you needs lots of them for the same energy as a few logs can seem like you're using loads, also briquettes would burn at a lower temperature due to their composition and the insulating properties of the ash so if you're trying to achieve the same temperature with briquettes you're probably using lots of excess air.

PeterDuggan · 12-11-2013 2:57pm

You're right of course Paddyp. I was incorrectly factoring in the weight difference. Amended my post above.

Ian Whelan · 12-11-2013 3:06pm

You know there's a recession on when lads are measuring the moisture content of wood.

paddyp · 12-11-2013 3:06pm

PeterDuggan wrote: »

You're right of course Paddyp. I was incorrectly factoring in the weight difference. Amended my post above.

If you only want the fire on for a blast of heat or (keeping the wife happy like my brother:p) then I think the wood logs are great.

paddyp · 12-11-2013 3:13pm

Ian Whelan wrote: »

You know there's a recession on when lads are measuring the moisture content of wood.

It would be a given in most countries. Green timber is about half the heat output or even much worse for sometimbers and hardwoods see graph, lots of unscrupulous people out there selling soggy timber and basically nicking your money. Then you have the problems of creosote and condensation in the chimney, chimney fires and soot falls etc.

Crazy Eye · 12-11-2013 5:46pm

Ian Whelan wrote: »

You know there's a recession on when lads are measuring the moisture content of wood.

people like to know what they burning in the stoves or ranges regardless of a recession or not . damp wet firewood can harm a stove or range and will also create condensation in the flue too which is not good for a stovesor ranges performance .
i wont burn any wood that is over 19% moisture content .

OldRio · 12-11-2013 7:50pm

Any recommendations for a moisture meter for the wood?

Crazy Eye · 12-11-2013 7:51pm

OldRio wrote: »

Any recommendations for a moisture meter for the wood?

12 euro in aldi for a digital moisture meter .

OldRio · 12-11-2013 10:33pm

Crazy Eye wrote: »

12 euro in aldi for a digital moisture meter .

Thanks for that.
I have plenty of wood cut but I think it will not be ready until next winter.

Thanks again

aligator_am · 12-11-2013 11:14pm

paddyp wrote: »

Yes, a bale briquettes is 12.5kg and very slightly higher calorific value. The compressed logs are just 0.7% ash though so burn away to almost nothing.

Briquettes ~ 67kwh / bale, Compressed logs ~ 49kwh / 10kg

No worries, saw them and they looked a good deal so figured I'd give them a mention here

TBH I'd never have thought to compare them to briquettes.

Assumed there'd be longevity in them as they looked so condensed but then again briquettes are probably far more condensed than them.

PMBC · 02-12-2017 5:40pm

This winter coal seems to be running at about E12 per 10kg. bag and E42 for 40kg (quick scan of providers in Dublin) and peat briquettes at up to E5 per bale. Which is best calorific value? Ash is not a big problem and will be burning in open fire.

_Brian · 02-12-2017 5:49pm

PMBC wrote: »

This winter coal seems to be running at about E12 per 10kg. bag and E42 for 40kg (quick scan of providers in Dublin) and peat briquettes at up to E5 per bale. Which is best calorific value? Ash is not a big problem and will be burning in open fire.

If your burning them on an open fire don’t be worrying about anything only buy the cheapest you can get. All the heat is going up the chimney anyway.

Actually, rolls of €5’s would be handier.

tryfix · 02-12-2017 7:59pm

paddyp wrote: »

Yes, a bale briquettes is 12.5kg and very slightly higher calorific value. The compressed logs are just 0.7% ash though so burn away to almost nothing.

Briquettes ~ 67kwh / bale, Compressed logs ~ 49kwh / 10kg

I got caught out buying a 40kg bag of broken briquettes from B&Q for €17.99 ( approximately) which looked to be fairly OK value. Until I was wheeling my purchase out the door of B&Q and saw that they had 6 bales ( 6x12.5 = 75 kg) for €25.

Have to say I still love the broken briquettes for the fire, I must buy a few bales of briquettes and break them up into the empty bag.

OmegaGene · 02-12-2017 10:20pm

just discovered coal briquettes, they are great value, 40 kg for €11
used 4 with a few stick and sprinkle of coal, stove is going for 12 hours now

jc77 · 02-12-2017 10:52pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

just discovered coal briquettes, they are great value, 40 kg for €11
used 4 with a few stick and sprinkle of coal, stove is going for 12 hours now

where? lidl?

OmegaGene · 02-12-2017 11:25pm

jc77 wrote: »

where? lidl?

Nah the chatter went onto briquettes elsewhere so thought i would mention it
Fuel merchant in Mitchelstown Co. Cork

CeilingFly · 02-12-2017 11:34pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

just discovered coal briquettes, they are great value, 40 kg for €11
used 4 with a few stick and sprinkle of coal, stove is going for 12 hours now

I presume Union Coal briquettes - been available a long time.

Burn quicker than coal, slower than peat briquettes.

Look for BNM "household" coal. Usually about €14/40kg and a great middle ground fuel esp for open fires

Quackster · 02-12-2017 11:37pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

just discovered coal briquettes, they are great value, 40 kg for €11
used 4 with a few stick and sprinkle of coal, stove is going for 12 hours now

They're lignite (brown coal).

freshpopcorn · 02-12-2017 11:40pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

Nah the chatter went onto briquettes elsewhere so thought i would mention it
Fuel merchant in Mitchelstown Co. Cork

Which one?

OmegaGene · 02-12-2017 11:51pm

CeilingFly wrote: »

I presume Union Coal briquettes - been available a long time.

Burn quicker than coal, slower than peat briquettes.

Look for BNM "household" coal. Usually about €14/40kg and a great middle ground fuel esp for open fires

These are REKORD
And they don’t burn quicker than coal, 4 lasted me 12 hours like I said
Never seen briquettes like these, I’m not normally a fan of briquettes for the lack of gear from them and they just make a mess
For €11 these seem like a great bargain getting 2 bales and they will last me a week easily

Star fuels Mitchelstown they are on Facebook and they have a picture of them

cantona_deux · 03-12-2017 10:25pm

Bought these a few years back and burn much better than the LIDl/Aldi ones http://www.flamers.ie available in Mr Price stores as far as I know.

clfy39tzve8njq · 04-12-2017 12:00am

OmegaGene wrote:

Star fuels Mitchelstown they are on Facebook and they have a picture of them

Can't see them on their Facebook page

freshpopcorn · 04-12-2017 12:06am

Kaison Silly Sleepwalker wrote: »

Can't see them on their Facebook page

I couldn't find the post either and I couldn't see it on there Clonmel Facebook either. Unless it was an old post.

OmegaGene · 04-12-2017 12:20am

It’s not a post as such it’s just a pic where you can see the coal briqqussttes
Really dark and solid looking, nothing like regular briquettes

Give then a call if in doubt

OmegaGene · 04-12-2017 12:22am

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=739892532789798&substory_index=0&id=739414192837632&__tn__=%2As%2As-R

On the right under the kindling

Ned Led Zeppo · 04-12-2017 12:36am

Flamers, compacted chipboard mixed with glue.I would not touch it with a barge-pole.

Cape Clear · 04-12-2017 12:36pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

just discovered coal briquettes, they are great value, 40 kg for €11
used 4 with a few stick and sprinkle of coal, stove is going for 12 hours now

How many coal briquettes are in the bale for €11?

OmegaGene · 04-12-2017 12:48pm

This is what he gave me

Cape Clear · 04-12-2017 1:14pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

This is what he gave me

I'm seeing 2 by 40KG bales and count 45 briquettes in each. So I'm guessing you will get close to 2 weeks out of one bale depending on how long you want your stove to burn on a given night. Looks like great value just bought a ton of smokless ovoids which work out at €13.50 per 20 KG bag.

OmegaGene · 04-12-2017 1:24pm

Cape Clear wrote: »

I'm seeing 2 by 40KG bales and count 45 briquettes in each. So I'm guessing you will get close to 2 weeks out of one bale depending on how long you want your stove to burn on a given night. Looks like great value just bought a ton of smokless ovoids which work out at €13.50 per 20 KG bag.

They are savage value, I’m burning hardly anything in the small stove it is great

How are the ovoids ? I’ve heard good things about them
Did you get them from the north ?

Cape Clear · 04-12-2017 1:31pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

They are savage value, I’m burning hardly anything in the small stove it is great

How are the ovoids ? I’ve heard good things about them
Did you get them from the north ?

Got the Ovoids from Coal Warehouse. A ton usually lasts me two years. Very happy with them. They give off a good level of heat and there is vey little ash in the tray the following morning.

trixiebust · 04-12-2017 2:16pm

Would the coal briquettes be suitable for an open fire ?

Costs me € 18 atm for a 40 kg bag of coal, which is only lasts about 4 or 5
days

OmegaGene · 04-12-2017 2:57pm

They would be okay yes, open fire is going to use more of any fuel
Try a mix, bed of briquettes and then a block of timber

Cape Clear · 04-12-2017 3:04pm

Would like to try these coal breq,'s. Has anyone seen them for sale In Cork City?

trixiebust · 04-12-2017 3:20pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

They would be okay yes, open fire is going to use more of any fuel
Try a mix, bed of briquettes and then a block of timber

Thanks. Not far from Mitchelstown & will pick some up tomorrow.

Quackster · 04-12-2017 7:27pm

trixiebust wrote: »

Would the coal briquettes be suitable for an open fire ?

Costs me € 18 atm for a 40 kg bag of coal, which is only lasts about 4 or 5
days

Lignite has a lower calcific value than standard black coal and therefore gives out less heat so naturally it's cheaper too. You get what you pay for. It's easier to get to burn than back coal so it is useful for open fires. Usually comes in bags of cubes which I think are handier than briquettes.

budhabob · 04-12-2017 10:53pm

Was interested in this. Goodwin's appear to have coal briquettes also: https://www.goodwins.ie/products/union-coal-briquettes-bale-2310476.html

I think we were told not to burn coal in our stove due to the heat, would these be any different? Inset kingstar stove.

Quackster · 04-12-2017 11:17pm

budhabob wrote: »

Was interested in this. Goodwin's appear to have coal briquettes also: https://www.goodwins.ie/products/union-coal-briquettes-bale-2310476.html

I think we were told not to burn coal in our stove due to the heat, would these be any different? Inset kingstar stove.

In heat output lignite is in-between peat and bituminous coal so you may be able to safely use them in your stove.

An Ri rua · 17-02-2018 12:58pm

OmegaGene wrote: »

These are REKORD
And they don’t burn quicker than coal, 4 lasted me 12 hours like I said
Never seen briquettes like these, I’m not normally a fan of briquettes for the lack of gear from them and they just make a mess
For €11 these seem like a great bargain getting 2 bales and they will last me a week easily

Star fuels Mitchelstown they are on Facebook and they have a picture of them

This is what Aldi has been selling for €4.29. Record 10kg. Serious value on lignite. Record are a top German brand. I use them in an open fire with an Eco Grate and I would be a massive fan. A nice bit of ash. But they put out tremendous heat (I get an output of close to 5kw from the eco grate). Light a fire with seasoned wood or kiln dried log or two from Woodies (dear but v good), then once its hot, lay on 3-4 lignite briquettes. Terrific heat. Just a LOT of ash. As is par for the course with peat briquettes.

But very handy to carry at 10kg, very handy to store and a serious contender for best value solid fuel. A fire maintained with Megatherm wood logs (Telfords and others), lignite briquettes and good seasoned logs to keep the (open) fire real and not artificial, and you have a perfect mix I say. Little bit of premium coal or anthracite if you're feeling naughty.

autumnalcore · 17-02-2018 4:20pm

An Ri rua wrote: »

and a serious contender for best value solid fuel

Might be value for buying in 10kg quantities but 40kg coal will be significantly cheaper per kwh.

Rekord lignite is 5.3kwh/kg so 53kwh per 10kg = 8.09c per kwh. Being very generous and giving the ecograte 50% efficiency = 16.18c per kwh which is more than peak electricity if you shop around and 2x off peak electricity if you install a dualbtarriff meter.

Ecograte is probably lt closer to 40% on average in the real world = 20.22c / kwh.

seanin4711 · 19-02-2018 10:51pm

Banjo String wrote: »

I'm generally a lover of Aldi, but be careful of logs and kindling from them.

Bought both last year, both put the fire out, they seemed to have been pretty damp or just crap wood.

mine exploded in the stove when i opened the stove door all over the siting room.
wouldnt trust them, aldi version that is!

An Ri rua · 20-02-2018 8:14pm

autumnalcore wrote: »

Might be value for buying in 10kg quantities but 40kg coal will be significantly cheaper per kwh.

Rekord lignite is 5.3kwh/kg so 53kwh per 10kg = 8.09c per kwh. Being very generous and giving the ecograte 50% efficiency = 16.18c per kwh which is more than peak electricity if you shop around and 2x off peak electricity if you install a dualbtarriff meter.

Ecograte is probably lt closer to 40% on average in the real world = 20.22c / kwh.

I would dispute that 50% efficiency. I put it closer to 75%. I run it alongside a paraffin Inverter for downstairs (I burn kero with dipetane) and that keeps costs well down.

Plus, if you must have a flame picture, then you a real one is required. IMO.

Yes, I'm just saying that 10Kg packs are a handy size for many. Better value than the same type of lignite product in 40KG bags.

Although, Cosyglo Gems have significantly less ash than Rekord briquettes.

Point taken re off-peak electricity and also a closed stove would be preferable. But its not an option here unfortunately.

Lidl logs, 10kg for €3.99

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