Corn burning stove
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scesnick
Veteran Member
I had an Englander pellet stove that would also allow me to burn a 50-50 mix of corn and pellets. it worked great but had to be cleaned a little more often when burning the corn mix.
My neighbor has a corn only burning sotve and he really likes it alot. I think the savings would all depend on how much you can buy the corn for.
There were 2 really bad points that caused me to get rid of it.
1.- It needs power to work. if the power goes out so does the stove.
2.- The price of pellets sky rocketed in just 2 years.
My neighbor has a corn only burning sotve and he really likes it alot. I think the savings would all depend on how much you can buy the corn for.
There were 2 really bad points that caused me to get rid of it.
1.- It needs power to work. if the power goes out so does the stove.
2.- The price of pellets sky rocketed in just 2 years.
You are not kidding I called around last week to place my order for 4 ton's and the cheapest I found was $4.43 per 40lb bag and they can't lock that price in. I hate to say it but I may just use the oil fired boiler this year.scesnick said:
scesnick
Veteran Member
Why not check out some of the new wood stoves? The soapstone stoves are really,really nice and throw way more heat then a pellet or corn stove. And wood is either free of alot cheaper than pellets. It will also run without power.
Problem I have with wood is controling the heat output and cost of delivery. I have a fireplace (not a good comparison I know), but the constant feeding,heat loss when not at home, location to heat the rest of the rooms doesn't seem worth the envestment. Also another chimney. Looked at a wood pellet stove, but they wanted $2800 and the cost of pellets and future prices would be controlled by the supplier but with corn, not as easily. Thinking about corn prices from years in the past the increase is closer to the actual cost of living and don't remember too many elevators running out. Maybe I'm wrong, but heck, that's why I asked.
scesnick
Veteran Member
I use the a Harmon coal stove in the spring and fall when I don't want to fire up my AHS coal boiler out in the garage. It works great and yes, you can control the heat output pretty well.
The price of coal depends on where you live though. I have about 6 coal mines within 20 miles from my house and a ton of soft ( bitiminous) coal only cost $45 and it lasts me atleast 2 months. I will tell you that the radiant heat is not as high with the corn ( or pellet ) stoves as it is with a wood/coal stove. Positioning it in a central location in your house is a must but then you have to consider how you are going to vent it out of the house so it has to be on an exteral wall also.
tgglass,
In your case I think you would really like a corn stove. I know my neighbor really likes his and 100 lbs of corn runs him about $6 at the local Ag store.
The price of coal depends on where you live though. I have about 6 coal mines within 20 miles from my house and a ton of soft ( bitiminous) coal only cost $45 and it lasts me atleast 2 months. I will tell you that the radiant heat is not as high with the corn ( or pellet ) stoves as it is with a wood/coal stove. Positioning it in a central location in your house is a must but then you have to consider how you are going to vent it out of the house so it has to be on an exteral wall also.
tgglass,
In your case I think you would really like a corn stove. I know my neighbor really likes his and 100 lbs of corn runs him about $6 at the local Ag store.
lrunge
Silver Member
I have a corn stove in my shop. It does a good job of heating it up. Corn is only $90 a ton. It's more if you buy bagged corn. You can also buy it straight from a farmer. The one I use dries his to 15% which is what you need to burn. It will also burn wood pellets, cherry pits, olive pits etc. I have used wood pellets in it also as I have a wood pellet stove in my house. The biggest down side is the cost of the stove. The closer it gets to winter the higher the prices get.
lrunge
Silver Member
I have a Magnum from American Energy Systems. They have been around for a long time and make a good quality stove. http://www.magnumheat.com/
scott_vt
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scesnick said:
Mornin Scesnick,
Those wood pellets really did skyrocket in a very short timespan !!! And thats if you can get them
Im not sure I like doing all the work of cutting and splitting wood but the price is right
To me its still free heat and it allows me to drink beer without the undesirable side effects lrunge
Silver Member
Wow! I was at TSC yesterday and they had a corn burning (multi fuel) stove and a brochure for a corn burning furnace. I asked them if they sold corn and he said no but they just got wood pellets in. He said it was $5 a bag, .10 cents a bag less if you bought a ton. $245 a ton for pellets!!! Two years ago they were less than $3 a bag. Glad corn is still a lot cheaper.
Highbeam
Super Member
If the price increase was due to oil prices would the corn not also increase in price? Both use a very cheap base material.
scesnick
Veteran Member
The price is the reason I got rid of my pellet stove. I had it 3 years. It would heat really nice but the increase in pellet prices did notmake much financial sense because I have unlimited access to firewood on my property.
The first year i had it I only paid $110 a ton for pellets at Wally World..
The first year i had it I only paid $110 a ton for pellets at Wally World..
Brings up alot of interesting and costly thoughts. Corn by the bag cost around 5.50 a bag and 4.25 per hundred (not bushel) bulk dumped in the trk. in this area. Initial and cost of fuel or corn. Will it pay for itself in my lifetime or not. At my age it's alot to think about, lugging corn in and will I be capable of doing it. So far it looks like Northern has the cheapest and best product out. As far as increased cost (hard headed) I'de rather see the American farmer put it in his pocket rather than some politician that says the increase is because of overseas oil prices or a leak in Alaska...Another subject or part of the problem? I'm just as much to blame as the rest of us to allow this problem to start, and this is another subject.
rbarker
Platinum Member
LMTC said:
I'm a little more cynical. I think that they are price gouging us all because of raising fuel prices and high demand for alternative fuels for heat.
Prices I said were wrong, 5.50 a bag for 50#, bulk is 8.30 per hundred, and if delivered a $50 dollar drop fee with a 5 ton min..The thing I keep looking at is the cost of wood pellets and the vunlnurability of easily controlling the cost. I've checked around here and the cost of pellets are going up quite a bit from last year. Yet corn prices seem to increase with the actual cost of living. Note I said from ACTUAL COST OF LIVING.
rbarker said:I'm a little more cynical. I think that they are price gouging us all because of raising fuel prices and high demand for alternative fuels for heat.
I agree. I think they are more now because they can!
