My St. Croix Auburn burns corn great. However due to the high corn price I am burning pellets right now. I don't seem to get as much heat out of them. Has anyone figured a price point where it is no longer economical to burn corn in comparison with pellets? Have you been able to get your Auburn to burn pellets satisfactory?

Corn is more dens than wood pellets you would have to increase your feed rate to get the same heat out put. Although wood pellets are higher in BTU than corn. Dry corn is 7800 to 8000 BTU per pound and wood pellets are 8000 to 8500 BTU per pound.
You could pay 8% to 10% more for pellets over corn
I like burning burning corn better than pellets in my St. Croix Auburn a lot less fly ash. You also have to dump the burn pot more often with pellets

I tried oats mixed with corn but ended up with to much ash.

lancaster burn corn much better than pellets. These stoves are corn burners that can burn pellets in a pinch!

hmve wrote:


I just happened to see some oats for sale today for $20.00 for a 55 gal. barrel. You said you have to empty the burn pot more often when adding in oats, like how much more often compared to corn or pellets. Also, what was the mix you used for the corn and oats? On background I empty my ash pan every other day burning corn and or pellets. Im thinking about trying some oats with a combo of pellets or corn or a split of all 3 since I often mix my pellets and corn 50/50 in my Revolution

milpillas wrote:


My Lancaster is similar internally to your Auburn, and I don't like burning straight pellets. I have done so. Its just a lot more ash that does not stick together like the corn clinker. You can find energy calculators on line. You plug in the cost of corn, pellets, and many other energy sources and it spits out the cost per BTU. Here is an example. Maybe this link will work: www.stcroixstoves.com/compare.php

I have the Auburn and have run straight corn and mixes corn/wood.
What I found to be the best way to go is a mixture of corn and pellets. I am burning 50/50 right now and there are a couple things I like about it over straight corn. First things is no more fussing with clinkers. Trap the coals on top, run the auger a bit to add some fuel, dump the ashes, and drop the coals. I also think the wood pellets keep the fire going better than straight corn.

Hi, I am coming back to this same topic. Obviously with the price of corn I am burning pellets again. Have any of you figured out a way to get your Auburn or St. Croix stoves to burn pellets hotter or more of them? We can tell a definite difference of heat in pellets vs. corn? If you have the stove on #4 setting with pellets it is like #3 setting with corn. Any ideas?

[quote="Pellet" post=2225]hmve wrote:


From the WIKI page at forum.iburncorn.com/wiki/index.php/BTU_Values , the ash content of oats is approximately triple that of corn. If you mix 50 / 50 (by weight) with corn, then multiply your ash dumping rate by a factor of 1.5 , assuming all other things being equal (e.g., same efficiency of burn).

The BTU value of oats is comparable to corn, but the bushel weight is only in the order of 32 lb compared to 56 lb for corn, so you'll have to store and feed close to twice the volume of oats to give the same heat as corn.

I burned some pine pellets with low ash that put out some descent heat
Smaller shorter pellet that seamed to feed faster.
I have some ordered but the plant is behind with orders
Rib Mountain bio pellets out of Wisconsin

Thanks Corny for answering the ? As far as oats goes your better off feeding the oats to rabbits and burning the pellets the rabbits produce. way to much ash.

minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/for/2691465264.html

a little pricy ..... I have bagged corn for 240 per ton
probable no were close too you