There are only a few basic steps involved in making your own wood pellets. It is a very worthwhile process to learn, considering that wood pellet fuel is much more cost-effective than your standard fossil fuels you are probably used to running your house on. Wood pellet fuel is also much better for the environment because wood pellets emit no more carbon dioxide emissions than a tree growing in a forest. You can find wood pellets at any local hardware store but you can also make them on your own.
Anyone can make their own wood pellets as long as they have the machinery and supplies. First you will need to get a wood pellet making machine. You can make your machine too if you are really eager, but to save yourself a lot of time and hassle you can buy one new or used for pretty cheap. You can buy a machine relatively cheap and even buy one new if it is in decent working condition.
Now you have to get the supplies you will be using to actually make the pellets. You can use anything from straight softwood or hardwood to sawdust. Some people choose to use a variety of materials but you have to be careful once you start mixing and matching. Some people even use paper or distiller grain to make their wood pellets.
Whatever medley you decide to concoct, you will have to assess things first and determine whether or not the supplies need to be resized. Once you have your machine ready and your supplies on hand you are ready to begin the wood pellet making process. You do not want a huge piece of wood getting shoved in and blocking up the blade. Continue to work on them until they are small enough to fit in the machine and the next step is ensuring they have the correct moisture content.
Many beginners neglect this step but it is of extreme importance that you do not. You can use a chipper or hammer mill to reduce the size of your material down until it is large enough to fit in without damaging the blade of the machine. The moisture content should be between 10-20 percent, 15 percent being the most ideal. In some cases you will need to add a binding material as this will help the material bind together and form the pellets, then the machine will take care of the rest.
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