tac1

Renewablejohn Thank you for precise information - that explains why softwood briquettes I have tried have been of (comparitively) low density with lots of sawdust in the bottom of each bag. Another factor might be that softwood/mixed briquettes are often made from anything that is around, smashed up pallets, logs, whatever, and not from straightforward sawdust. Most of the hardwood briquettes I have seen have come from hardwood floor suppliers, with the feedstock being fine hardwood sawdust. Confusion in the mind of 'joe public' is hardly surprising - a quick look at the net will see several suppliers of hardwood briquettes claiming superiority of product simply because it is hardwood, and not the 'inferior' softwood.

Renewable John Perhaps it is pure coincidence then, but most of the mixed/softwood briquettes I have tried have not been as dense as those I have bought made purely from hardwood. The softwood variety burnt perfectly well, but had more sawdust/bits in the bottom of each 15kg bag and produced a great deal more ash. One particular mixed briquette I am currently burning requires the stove ash pan to be emptied each and every morning, another (hardwood) briquette I trialled a couple of days ago produced almost no ash at all. Heat output of any given briquette will be largley dependent upon density and moisture content. I have tried to identify as many producers of these briquettes as I can, perhaps you are one of them?

Kent? Where? Who? I have been looking for a local (Kent) supplier of hardwood briquettes, but without success. Generally buy pallets of 400kg to 1000kg, dependant upon supplier. Liverpool Wood Pellets have one of the better products, burns hot with lots of after-glow, they claim around 5.5kWh/kg. Ash content is rather high for hardwood product, but no sawdust residue as with many of the wood-based briquettes.