Liquid in Pellets

[Nefarious]

I just used my smoke tube in my incomplete mailbox mod for the first time for a time period of about 3 hours. I needed to remove the tube so I could continue to work. When I opened the mailbox I found about a tablespoon of liquid at the botttom. I have read a post where someone had to dry them.

I used traeger pellets because they were convenient. Do all pellets have this water in them? I need to start looking for another source, these will work well in my grill, as the liquid just evaporates.away.

Is there a convenient process to dry them? Something like 30 minutes at 90°. If I can dry a pile of them at a.time, I can store.them in covered containers which will make it easier to mix etc.

 

[smokerjim]

I normally just microwave them for 2 or 3 minutes before I use them, but I'm sure you could dry large amounts in the oven on cookie sheets or something. That seems like a lot of moisture you had though are you sure that's where the moisture came from.

 

[Nefarious]

That seems like a lot of moisture you had though are you sure that's where the moisture came from.

It wasn't raining, rare occurrence here in Wa, so it had to come from the pellets. Maybe it was some less then tablespoon, but it was enough to get a paper towel wet. Some even dripped off of the door when I opened it.

 

[Lonzinomaker]

It is condensation from the combustion. Since the pellets burn so cool, the water condenses on the inside of the mailbox. Don't worry about it. I get some every once in awhile.

 

[bigfurmn]

It is condensation from the combustion. Since the pellets burn so cool, the water condenses on the inside of the mailbox. Don't worry about it. I get some every once in awhile.

I have never claimed to be a smart man but I am thinking condensation. Warm inside cold out and condensation happens, just look at any window in Minnesota in the winter . I have been using pellets for a few years now, never had water come out of them. If the pellets get wet they expand and don’t burn.

 

[Nefarious]

I have never claimed to be a smart man but I am thinking condensation. Warm inside cold out and condensation happens, just look at any window in Minnesota in the winter . I have been using pellets for a few years now, never had water come out of them. If the pellets get wet they expand and don’t burn.

Were you using them in a pellet smoker or a mailbox mod. If I use them on my grill, the liquid evaporates with the heat of the fire.

If it was condensation wouldn't the entire sides.of the box be wet? The box is dry except the bottom and one side of the door gasket on the hot end of the tube.

 

[Nefarious]

It is condensation from the combustion. Since the pellets burn so cool, the water condenses on the inside of the mailbox. Don't worry about it. I get some every once in awhile.

i'm not trying to be argumentative but the outside temperature is 40*F the combustion is hotter then this?

 

[bigfurmn]

Ive used in a MES40 and Pit Boss pellet. If the pellet itself got wet it would puff up like cheesey poof. Again im not a smart man but seems to make sense depending on how the pellets burned.

 

[Winterrider]

Inside your grill, the whole thing is hot so probably wouldn't notice any moisture build-up.
It is a good idea like smokerjim mentioned, microwave to dry out a bit. They burn much better. I do 1 min, open door let cool about a min. Stir them up a bit and do another min. I don't leave sight of them as I have had a pellet ignite into flame before. Just glad I was standing there watching.

 

[rexster314]

You need to create a slightly better draft through the mailbox. You'll get better combustion and eliminate the condensate

 

[Nefarious]

You need to create a slightly better draft through the mailbox. You'll get better combustion and eliminate the condensate

That is in fact the problem I am attempting to solve, but more the slightly. I have to rethink the mailbox so I'm not sure at the moment. Thanks, I appreciate your perspective.

 

[1MoreFord]

You are not finding any liquid in your pellets. Pellets are made from kiln dried hardwoods that have 6-8% moisture content. That's 1/2 or less than the moisture content stickburners like to use. Any moisture you see is, as others have said, moisture from combustion.