The Key to Perfect Wood Pellets: Raw Material Selection Guide


Strict Moisture Requirements
The moisture content of the raw material for the wood pellet machine must be within a specific range (preferably between 14% and 20%). If the material is too dry, it won’t form properly. If the moisture content is too high, the pellets will be loose and break easily.
Intrinsic Adhesion of the Material
The raw material must have some inherent adhesive properties. Without this, the pellets produced by the pellet machine will either not form properly or will be too loose and brittle. Therefore, if a material that does not naturally have adhesive properties can still be made into pellets or blocks, it’s likely that the material has been treated—such as by fermentation or the addition of binders.
Is Adding a Binder Necessary?
Pure wood shavings are sufficient for making wood pellets, and there is no need to add extra binders. Wood shavings are a coarse fiber material with natural adhesive properties. When compressed by the pellet machine, they will naturally form pellets and become very solid due to the high pressure.
Can Different Types of Wood Shavings Be Mixed?
Using pure wood shavings doesn’t mean you can’t mix in other types of wood shavings. Shavings from various wood species, sawdust, redwood, and poplar wood, as well as waste materials from furniture factories, can all be used. More broadly, agricultural crop residues, peanut shells, and similar materials can also be used in the pellet machine. However, the pellets produced from these materials should not be called wood pellets, but rather biomass pellets.
Raw Material Size After Crushing
Raw materials like sawdust and branches need to be crushed before pelletizing. The size of the crushed material should be determined by the expected pellet diameter and the pellet machine’s die hole size. If the material is crushed too finely or too coarsely, it will affect the output or may even prevent the pellets from being produced.
What to Do If Raw Material Becomes Moldy?
If the raw material becomes moldy and turns black, it means the cellulose in the wood shavings has been decomposed by microorganisms, and the material cannot be pressed into quality pellets. If it’s necessary to use moldy material, it is recommended to mix in at least 50% fresh wood shavings. Otherwise, it will not be possible to produce high quality pellets.