Washing Coal at Home Before Use?

adirondacklady · Post by **adirondacklady** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 12:53 pm

I have about 5 tons of bagged anthracite rice coal. I empty the bags into a farm calf trough and then scoop it out from there with metal buckets to bring upstairs to my living room and then empty into my hopper. The company I used to get my coal went out of business and their coal was "oiled?" I never had any problems with dust from the coal. Well I had to find another coal company and got a delivery this fall of 5 tons bagged coal. Well, to make a long story short, I get a lot of dust when I fill up the hopper and have a layer of black dust all over everything on my living room. Would I be able to run a hose over it in the trough I empty it in and then fill my hopper? Will that help wash the coal so I don't get the dust? Is it ok to burn damp coal or am I stuck with all this dirty coal?
Please help! It's ruining my winter (and living room)!
Diana

ValterBorges · Post by **ValterBorges** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 12:56 pm

If you search there are a few threads on this. I believe peanut oil was mentioned as good and cheap used in a myster.
Use just enough to keep the dust down, too much wet can aid corrosion. Fly ash contains sulfur which mixed with moisture, condensation will eat metal.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 12:58 pm

adirondacklady wrote:I have about 5 tons of bagged anthracite rice coal. I empty the bags into a farm calf trough and then scoop it out from there with metal buckets to bring upstairs to my living room and then empty into my hopper. The company I used to get my coal went out of business and their coal was "oiled?" I never had any problems with dust from the coal. Well I had to find another coal company and got a delivery this fall of 5 tons bagged coal. Well, to make a long story short, I get a lot of dust when I fill up the hopper and have a layer of black dust all over everything on my living room. Would I be able to run a hose over it in the trough I empty it in and then fill my hopper? Will that help wash the coal so I don't get the dust? Is it ok to burn damp coal or am I stuck with all this dirty coal?
Please help! It's ruining my winter (and living room)!
Diana

Diana, another option would be to empty your bags into the feed trough, then spray a light coating of vegitable oil on it. The dust will be kept to a minimum

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 1:02 pm

The 'washing' will make it too wet...
2 gal pump sprayer to just mist it will do fine...
Or you could use some mineral oil...
You want something that will not give off an odor...
The wet coal will cause rust in the hopper...

ValterBorges · Post by **ValterBorges** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 1:18 pm

Here is a place that deals in waste veg oil.
http://www.goodgrease.com/

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 2:14 pm

You do not want WVO...
AKA used fryer oil...
On your coal that is inside your house warming in the hopper...

adirondacklady · Post by **adirondacklady** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 3:42 pm

Thanks all! I did look at other posts but there is so much controversy between misting with water and oil. Lots of pros and cons. It's made me more confused. Also, there are many pros and cons between what type of oil to use. What has Jerry of LL said about this? Should I contact the company to see what they recommend?
Diana

warminmn · Post by **warminmn** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 3:54 pm

Could it possibly be put into a paper bag then just put the whole bag into the hopper???

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 5:15 pm

Why not eliminate all the extra work & just go directly from the bag into the hopper?

adirondacklady · Post by **adirondacklady** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 5:32 pm

Well, the hopper won't fit a whole 50lb bag, and I will still have the problem of the dust when poured in, not to mention the fact that I can't lift 50lbs above my chest (I am only 4'11). If it were possible, I would definitely do it that way rather than lugging the buckets upstairs 3x. But thanks for the idea.
Diana

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 5:40 pm

Gotcha.

What about laying the bag on the floor, cutting it open like in this pic below, & shoveling it into the hopper? Definitely will take longer, but would probably cut down on any dust since it's going in a scoop at a time.

cArNaGe · Post by **cArNaGe** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 6:39 pm

SMITTY wrote:Gotcha.

What about laying the bag on the floor, cutting it open like in this pic below, & shoveling it into the hopper? Definitely will take longer, but would probably cut down on any dust since it's going in a scoop at a time.

Did you steal my cat?

LOL looks just like ours!

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 6:41 pm

a pretty coal (cool) cat

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 6:43 pm

That's Inga - Female tabby, 11 lbs ( and climbing ... )

adirondacklady · Post by **adirondacklady** » Mon. Dec. 26, 2011 6:44 pm

Oh that pic is hilarious! I have to cover my trough where I empty my coal into because my cat tries to use the coal as a litter box! lOL! Another good idea. I will try that. Thanks. I think I might get a garden mister and mist the coal down before I bring it upstairs. By the time the col-trol picks up the coal from the hopper it will be dry from the warmth of the stove. Will let you all know how it works.
Diana