Ash Dust!

So I thought I had this bright idea being that my Bobcat is parked in front of my boiler to just empty the ash pan into the bucket everyday instead of walking out in the driveway and dumping it. I guess I didn't notice how much dust is in there while dumping outside! So I dump it in my bucket and this huge cloud of coal dust looks like a Hiroshima mushroom cloud that filled my barn, and this stuff is very fine! What do you guys do, especially those who have these in the basement? Maybe now that I have a small pile in the bucket, I can turn the pan over really fast onto the pile so it has nowhere to go then lift it off slowly? I hope there is a better solution.....my teeth are still crunchy!

I use two pans, swap the full for the empty one and let the full one sit and cool next to the stoker.

When convenient take the cooled off, full one outside to empty.

This is where an 'ash auger' can be your best friend. Just auger it outside.

Or you can set up a vacuum system to catch most of the dust. You can make a hood above the bobcat bucket with the vacuum attached to that, or just run an exhaust fan ( via a 6 or 8 inch pipe ) from the hood to the outside of the barn. The latter is what I would probably do.

Until u put that ash auger in, just get several ash tubs, and just put them in the bucket, then when it's time drive the bobcat outside and dump them all.

Do not dump the ash inside a building.

Do not dump the ash inside a building.

You know I really like the idea of an ash auger but for anyone who has followed my other thread knows how delicate my draft situation is. I would hate to add a giant hole into the firebox area, I don't think my boiler would like it! If I could do an auger, I could just have it go through the wall outside and scoop with the bucket when the pile gets big. Just don't think it would work on my boiler?

Rob R. wrote:Do not dump the ash inside a building.

Yea, it's hard on the lungs, teeth and everything in the building!

Get a couple more ash tubs. Set the full tubs in the Bobcat bucket. When you put the last clean tub in the boiler, it's time to run the Bobcat out to the driveway.

It's just not a good idea to transfer ash indoors.

-Don

Good advice Don. I have 6 tubs and handle them carefully while indoors.

titleist1 wrote:I use two pans, swap the full for the empty one and let the full one sit and cool next to the stoker.

When convenient take the cooled off, full one outside to empty.

That's not a bad idea, I thought it would be easy to just keep dumping in the bucket till it's full, then drive it out and dump but no way am I going to deal with that dust.

So just get several tubs and rotate them

i use 2 pans, I take the full one out to the garage from my basement, and
dump into 55 gallon drum that has a plywood lid on it. quickly
dump and cover with the lid to keep the dust down, but there is still
some that escapes.
after the barrels get full, (2 barrels for 4-5 weeks) I take them to
the local dump and dump in their pile of ash.

Dust Free Ash Pan Dumping

I have the same thing built that I use, not a spec of dust, idk how big your pan is, maybe u could apply this to a 55 gallon drum or something.

I too dump into a 55 gal drum, lined with a bag. When about 1/3rd full I just pull out and put into my trash. Minimal dusting.

Usually was a once a week routine to MT the drum (I have it covered with a small shed and on wheels).

Ash ash, what to do with ash.