1st load ever of coal

My K-6 project is nearing completion, so I thought I had better get coal before the snow blew in.

I went to a local supplier in with my Dad's pickup. I put barrells in the the back held in place with a strap. The supplier accomodated me and carefully dumped the coal into the barrels. The spill over went between the barrels onto a tarp I had under the barrels. I planned to get a long ton (2200 lbs) but ended up with 2750 lbs!




I shoveled the coal that fell between the barrels into buckets and unloaded the barrels with my "Green Machine".



A tiedown strap held the barrel in place while it was moved.

I left the barrels a little short to make it easier to roll the barrel into the garage.

Can't wait unit I am ready to fire!



Next year I plan to build a bin and get bulk coal delivered.

Good Stuff! You did right putting all the weight forward, looks like you could've hauled another 1000#
Get yourself some 2" straps for those barrels, 1" straps are a little on the weak side

By: steamup On: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:22 pm

My K-6 project is nearing completion, so I thought I had better get coal before the snow blew in.

I went to a local supplier in with my Dad's pickup. I put barrells in the the back held in place with a strap. The supplier accomodated me and carefully dumped the coal into the barrels. The spill over went between the barrels onto a tarp I had under the barrels. I planned to get a long ton (2200 lbs) but ended up with 2750 lbs!

2750! That 6 lug is one tough truck. Is it a half ton rated pick-up? How far over the GVWR were you?

About 400 to 500 lbs. It's a good thing that Chevy is a tough truck.

I thought about offloading some, but I only had about 15 miles through back roads to go to get home. I took it easy.

steamup wrote:About 400 to 500 lbs. It's a good thing that Chevy is a tough truck.

I thought about offloading some, but I only had about 15 miles through back roads to go to get home. I took it easy.

Ahhh, 400 - 500 is nothing. Just make sure the lugs are properly torqued. Lugs are one of the first thing to go if you're taking it easy. I knew a guy that put over 3k on his Chevy 1/2 ton. Everything was bottomed out and when he got home he was down to one lug on one wheel not to mention what was left on the others.

I didn't plan on putting that much on. I know now on how to better gage the coal. I'll leave the 15 gallon barrels home if I have another run for coal.

Is the K=6 waiting to fire? A ton will last a few weeks, but at today's temps, I'm not sure how long..... Only made it to 22 today, windy and 15 tonight. ....sure enjoyed all those warm days last week.....

Anything new on the AA? You have a lot of projects going on....You must know it's more fun to have two or three stokers idling along...makes the visitors to the shop freak out!
Last year I had the EFM 900 fired along with an AHS 260, an AA 260, and an AHS 130. No, I wasn't getting ready for a Space Launch, just playin'. I have had three AA 130's fired simultaneously also; no big deal, unions for quick disconnects ,
flexible 1 1/4" hydraulic return hose.....makes some BTU's. I melted all the ice in Greenland from 600 miles away, but other than that everything seemed OK. The Harbor Seals liked the warmer water, The fish were ecstatic......

k-6 just needs the vent hooked up and my manometer installed. I need to wire up two other circulating pumps, replace the control on the backup oil boiler, and pressure test the system one last time to make sure there are no leaks. Oh, and clean up around the boiler a little. I'll test fire, then drain and refill with propolyene glycol. I waited until the last minute to order the 55 gallons of glycol as it is big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

The AA will have to wait until next year. I need to study (in a warm place) for the State Fundamentals of Engineering exam next spring. Grueling test that I should have gone for years ago.

John, check the formulation of the non toxic antifreeze to make sure the inhibitors are already in the liquid, or go get the additives and add them manually.
Do you have to use the anti....? It is damned near impossible to not have several 'seepage' spots show up around valves, vents, or unions. It will take a year to show up, and drive you nuts trying to trace it. We have dozens of systems with anti-freeze in them for years, and strangely, for some unknown reason, they have never frozen up....not even once.

I have had anti freeze in the workshop system for years. I normally don't heat the building unless I am out there. Even with the coal, I think it is prudent to have it incase of an outfire or if I choose to use another source of heat for the house.

I get commercial propolyene glycol formulated for heating systems through a contractor friend.

Your right about leaks. Glycol keeps the system "Clean" and every bad joint or loose packing will leak. Plain water will usually just crud up the leak and seal it.

I add Barrs stop leak to the system -- ( lots of it ) that counter acts the leaks -- will not crud up the system - lubricates the ceramic of the old circulators - does not grow hair on your hands - helps the country win the war.

But I still hate to use chemical frost protection.