Where to buy Bituminous coal in the Powder River Basin.

Hey everyone. I have just recently began burning coal and love it. "I used to burn only wood." I live in South Eastern Montana and got my fist load of coal from a guy in a nearby town that would get coal from Decker, MT. I recently contacted him to get some more coal and he said he couldn't get any from Decker any longer. Any one from the Decker, MT or Sheridan, WY area burn lump coal? Is it still available around there? I know I can get it from around Gillette, WY but have heard that it isn't nearly as good as Decker, coal? Anyone have any opinions? Let me know. I'm out of coal and back to burning wood and I'm not enjoying it. lol

Ben

I'm gonna say I'm about 150-170 miles from Sheridan. Thats a rough guess.
Ben

I'd always heard that you can go directly to the Decker mine yourself, but have never been there. I've also heard that Mullinax Concrete and Schultz Coal Sales both sell it in Sheridan, WY. Pease Feed and Coal in Powell, WY, and United Ag Products in Basin, WY.

I'd go straight to the mine if allowed, it'll be cheaper. I get mine from Grass Creek, WY - it's not PRB coal, but a bituminous coal from the Fort Union formation. It's hotter than PRB coal, and closer for me.

Steinke

I've heard that also. Thats what the guy in the nearby town would do. He had a truck and would go there and get a load and then resell to people in smaller quantities. According to him, they no longer are letting anyone do that. I was wondering if anyone on here maybe bought coal at Decker and knew if it is true or not. I think I'll just give the mine a call tomorrow and find out for sure.

Thanks!
Ben

I heard that prb coal will turn to dust if trucked for a long distance. Is that true? If I ever get out there one day, I want to pick some up and bring it back to Pa.

Duengeon master wrote:I heard that prb coal will turn to dust if trucked for a long distance

Well, it is definately a soft coal. From my limited experience, it breaks up fairly easy. I've never seen anthracite coal. I'd like to maybe find some sometime and give it a try. From what I've read, I'd probably get hooked and not want to go back to bituminous.

Also, I want to thank everyone for replying to my post. I have learned so much from this forum and can't believe the wealth of knowledge here. Thanks everyone!!!!

Ben

I did some calling today and couldn't get lump coal from Wolf moutain coal, Schultz's, or mullinex's. I guess I might have top try getting some from the Gillette, WY area. Any one from the Gillette, WY area know if lump coal is available there??

Ben

Hope you find what you need. Did those 3 places have any coal for sale at all? Stoker?

steinkebunch wrote:Hope you find what you need. Did those 3 places have any coal for sale at all? Stoker?

Schultz had some stoker and I believe nut or something fairly small. I would rather have lump for convenience purposes. I might end up getting some lump from Gillette, WY. I've heard its not as near as good of coal as Decker, but it might have to do. I've got about enough coal for about 4 nights left. I've been burning wood during the day to save the coal. I don't enjoy burning the wood ever since I started with the coal, but its gonna have to do for awhile. I'm loving my new furnace though. As I speak its -25F here and 73F in the house and I'm not even cranking the furnace. It hasn't been above 20F since I got all the duct work hooked up and the house hasn't been below 67F. I think we're gonna be opening windows when it gets warmer. I can live with that though. When we burned propane, we never kept the house warm and it still was unaffordable to heat. Its nice going to bed in a warm house and not worrying about how much propane your burning. I think I might put in a hot water coil for next winter and heat "or at least preheat" our domestic water. I can't wait too see the look on the propane guys face when he comes to fill us up.

Ben

Your Norseman 2500 looks interesting - alot like a clayton stove. There are many threads on the forum discussing the Clayton, and how to get them to burn properly. Might be worth reading them.

It's a good feeling when you know you're saving money by doing just a little more work. I agree that the larger coal sizes work better with our bit. coal, as the volatiles are "metered" off more gradually. I however like nut (1" or so?) because I can shovel it, makes it easier to handle.

Been bitter coal in western WY too, -30F and -22F the last two nights, high of -6F yesterday. Nice to hear my Prill actually even turn off fairly often during this weather.

If you can get nut from Shultz, you might give it a try - who knows, maybe it will work OK.

Steinke

The Norseman 2500 is alot like the Clayton. I believe that its made by the U.S. Stove company also. I can see a few things they need to improve on, but I'm a tinkerer so I guess I'll just have to improve on it myself. I've had really good luck with the large lump coal from Decker. It seems to burn really well in the stove. I've just been throwing in a five gallon bucket full on top of my wood coals at night and it keeps the house warm all night long. When I get up, I've been shaking it a little and I usually get about 2 or 3 hours more heat out of the coal. It really spoils a guy. I might try the smaller stuff if I can't find any lump from Decker. I've run into a few guys around here that heat with lump coal and they're all getting a little grouchy not being able to get it. My neighbor heats exclusively with coal. Its his only source of heat. He's been having to use wood. I feel bad for him as he's getting older and cutting wood is alot of work for him. He's the kind of gut that won't let you help him out either.

I'll keep looking and calling.
Ben