Coal Storage Bin

Hi, I am about to purchase a SF-150 and am now thinking about how to store the coal near the house vs. a good distance away. I was thinking about building a storage bin with a roof etc, but am not sure how large to make it. I would ideally like to hold 1-2 tons at a time in it and be able to in a simple fashion fill buckets or tupperware containers (with lids) to bring it inside as needed. So, how big of a storage area is needed to hold 1-2 tons?

I would probably burn 'range' or a mix if I can get it locally.

Any help would be great!!

Thanks
Scott

Do a search for coal bins which will show the thread that contains it, along with a way to figure the volume a ton ocupies

bottom of the page has coal bin sizes

https://coalpail.com/coal-heating-encyclopedia/an ... -hard-coal

Search the COAL BIN PICTURES thread, to give you some ideas on fabrication, you don't want it pushing apart under the weight.

COAL BIN Pics

I just spent some time looking at the pics - wow some people have awesome set-ups. I like the knife idea with the coal scuttle under it to fill it up. I was thinking the same just wasn't sure how to build it. Sloping floors towards the outlet and a knife controlled flow system.

The coal bin page was great help as well. I learned a lot already today and its not even lunch time

Everyone has their own ideas of what they want and how to build them....Depends on your space, time and money! Good luck.

HanSoSlow wrote:I just spent some time looking at the pics - wow some people have awesome set-ups. I like the knife idea with the coal scuttle under it to fill it up. I was thinking the same just wasn't sure how to build it. Sloping floors towards the outlet and a knife controlled flow system.

The coal bin page was great help as well. I learned a lot already today and its not even lunch time

The knife system works great if it's outside. Lots of black dust. If used inside, you'd want a vaccume running while filling the coal scuttle. Otherwise, you'll have black dust all over. My coal bin is an old grain gravity hopper. I made a shoot to fit a five gallon pail. Works Great! I also notice a lot of dust as coal is filling the buckets. Being outside, it doesn't matter. When dumping into the Kaa-2 hopper, I have a vaccume running at the top of the hopper. That works great too. So good, I'm going to hard pipe it instead of laying the hose across the top of the boiler.

So would I have as much dust dumping a bag into a scuttle to load the stove?

Great info so far!!!!

After building a mini-coal bin this past fall and using it all winter (see COAL BIN Pics 1/2 way down), I've been coal-dust free once a co-worker pointed the way. The same "old-hand" coalie also suggested the sluice gate whan "Plan A" failed.

The dust solution is two-fold. One, while the coal is coming out of the mini-bin, have a hepa-equipped shop-vac next to the chute. And Two, spray generously with water while it's dropping into the bucket, which prevents all coal dust while pouring into the hopper. Since using both methods in early December, I have near-zero black dust on or near chute or stove!

Nice bin and great tip to do a vertical shut-off vs. horizontal. I'm thinking about having the bin outside so the dust would be less of an issue while filling the scuttle or buckets than if I do bags inside the house (living space).

I'm also thinking that I could use some type of screening or wire mesh for the chute as that would allow the dust to drop, but not the coal hmmmmm.

If your having the coal delivered, you might want to call around to the local coal delivery companies... You will probably find that some will only deliver X amount like at least 2 ton, and you may also find that if you get 4 ton in one shot you can get a much better price and have more companies to choose from as far as delivery. I built mine to hold 3 ton but ideally it holds 2 ton better. With only getting 2 ton delivered, I am VERY limited on who will delivery to me.

HanSoSlow wrote:Hi, I am about to purchase a SF-150 and am now thinking about how to store the coal near the house vs. a good distance away. I was thinking about building a storage bin with a roof etc, but am not sure how large to make it. I would ideally like to hold 1-2 tons at a time in it and be able to in a simple fashion fill buckets or tupperware containers (with lids) to bring it inside as needed. So, how big of a storage area is needed to hold 1-2 tons?

I would probably burn 'range' or a mix if I can get it locally.

Any help would be great!!

Thanks
Scott

I spoke with a guy last week and he can deliver 2-3 ton at a time and suggested I start with 4 total for the season (6 cord of wood).

I'm going to measure and build this Spring. I want to come up with something that will keep the dust down. I'm almost thinking about a screening system on the bottom, that would allow the dust through, but not the coal - but the screenings would not hold up to the weight.