Use for the Ashes

Please tell me is there anything you can use the ashes for from the anthracite. Also what is left in the ashes? thanks for any info!

I fill potholes in my gravel driveway, packs down really nice.

some other things...

Disposal of Coal Ash

I'm filling in the area over a drywell I installed a few years ago, it's settled somewhat. Then I'll cover it with soil and plant grass. It's easier then carting the ash away from the house and then carting dirt to the house in the spring to fill in the low spot over the drywell.

Wood'nCoal wrote:I'm filling in the area over a drywell I installed a few years ago, it's settled somewhat. Then I'll cover it with soil and plant grass.

Try and get that compacted as much as you can, one of my biggest "fears" is running over such a spot with the truck. Instant stucko. Might save someone a lot of grief in the future.

You're right about packing down the ashes, it's in a place where no vehicle will travel, but I plan to pack it down with my tractor before covering it over with dirt. Thanks.

I had a 3-4 inch drop from the paved road onto my gravel driveway, and it took nearly 2 years' worth of ashes to build the end of the driveway up level to the road. It seemed to me that spreading repeated "layers" and driving them down works pretty good. I keep a 25-gallon galvanized trash can (with lid) on the back porch to collect the ashes, and whenever it fills, take it to the end of the driveway and spread 'em out.

Wood'nCoal wrote:You're right about packing down the ashes, it's in a place where no vehicle will travel,

Never know what might be travelling over it in the future, I've fallen into more than few holes the homeowner was not aware of. Usually old wells, outhouse etc.

The low spot I'm filling is directly outside of my kitchen, where I installed a drywell a few years ago. Since my house is so old, when I excavated I found lots of broken china, glass bottles, unidentifiable small metal items, etc. I dug up lots of large rocks, I assume they were left over from the foundation and used to fill in and raise the grade around the house. About 6" below the surface was a layer of an ash like substance which I now think is buried coal ash.
The best find were a few pieces of the top of a long gone kitchen coal stove, I found one of the round plates and the removable piece that separates the round plates.

John

Well at least I wasn't the old outhouse you found...

I found what I think was on old outhouse location when I excavated for the other drywell in installed about 10 years ago. Unfortunately I didn't find anything of value buried there.