Coal Bin Plans

This is my 2nd winter with my keystoker. Last year was a hastle with running to the coal distributor in Scranton and unloading my pick-up 5 gallons at a time. I need help with coal bin plans this year. I can't seem to find any on the internet.

Bill

Welcome to the forum Bill, where do you want to put your bin? Inside or outside? How many ton do you want it to hold?

There's all kinds of ways to do it depending on the material you want to use, space avaialable etc. . My two big suggestions concern making sure you have easy access. If for example you build it outside make the roof removeable, on hinges etc. As long as you can prop it up somehow is fine. Build a access door with slats like a guillotine on the side of the bin, as the coal is removed from the top of the bin you remove the slats one by one. Once you get them low enough you can go right into the bin to get to the coal that is not acessible instead of climbing over the top.

I just put a knowledge base online and I have been meaning to make up some basic plans for the last century now, maybe I'll get to it one of these days.

Have you reviewed this thread?

http://nepacrossroads.com/viewtopic.php ... sc&start=0

I would like to place the coal bin on a concrete patio located at the end of my driveway allowing ease of delivery. I have been told by my local stove dealer 4X4X8 bin will hold 2 tons of rice coal? Last year I used just over 2 tons for the entire season. Thanks for the link.

I think a ton is about 40 cubic feet, so that is around 3.2 tons?

Great!!, 4 X 4 X 8 is just what the doctor ordered. I am using 2 old army tent crates with an oversized ratchet strap holding the sides from busting out. This was great for last year but with mama staying home with a new born I'll need to make something more perminate and user friendly. I wanted to use 3/4" plywood 4 x 4" base and 2 X 6" frame. I can't believe there are no plans for a coal bin on the internet.

coaledsweat wrote:I think a ton is about 40 cubic feet, so that is around 3.2 tons?

Correct, 3 tons usually tops it off nicely. Keep in mind it varies slightly depending on the size and even the coal. The stove dealer should be qualifying that because people will be thinking they are getting ripped off.

BillK wrote: I can't believe there are no plans for a coal bin on the internet.

The only place they would be is here, hence the reason you can't find them. There's really no other forum or information except maybe at http://www.hearthnet.com but they deal mostly with wood.


Basically you just build a box, the access door I mentioned and making sure there is access to the top is whats important. You need access to the top if you want to get it delivered.

Besides that building it sturdy enough, 3/4 is preferable. Those ratchet straps can come in handy, put eyebolts on the inside of the bin in the center on each side. then use the ratchet strap to keep it from bowing out. The reason for the ratchet straps is once you get the coal out you can take the straps out and they won't be in your way.

I have my boiler out in my detached garge and I just put down a full sheet of 1/2" plywood and then I used cinderblocks around it and then another sheet of plywood for the top .
I get my coal with my dump trailer . SO, I pull the dumper into the garage and just dump it into the bin.
it works great because in the spring I just take it apart and it doesn't take up space in the garage in the summer time....

Another link, I put dim's and sizes/Capacities

http://nepacrossroads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1505

ktm rider wrote:I have my boiler out in my detached garge and I just put down a full sheet of 1/2" plywood and then I used cinderblocks around it and then another sheet of plywood for the top .
I get my coal with my dump trailer . SO, I pull the dumper into the garage and just dump it into the bin.
it works great because in the spring I just take it apart and it doesn't take up space in the garage in the summer time....

KTM, how do you keep the blocks in place with the pressure from the coal pushing outward? I was thinking of doing the same thing but figured I would need a way to keep the blocks from moving.

gambler wrote:KTM, how do you keep the blocks in place with the pressure from the coal pushing outward? I was thinking of doing the same thing but figured I would need a way to keep the blocks from moving.

I've got 12-inch wide hollow core blocks stacked three high on concrete with no push out problems. You could always use retaining wall blocks that interlock one course into the next for higher walls. However, they are considerably more expensive than standard block.

Yanche wrote:

gambler wrote:KTM, how do you keep the blocks in place with the pressure from the coal pushing outward? I was thinking of doing the same thing but figured I would need a way to keep the blocks from moving.

I've got 12-inch wide hollow core blocks stacked three high on concrete with no push out problems. You could always use retaining wall blocks that interlock one course into the next for higher walls. However, they are considerably more expensive than standard block.

Ditto,


I don't have any pushing problem. I only usually put 2 ton at the most in it though....

I would like to stack them 7 high and I can see push out being a problem. I will just have to go buy some wood for a bin wall which is too bad because I have a bunch of used,cleaned 10 inch block around.

If the bin you are planning to build is goign to be permanent, why not just go buy a bag of motar?