Coal Bin Size?

Hi all,

I want to build a basement bin. There is a regular "basement" rectanugular window in the foundation that can be opened for the chute to go in from the truck. I have been bucking coal to basement with wheelbarrow so far, and oh boy does it suck. Also makes a big mess everywhere.

What does the cubic square footage have to be to hold 3 tons of chestnut coal? MY basement ceiling is about 7 foot high, I'd like to go "tall" with it so it doesn't hog up too much floor space. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Scott

How big do you make a coal bin

Clipped from WNY's chart ...

• COAL BIN SIZING CHART (Only Approximation)
  Approx. 40 Cubic Feet / Ton
  (L x W x H = Total / 40)
  
  COAL BIN SIZING CHART (Only Approximation)
  Approx. 40 Cubic Feet / Ton 40
  W x L x H
  
  4 x 8 x 2 = 64 Cubic FT Approx. 1.6 tons
  4 x 8 x 3 = 96 Cubic FT Approx. 2.4 tons
  4 x 8 x 4 = 128 Cubic FT Approx. 3.2 tons
  4 x 8 x 5 = 160 Cubic FT Approx. 4 tons
  4 x 8 x 6 = 192 Cubic FT Approx. 4.8 tons
  5 x 8 x 2 = 80 Cubic FT Approx. 2 tons
  5 x 8 x 3 = 120 Cubic FT Approx. 3 tons
  5 x 8 x 4 = 160 Cubic FT Approx. 4 tons
  5 x 8 x 5 = 200 Cubic FT Approx. 5 tons
  5 x 8 x 6 = 240 Cubic FT Approx. 6 tons
  4 x 10 x 2 = 80 Cubic FT Approx. 2 tons
  4 x 10 x 3 = 120 Cubic FT Approx. 3 tons
  4 x 10 x 4 = 160 Cubic FT Approx. 4 tons
  4 x 10 x 5 = 200 Cubic FT Approx. 5 tons
  4 x 10 x 6 = 240 Cubic FT Approx. 6 tons
  4 x 12 x 2 = 96 Cubic FT Approx. 2.4 tons
  4 x 12 x 3 = 144 Cubic FT Approx. 3.6 tons
  4 x 12 x 4 = 192 Cubic FT Approx. 4.8 tons
  4 x 12 x 5 = 240 Cubic FT Approx. 6 tons
  4 x 12 x 6 = 288 Cubic FT Approx. 7.2 tons
  5 x 12 x 2 = 120 Cubic FT Approx. 3 tons
  5 x 12 x 3 = 180 Cubic FT Approx. 4.5 tons
  5 x 12 x 4 = 240 Cubic FT Approx. 6 tons
  5 x 12 x 5 = 300 Cubic FT Approx. 7.5 tons
  5 x 12 x 6 = 360 Cubic FT Approx. 9 tons

I too agree 40 cubic feet in one ton. It may be a little generous depending on the coal size you are buying. But that being said you do not want to come up short if by chance your supplier is generous as well

Figure you won't be able to fill the bin full. I load my bin from the top. The angle of repose of the coal is about 35 to 40 degrees. That means to fill the bin will still require shovelling. It is real tough to shovel with floor joist to you back. I just use a rake to level some out to allow a little more in. My bin loads from one corner so there is a long distance the coal falls, resulting in considerable loss of volume. I would make the bin about 1.5 time larger than what you think it will hold.

See photo of coal in bin. It is about 7.5 feet to the bottom of my floor joists.

My bin is just under 85 cubic feet, and I easily put 2.25ton of rice into it. I probably could have gone to 3 tons, but with a mound in the middle. I'm in the 'coal is denser than 40 ft3 per ton', myself.

But I would build my bin as if it were.

If you do a Search on COAL BIN SIZING, you will see the chart above been discussed many times.

Also, look at the thread of Coal bin Pics for more ideas. general rule of thumb is approx 40 cubic feet per ton.

COAL BIN Pics