Oiled Coal Odor

I am new to the forum but not new to burning coal (19 yrs.). This is the first I have heard about oiling coal, my dealer is dead set against it he says "Odor in your house". I have a 19 yr old Harman Magnum Stoker and know if the coal is wet it stinks when burning. Please enlighten me on oiling, oils, pros and cons. I have done a search on the web and it led me here, I searched here and read a lot and seem to get conflicting advice. Please help me learn more.

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Coal Stokers: Boilers, Furnaces and Stoves

I can't say I've heard anyone complain about an odor. They usually use a vegetable based oil so if anything it would smell like the carnival.

I thought most used a mineral oil, I get it oiled every year and never had a problem with any odor. I store my coal in the basement and it doesn't smell.

I thought If they use a Vegetable type oil or something like that, it may get rancid over time. I thought they used a light mineral oil or something.

WNY wrote:I thought most used a mineral oil,

I'll have to admit I don;t really know, Hudson only did it for one customer and they had a 55 gallon drum of non edible vegetable oil. I thought they were all using vegetable oil.

I have been buying oiled coal for 5 years and have never had any problems--just a lack of dust which is why I specify it.

Who offers oiled coal, and what is the upcharge?

Just in case your intrested
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mat/2941317883.html

I tried putting some used motor oil on my coal pile but I wasn't pleased with the results, although it did cut down on the coal dust. Oil kinda stinks when it burns. It would also tend to make better conditions for puffing back since the oil would vaporize and become a volitile gas. I'll prefer not to oil it again or maybe I'll try something different.

Superior offers oiled coal. My last purchase was just about a year ago and it was $8/gallon with 3 gallons applied to 8 tons.

I have started oiling my coal with Light Mineral Oil from Tractor Supply it is in the horse section, and is used as a laxatize for farm animals. The only smell I have is outside, it definitely hides the somewhat sulfur smell of anthacite. I have noticed mystove window soots up somewhat but I like the fact the coal does not black dust up while filling the hopper. I used to use water but that also managed to migrate down the hopper, which I was worried would cause problems within itself.

We use it in a Keystoker 90 rice bin and for a Harman SF250. I now wouldn't go without it. Good tip on the tractor supply, maybe it might pay to do it myself. Certainly found a lack of black dust. To bad we can't oil the ashes!

Thanks for all your responses, mineral oil at 14.99 a gallon from TS has got it. I am figuring a gallon for 4 ton spraying with a garden sprayer as it comes down the chute any left I'll spray it on top not enough I will get more and spray it on top of the bin. Or should I just spray the top of the bin and let it leach down thru it all summer. I get my coal in early summer (throwback form wood burning days) Any comments?

Rick t wrote:Thanks for all your responses, mineral oil at 14.99 a gallon from TS has got it. I am figuring a gallon for 4 ton spraying with a garden sprayer as it comes down the shoot any left I'll spray it on top not enough I will get more and spray it on top of the bin. Or should I just spray the top of the bin and let it leach down thru it all summer. I get my coal in early summer (throwback form wood burning days) Any comments?

Based on what I have read, people oil at the rate of 1/2 to 1 gal of oil per ton of coal. Also, don't forget you never get that last few ounces out of the bottom of the sprayer.

Figure on spraying the coal as it is deployed down the chute. That will be the most effective. There will not be enough oil to coat the dust by draining down through the coal. I spray my coal with water before I move it. I am amazed how much water it takes for dust control and how dry the coal is under the first layer.

The light mineral oil that I tried stinks when its burned, with most of the highly ucky odor noticeable outside (particularly when its still outside), but sometimes noticeable inside as well. I still have one pail of oiled, then I'm done with it.