New Day Another Question: Topic, BAG COAL

Kubota2007 · Post by **Kubota2007** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 12:58 pm

I get my coal delivered by bulk, 4 tons at a time. I usually let it sit for a year to be sure it's dry. I store my coal in a enclosed area and have two coal bins and alternate each year. I have been told by a few people Bag coal is much better, one guy told me he thinks because it is dry, I'm sure mine is dry, and I'm sure a bag of coal is expensive, any truth to bag coal being "better"?

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 1:00 pm

No bagged coal I've ever used has been dry. My only experience with bulk coal has been Blaschak. It is of the same quality as their bagged coal, in my experience.

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 1:16 pm

I've never seen dry bagged coal. Always a little damp/wet. As far as quality goes, I don't see any difference. My experience has been the same as Carbon12.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 2:54 pm

Double DITTO

chester · Post by **chester** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 4:10 pm

my Blaschak bagged coal comes wet every year. Just stack it in the basement and once the stove is running viola its dry!

Horace · Post by **Horace** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 4:13 pm

Nope it's not dry (right now mine is frozen solid) and, nope, it's not better. Or worse. Just more expensive.

buffalo bob · Post by **buffalo bob** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 4:23 pm

you got the good set up 2 coal bins don't waste ur money paying for bags...

Post by **Lightning** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 4:34 pm

Any bagged coal I've dealt with has been inferior to bulk coal due to being wet and saturated with fines. If you are getting good bulk coal, continue with that. Sounds like you have the perfect set up for it..

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 9:11 pm

You can get coal in a bag that is junk, or bulk in a pile that is junk. Bulk you can see how uniform it is as well as moisture content. Bagged coal is like opening hundreds of Christmas presents, you will never know until you see it. I buy bagged but it is out of convenience and the way I store a multiple year supply. My suppliers of bagged have been very good for the last 15 years.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 11:20 pm

Dry bagged coal to me means ... NOT dripping wet. It's either one or the other. ALWAYS. But NEVER bone dry.

lowfog01 · Post by **lowfog01** » Sat. Mar. 01, 2014 3:56 am

If you can take delivery of bulk coal that's the way to go, IMO. I don't have that capability so I only use bag. It's never ever been dry and I don't want it to be. I don't what it dripping wet either but damp really does hold down the black coal dust when you're filling a 5 gallon bucket to take to the stove in the other room. The other drawback is if the coal is too wet the bags weep a black water that stains anything it touches and is next to impossible to get out. Go with bulk and save gobs of money and headaches over bagged. Lisa

Post by **Richard S.** » Sat. Mar. 01, 2014 4:09 am

Bag coal is more expensive because there is lot more handling involved, locally delivered might be $200 per ton in bulk and the bagged is $280 per ton picked up. You're not paying a whole lot less here in NEPA vs. someone 100 miles away.

As for the wet vs dry comparison if you talk to some of these old timers they want the coal damp, whether there is difference or not I don't know but whatever gains or losses you have they are going to be minimal wet or dry.

captcaper · Post by **captcaper** » Sat. Mar. 01, 2014 6:34 pm

I used to get bulk coal. I built a nice bin. Miss the price beak. I have moved since and can't get bulk coal here in Northern NH that I know of. So I use Blazchek bagged. I like their 40lb bags. The plastic they use is always clean mostly and doesn't leak dust like the synthetic burlap weave bags years ago I use to have to use. They were 50lb'ers and had a twist wire tie. I use to have to turn them back in for credit. Blazchek's coal is moist. I open it up in a tote and let it dry some what before using.

skobydog · Post by **skobydog** » Sat. Mar. 01, 2014 10:20 pm

My coal is sitting under a snow pile right now. I can't tell you how many times I've dumped a bucket of coal onto my fire and have a stream of water come out the bottom of the bucket.

Seems to burn fine for me. I'm not sure if dry coal would burn any differently.

Post by **StokerDon** » Fri. Mar. 07, 2014 7:12 pm

There is one nice thing about bagged coal, you don't have to shovel it!

-Don