Coal Bin Progress...

So I've done a bunch of research here, and started my coal bin. Re-inforced the walls, have my 2x4 stud's around 12" on center (varies depending on the span, but only by an inch or so), 3/4" treated plywood. And when I poured the floor, I put a drain under where the coal bin would go to drain the water. Then the fun begins. One of the biggest complaints I have been seeing in the AA coal world is the problems with fines (maybe more coal source related). So I have a grate setup below where the auger will be, that the coal will be above and hopefully allow the fines to drop, allowing me to vacuum them out from time to time as necessary. Since I cant really run the coal bin to the ceiling, I have ran a few pressure treated ties from the unsupported wall, to the re-inforced wall to help prevent fall apart. I also drilled and installed 5/8 x 6" long wedge bolts through the bottom 2x4s to hold the wall in place last night.

Everything on the floor, or touching coal is pressure treated. Hoping to be building a lasting thing here. The unfortunate side of things is that its only about 32" wide. Though 10' long and 8' tall. Hoping to get about 4 tons in it with a mid winter refill. to my calculation it should be about 210 cubic feet.

Questions, comments, suggestions?







Winters coming. I gotta get in gear.

Very clever drainage system and smart having a means to remove fines...you are thinking outside the box. Work smarter...not harder, my friend.

Real nice M

Looks good! Good ideas there with the drain and fines removal. Let us know how effective they are after you use it a while.

Good move with the cross supports at the top to keep it from spreading.

gave up some prime real estate .. right next to overhead door for easy in-out of commonly used tools .. but there always is a price to pay

no cross 2 by 4s (horizontal) on framing?

and a new stereo system is recommended lol

Lookin' good. Bracing.... I used steel & bolts at the top of mine, but 2 by 4's should be fine. Here's a sketch for those that do better with pictures than words. Hope it makes sense!

Dont hate on the radio! Its been around forever, and has a simple switch to go from AM/FM to aux input, where I connect a MP3 player! No menu's, no multi button presses, just a simple switch.

Anyways, thanks for the comments and suggestions. I intend on putting a second 2x4 nailed on top, to give the extra support, but I am going to over lap the one that goes to the wall so they interlock. I am also going to put a pressure treated 2x6 along the bottom for some extra support, and a sheet of 3/4 plywood from the 2x6 up, followed by tin above that. This will match the walls of the building, and the plywood should offer good support too. I may also run another 2x4 between the plywood and tin, just as an extra measure. Should be pretty stout, and offer a long lasting coal bin. Or so I hope.

Also planning on building my chimney at the end of the month. So thats to follow. Heating season is coming fast!

davidmcbeth3 wrote:gave up some prime real estate .. right next to overhead door for easy in-out of commonly used tools .. but there always is a price to pay

no cross 2 by 4s (horizontal) on framing?

and a new stereo system is recommended lol

Also, it's hard to tell from the pictures, but it's a 36x48 building and that is in the far back corner. The garage door there is a low traffic opening, and more for the ability to open it and the two larger front doors for cross flow ventilation in the summer. And access to the back for coal delivery of course! I'll try to get some more progress pictures soon. Been working on it almost every night. Last night I got the wall in for the doghouse, and the doghouse in place. Also got the bottom 2x6 on the long side. Next up is the final couple 5/8 concrete wedge bolts, plywood sides and finalizing the doghouse position. Then it's time to work on the boiler pad!

davidmcbeth3 wrote:and a new stereo system is recommended lol

I better not have my am/fm cassette player in any pics by mistake.... One of my kids friends saw a cassette out there once and asked what it was. I told them they would be amazed at the amount of music it could hold compared to their iPod Nano (current at the time)!!

Mike....
Good to see progress on winter prep work!
I am in the process of putting up what looks to be a similar 22 x 32 post style building. I'd be interested in seeing a pic of your side walls and framing around the garage doors from the inside to see what (if any) diagonal bracing was used. Metal roof on yours to go with what looks like the metal siding? It will house my coal bunker and garden equipment that is now taking up space in the garage. - Thx.

I didnt end up doing any diagonal bracing. I may regret that, I may not. I guess I hadnt really though about that too much I must admit. The exterior of the building has 2x4 purlins running between the posts, 24" on center. I put 2x6s from the floor to the ceiling ~24" on center, and ran the 2x4 purlins ~12" on center. Basically making unsupported openings behind the 3/4 treated plywood of ~8"x22". In my mind, the plywood should do fine as the diagonal supports. Though Ill be sure to let everyone know if it does infact fail!

Metal roofing, metal exterior siding, metal ceiling. The walls all will have the bottom 4' as 3/4 plywood, and above that will be metal siding also. Though the entire interior of the coal bin is 3/4 pressure treated plywood.

I saw another bin with chains and turnbuckles across the center so the new wall won't tend to bow outward. I would definitely consider that or something similar for your bin..

I would be afraid that the one 2x4 brace in the pic is NOT gonna handle the pressure.

Lightning wrote:I saw another bin with chains and turnbuckles across the center so the new wall won't tend to bow outward. I would definitely consider that or something similar for your bin..

I would be afraid that the one 2x4 brace in the pic is NOT gonna handle the pressure.

I'll try to get a better picture, but there are actually 3, they are all just inline with each other so you only see one. Also the top will have additional bracing.

The 2x4 braces all get nailed to posts. I'll try to get some more pictures after a little more progress Tonight.

Keep em coming. The turnbuckles are a good idea

Couple more pictures. Not a terrible amount of progress, need a little more lumber and a lot more me time.

Still adding the plywood on the bottom 4', then above that adding a 2x4 that goes around the circumference as suggested. And adding a second layer of 2x4's on top to tie that up some more.

This one shows the interior 2x4s that go to the posts in the wall.



From the interior with the dog house, which will be secured by the weekend. I had to make a new plate where the auger goes through. Got it all bent up and drilled, except the 5" hole saw. Would prefer it to be a 5.25" but I need to locate a hole saw that size. I think the auger measures 5" and a 5" hole saw will probably only make a 5 1/8" hole. Seems a little close to me. Thoughts?



Exterior shot

From the interior with the dog house, which will be secured by the weekend. I had to make a new plate where the auger goes through. Got it all bent up and drilled, except the 5" hole saw. Would prefer it to be a 5.25" but I need to locate a hole saw that size. I think the auger measures 5" and a 5" hole saw will probably only make a 5 1/8" hole. Seems a little close to me. Thoughts?

Make it a 6" hole in the metal and add a square overlay of polyethylene (PE) plastic for a wear item and noise free too.

Hand held scroll or saber saw can do that radius nicely.

McGiever wrote:

From the interior with the dog house, which will be secured by the weekend. I had to make a new plate where the auger goes through. Got it all bent up and drilled, except the 5" hole saw. Would prefer it to be a 5.25" but I need to locate a hole saw that size. I think the auger measures 5" and a 5" hole saw will probably only make a 5 1/8" hole. Seems a little close to me. Thoughts?

Make it a 6" hole in the metal and add a square overlay of polyethylene (PE) plastic for a wear item and noise free too.

Hand held scroll or saber saw can do that radius nicely.

Great thinking on the poly "bushing". any idea on a good source for that? McMastercarr?