Options for Bulk Coal in Cecil County, MD

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Mon. Sep. 15, 2014 8:43 pm

I bought "bulk" (bucket load/ unweighed) from a local source last year, happy with the quality, not so much with price. Looking into a delivery and weighing (pun intended) my options. I got a price over the summer from Penn, but am a little reluctant to dive head first into 22 +/- tons.

Looking for nut.

Thanks, Phil

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Mon. Sep. 15, 2014 11:12 pm

Welcome to the forum!!

Not many delivered options for us here in Ceciltucky. I made the trip up to Reeses in Quarryville and picked it up a ton at a time via trailer in previous years. This year I have a local contractor with a dump truck lined up to bring back 10 ton as soon as I get the roof on my coal bunker in about two weeks.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 5:40 am

Thanks, been a lurker here since last January, ran a Mark II last winter, getting ready to move the Mark III in once I get it cleaned up.

How was the product from Reese's? I have access to a dump trailer, not an ideal way for me, but, might work out.

Ballpark price (last year) up there?

Thanks

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 7:09 am

Reeses has Blaschak coal loose or bagged, rice, pea, nut or stove sized. Going by memory their bulk price was about $200 / ton last year up to December. I had stocked up and didn't pick any up after that so I don't know what their supply or price was like in the crunch time of last Feb. I checked with them a few weeks back and it was $200 / ton then. It has always burned well for me, clean in the sense there is no wood scrap or rocks in it and not a lot of fines. Their piles are outside, but on a slab. They weigh you empty, load you up and weigh you again so you know what you are getting.

I had got coal from Benjamins in NE a few times early on but their pile in on the ground and even though I complained about it they still seemed to scoop up some crusher run with the coal every time. I talked with them last year as I bought materials for my outside coal bin and I think they are around $240 / ton for nut. I didn't like Duvall's 'per scoop' price when I tried them once.

Hillside Acres is another place in the Quarryville area that some guys on here use for their source. I have never been there and don't know their current pricing.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 8:36 am

I used both Benjamins and Duvalls last year. No issue with the coal from either, preferred Duvalls but don't like the "1/4 ton" guesstimate situation.

Sounds as if a (reasonable) delivery may not be available.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 8:45 am

If you find a delivery option please let me know and I'll do the same.

I am especially interested if they have chute delivery and not just a dump truck.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 8:53 am

titleist1 wrote:If you find a delivery option please let me know and I'll do the same.

I am especially interested if they have chute delivery and not just a dump truck.

Penn quoted me right around $4K (delivered) for 22/23 tons during the summer. @~$180 a ton it's not really worth the hassle of going that deep in coal. I have a spot for it, tractor trailer access and a loader, not sure about only saving about $20 bucks a ton though.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 9:11 am

What breaker/mine is Penn's coal from? That price looks good to me but TT load is more than I want at a time. 10 ton is about all I'll get under roof in the bunker and I want it to stay as dry as possible before moving it from there to the outdoor bin so it doesn't freeze.

I figured that picking it up myself a ton at a time cost me about $20 each trip in gas plus the time involved added to the cost per ton of the coal.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 9:50 am

Not sure where their coal comes from. They are quoting $160 per ton with additional $25 per ton delivery (to my location in North East).

Once we get that close to $200 per ton I'm not sure it makes much sense trucking it in (to me). I could split a load with someone, I am less than 2 miles from the scales at the Flying J. Have a 2.5 cu yard rubber tire loader on site. Guess I didn't expect the delivery to be that high, but,....

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Tue. Sep. 16, 2014 10:02 am

They're saying the loads come close to 25 tons.

plumb-r · Post by **plumb-r** » Thu. Sep. 18, 2014 4:33 pm

Hillside Acres sells bagged Blaschak. I've bought from them and Reese's in the past.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Thu. Sep. 25, 2014 11:14 am

Ordered 6 tons from Reese's. They are apparently swamped with orders and are saying mid October (which I'm fine with).

Penn Keystone prices went up $10 a ton in 9 days, delivery (to me) is up to $24 a ton. Just can't justify that much of an investment, I should have had that bulk order done in July when the price was down a little and the haulers weren't looking to rape everyone.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Thu. Sep. 25, 2014 11:16 am

Just curious if Reese's is delivering or if you are picking it up. Also what was his price?

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Thu. Sep. 25, 2014 11:26 am

They're delivering. I'll PM you the price, not sure if I should blow them up, they seem like a small time operation.

PJDIESEL · Post by **PJDIESEL** » Thu. Sep. 25, 2014 11:35 am

They are cheaper than the picked up price at Duvalls and Benjamins.

As long as the coal is good I am probably going to ask them to bring another load right away. I am planning on have them chute it into "super sacks" we use for abrasive (hold 3K LBS of crushed glass). I think they will hold a ton or so of coal. This way I can keep it at my shop and only bring home a ton at at time (not sure what to do with it here, but, I'll figure that part out).

I also have access 330 gallon IBC totes pretty reasonably priced. If I can come up with a decent idea for those I may try to market them (already ready) for some local guys looking for reasonable size and price "bulk" delivery.