Bulk Bags for Coal Storage

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Wed. Oct. 21, 2015 9:55 pm

Has anyone used bulk bags for coal storage and do you think any breakers can fill them with a chute?
The bags can be purchased with a bottom outlet for dispensing. Seemed very interesting to me, inexpensive and easy to store when empty. Check out the video and give me your Opinion.

I am new to this forum and just purchased a used ds1600 to be installed in my soon to be built work shop.
Video on bags.

http://www.uline.com/Product/ProductPopUp.aspx?pi ... -x-35-x-40

Logs · Post by **Logs** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 2:29 am

I don't know where you are located, but I live in western Pa. There is a company by me that sells bulk Reading in these bags.. They have a door or flap or something on the bottom for unloading. You would need a backhoe or tractor to unload it. Something that could lift it high enough to unload it. The company that has them is: Hildenbrand supply in Ruffsdale Pa
It seems like it would be a lot of pissing around to get it unloaded, but maybe not.
Dave

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 3:12 am

Welcome to the FORUM. Me thinks it is one of those--where there's a will, there's a way & nothing ventured, nothing gained kinda things. Check w/ the breakers on filling possibility or your local dealer. If you give it a shot, keep us posted.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 9:20 am

Thanks I am in Frederick MD.

I will look up Hildebrand to see how far they are.

I do have access to a fork lift so unloading full bags is not an issue.

I like the idea that once the bags are empty they will no longer take up space. Fold them up and save them for thw next load. You can also order them with a 3 mil plastic liner which will keep coal dry if you store it outside.

I think I will check with Lehigh to see if they can fill them.

I will let you know.

Olllotj · Post by **Olllotj** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 9:45 am

My dad uses the bulk bags, and I have used them. The loops will dry rot, and bust if you leave the bags outside for 1 summer. That being said, they are a great option if you have a way to lift them.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 2:31 pm

Olllotj wrote:My dad uses the bulk bags, and I have used them. The loops will dry rot, and bust if you leave the bags outside for 1 summer. That being said, they are a great option if you have a way to lift them.

Thank you so much I did not thing about the straps dry rotting. I assume it is because of exposure to the sun breaking down the plastic . Similar to the tarp material that breaks down when exposed to sunlight. I would need to keep them out of the sun. Food for thought since the bags are $40 a piece I do not want to have to order them every year.

I was thinking of a way to suspend them such that I can just open the bottom and let some coal dump out of the spout. Shake the bag when coal gets low no digging in a coal bin. I would need to fabricate a steel frame one that folds up and out of the way during the summer. Even better, now I have a great excuse to get a MIG welder!!

Olllotj · Post by **Olllotj** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 2:53 pm

Yes, we suspend them from the tractor, drive them over the chute and open the bottom of the bag. The chute then fills a bag in Dad's basement. The bag in the basement is on a pallet, and is moved with a pallet jack. Move it closer to the boiler then on to the next one!

Scottscoaled · Post by **Scottscoaled** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 7:03 pm

I have been bagging coal for quite a while. Spending $40/bag is totally crazy. I shop e-bay and have found several good sources. Right now there is a guy selling them for $5 a piece if you buy enough of them. I think for 25 the shipping was $100. His number was 419-241-2602. They are in Ohio.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 8:00 pm

Scottscoaled wrote:I have been bagging coal for quite a while. Spending $40/bag is totally crazy. I shop e-bay and have found several good sources. Right now there is a guy selling them for $5 a piece if you buy enough of them. I think for 25 the shipping was $100. His number was 419-241-2602. They are in Ohio.

Thanks for the info. you are right $40 is a lot of coin. Lots of choices on eBay much less than $40. My back is not in the greatest shape. How are you filling your bags?

Scottaw · Post by **Scottaw** » Thu. Oct. 22, 2015 10:04 pm

I've been using bulk bags for 3 seasons, here's my take.

I don't have a way to move th bags, so once I fill them they're basically folding coal bins. I fill 3 per year and dump the 4th ton on the driveway. I shovel from the bags into 5 gal buckets and keep 50 full buckets in the house at a time.

To fill the bags my coal guy comes with an auger, hold the top of the bag open and fill. Keep it loading evenly and it'll hold 1 ton. I built a wooden bag holder that works pretty well keeping them open while filling. Once full I put a tarp over the top and down the sides of each one and tie it down with a ratchet strap or rope.

The bags drain any water out of the coal and don't seem to freeze up in the winter.

3 times a winter I go out and refill all my buckets and reload the house. Shoveling the top half is easy, the lower you get the more things get I your way, but it's not too bad. Once I'm down to a few hundred bags I dump the rest on the tarp.

I've been using the same bags for 3 seasons and they seem to be holding up find. I sit them directly on gravel. Did them on pallets once but didn't see the point after the first year.

The bags are cheap or free if you look around. Someday I'll build a bin, but these are a tidy way to hold a whole year supply for me.

I wish I had some pictures of the fill process, but I was busy making sure the bags were loading evenly.

Post by **Richard S.** » Fri. Oct. 23, 2015 1:59 am

coalusermd wrote:Has anyone used bulk bags for coal storage and do you think any breakers can fill them with a chute?

It would be difficult but not impossible. First you need a breaker with hoppers and chutes, they don't all have them. Secondly those chutes are going to be about 12 feet off the ground. Last but not least those bags can be difficult to get started. You have to make sure the bottom gets filled out evenly or it's going to sit crooked until you lift it and you aren't going to lift it after it has few hundred pounds in it. Once you get it started you have to kind of keep tugging on it to make sure it stays straight.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Fri. Oct. 23, 2015 10:10 am

Richard S. wrote:
coalusermd wrote:Has anyone used bulk bags for coal storage and do you think any breakers can fill them with a chute?
It would be difficult but not impossible. First you need a breaker with hoppers and chutes, they don't all have them. Secondly those chutes are going to be about 12 feet off the ground. Last but not least those bags can be difficult to get started. You have to make sure the bottom gets filled out evenly or it's going to sit crooked until you lift it and you aren't going to lift it after it has few hundred pounds in it. Once you get it started you have to kind of keep tugging on it to make sure it stays straight.

Thanks for your input. I am in my first season with coal so all new to me and trying to figure out the best routine with the least amount of cost and least amount of damage to my back. It is all a trade off delivered bulk vs bagged vs go to the breaker. Sounds like filling the bulk bags at the breaker is not going to be an option unless I can fill them with my own auger, fork lift and skid loader. I was hoping to save $80 per ton by picking it up myself. My drive time would be 5 hours round trip. Three tons would be a do able run with the equipment I have now. Save $240 but then I have got to get it in to my shop. To bad cause the bulk bags would have been perfect for me.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Fri. Oct. 23, 2015 10:15 am

Scottaw wrote:I've been using bulk bags for 3 seasons, here's my take.

I don't have a way to move th bags, so once I fill them they're basically folding coal bins. I fill 3 per year and dump the 4th ton on the driveway. I shovel from the bags into 5 gal buckets and keep 50 full buckets in the house at a time.

To fill the bags my coal guy comes with an auger, hold the top of the bag open and fill. Keep it loading evenly and it'll hold 1 ton. I built a wooden bag holder that works pretty well keeping them open while filling. Once full I put a tarp over the top and down the sides of each one and tie it down with a ratchet strap or rope.

The bags drain any water out of the coal and don't seem to freeze up in the winter.

3 times a winter I go out and refill all my buckets and reload the house. Shoveling the top half is easy, the lower you get the more things get I your way, but it's not too bad. Once I'm down to a few hundred bags I dump the rest on the tarp.

I've been using the same bags for 3 seasons and they seem to be holding up find. I sit them directly on gravel. Did them on pallets once but didn't see the point after the first year.

The bags are cheap or free if you look around. Someday I'll build a bin, but these are a tidy way to hold a whole year supply for me.

I wish I had some pictures of the fill process, but I was busy making sure the bags were loading evenly.

Nice process you have and would be perfect for me as well. Delivered ton price?

Post by **Richard S.** » Fri. Oct. 23, 2015 10:35 am

coalusermd wrote: It is all a trade off delivered bulk vs bagged vs go to the breaker.

The bags can also be filled easily with high lift truck if that is delivery method.

If your back is your concern the best thing to do is have a bin inside right near the stove, delivery via high lift. They can put it through a window etc.

coalusermd · Post by **coalusermd** » Fri. Oct. 23, 2015 5:21 pm

The bags can also be filled easily with high lift truck.

If your back is your concern the best thing to do is have a bin inside right near the stove, delivery via high lift. They can put it through a window etc.[/quote]

That would be nice but I don't think anyone even remotely close to me has a truck like that. I don't live in an area where many people use coal. Everyone in this area thinks I am nuts for buying a coal stove. I like to think I am just ahead of the curve.

I was the first of any of my friends to purchase a cd player way back in the 80s. Everyone burns wood in Maryland or uses gas. Even the guys I called to install my chimney were intrigued with my coal stove.

I certainly appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts. I would really like to get it right from the breaker but that looks less practical for me now.