COAL BIN Pics

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:50 am

Because you'll need a lot of coal to keep the pile high enough, you're going to have 2 ton of coal just to prop the pile up high enough to get coal on the worm. You draw a 45 degree angle anywhere from the top of the worm upwards, any coal on the other side of the worm is dead space.

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:13 am

I'll tell you what I did at my grnadmothers. I cut about a 10 or 12 inch hole out of the bottom of the drum. I placed the drum on blocks. the coal around the drum could still get underneath it to the worm. Once that was gone you just filled the drum. That will allow you to get a lot of coal on the worm without having all that coal just to make the pile high enough and it can still feed as much as it's going to by itself.

Freddy · By: **Freddy** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:14 am

Nice job laying up the concrete blocks Bill. Ought to be plenty strong! It does look like you'll have several ton of coal that can't get to the worm. Maybe build a platform around the worm with removable sides? When the coal get's down to where it won't self feed, put the sides on the platform making a hopper that you can shovel full once a week?
What happens if you have a jam & need to clean the end of the auger? The idea of a doghouse is to allow access to the worm without moving tons of coal.

I just saw Richards drum idea...sounds good.

Sting · By: **Sting** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:16 am

Great looking bin. Shame to have to fill it with tons before the feed system has a purchase on the fuel. With your construction skills -- now is the time to build UP a 45 degree sloped floor to within a few inches of that auger!

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:24 am

Here's picture to so you can see what I'm driving at. You'll only have a couple hundred pound on the worm without a barrel. On the right with the barrel you'll have at least 400 pounds which is about what a barrel will hold. Plus there is lot less coal needed to keep the pile high.

What I'm trying to say is you need a LOT of coal to get any amount of coal on the worm without the barrel and because you're worm is so high it's that much worse.

billw · By: **billw** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:51 am

I see what you're saying Richard. My first thought was instead of building sloped sides out of wood and having all of that empty space in the bin I'd just have it filled with coal leaving a couple of ton unused. I could always shovel the coal into a mound on top of the auger the next time money gets tight. What you're saying makes sense though. I'll have to reconsider my plan before I buy coal. If (when) I put the sloped sides in the bin should the plywood be covered with sheet metal? If so, what should be used aluminum or galvanized? My brother in law is a sheet metal mechanic. He can get me material pretty cheap.

*censored*, I thought I was done.

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:54 am

Well because your auger is so high the sloped sides on the bin is really going to take a chunk out of it so it might not be worth it for you, if you use a barrel like that you can still take advantage of what will naturally go onto the worm. For that matter you can build the pedestal for the barrel and don't put the barrel in the bin until you have too.

For a self feeding bin you really need a lot of height. If you can't do this then it's not worth putting the sloped sides in:

billw · By: **billw** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:22 am

Ok, the light bulb just came on. I see what you're saying. That's a good idea. I can use the gravity feed until it's ineffective then shovel the rest of the coal into the hopper instead of a pile. That's the best of both worlds. How high above the auger should the bottom of the barrel be? I have about a dozen block left over. I can make the pedestal out of them. I think I'll put the barrel in now. It seems like it would be a pain doing it once the coal is in the bin.

Sting · By: **Sting** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:45 am

Can you extend the auger pick up in some way with factory parts?

billw · By: **billw** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:57 am

Yeah sting. You can buy auger extensions. My auger has a 4' extension installed. What do you have in mind?

Sting · By: **Sting** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:06 am

Well you most likely have already thought of this and forgive me for over thinking AGAIN -- but if you put another extension on - even if you couldn't use the whole length -- or if you cut a hole in the floor to deepen you bin in the pick up area - you wouldn't loose as much bin space with the sloped floor. or even a flat one. :idea:

then too maybe you cannot extend more because its not recommended to exceed a set length....

billw · By: **billw** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:35 am

I always over-think problems also. Always gets me in trouble.

The extension I have is 4' I know I could've gone to 6', not sure what the max is. Problem is you can't add an extension to an extension. The extension I have isn't threaded at both ends. I like Richard's idea. Instead of hunting for a barrel I think I'll just build it out of lumber and block. I'm a gluton for punishment.

biggreen1 · By: **biggreen1** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:08 pm

Anyone have a preference between aluminum vs. galvanized for a liner, would they both hold up?

Freddy · By: **Freddy** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:09 pm

As long as it would still hold a years supply I'd build the floor up to make it self feed. It's spend $50 now, or shovel forever! I'll bet building the floor up would cost less than an extension.

billw · By: **billw** On: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:26 pm

Good point Freddy. Right now I'm having a hard time walking, let alone shoveling coal. This happens to me often. If it happens in the winter I may wind up in a jam. Can't count on my sons. They probably won't be living in the area within the next couple of years.

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