COAL BIN Pics

Bratkinson wrote:5. Figure out why, 2 days after completion, all 4 front legs of the bin are 1/2" off the ground! Everything was plumb and level when I built it! Could the kiln-dried 2x4s I used on the front have shrunk THAT MUCH in 2 days???

Hey Bruce, it looks great! So as I uderstand it, you walk a couple bags over to the exterior chute, and dump them into your mini-bin, so you don't have to carry the bags downstairs. Great idea.

To answer question #5, YES. Wet 2x4s could easily shrink that much, especially if you had the stove burning for thos two days. Slip some pressure-teated 1/2" plywood under each leg, so the 2x4s are not resting on the concrete floor.
Also, you mentioned the exterior 'funnel' you made, had a 'D' shaped opening, into the 4" PVC pipe. I would leave the D shaped opening. Because, if you ever got a blockage there, it would be at the narrowest point, the D shape in the funnel. That would be easier to clear, than if a blockage occured in the 4" PVC pipe. Too bad you didn't use 6" or 8" PVC, or even stove pipe. a wider pipe would work better. Ok, thats Plan C ?

The bin looks great!

Flyer5 wrote:One of my temporary coal bins. About 3/4 ton in this one .

(From page 6)...

"These bags are delivered locally, I'm told they hold 1 ton, haven't tried them yet. Th bottom flap opens to allow dumping..."

"These hold 3300# ,a liitle to large . I think I would try the 1 ton bags next time . They are tall when fully extended. My tractor loader arms were almost fully extended when carrying them . But otherwise worked well . The guys at the coal yard loved them they have never seen them before . Dave"

"There are a couple of eBay auctions right now for these type of bags, around $5, 1500 lb or 1 ton."



I think these are great and could work really well for my garage.. Does anybody know an easy place where I can find these? Are they still on ebay?

I did find one site..http://www.tapedirectinc.com/bagsandtubing.htm

EDIT: After a little research I found what these are called (FIBC's)... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIBC


Here is another from page 22..

Buzy NY wrote:I started burning coal in 2005.I use this reusable storage system. in the past I have had 4 of these stored in the garage next to the boiler. this year I only have 2, Too much other junk to keep under cover this year I have 16 stored outside with tarps tied around them. I use the outside totes up until we have heavy snow, then I will use out of the totes inside. when there empty they will be folded and stored away for next year.

Here are my coal bins. Got them FREE! Anyone near bergen, ny can go to liberty pumps and get as many as u want. They throw them out. Each one holds 40 to 45 cubic ft, a ton of coal.

What is that stuff on top of the coal, frosting?

gitrdonecoal wrote:Here are my coal bins. Got them FREE! Anyone near bergen, ny can go to liberty pumps and get as many as u want. They throw them out. Each one holds 40 to 45 cubic ft, a ton of coal

FREE is good Some of that coal looks brown and lumpy. Whats wrong with it
Don't worry, I burn wood in Fall and Spring, and light up the coal stove during the coldest weather. Wood is free for me, so I might as well use it.

coaledsweat wrote:What is that stuff on top of the coal, frosting?

thats its roof, lol . directly above my bins is a basement window. thats where i throw all my wood and coal down into the basement. thats free slabwood that was given to me by a distant relative that owns a sawmill. i have another bin that i throw kindling into. im a carpenter, and i did a job a few months back and finished the inside of a back mudroom with rough sawn, kild dried knotty pine. the scraps are perfect for kindling! i try to get everything free. free bins, free slabwood and firewood from our woods, and 3 and a half ton of free coal in a basement in buffalo! little bit o work never hurt anyone!

I agree with free! I have 11 cords of firewood (oak, hickory, ash, black locust), 25 tons of coal (anthracite), all free from Craig's List. It takes time to gather it all, and there is definitely physical work involved but it is worth it. Even the wood sheds and coal bins I have were built from free lumber I found on Craig's List!

Here's mine! Has a pressure treated base, 3/4" plywood floor, 1/2" plywood on the sides. 2x6's slide up on the front with some plywood strips to hold them in place. Bolts holding the plywood strips go through the studs. Shown here with one ton in it, will easily hold two.

I lov this coal bin! Most mornings we sit by the fire in the cellar with at least our first cup of coffee.,and talk about whatever we dream up to build next. A great forum this is! Many thanks for the idea of the bulkhead steps- as thats going to also get built and hold another ton for us,so I can have my stairs and also another ton at the same time.Lots of good ideas here. Its so much easier to pour the bags in here and just scoop it out.

Theres something else I noticed here. The bulk of posters don't insulate their basements-cellars, and I'm wondering why not?.. The double bubble Foil-Foil radiant barrier is mess free,adds insulating value so your not just heating the rocks-blocks, and allows for the heat to bounce back into the room or up thru the floor boards or up the cellar stairs. Our cost was $300,for the area space where the stove is, plus the 2 ft crawl space all the way around the rest of the foundation. I was just very curious about that.

Don't get too carried away insulating old stone basement walls. Those foundations were not built to with stand frost penetration and remain in good condition because the warm basement keeps them safe and the frost penetration at bay.

Insulate an old building foundation wall well and soon you will be replacing it -- UNLESS you first dig down below frost line and insulate the outside!

Trying to insulate an old stone foundation will also promote the growth of mold. Water/moisture will continue to saturate the foundation, and if it can't 'breath' cuz of a vapor barrior, mold will grow.

here it is 12x5x6 super strong. I put 5.25 tons in it and still have plenty of room to grow. i will add the rest of the OSB when the time comes had to GETRDONE quick. has a floor and walls and can double as a fort in the summer time per my kids.

gotta git r done my son!

For those who actually frame out a coal bin, are 2x4 studs 16" o.c. enough to withstand the pressure of the coal? Finally getting the system ready to go and need to stock up on fuel before the white junk starts flying.

edited to add a pic, this is what I am looking at so far:



Thanks,

Pat