Help Locating Coal Near Gettysburg

Post Reply
 
manders
New Member
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:42 am

Post by manders » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:50 am

I'm new to coal burning. This will be my first season.
Is there any coal suppliers near Gettysburg that you would recommend?

I have means to haul up to 6 ton. I would prefer bagged but doesn't have to be. Bulk will work, just a little more preparation required.

I have done quite a bit of searching/reading here. I have read about Superior, Sherman, Penn Keystone, Hudson, etc. My biggest problem is that I don't know where these places are located. Are any of them close to Gettysburg/Harrisburg area?

Thanks in advance.


 
User avatar
LsFarm
Member
Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:57 am

Hello manders, welcome to the forum.. you are just an hour from the Mines and Breakers you mentioned... Take I-83 east to I-81 north . I-81 goes right through the heart of Anthracite coal country.

PM coal berner for specific exits and mines.

Greg L.

 
User avatar
Yanche
Member
Posts: 3026
Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2005 12:45 pm
Location: Sykesville, Maryland
Stoker Coal Boiler: Alternate Heating Systems S-130
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Pea

Post by Yanche » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 10:33 am

You have a coal retailer in York Springs, PA. Sanderson's Coal Service, 1235 Mud Run Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-8344. It's a ma & pa type part time business. Call first to get open hours or to make an appointment. Sells bulk only. He sells both red and white ash coal. Reading is one brand. He has a small lift truck and makes local deliveries. He has a truck scale, so you can get bulk with your own truck or trailer. Nice person to deal with.

 
manders
New Member
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:42 am

Post by manders » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 1:59 pm

Thanks for the info.

Is Reading coal considered good?

York Springs is real close. Thanks again.

 
User avatar
LsFarm
Member
Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 2:35 pm

Reading coal is considered rather poor.. I'd stay away from them. There are several threads on the forum here about coal quality.. Superior coal, UAE coal, Summitt, Calvin Lennigs are all proven good coal..

I personally had bad luck with Reading, both large and small sizes.. I won't buy from them again.

Did you PM forum member ' coal berner' for directions to some breakers yet??

Greg L

 
mike
Member
Posts: 299
Joined: Mon. Apr. 16, 2007 5:46 pm
Location: NEPA

Post by mike » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 2:41 pm

All the above metioned breakers are good. Lately theres been good reports on Jeddo, Blaschaks, and I'm burning Sherman now with good results as well. I would stay away from Reading. I try a couple of bags every year to see what it's like and I will say it's consistent.........consistently on the low end.

 
User avatar
Yanche
Member
Posts: 3026
Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2005 12:45 pm
Location: Sykesville, Maryland
Stoker Coal Boiler: Alternate Heating Systems S-130
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Pea

Post by Yanche » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 3:18 pm

I've burned the Reading pea coal sold by Sanderson's. I didn't have any problem with it. I'd take a trip up to his coal yard and have a talk with him. He will give you an honest opinion about the two brands he sells. They are different and burn differently in stoves. Buy a small amount of each and try it. Like any business man he needs to keep his customers happy and I know he has complained to his suppliers about the quality of the coal he receives. I believe that's why he found a second source.


 
Greentree3D
New Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue. Jun. 03, 2008 11:04 am
Location: South Central PA

Post by Greentree3D » Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 3:56 pm

Manders,

I am up the road from you a few miles in Garnders. I am in the same boat as you, new to coal this year looking for a supplier. I'm been reading the boards for several months now and everyone seems to lean towards Superior for the best coal. If it's what guys from Michigan and other states are having shipped in then it's gotta be the way to go. Everything I've heard or read about Reading has not been good.

Your about 2 hrs maybe less drive up 81 from Superior coal or Summit or Calvin Lenig. If you have access to a truck that can carry 6 ton I would strongly consider making a trip straight to one of those breakers. Superior right now doesn't have much rice coal available and probably won't until after 8/1/08, but the other breakers should from what coalberner has told me. When I called superior the other day, they did tell me that a dealer named Ken Sheaffer in Carlisle just got a load from them not to long ago and should still have some left. I talked to Ken earlier in the year about possibly getting coal and he said he sells Reading so I didn't go any further with that. I was going to call him here shortly to see what he says. I want the best I can get and being so close to the breakers (less than 2 hrs) I'm going to get it one way or the other.

I did not know about Sanderson's in York Springs (5 miles from me if that), I will call him or stop by at least to talk and see what he has to say too

My biggest issue is finding a way to get the coal home. I only want about 5-6 ton right now. Any chance your truck would be available to deliver to the Gardners area if Sheaffer has Superior coal in Carlisle?

 
User avatar
Greyhound
Member
Posts: 183
Joined: Sun. Jul. 01, 2007 1:04 am
Location: Axemann, PA (Centre County)
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 105
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Lenox Oil HA, Heat Pump

Post by Greyhound » Sat. Jul. 19, 2008 12:20 am

When I was at Superior last fall, I asked Roger about local dealers. He said the closest dealer that he sells to is Wertz Coal in Mechanicsburg. They should be real close for both of you. Roger told me they have been delivering there for many years.

 
manders
New Member
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:42 am

Post by manders » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 8:30 am

LSFarm: yes, I PM'd coalberner. He was a great help. It's funny, he anwered all my questions without me even asking the questions.

GreenTree3D: I actually don't have a truck that holds 6ton, I have a dually that I think will hold 2ton and I plan on renting a 4ton dump trailer. I will call Schaeffer in Carlisle this week and find out what he has.

Greyhound: Thanks for the info on Wertz. I'll call them this week also.

Yanche: I'll call Sanderson's and find out what he has. Hopefully, he has something other than Reading.

Thanks everyone for all the help. This site is truly a great time saver.

 
User avatar
LsFarm
Member
Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:46 am

If you are renting a 4 ton dump trailer,, be aware that coal is bulkier than stone or gravel.. so the average dump trailer will need some extensions added to the sides, front and back to hold near the 4 tons you are hoping for. Look around and find a trailer that has good stake pockets that you can use to add height to the sides and front.. Remember that coal flows like water in a bouncing moving trailer... it will not stay mounded in the center very much.. it WILL flow forward when brakeing, expecially if you hit a bump or two on the road,, and jiggle the coal while decelerating.

I've hauled at least 6, maybe more 5+ ton loads from Pa back to Michigan with a pickup and dump trailer.. make sure your trailer brakes and truck brakes are in good shape, and take your time.. people pull out in front of you not realizing you weigh 22,000# and have minimal brakes !!

Greg L

 
manders
New Member
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri. Jul. 18, 2008 7:42 am

Post by manders » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 11:04 am

Greg, Thanks for the info about the coal moving around. I had no idea.

I should have it covered as far as brakes and towing that much weight. Did you find it worthwhile to trailer it back to Michigan? Did you save much as opposed to having them deliver?

I'm still undecided whether it will be worth it.
I should have a better feel for it once I talk to the various suppliers.

 
User avatar
LsFarm
Member
Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 12:30 pm

Hi Manders,, if I didn't burn so much heating this bog old farmhouse, I'd probably just haul my own.. but with the limited amount I can carry, and the time spent on the road, the fuel to drive 600 miles each way, the wear and tear on my truck, trailer and ME. I have decided to buy semi loads of coal, and let the truely heavy duty trucks carry the load, they are designed for it.. and the cost is a bit less than if I haul it [fuel cost].

You are MUCH closer than I am, so I'd rent or borrow a dump trailer, and haul it myself,, but if you have a place to build a coal bin,, and hold 24 tons of coal, then maybe you would be better off with just having it brought in..

Coal is roughly 40 cuft per ton so 40x24=960 cuft. so a bin 10x16x6' high would hold that amount if you filled it square.. but usually you have one end open for the truck to back into, and for you to access the coal, so probably 10x20x6' would be more accurate. See some of the many coal bin threads..

My latest addition to my outside coal bin will add about 45 tons to my storage capacity.. I'm not counting on coal or diesel getting cheaper.. I'm stockpiling for the next 4-6 years.

Greg L

.

 
User avatar
coal berner
Member
Posts: 3600
Joined: Tue. Jan. 09, 2007 12:44 am
Location: Pottsville PA. Schuylkill County PA. The Hart Of Anthracite Coal Country.
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1986 Electric Furnace Man 520 DF

Post by coal berner » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 6:48 pm

manders wrote:LSFarm: yes, I PM'd coalberner. He was a great help. It's funny, he anwered all my questions without me even asking the questions.

GreenTree3D: I actually don't have a truck that holds 6ton, I have a dually that I think will hold 2ton and I plan on renting a 4ton dump trailer. I will call Schaeffer in Carlisle this week and find out what he has.

Greyhound: Thanks for the info on Wertz. I'll call them this week also.

Yanche: I'll call Sanderson's and find out what he has. Hopefully, he has something other than Reading.

Thanks everyone for all the help. This site is truly a great time saver.
When Putting the front Back & sides on a dump trailer use 2x6 Planks 3 to 4 18" to 24" screw or bolt them together with metal straps or 2x4 and put 2x4 on the along the sides in the middle to keep the sides from bowing out no need for any in the front or back Just on the two ends If you use a U Haul Trailer use Plywood and 2x4 for the front back & sides 24"
is a perfect height Do not forget tiedowns and tarp you will need to cover the load on the Highway

http://www.uhaul.com 6x12 is a good size for 4 to 4.5 tons of coal The weight rating on them are much lower then you
can actually put on them and be safe doing it The tires are full size If I remember right the 6x12 tires are rated 2240 lbs for each tire there are 4 twin axel trailer check out the site 19.95 or 29.95 a day I have several Members using them for
getting coal the farthest one is from Connecticut he use it with a 3500 Dump truck 4 tons on the trailer 4.5 tons on the
truck with no Problems let me know when you are ready to get coal

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Jul. 20, 2008 9:48 pm

The U-Haul 6 X 12 utility trailer is great for hauling coal, it has dual axles and surge brakes. You can use the smaller 5 X 9 single axle, the last time I rented one the breaker accidentally ran too much coal into it, I ended up with 3990 lbs. of coal, no problem towing it.

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=o ... railer-5x9

U-Haul recommends no more then 1650 lbs. of cargo in this trailer, you should observe this limit and not overload the trailer.

The larger trailer is a little hard to find at the dealers around here, the smaller one is easy to find.


Post Reply

Return to “Coal News & General Coal Discussions”