Coal Bin Dust Management W/O Water

I've read other posts that say to do a quick mist/hose down of your coal with water, which would be do-able, except my stove's manual explicitly states not to use wet coal. (I'm going to assume they're worried about auger/hopper rust.)

I didn't notice too much dust when the rice coal arrived last year, but I think it's fairly dried out by now as I'm still burning through last years delivery. I just started the stove up last night and there was a cloud of dust coming out as I filled the hopper.

My basement is a huge open room, so I don't think a "blower" to send it outside would work too well. (Plus I don't really feel like putting another hole in my wall; the stove's power-vent sends enough hot air out already.)

I haven't tried "Jimmies Long Island Coal Bucket", but figured I'd see what other options people know of before violating his patent.

Even with his bucket you still have shovel the coal into the bucket, so if your bin is in the basement then you're still going to get dust there.

The only other alternative that I'm really aware of is using oil.

As far as what the manufacturer states rust would be the only issue I could think of why they would say that. It shouldn't be of much concern if the coal is just damp.

I think most do not recommend WET coal, but slightly damp, shouldn't hurt, I know the Blaschak bags are very wet when opened. You don';t water running into the fire grate and warping it or creating steam.

A good very light mineral oil sprayed lightly would keep the dust to a minumum...

One of the two distributors I buy coal from oils his coal. waste oil he tells me I don't like the smell of it burning. I have a big hopper so I untie the bag hold it closed and turn it upside down in the hopper and slowly pull the bag out. of course this will only work with a stoker

Wet the coal down. I won't hurt anything as long as you are not dumping sopping wet coal into the hopper and getting water onto the hot grate. I keep my coal damp all winter by sraying it down every couple of days with a garden sprayer. If I made any dust my wife would have thrown me and the stove out. All it takes is damp coal to curb the dust.