How do you oil coal in your bin as you fill the bin?

mof1964 · By: **mof1964** On: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:23 pm

Just wondering if the coal that is sprayed with used waste oil gets clogged in the auger tube or are there any burning problems?

I need to do something to cut back on the dust as I fill the 55 gal drum from the bin. This process makes tons of dust.

will the stoker / boiler itself create dust -- the black powdery stuff? I have it everywhere in the basement -- wife not too happy.

Thanks,

Mitch

Berlin · By: **Berlin** On: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:57 am

I prefer to buy a few gallons of lightweight motor oil 0w20 etc. and spray mabey 1/2 gallon/ton or less. I've used waste motor oil too with fine results, never had any clogging problems etc. waste motor oil and motor oil doesn't really have any smell, so the sprayed coal won't have any smell. diesel will work fine, but i'd reccomend against it if the coal is stored inside as it WILL smell. the key is to spray it lightly and then "work" the coal to encourage the oil to migrate, when i spray my bin it takes mabey a week or more for the oil to move through the coal pile; don't spray it too heavy if you have a stoker, it could cause clumping. Personally, i would steer away from vegetable oil, what was used historically for spraying coal was petrol based oil and it's what i would reccomend using; vegetable oil goes rancid/ becomes gummy/ creates smell/ and has a very high pour/wax point- most will become semi-solid well above freezing.

mof1964 · By: **mof1964** On: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:59 pm

Since I own an auto repair shop, I have access to drain/waste oil. How is it to be sprayed? Are you using something like a power painter sprayer or a 2-1/2 gallon weed sprayer bottle with hiose setup? I would think it needs to be sprayed evenly.

I have all my coal in a big bin-- 5 tons. I was thinking of crawling in to the back and just spraying over all of it till I worked my way front and had it all covered.
Any thoughts?

Thanks

Berlin · By: **Berlin** On: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:02 am

i've used a cheap pump sprayer and heated the oil to get it to "spray". I think you should be fine, just don't oil it too heavy because you have a stoker. mabey a gallon +/- 1 quart for the whole bin. if your coal has a lot of fines and you over spray, you'll make it too sticky, i'd try mabey 1/2 gallon for the whole thing at first, wait a week and see how far it's migrated/ how your particular coal is behaving before spraying more.

2001Sierra · By: **2001Sierra** On: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:03 am

What about used antifreeze? It does not freeze, and has the ability to freely mist the coal,as it is just like water in regards to viscosity. Be certain to keep the coal away from pets and children, prior to burning. I cannot imagine the output (pollution) would be any worse than motor oil. Any ideas :?:

brckwlt · By: **brckwlt** On: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:13 am

why not just use water? i water my coal down every couple of days and i dont get much dust at all and dont have any problems with the coal feeding into my auger

SMITTY · By: **SMITTY** On: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:39 am

My father & I used a Wagner type sprayer to coat 2 tool sheds with used motor oil. Worked pretty good, although not a superfine mist, as it's pretty thick.

Those sheds will outlast both of us -- and it was free! 8-)

mcrchap · By: **mcrchap** On: Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:17 pm

I don't know where you live. But I have two questions: Where do you live? Why would you buy bag coal. If you live near a breaker get the coal yourself on a pickup or a trailer. Or have it delivered and put it in 5 gallon buckets; keep it dry. Pour it in the hopper slowly. You could spray it with water before you put it in. But, if you think you are going to avoid dust with coal you are not going to win that battle. Coal heat is good and cheap but it is dirty.

JohnMck · By: **JohnMck** On: Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:53 am

ken wrote:I just sprayed the whole bin with used motor oil. Sprayed it heavy so it would just work its way to the bottom. Reduced the dust to almost nothing.

Does it smell or smoke when you burn it?

mikeandgerry · By: **mikeandgerry** On: Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:15 pm

I believe that they use mineral oil on coal.

Petroleum oils stink in storage, filthy up your bin through migration, create a fire hazard, and smoke in your coal burner while the excess volatiles cause all the new coal control problems of bit.

For the short transfer problem you have, use water misted on your coal. Otherwise, buy the coal with the mineral oil on it already.

TdiDave · By: **TdiDave** On: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:01 pm

ken wrote:I just sprayed the whole bin with used motor oil. Sprayed it heavy so it would just work its way to the bottom. Reduced the dust to almost nothing.

I was going to try this last year but was afraid. How did it work? Think it would help from sticking (freezing) together in the bin? I have about 3 ton in my "V" shapped bin i was just going to spray a gallon on so pn top???

Berlin · By: **Berlin** On: Fri Sep 17, 2010 2:22 am

mikeandgerry wrote:I believe that they use mineral oil on coal.

Petroleum oils stink in storage, filthy up your bin through migration, create a fire hazard, and smoke in your coal burner while the excess volatiles cause all the new coal control problems of bit.

For the short transfer problem you have, use water misted on your coal. Otherwise, buy the coal with the mineral oil on it already.

If you spray a light amount of oil, it will make NO difference in the way the fire burns, and you will not have the "new coal control problems of bit". What do you think mineral oil is??? mineral oil is petroleum oil, and a lightweight motor oil, even used motor oil produces no "stink in storage" the migration of oil film is exactly what you DO want- you want to be able to spray a light amount of oil and have it migrate to coal that hasn't come into contact with the direct oil spray, additionally, if you have a masonry coal bin, if it migrates to the bin walls it will prevent acidic moisture attack against the masonry walls or floor of the bin.

As far as the idea about anti-freeze i would recommend highly against it. anti-freeze is highly toxic and will not burn, rather it will produce highly toxic vapors that if inhaled can produce deadly crystals in the brain; petroleum oils however, are "meant" for burning and burn with the coal just fine.

2001Sierra · By: **2001Sierra** On: Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:36 pm

I think I have finally figured it out. I purchased a Wagner Power Painter Plus which has a weighted pickup allowing it to spray in many directions. I am now using Peanut oil purchased at BJ's. Attached are photos of my outdoor hopper, and me spraying it as I add bags of coal. The coal is later poured into the coal hods with a blast gate in the bottom at one end of the hopper. With todays addition of 550 lbs of coal, a gallon should last well over one ton of coal.

How do you oil coal in your bin as you fill the bin?

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