Coal Bin Pictures and Designs

Here is how we did ours,this keeps the flow in check & allows floor level shoveling,when bin gets low enough we can just remove them & walk in.

Thanks for the help. This is making more sense to me now!

Dallas wrote:Back, some time ago, I had posted pix of my coal bin and the outside chute going to it.

Since last year, I've had the coal delivered, rather than hauling it myself. So to make the most of it, I ordered 3 tons, however the indoor bin only holds 2 tons. Last year, I just had them chute the extra ton onto my brick patio, then I shoveled it in, as space permitted.

This year, I went a step further ... I cut a hole to coincide with my outside chute into a 300 gallon IBC tote. I then installed the tote over the chute. I had coal delivered today and everything worked out, as I had hoped. The bin and tote were both filled through the top of the tote. I now have 3 ton in stock, 2 in the basement and 1 in the tote, which will run into the basement coal bin, as I use the coal. After the tote is empty, I can remove it, by simply lifting it off of the chute and storing it out of the way.

Not really "pretty", but it will save me some work through the winter. And, .. it does look better than a ton of coal on the patio.

Added a pic of my load of totes. The remainder, will be used for firewood.

Dallas....I was thinking about adding one of these totes and never did know the size of one. So you are able to fit one ton of rice in one tote? My bin holds 3 ton but a real cold winter I can burn 4 ton

lutz wrote:Dallas....I was thinking about adding one of these totes and never did know the size of one. So you are able to fit one ton of rice in one tote? My bin holds 3 ton but a real cold winter I can burn 4 ton

Yes, the 300 gal tote should hold 1 ton easily, while the 275 gal might be close. I am using pea coal.

I might suggest a screen over the bottom outlet of the tote, so the valve could be opened to drain water.

Finally getting this done just in the nick of time.

I have my bin built and full of 3 1/4 tons of rice for hopefully most of the winter. However, due to the location of the original coal chute opening that I used for my new chute, getting those 3+ tons in was a real chore. The coal flowed nicely into the bin from outside, but the chute is only 41 inches from the floor in my bin, so lots of shoveling and moving of coal was required and the bulk of it is heaped up against the wall at the front of my bin. I don't want to go through the same thing next year to refill the bin. Changing the height of the current chute isn't an option as it is a 6ft run under my front porch into my basement. I think I may try and knock a hole in the mortared stone foundation/basement wall on the side of my house so I have good height above the floor and can use a little bigger chute. Has anyone tackled getting a 16x8 hole through a stone wall about 16 to 20 inches thick before? My dad has a hammer drill I can use, but something tells me that isn't going to cut it for this project. I don't really want to go full hog with a jack hammer and just beat it out, I'd like to use more of a rotary hammer approach if it will work. I've got a good 7 months before tackling this project, but like to plan in advance.

A hammer drill with a hammer only mode providing it is dual handle model can cause some damage. 2 weeks ago digging a 54" deep trench for water to a horse barn at my son's girlfriends house we hit shale the 30 horse JD had to back off a couple times so we could bust it down with the hammer drill. A hammer drill without hammer only mode probably not, also this was a large Hitachi that used splined drill bits, the chisel bits where not splined but did lock in.

If they are field stone (or maybe others) you have to be careful or you'll loosen a much bigger area, then you intend to. The best method, is probably, to work on the "mortar", rather than the stone.

I know quite a few years ago I tried making a 2 inch hole for some electrical conduit and it was a big ordeal just for that, but all I had at the time was a poor excuse for a hammer drill, and an air hammer designed for automotive work. The stone is some hard stuff.

Just installed my guillotine door today for easy filling of my bucket. Just before I get my 4 tons delivered next week! Alot of nice bin designs out there guys!

Just got 4 tons delivered today. 3 supersacks with a ton each, and a ton on a tarp that I put in 5gal buckets. Ready for some cold weather.

I've posted my Waste Management bagster coal storage before, but continue to make it a more viable option.
As the bags fill they will bulge out so this year I put more support around them. I had some old metal posts that I cut down
and used both halves along with some wood supports. I then put some stretch wrap completely around the one bag and just
on the sides of the other. Worked pretty good and is holding 3 1/2 tons.
You can see how the unsupported side sagged down.
Kevin

Looks good, I am doing pretty much the same thing but with super sacks. How do you move the coal from the bagster to the hopper?

Olllotj wrote:Looks good, I am doing pretty much the same thing but with super sacks. How do you move the coal from the bagster to the hopper?

My basement door is right there so I usually just scoop out what I need with a feed scoop from TSC. Three scoops twice a day does it after a shakedown.



Kevin

got tired of handling bags. Holds 20 cu.ft. and moves easy