What do we use coal dust for?

[BillyBones]

Well the title says it all. When looking for coal i have run across lump coal, nut coal, rice coal, and coal dust all in 40# bags. I can not for the life of me figure out what the dust would be used for. I know small bits can be used for punch "lube" and a few other things, but 40# bag of it? My dad tells me that when he worked at a cement plant they used coal dust in a "spray" to fire their kilns, but that would require tons of dust that they made on site. The only other thing i could even think of would be a coal fired furnace in the home. 

Anywho, just wondering.

[pnut]

I don't know. I do know you can compress it into lumps and use it like regular coal. Is it a lot cheaper than lump?

Pnut

[Jim Kehler]

I'm not sure if coal fines and coal dust would be the same thing , but that said, I have used coal fines mixed with water to a mortar like consistancy without any issues.

 

[BillyBones]

1 hour ago, pnut said:

Is it a lot cheaper than lump?

Call for pricing, so i do not know.

1 minute ago, Jim Kehler said:

'm not sure if coal fines and coal dust would be the same thing

They did not list fines, so it may be the same. 

[anvil]

Coal fines work well in a forge. They will create the same type of enviroment as anything else.

I could get it for free at the mine or for a six-pack to the driver, he would load me up.

Here's how to use it

I use a 5 gallon bucket to hold the fines. Mix well with water until it is like a good mortar mix/slurry.

That's it. 

[ThomasPowers]

Bituminous coal fines work well. I've never tried any micro anthracite.  When I use it, I store it in a bucket of water and get a scoopful and let it drain and add it to a going fire. Usually along the sides like you would green coal anyway. Sure teaches you to leave some breeze for the next fire!

[BillyBones]

Thanks for the ideas there. I was wondering what to do with the stuff in the bottom of my bucket.

Will dirt hurt any? After i cleaned out the old coal chute here i came out with 3 big piles of i guess fines, dust and some dirt. I did come away with enough usable coal that has lasted all summer to. 

I would like to add that i went back to the website i saw this on and all they sold was anthracite. It was a home heating place that is local. 

[SLAG]

You can use a little, simple,  carbohydrate, dissolved in water, to wet and bind the fines for forge purposes.  (like a little table sugar, etc.).

SLAG.

 

[ThomasPowers]

Dirt increases clinker production; we have a lot of dust out here so that's "normal"?

[pnut]

Anthracite isn't bad after you get used to it. If it's cheap enough I'd give it a go. I'd go with the rice or nut size though.    I'd like to give the dust a try. It might turn out to work great but I'm just guessing and am aggravatingly optimistic sometimes. I have a suspicion it may burn hotter than the nut size chunks. 

Pnut

 

 

Edited October 12, 2019 by pnut