The Home Machinist!

I've been reading through the old posts on this subject and wonder how wallpaper paste would work. Just flour and water.
Three of us sifted Penn Coal yesterday and got about 4 equal buckets per bag of: dust, 1/4" bits, 1" bits and over 1" size. Sure was a lot of dust; more than 25%.

What do consumers of train carloads of coal do with the dust?

I'm sure it's more than a few buckets and probably has enough BTU's in it to be worth doing something with.

Steve

Modern boiler use pulverized coal sprayed in.

My concern is with live steam not full size stuff.

I would use corn starch and water mixed with the coal dust. Put the mix into styrofoam egg cartons and let dry. This so the dried lumps can be easily broken apart.

Fred_V wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:14 pm My concern is with live steam not full size stuff.

SteveM was asking what car load users do with the dust. For most dust is what they want in the end.

Out of curiosity though do coal dust bricks hold some shape as they burn or do they break up?

I just burn the dust as is. Mix it with the coal. Never had a problem.

pat1027 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 11:20 am Modern boiler use pulverized coal sprayed in.

Exactly. All of the 'chunks' are pulverized before they are injected into the firebox. So whatever 'arrives' in a dust-like state just gets burned along with all the rest.

Fender wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:33 pm I would use corn starch and water mixed with the coal dust. Put the mix into styrofoam egg cartons and let dry. This so the dried lumps can be easily broken apart.

what is the formula Dan.

Fred, you’ll have to experiment. I would start with one part starch and 10-15 parts coal (enough water to make it stick together) and adjust from there. I know Don Saager puts his mix into paper cups, but it seems to me that egg cartons would be reusable and cheaper.

Thanks, I like the egg carton idea. May have to start with cups till I collect egg cartons. It will take a lot of either.

I have been throwing it into the firebox but I still have end up with a 5 gallon bucket of dust from 2 bags of coal. My friends have been sifting it for a couple of years and have about 150# of the dust/1/8" coal. Shame to throw it away.

QUESTION: Considering the cost of coal and the finite limit on life, which is more important, pasting pieces of coal dust together or making something new and worthwhile in your shop? Only asking.
B&OBob