Briquettes from coal dust?

Steel_2

Does anyone know how I can recycle coal dust into briquettes for my open fire?

I found an intriguing piece of information on the net that referred to mixing it with old tea leaves and using two flower pots, but no more info than that. I assume the mixture has to be damp and that you stick some in one pot and then put a second pot on top and weight it down.

Any ideas?

I want to put a bucketful to good use and I don't want to dig it into the garden as DH suggested.

sophiesmum_2

i know someone who uses empty toilet rolls and tapes the ends up and fills with coal dust or screwed up paper to use as firelighters.

sophiesmum

Penelope_Penguin

We've had this, and have vowed if we get a bag of coal which is 1/4 dust (yes, we have had this) we're taking it back to the coal merchant for a refund.

Failing that, what I've done in the past is to get a coal fire going. Then carefully sprinkle the dust over the hot coals. It'll burn more quickly than coal lumps, but this way you'll get some heat from it.

Penny. x

Mr_Meanie

My dad used to make them in second hand plastic coffee cups, he mixed the coal dust with a little cement power or plaster (whichever he could scrounge for free) and just enough water to make the mix damp, fill cups and leave for a week to harden off.

[Deleted User]

My late mum ,bless her used to watch our coalman with a gimlet eye and if there was too much 'slack' she would heap it up and put in a sack and insist he take it back and replace it immediatly .As my Mum was a feisty wee Scots women. I think our coalman ,big as he was, walked in fear of her .No one argued with my Ma ,it wasn't worth it.
If some managed to creep through it was scooped carefully into old newspapers and twisted tightly and re-used after the fire was alight as she liked to 'bank' it up. We had a kitchen range that gleamed with blacking and was my mums pride and joy.
In the bad winter of 1947 there was very little coal available and we would use almost anything that would burn to keep the range alight . It was so cold that year that she moved us all into one room to keep warm There was my Mum and Dad and my two brothers and me, all sleeping in the one room with a fire in it as you couddn't get hold of coal very easily . Good old days , I don't think so

bizzylizzy

sophiesmum wrote:

i know someone who uses empty toilet rolls and tapes the ends up and fills with coal dust or screwed up paper to use as firelighters.

sophiesmum

What a good idea, I think I will use my shredded paper this way! Now to save the loo rolls (shouldn't take too long here :rolleyes: )

navig8r

In the Fifties when I was a Little un my father filled sugar bags with caol dust,wrapped them in newspaper,tied them up with string ,soaked them in water ,let them drain and then put them on a well burning fire. .....Happy Days!!

Dave

pruey

if you mix 6 parts coal dust with 1 part saw dust, add some water and then compact the mixture in a mould or cup and leave to dry makes good briquettes for a fire :-) I've seen a video on you tube of people doing this.

dandy-candy

I found this in one of my books from the 1930s