Coal Dust

[MrZebra]

I have a few buckets full of coal dust from when we cleared out the old coal shed. I've tried burning it on the aga but it doesn't burn very well (just blankets the fire so that no air gets in, and sends up a big cloud of soot), is there anything useful I could do with it? :confused:

[Gentian]

As a miner's daughter we always had an allowance of coal and the coal house needed to be emptied of dust periodically. I remember my father spreading it on the garden and digging it in, not sure if the only benefit was just getting rid of it.

[Crocus]

That's actually what Mr C does as well. He would just dig it in around the shrubs or in his veggie garden. The plants and stuff seem to like it.

[MrZebra]

Hmm interesting. If digging it in is good, then dig it in I shall! Thanks.

[Crocus]

Hi MrZebra, have you tried Google for any kind of hints as to what to do with this coal dust? If something can be done with it, I'm sure it will be on the net? x

[dragonfly]

Coal is organic so if you put it in the ground or compost bin it should rot down. Some people used to put soot around plants, for some reason, perhaps coal dust would work just as well. Do you think a layer of it would deter slugs???

[Crocus]

I wonder Dragonfly, because hubby works the coal dust into the soil around the shrubs and his veggies, but we stil have slugs. . Perhaps if one should leave it on top of the soil, not work it in, I don't know.

[dragonfly]

It must be worth a try Crocus. It could be one of the few things they don't like.

[Gentian]

I did google and only found info saying it was highly combustible in large amounts - how much have got Mr Z??

[jazzactivist]

I think that people used to put it around their plants to stop the slugs getting them, Mr Z. Just put it in a circle round the plant, but not too close to it.

[MrZebra]

I have a couple of wheelbarrows full of the stuff. It's only combustible when suspended in air (the same with flour) - when it's just sitting there, it's so dense that the air can't get in for it to burn.

[franbee]

I thought there was a trick where you wetted it with a spot of paraffin, wrapped a handful in newspaper, and used it as a firelighter?

[Crocus]

Can't some kind of briquettes be made using the coal dust?