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Offgassing of hot coal bucket

We use galvanized buckets for moving hot coals out of our woodstove. Doing so always makes acrid fumes which are quite unbearable and we end up having to air out the house. I would like to get an alternate bucket to this galvanized bucket, but I am concerned about off-gassing from other metal buckets as well.

What kind of ash/coal bucket should I be using? I need something with a tight lid that doesn't off-gas.

Kelly Ann
Homeowner - Drain, Oregon, USA
December 29, 2009

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Hi, Kelly. I do the same thing as you a couple of times a week and have never smelled anything at all.

Maybe I let the fire burn down a bit further, or use a bigger can (12 gallon) or maybe I leave a bit of ash in the bottom so the metal bakes rather than fries, but it hasn't been the tiniest problem through hundreds of cleanouts. The bigger concern to me is that you fill the bucket fairly quickly and get it covered, because charcoal emits dangerous and odorless carbon monoxide. But plain steel, while it will rapidly rust, does not outgas at all.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 30, 2009