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working in the winter

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hymodyne

hymodyne

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I'd like to know how folks heat their garage space for work there in the winter. I have one small oil radiator that gives off good heat and does not present a fire hazard as it is a closed system, but my other heater is an old propane fired radiant attachment that does have an open flame. Of course I am moving into the phase of work on my car that requires temps of 50F and above to properly prime and paint the car, just as we begin to get freeze warnings here in Maryland. Any sugestions as to appropriate heaters that would allow me to paint would be appreciated.

Hym
 
My garage is old and drafty. I have a small kerosene heater to use in cold the weather, this year its all reassembly (doors etc.)so I am working inside the walk out basement.
 
Hotdawg it works GREAT, I have a setback thermostat that is set at 50 and comes up to 65 on weekends. But my garage is also very well insulated and sealed up, I am a wimp and hate working in the cold. I did notice when I got my motorcycle out to go to work the other morning that the heater was on, it was 47 outside so :smile: it can get very cold in S. Calif. :smile: since my heater is already coming on this early in the season.

Seriously, look into a Hotdawg or similar heater, its cheap in the long run I have had mine about 8 years now and never a single issue with it. Get the garage good and hot, turn the heater off and spray. These things are not explosion proof but they don't have exposed flames and are designed for garages, you have to really try to blow yourself up with them.
 
Interesting. I'm doing something this year to mine and this is an option.
 
The great catch 22, the garage is the next project I have to build. Incorporating the slab from the old one with a new addition. Big enough for two and 1/2 cars, and a motorcycle. Wood working shop upstairs....Perfect! But the little car is slid onto the back burner, again.
 
startech47 said:
I use a 220V electric heater from Grainier and plug it into the welder outlet. No fumes.
Click to expand...

That's similar to what I'm using. It's about 18,000 BTU with a fan and a crude thermostat adjustment...low to high. I looked at the ones from Grainger, but I wound up getting it from Northern Tool because it was cheaper. It's a great little heater.

Here's the one I got from Northern Tool.

I originally used a kerosene heater, but it always seemed to be in the way sitting on the floor and there was always the fumes. I didn't want to go electric, as out rates here on Long Island is almost 20 cents a KWH, but I finally succumbed, and glad I did. I have the heater sitting on a shelf up off the floor. It's not in the way and is ready to go anytime I need it.
 
I am thrilled that the summer heat has broken. I don't have a garage so I have to work outside. Tools left in the sun get REAL hot. I just about have the word "craftsman" seared into my palm from last time I forgot and left the wrench in the sun.
 
Our heating system uses waste heat from the local power plant, transferred via about 90 degree C water to houses, where we have a heat exchanger so we can use hot water radiators throughout the house and garage. Nice and warm, no fumes, silent and quite cheap (relatively). The garage is nicely insulated.
CHP-7.jpg
 
Martx-5,

How big is the area this little job heats? Seems like a reasonably inexpensive heater if it can heat a decent sized area...
 
Sorry I didn't get back here sooner, but my garage is about 14'x24' with a peaked roof about 16' high. The garage is attached to the house, and is insulated.
 
My garage is a standard 2 car with well insulated and hardboard covered outer/inner walls. The rafters are open to the roof above, so that will need insulation at a minimum, the wallboard for a ceiling can wait until later in the summer.

I have our furnace company coming this week to give me an estimate to run baseboard or a radiator/blower type heater by adding another zone to the furnace. The good feature is that the front wall of the garage is directly above the furnace room in the basement, so the run will be an easy one to come over and go up and out the wall into the garage.

I installed a new furnace about two years ago, so capacity should not be an issue. We shall see what Weds. discussion brings.
 
Northern sold out of those neat little heaters Art was talking about, and I was bummed. Kept looking, but either too expensive or gas fueled, and no gas out here. Was getting frustrated, and resigned to another cold winter with low productivity in the shop.
But, everything happens for a reason...Last weekend I was given a wood stove a guy took out of his house. Great shape, he just was getting older and didn't want to deal with cutting and hauling firewood any more. So, in the shop it went!
I'm glad it was free though, since the stove/chimney pipe cost close to $400!!! I've got a 30 X 40 shop with 10' walls fully insulated, so I am thinking I can get this baby fired up tomorrow to test it out, then finally get some work done without freezing my butt off! Our Wyoming winters can get mighty cold, and with the full insulation, once the shop gets cold, it stays cold! Stove in the back corner, car work area in the opposite front corner...looking forward to the nice wood stove smell also!
 
Damon,

In my Grandfather's 30x20 garage there is an old wood-fired house furnace with all the insulating panels removed. That thing can warm the garage up in a matter of 30 minutes; it's fantastic!
 
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