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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: Rubicon on February 18, 2012, 09:06:12 PM

Title: Shop Heating
Post by: Rubicon on February 18, 2012, 09:06:12 PM
It's that time of year that its pretty much neccesary if you your gona be in your garage . The only heating i have when im in the cold shop is warm clothes and memories.

I've been tossing around getting something like this from Menards.

(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj629/Jadin0/imagesqtbnANd9GcS8JfBLJm25VtaKgMmHf.jpg)

I would like something that runs off A/C power, but i guess i can opt for propane.

I guess the other point of this thread is to see what all you guys have.

Dam you southern folk. dam you.   

(is damn filtered?)

i guess not~!
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: codajastal on February 18, 2012, 09:55:36 PM
Whats the heating for? Never used a heater like that in my life? :laugh:
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Rubicon on February 18, 2012, 09:58:25 PM
To warm up a portion of a 25"x35" shop to be "tolerable" in the evenings.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: codajastal on February 18, 2012, 10:05:14 PM
Ahh dont need heaters on the Gold Coast in Australia :icon_razz:
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Rubicon on February 18, 2012, 10:20:15 PM
Curse the southern hemisphere....    8)
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Kijona on February 18, 2012, 10:37:44 PM
I think you'll find that one that runs off either Propane or Diesel/Kerosene will be far more economical than something that runs off A/C. First, it will need a heating element AND a fan to expel the heat from the unit and spread it around.

I'd imagine that you could run one of those off a gallon of diesel or propane for at least a few hours. I don't know, as I've never owned one.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Big Rich on February 18, 2012, 11:46:06 PM
I have a kerosene torpedo heater in my garage. I "think" it's 150,000 BTU's, adjustable thermostat, approximately 4 gallon tank, and about 9 hour constant run time off a full tank. It does require a 110 volt outlet though.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Kijona on February 18, 2012, 11:50:40 PM
Quote from: Big Rich on February 18, 2012, 11:46:06 PM
I have a kerosene torpedo heater in my garage. I "think" it's 150,000 BTU's, adjustable thermostat, approximately 4 gallon tank, and about 9 hour constant run time off a full tank. It does require a 110 volt outlet though.

It probably just generates the initial starting spark or heating element, right? I mean, once it's going, can you unplug it? Or does it have a digital thermostat?
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Big Rich on February 19, 2012, 12:03:31 AM
No, the blower motor runs off the outlet. If the power goes out, it's essentially worthless.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: mister on February 19, 2012, 01:29:15 AM
Grrr... Kijonas, man, please, if you don't know jack sh!t about the thing do not feel the need to offer advice, fair enough?

Michael
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Big Rich on February 19, 2012, 02:18:42 AM
Here's the "green" way to heat a garage:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=US&ie=UTF-8&source=android-browser&q=aluminum+can+solar+heater

Doesn't help If you work in the garage at night though. While routing an electric base board heater can cost less than propane/ kerosene, the installation costs can be a killer. There are pros and cons to everything though.

Rubicon, how big is the area in question? A smaller kerosene space heater can work for an equally small space (so long as it's well insulated). I needed a torpedo heater because my garage had room for 4 cars.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: BaltimoreGS on February 19, 2012, 06:38:20 AM
A kerosene torpedo heater works great!  If possible, start it outside then bring it in once it heats up (only takes a minute or 2).  They tend to be stinky when first lit but burn pretty clean once they get going.

-Jessie
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Cal Price on February 19, 2012, 08:11:16 AM
Agreed but they chuck out a lot of condensation which is not a problem in most garages as they are pretty drafty old places anyway, if you have a good seal maybe an electric blow-heater would be a better bet unless you don't mind a few drips and the odd bit of mould to clean up now and again and again and again......
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: cbrfxr67 on February 19, 2012, 09:06:59 AM
(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/430216_3376651938370_1331504559_3368377_776937479_n.jpg)

I just close the door and turn on one of these.  Guess that is one of the few good things about Houston.
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Kijona on February 19, 2012, 11:05:10 AM
Quote from: mister on February 19, 2012, 01:29:15 AM
Grrr... Kijonas, man, please, if you don't know jack sh!t about the thing do not feel the need to offer advice, fair enough?

Michael

I do know something which is that electric heaters aren't nearly as efficient as diesel/propane ones. That's what I offered. Is there a problem?  :dunno_black:
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: tt_four on February 19, 2012, 04:52:00 PM
I remember working in my parents garage years ago. It was attached but still super cold. I got some cold gasoline on my hand once and thought it was gonna fall off haha. As much as I wish I had a real garage door and windows for some light/ventilation instead of an enclosed basement with only glass blocks and a normal door, the bonus is that it's the most comfortable room in the house all year long. I'm rebuilding a bike down here right now and I had to take off my sweatshirt because it was too hot. Got a toilet in the back room too! It's a good setup for Pittsburgh cause it's cold outside!
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: Rubicon on February 20, 2012, 08:37:04 PM
Thanks for the input guys! You can put 2 cars in my garage, with about 4 feet left on all sides of the cars, shaZam! i'll just go take a picture.

(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj629/Jadin0/Suzuki%20GS500E/motorcycle001-1.jpg)

There it is. Our garage serves about 50 purposes, among them is storing the occasional vehicle haha.  The walls are completely insulated, the roof is not.

You can use the GS as a scale to figure the aproximate size of the shop. 

Things in the shop, from left to right:
Dogbowls, one of the dogs sleeps in there at night.
The thing with the orange base is our bucking machine.
Murray lawnmower (is it up for another season?)
22's, a 4-10, and assorted air rifles on the wall there. Never know when a ratkacoon might come scratching.
Lots of works been done on the bench along the middle wall.
Tablesaw and saw horses
My GS under the knife
And the 2nd shelf i built for the storage bins.(After the most epic of all epic fails ever seen last spring.OMG. What a shiitttttttay day.
Oh and the most ghetto motorcycle/truck ramp ever devised out of like 37 different pieces of wood.

The End
Title: Re: Shop Heating
Post by: cbrfxr67 on February 21, 2012, 07:46:32 AM
very envious,.....looks awesome.  Someday I'll have my own garage.