Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hey, TURN IT DOWN! on December 29, 2010 at 1:27am

Matt, I posed the same question a week ago on my favorite RC forum.  I currently use kerosene, and asked specifically about the propane tank top heaters.

 

Those guys seem to favor kerosene, but the few that use propane really like it.  They all advised getting a CO detector with propane, seems a few of them had issues with headaches from CO exposure.

 

The kerosene fumes are an issue for my wife, thats why I am looking to change.

 

Tim

AG4RZ

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Permalink Reply by Delvero on December 29, 2010 at 1:31am

When it gets bitter cold and your working in a garage or outbuilding thats not insulated its going to be tough to get it comfortable. I work in a garage without insulation, using a wood stove for my heat. I will start a roaring fire and keep it full for about an hour before i go out. Sometimes i also will use a propane heater with the wood stove until things are comfortable. I clean up everyday to prevent any chance for a spark or static to be able to ignite any particulate and so far things have worked out.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on December 29, 2010 at 4:09am

I have a 2 burner propane heater that heats my 12x18 foot shop well.  But it gives me a head ache and stinks a bit.  I don't use it.  I pretty much just go out when the temp is >32 degrees F and then use an electric space heater.   Spring will come~!

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Permalink Reply by Roger Morin on December 29, 2010 at 7:40am

I had a friend who took plain cardboard boxes and staples the to the walls of the garage and ceiling. When he got the fire going it was really warm in there. He used a 22.000 btu heater from walmart.

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Permalink Reply by mike anderson Blues Box Guitars on December 29, 2010 at 7:48am

look up rocket stoves, very efficient, very warm, very safe. not the tin can type, though

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Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on December 29, 2010 at 11:07am

I tried one of the propane torpedo heaters in the garage but it gave me an awful headache.  I bit the bullet and purchased a commercial Modine forced hot water unit and added another zone to the heating system.  In all it was less than $600 for the circulation pump, valves and pipe (I did the install myself).

In the end, the oil is far cheaper than propane and my existing boiler is far more efficient.  Looking to build a new house in next couple of years.  Planning on going radiant heating in the floor of the garage and probably another Modine unit for quickly warming up the air.

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Permalink Reply by Robert John Spotti on December 29, 2010 at 11:10am

Well I've come to the conclusion there is no cheap heat.......I hear a song there.Anyway I use propane when I have too.Wood even if you get it for free its pretty labor intensive.I wait till it gets above freezing then go out  colder than  that seems futile.In  the meantime I gather material and plan my next builds in my head where its always cozy.Come on Spring!

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on December 29, 2010 at 2:22pm

Lets hopes you don't have any combustibles in the shop with a heater. I would at least like to meet you before St Pete does.

 

In other words: Be safe.

 

-WY

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Permalink Reply by John Zant on December 29, 2010 at 2:53pm

Move south of I-10, it'll help a bunch!

Even down here it gets cold, and I'm seriously cold natured, reptilian by nature and cold makes me slip into a torpor. So I dress properly with lots of layers. When I get hot, I can remove some layers. My garage shop is insulated, and has a large southern wall, so the sun helps a lot. Undershirt, thermal, t-shirt, sweater, work jacket for the top and thermal and heavy jeans or corduroy for the bottom. Good wool socks and heavy boots are a plus since they help to insulate your feet from the radiant cold of the concrete. A good wool knit cap is worth its weight in gold. I would like a heater, but I'm cheap, and don't really feel like exploding. If I get seriously cold (my hands, makes my knuckles hurt) I'll turn on the bernz-o-matic and heat my hands a bit. Or the heavy duty industrial heat gun. Propane shouldn't be used inside due to co2 output. If you gotta have it, then a woodstove would be a good solution.

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Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on December 29, 2010 at 3:02pm

Hi Matt.

 

The one thing that occurs as a possible problem with propane is moisture. If you have large pieces of equipment that act as a heat sink then they may get condensation on and corrode in time. One way round that would be to preheat (get the space and equipment warm before you go in there) with electricity. If the machines are already warm when you go in (you give off moisture too) then you can switch to propane and turn the electric off at that point. I used to have a screw cutting lathe (don't have it now) and would aim the heater at the lathe so that it was the first thing to heat up. Seemed to keep it rust free over quite a number of years. Stay warm.

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on December 29, 2010 at 3:40pm

I'm thinking the propane route. My shop has enough ventilation that the fumes shouldn't be a problem.

My big concern is dust in the air and an open flame. All of my research indicates that if there was enough dust for a flash fire ( or whatever they call it ) I wouldn't be able to breathe in there anyway.

Dressing for warmth is a good recipe for injury in my book. If you need that many layers, go in the house.

Wood stoves.  I want to spend my time building with wood ... not splitting it.

I keep the metal stuff oiled ... owned a metal lathe for years.

Chemicals get used in the basement ... constant even temp. Otherwise they are in the cabinet.

I am going to look into the rocket stove .... but those need attention, and mud and straw .... straw with a fire, hmmmmm.

 

Another factor .... I don't have the time to wait for stuff to heat up ... I'm grabbing an hour or 2 of shop time when I can. Heat on. Heat off.

 

 

Matt

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Permalink Reply by Jerryrig240 on December 29, 2010 at 5:20pm

My brother just hooked me up with a old school kerosene heater that he had.  I have not used it yet, but I wear 3 shirts 90 % of the time in the cold months anyhow....I just came in from outside, with a long john shirt, t shirt, flannel, winter coat and warm hat, it was not that bad.  Kerosene is pretty cheap.....just don't use a salimandor, I hear those are only for big barns, not for small spaces.  I have a small electric heater my wife got me for Christmas last year, I plugged it in, turned it on, it got toasty, but as soon as I tried to run another tool, I popped a breaker.....so, if you have a small shop, a electric heater won't be so great, unless you plan on to run it, and it alone....

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