Thoughts on heating a workshop

[oldbikedavey]

They do chuck out a lot of heat but also a lot of condensate, so not good for painting.

Condensation is a real headache.
Sometimes, once the workshop had got cold, and an incoming warm front had passed through, machines would be streaming with water, which is deeply distressing to see.
ACF-50, and covering the machines up with impermeable sheeting helps a lot, but it's best to keep the place warm enough to reduce the risks.
Modern weather forecasting is a major advantage....

 

[oldbikedavey]

In random order :

1 decent rubber flooring where you work so the concrete can’t take your body heat away through you feet.

2. Insulate the roof. I got a van load of reclaimed 25mm 2x4 sheets under 50p each from a local reclamation yard - plenty to do my loft, double thickness on the garage roof, my ex’s camper.. then sold the surplus. The difference in the garage temps was vast for under £20 !

3. Chinese diesel heater or (if you can source free timber) a wood stove.

Wood stoves and machine tools do not mix.
Airborne ash is omnipresent, and an absolute horror.....

 

[Dapph2]

I am (mostly) a classic car hobbyist - and I don't want to freeze on cold evenings and weekends. Cost of "fuel" isn't the primary consideration within reason. On the other hand, how long it takes to warm up may be.

My domestic heating oil Chinese heater today it took about 20 min from 3 oC to get to 11 oC on setting three with the roller down .

On five it would have been a lot quicker , I have a insulated Kingspan wriggly tin roof and have built an internal second block skin with a 3 inch air gap and stainless screwed in ties in original wall . Door is an electric insulated roller door , there is a 110mm vent snorkel arrangement high up in the middle at the opposite end to the to the heater . The floor space is similar your place .

With the roller down , 9 litres of heating oil last 9hrs on level 5 full chat , about 17 hrs on level three and 26. hrs on setting one . Obviously the outside temp does affect the consumption .

The heater has a remote fob so I'm able to put the heater on whilst I'm in the house and also turn it off on via the fob if I'm not sure I have turned it off on leaving the mancupboard . .

 

[Dapph2]

Thanks Julian

I get th energy v energy out bit, it’s more is one type better than the other and are these makes any better or worse, it’s the whole Milwaukee / Makita / Dewalt debate but heaters!

Infra red heater on castors like this ?

https://www.bing.com/aclk?ld=e8Thz43GyGUXQSrLZ6vNe8gDVUCUyUn8sV6H8JBymM_j2sPLPeaR7sExj8prtVZNYqjRcJjgs3P5Z_fsB51-6Pz5puTugs21tUIbyR6UCD17k36Lag_p4YALREJgY6bMszMBY-oA7sVqhUeuFxOMzDBTaz0qCME8cP9OXYfSJI8QAfYNM_gLX3g2npFWG-hw6QhThiB5ak4jVomVEslwLL3XMA10M&u=aHR0cHMlM2ElMmYlMmZ3d3cubWFub21hbm8uY28udWslMmZpbmR1c3RyaWFsLWZhbi1oZWF0ZXJzLTczNCUzZm1vZGVsX2lkJTNkOTA5MTk3NzAlMjZyZWZlcmVyX2lkJTNkKzcwMTA4OSUyNm1zY2xraWQlM2RiN2NmYWNmZWEwZTAxMDE2MGEzM2M1ZTFmZmQzNjIwZCUyNnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM2RiaW5nJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzZGNwYyUyNnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbiUzZEJpbmclMjUyMFNob3BwaW5nX0NQQ19HQl9CMkNfVGFpbCUyNTIwUHJvZHVjdHMlMjZ1dG1fdGVybSUzZDQ1NzYwMjk5ODQ1MjE4NzQlMjZ1dG1fY29udGVudCUzZFRhaWwlMjUyMHByb2R1Y3Rz&rlid=b7cfacfea0e010160a33c5e1ffd3620d&ntb=1

 

[Mick Annick]

Condensation is a real headache.
Sometimes, once the workshop had got cold, and an incoming warm front had passed through, machines would be streaming with water, which is deeply distressing to see.
ACF-50, and covering the machines up with impermeable sheeting helps a lot, but it's best to keep the place warm enough to reduce the risks.
Modern weather forecasting is a major advantage....

I don’t have a mill or lathe but I’ve got into the habit of covering everything up unless in use, thick layers of warehouse coats, removal blankets and plastic tarps over anything electrical and the anvils - they seem to fare worst when it’s damp. I know I’m fighting a losing battle with my draughty doors but I do have a dehumidifier running most of the time too, every little helps.

 

[Mick Annick]

I’ve ordered one of these to try:

Chauffage soufflant céramique TDS 10 C

Chauffage céramique TDS 10 CDe couleur rouge, robuste, mobile – solution de chauffage optimalePuissance de chauffe de 2 kW avec deux vitesses de chauffage. Débit d'air de sortie de 140 m³/h. Thermostat régule le fonctionnement automatique.

fr.trotec.com

 

[gaz1]

It must also be dry inside the shed it's pointless heating a continually damp shed .

i built a rocket stove to conserve on wood just a standared non piped version

the heat from that stove alone is powerful whilst also using less wood

now my shed is only small 9x11ft insulated roof and red brick on all 4 walls, but in winter its door open and just wear pants and tee shirt as its way too hot in the shed

 

[oldbikedavey]

I don’t have a mill or lathe but I’ve got into the habit of covering everything up unless in use, thick layers of warehouse coats, removal blankets and plastic tarps over anything electrical and the anvils - they seem to fare worst when it’s damp. I know I’m fighting a losing battle with my draughty doors but I do have a dehumidifier running most of the time too, every little helps.

The less interface there is between the actual mass of the air and cold metal surfaces, the less condensation will be a menace..
Keep trying to follow my own advice....

 

[Nomad]

Ask your GP if they can give you a blood transfusion from a Geordie?

 

[MattF]

Wood stoves and machine tools do not mix.
Airborne ash is omnipresent, and an absolute horror.....

What's so bad about wood ash dust?

 

[Dapph2]

What's so bad about wood ash dust?

It's abrasive , a lung irritant and chemically alkaline

Wood ash is alkaline, with a pH level typically ranging from 10 to 12. It can effectively neutralize acidic soil,