SEnsible / safe heating for workshop (aka the garage)

[HomeyJay]

I've been battling the elements in my garage and losing badly and was wondering what you guys are using for heating if any you are working in garages (like me). I've been through quite a few options but all of them apart from those terrible oil filled radiators seem to be dangerous to use in the presence of sawdust!
I thought I'd better ask before I set the garage / workshop on fire accidentally!!

 

[John Brown]

Just curious. Why do you say oil-filled radiators are terrible?

Some peoeple swear by the radiant infra-red type heaters, which heat human flesh rather than the air.
Personally, I've always got on with oil-filled rads.

 

[transatlantic]

The infra-red ones are good if you're staying in one spot.

 

[novocaine]

I use one of these, only when I'm in there though.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mh-10-1-wall ... 200w/1238p

note that it's IPx rated so not really suitable for dust protection (big bare element) but it's high mounted and I clean it out very regularly.

 

[HomeyJay]

Just curious. Why do you say oil-filled radiators are terrible?

Some peoeple swear by the radiant infra-red type heaters, which heat human flesh rather than the air.
Personally, I've always got on with oil-filled rads.

I borrowed one and it just never seemed to make a difference. It was on for hours but never heated anything..

 

[HomeyJay]

Aren't these infra red fan / heater things dangerous with sawdust in the air? I thought most of them had open elements that would happily set fire to sawdust particles that settled on them?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I use one of these, only when I'm in there though.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mh-10-1-wall ... 200w/1238p
note that it's IPx rated so not really suitable for dust protection (big bare element) but it's high mounted and I clean it out very regularly.

similar to mine -
https://www.primrose.co.uk/firefly-18kw ... =list_name

 

[HomeyJay]

That one from Primrose looks awesome! Have you had any issues with dust / sawdust from the machines?

 

[sunnybob]

Just curious. Why do you say oil-filled radiators are terrible?

Some peoeple swear by the radiant infra-red type heaters, which heat human flesh rather than the air.
Personally, I've always got on with oil-filled rads.

I borrowed one and it just never seemed to make a difference. It was on for hours but never heated anything..

If it was working, it WAS heating. But if the workshop is large, or has no insulation, it will never be noticed.
Insulate first, heat second.

 

[John Brown]

Well, they do take a while to warm up, and to cool down, that's true.
On the other hand, the thing about electric heating is that there's not really any difference in efficiency, despite what the vendors might tell you.
1kW is 1kW.
There may be savings to be made by tighter control of temperature, which may justify claims for ceramic heaters over plain old metal wire things, I don't really know.

 

[HomeyJay]

I was also looking at these but I dont know anyone who has one!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=heated+ves ... _sb_noss_1

 

[sunnybob]

Steve maskery just bought a Set of those. If he;s not along shortly, PM him.

 

[sunnybob]

But if its cold enough to wear heated clothing, you will struggle with glue ups and dimensional errors when the wood warms up again

 

[novocaine]

great, your body will be warm.

your hands will be freezing still.

unlikely for a quartz/infrared to ignite sawdust, might make the bits that land on it smolder slowly and make it smell but not enough to ignite it. at least that's my experience but do your own risk assessment.

 

[John Brown]

I agree with Sunny Bob(for once...) Insulation, insulation, insulation.

 

[Osvaldd]

I wonder if heating un-insulated shed/garage during the day and switching it off during the night would cause damp issues?

 

[sunnybob]

I agree with Sunny Bob(for once...) Insulation, insulation, insulation.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>
You know it makes sense. 8)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

That one from Primrose looks awesome! Have you had any issues with dust / sawdust from the machines?

None whatsoever. It's not exactly in an industrial environment, but neither is it clean.
I think it's great, as my main problem is cold hands, and the heat from it is instant.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I wonder if heating un-insulated shed/garage during the day and switching it off during the night would cause damp issues?

in my old place I didn't have any problem with condensation until I heated it intermittently.

 

[HomeyJay]

I wonder if heating un-insulated shed/garage during the day and switching it off during the night would cause damp issues?

Shoot. I didn't think of that!