Workshop heating...

[Jeremys]

I was in the workshop at the weekend, and for the first time this year realised I was absolutely freezing...cold hands are no good for fine work (thats my excuse) so I have decided to finally put in some form of heating.

My (grandly named) workshop is an external single garage accessed through double doors. Looking at options I was thinking of a fan heater or infra-red (somthing like this http://www.screwfix.com/prods/38168/Hea ... Red-Heater)

Fan is cheaper, but I am worried about having a heater element exposed in a dusty workshop.

Am I worrying needlessly? And what do others use in their shops?

Of course once the heating is in I will have to find another excuse for the long delays to the list of promised projects... ho hum.

Many thanks all,

Jeremy (Cold in Bristol)

 

[MikeG.]

Jeremy,

I have successfully used a fan heater in my workshop for years, but it does require a little discipline. You should keep the workshop pretty clean before you set any fan going in there, never mind one which aslo has some heating elements. It will make you sneeze otherwise. I also make it a rule to never leave the heaer on unattended, even for a minute or two.

Mike

 

[OLD]

I would go for the oil filled radiator shown on the same screwfix page,infrared heats objects/people so you have to stay stationary.

 

[Waka]

I've used the oil filled heater in the past and find them fime, at least with these you can put them on a timer. last year when I finished all my insulation I didn't use a heater at all.

 

[Woodmagnet]

Another one for an oil filled radiator. 8)

 

[Sawdust]

Woodburning stove - works a treat and gets rid of offcuts.

Mike

 

[woodbloke]

Oil filled rad here on a timer. This has to be the safest option IMO...bit slow to warm up but very toasty when it gets going. It does help though if your 'shop is well insulated. Once my 'shop has warmed up it'll stay warm for the rest of the day until the heat dissipates at night - Rob

 

[Nev Hallam]

I have a single skin double garage studded out with celotex insulation been thinking about putting a an ol woodburner meself, I have one in my living room and love it! like someone said gets rid of those offcuts!
Although no matter what i still loose loadsa heat out the garage doors!

 

[The Shark]

Hi Jeremy,
I have a single skinned detached garage as a workshop, and much the same as Mike, have been using a fan heater without problems for years. It takes about 10 mins to warm up the shop, and keeps it at a pleasant temperature once there.
Heater can get a bit smelly if you are doing a lot of sanding as particles come into contact with the element, but no worse than my cooking!!

Haven't tried any other type of heating, so can't help you there.

Malc

 

[Rob_H]

Woodburning stove - works a treat and gets rid of offcuts.

Mike

Same here - very effective although have to occasionally clean it out

 

[wizer]

I have been using an oil rad and they are very good. Any electric heater will be expensive to run, so make sure you don't forget to turn it off (DAMHIKT). I'm having a central heating rad plumbed in this week but I can imagine I'll still need the oil rad on the coldest days.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have a thermal vest and a fleece and warm my hands on my cup of coffee

Cheers :wink:

Paul (who keeps popping in to warm up)

 

[wizer]

I really admire that attitude Paul. I'm a bit of a wimp I guess, I just can't work when I'm cold -I can't even think straight. Maybe I need some more body mass (I am nearly 2st under weight).

 

[Nev Hallam]

woolen pants and yak socks!

 

[mailee]

I really admire that attitude Paul. I'm a bit of a wimp I guess, I just can't work when I'm cold -I can't even think straight. Maybe I need some more body mass (I am nearly 2st under weight).

You sound like me Wizer I weigh 9 stone wet through! Mind you it does have it's advantages when climbing about on a roof that wouldn't support a heavier man. :wink: still damn cold in the winter though. :roll:

 

[OPJ]

I wouldn't say you're a wimp, wizer - if your freezing fingers came in to contact with the blade on that lovely new saw of yours then you possibly wouldn't feel a thing! :shock: :?

If you don't have any heating then avoiding the workshop altogether is probably the safest way to go - the trouble with wearing gloves is that if any loose threads get caught by a rotating block of arbour, that's it, you won't have the time to react!! :?

Back on topic...

I've been using a small halogen heater for a couple of years and, it's only really beneficial if you stand right next to it. It gets quite hot, which does concern me - so, I always switch if off before I start up a machine. I managed to melt half a glue bottle last winter! :roll: :wink: I'm looking to try an oil-filled radiator though, at least until I can afford to insulate everything... Freecycle and eBay are two good places to look.

 

[PowerTool]

Maybe I need some more body mass (I am nearly 2st under weight).

I can spare you some - I'm nearly 4" under height.. :lol: :wink:

Another one who uses a fan heater,but Waka is right in that the best form of heating is insulation.

Andrew

 

[wizer]

when climbing about on a roof that wouldn't support a heavier man.

Heheh reminds me when we was doing my workshop and I went up on the roof for the first time, I told my dad to come up, then told him to go back down again, I'll do the roof stuff.

 

[CWatters]

I've used fan heaters and this type of gas heater...

I prefer it to a fan heater and it feels much warmer than it's claimed 4KW output. It both warms the air and provides a lot of radiant/direct heat.

Obviously would be dangerous in a workshop with a floor covered in wood shavings!

 

[hpl]

I've used an LPG gas blower for years with no problems at all. I've just extended the workshop and installed a woodburner to try and cut down on the cost of the fuel. Seems to be working OK, but the gas is much easier, turn it on and leave it to run, I've even had a thermostat in line for the last few years.

Johnny B