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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,844
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Tell me about your favorite shop heater
I work in a big old drafty building with high ceilings .
I have a furnace and wood burner. They both heat the place nice, but the furnace eats metric loads of cash, and the wood burner is a pain in the arse I use torpedo heaters all the time. My upstairs is not really heated , except for the office, and I use only torpedos if I am working up there. In the shop, I use them to take the chill off, and help de ice cars when I pull them in . Some mornings, when I walk in here, it is 15 deg. Its nice to point heat right at myself,. as the place comes up to temp. I've been using smaller 75-100,00 btu heaters, but have been thinking about picking up one of those giant 500,00 btu torpedos Something that will start to peel the paint off my walls in 10 minutes of running . I will probably also have to get a fuel truck to feed it ! We had radiant heat in one of my older places, and I really liked that., surfaces, and concrete were always warm, but it ate cash also . Whats you shop/garage/barn heat situation ? I know guys who just suit up and work in the cold .
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No left turn un stoned |
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10-27-2018, 07:22 AM
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G'day!
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Timely thread....we're going to get down into the upper 50's this weekend!
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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10-27-2018, 07:41 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,844
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Funny you replied. I had typed in " Not interested in hearing about your setup Baz", but deleted it .. You guys have it easy down there!!!
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No left turn un stoned |
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10-27-2018, 07:50 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,844
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In the 50's, Im still wearing shorts ..
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No left turn un stoned |
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10-27-2018, 07:51 AM
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G'day!
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Quote:
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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10-27-2018, 08:04 AM
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G'day!
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Quote:
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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10-27-2018, 08:07 AM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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Mine is 30'x50' with 15' high ceilings. Some drafts are present at doors but pretty well insulated.
I have a suspended radiant tube natural gas heater in the middle about 13' high that runs the depth. It's effective but it's hot in the center of the garage and temps drop off when getting closer to side walls. Not a show stopper. The incremental natural gas cost is cheaper than using pie plates on propane bottles but the non gas costs of the invoices push $400 annually.
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1981 911SC Targa |
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10-27-2018, 08:11 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlottesville Va
Posts: 5,757
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Why not a waste oil burner? Initial cost high, but the fuel is next to free...
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Greg Lepore 85 Targa 05 Ducati 749s (wrecked, stupidly) 2000 K1200rs (gone, due to above) 05 ST3s (unfinished business) |
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10-27-2018, 08:25 AM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lake Cle Elum - Eastern WA.
Posts: 8,417
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Garage is 48 X 32 with 10 ft ceiling. Tried many over the years. Torpedo, woodstove, propane type woodstove. Never Happy.
About 5 years ago, I did the overhead 80,000 BTU Propane. I can walk out in below freezing temps. 10 minutes later working in shirt sleeves. Only drawback is the noise. Usually run it up to 45 degrees for so and shut it off.  
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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10-27-2018, 08:26 AM
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Brew Master
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Wouldn't you be better served spending the money on insulation and sealing the place up? I don't know if the place is yours or not but that's what I'd start with.
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Nick |
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10-27-2018, 09:20 AM
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least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
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Quote:
Aren't those torpedo's LOUD?
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone  1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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10-27-2018, 09:28 AM
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least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
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Quote:
Yeah, yeah, I know, we get earthquakes. 
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone 1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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10-27-2018, 09:30 AM
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Puny Bird
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Port Hope (near Toronto) On, Canada
Posts: 4,566
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Fred, the way you heat sucks.
Torpedos, any non-vented propane heater, throw a ton of water into the air. And I'm not working in propane fumes all day, fuch dat ship. I'd look at insulating your work area(s), frame it up, use steel stud/steel clad if worried about fire. Get some insulation and VB in there and a properly vented heater. Maybe you can foam existing walls? You need a customer/buddy who's in HVAC  30X50' steel clad (in/outside) pole barn, 12' R20 walls, R40+ ceiling, 2" insulated overhead door heated with IIRC a large 120k direct vent gas (propane) furnace. I mounted it on it's side near the ceiling. Emergency backup heat I could re-install the wood stove the insurance company made me take out about 10 years ago. Con for my direct vent gas (propane) furnace is it can't freeze (water trap), so the heat always has to be on. I work from my shop so no big deal for me. It's a tad loud, expected as it's open to the shop area. Pro is I can legally paint, insurance and code good, etc., as a direct vent has no open flame. Furnace will keep up with a small parts paint booth. This spring I'm installing AC, too hot and humid in the summer.
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'74 Porsche 914, 3.0/6 '72 Porsche 914, 1.7, wife's summer DD '67 Bug, 2600cc T4,'67 Bus, 2.0 T1 Not putting miles on your car is like not having sex with your girlfriend, so she'll be more desirable to her next boyfriend. Last edited by Mark Henry; 10-27-2018 at 09:40 AM.. |
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10-27-2018, 09:31 AM
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Registered
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Got a wood stove in me Basement where I work on my winter projects. Head gasket this winter.
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AlfasRule! 72 Montreal (Da Pumpkin) 75 Alfetta Sedan, 75 Alfetta Coupe Race Car 82 Spider, 84 GTV-6. 84 GTV-6 Verde (GiGi) 87 Milano ( Da Winta Beata) |
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10-27-2018, 10:14 AM
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G'day!
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Yo Fred...ever thought about a mini-split ductless like rfuerst used for his man cave?
Those things are whisper quiet and extremely efficient energy-wise. That's what I'm going to use for mine, at some point. Climate-control.....cool and heat...and in between......
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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10-27-2018, 10:45 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 5,733
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I've had a Modine Hot Dawg in each shop, they are excellent. Scale to your size and plenty of btus. Thats the issue with a mini split, usually they arent enough btus for a large shop. Open the door once one a cold day and you are cold again for too long. Great for efficiency and if you arent putting swapping cars in a moderate space.
But, you really need to air seal and insulate. Anything you do will lower your heating costs and increase comfort. |
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10-27-2018, 02:21 PM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,593
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I have a 40 x 48 airplane hangar with a natural gas heater similar to LakeCleElum's.
Very pleased with how quickly it warms a large space, pleasantly surprised how evenly it heats. |
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10-27-2018, 02:26 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,579
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Yep my 26 x 28 man cave with 12 ' ceilings is heated and cooled by a 24K Mitsubishi mini split . But I am well insulated and normally the coldest it gets here is high 20's to low 30's . I don't think a mini split will work too well in a drafty environment but for my setup it is perfect . Economical to run and whisper quiet .
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2002 Boxster S . Arctic silver + black top/int. Jake Raby 3.6 SS engine " the beast ". GT3 front bumper, GT3 side skirts and GT3 TEK rear diffuser. 1999 996 C4 coupe black/grey with FSI 3.8 engine . Rear diffuser , front spoiler lip with ducktail spoiler . |
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10-27-2018, 03:52 PM
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Puny Bird
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Port Hope (near Toronto) On, Canada
Posts: 4,566
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I have a mini split HP in my house, at about 17F it's efficacy is done, any colder and you need other source of heat.
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'74 Porsche 914, 3.0/6 '72 Porsche 914, 1.7, wife's summer DD '67 Bug, 2600cc T4,'67 Bus, 2.0 T1 Not putting miles on your car is like not having sex with your girlfriend, so she'll be more desirable to her next boyfriend. |
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10-27-2018, 08:38 PM
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Brew Master
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How about a waste oil burner?? I still say insulating and sealing the place up is the best bang for your buck because you're only as efficient as the space you are heating.
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Nick |
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10-28-2018, 04:34 AM
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1964 Porsche 356 C Sunroof coupe
1972 Porsche 914 2.0 fuel injected
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa
Work vehicle
1981 Porsche 911 SC Targa
1985 Porsche 911 Cab
Da Pumpkin
Me Race Car
Da Fleet!
