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First LumberJocks Post

1K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  joesawdust 
#1 ·
First LumberJocks Post

Well, this is it. My first post. Let's see if I can keep this blog running a little longer than the other blogs I have tried. Which is about 6 weeks!

First, a little about me. A software engineer from the greater St. Louis area. (Actually, go east about 10 miles). We call that the 'Metro East'. East Side 4 Life!

I moved into the current house about 20 months ago. It has a nice little 400 sq ft garage and a driveway that makes putting the cars in it a really scary proposition. Especially since it butts right against the house. Therefore, I inherited nearly the entire structure for my personal workspace. (Just need to leave room for my twin daughters to put their bicycles).

I've slowly been adding and upgrading equipment. I swore, last winter, that I would never spend another cold winter in that shop, with the intention of finishing it. Well, needless to say, the economy went south and I held off on the expenditure. Here I am, nearly finished with the 2nd cold season in the shop and I am reaffirming my vow. "This will be the last cold winter in my shop!". There, I said it. Now, let's see if I can make it come true this time.

The only current project I have going right now are cornices for the windows in my living room. With winter winding down, its still a little cold for me to spend more than an hour or two and putting any heat source in that open space is an act of futility. I'll post pictures of the cornices once I finish framing the boxes. I'm using the Kreg Pocket Hole system to make the boxes. This is my first time with the Kreg stuff and I have to say, it's wonderful. Already, mind 'wheels are turning'.

Upcoming shop plans are for blown-in insulation in the rafters (R-25 or so) and R-13 batts in the walls. OSB or Drywall throughout (undecided but open to any suggestions), a subpanel for 1, at least , 240v circuit and a few more 120v circuits. Electricity is already in rigid metal conduits and I want to keep it that way. I would like to neatly surface mount all of my electricity for maximum flexibility as my shop changes its contents and layout. They all do, right?

As for heat, I'm really open to suggestions. Bring them on. Please!

Later Gator,
Matt
 
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#2 ·
I use a portable 20lb propane cyclinder with one of those screw on radiant devices. It works really well and cost me about $100 - $150 for the entire winter for me. Sounds like you will have a nice shop but if you're gonna do the blown in insulation etc, the better your insulation is (higher RG or whatever) the warmer you will stay. Good luck with your shop and can't wait for some pics .
 
#3 ·
As far as wall covering I would go with OSB simply because it is reasonable in price and easier to mount things to. In one of my buildings, which happens to be a 40' shipping container I use a Kerosene heater with a propane unit like Pie mentioned for backup. in the other building which is a wood frame structure I use the propane heater only, I like the portability of it as the two shops are about 1/4 mile apart on our property.
 
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