Heating and Rustproofing in a Detached Garage Shop

Sorry bro, can’t help with those frigid temps…I’m in the garage but only get below freezing about 5 times a year, if that.. good luck..

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

It sounds to me like an electric heater is in your very near future. I would get a “portable” unit with a built in thermostat. Set it for 60 when you not in the shop and turn it up to a comfortable level while working. You’ll be surprised by how little of a heater you’ll actually need to keep it warm.

I’ve made an assumption that the garage is insulated. If you not, you’ll have to insulate or spend mega $$ keeping it warm. You may even want to add some additional insulation if it already has some. A round or two with a caulking gun will save you big $ too.

-- Chunk

Yes Chunk, The walls are insulated, but not the ceiling. I suppose I should pick up a roll or two a week until I have a nice cozy space. better spending the money once, than every month?

Thanks Rob ;P
but what is your AC like all summer down there in the heat, I mean heart of Texas?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Hey Scott
If you can’t keep the garage warm you can make a warm box to put glues and finishes in and just add a low voltage bulb to keep the temperature up high enough to keep it from freezing. You just have to be careful not to let it get to warm in there so it’s not a fire hazard, Some guys use old fridges. If you get it all insulated you might get by with an electric heater while your out there working.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I have a drafty garage, and have gotten by with a salamander (forced air propane heater). It is certainly less than ideal, but it does get things manageable if you run it for an hour before going out to work. In the fall, I put all my water-based adhesives and finishes in a duffel I hang by the back door, and take out with me to work.

I also use Renaissance Wax on every cast iron table, and make sure all cast iron surfaces are clear before shutting the lights off. There is still a dovetail shaped discoloration on my bandsaw table of a board I left overnight. This is especially important during the spring thaw, when the tables will sweat and will rust up overnight unless waxed.

I second the wife accolade. I can move everything aside and get Pam’s car inside for rough weather (hail, big snow) if need be.

Bonne chance, M. Blanchard.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Insulating the walls and not the ceiling is about like wearing a thick pants, and only a t shirt in the middle of winter. I had that same situation to the garage of the house I moved into. Detached 24×24 with r-13 walls only. I installed a 70k btu ceiling propane heater. It ran every 5 min keeping the garage at 55 when it was 20-30 outside. Once I put in 8-12” inches of blow-in in the attic, it runs every 20-30 min. Gaps and lack of insulation are killers to keeping warm.

I remember seeing a plan for turning an old fridge into a kiln. How low wattage a bulb are we talking to keep things from getting too warm? or does ventilation need to be considered?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

What is this freezing / rust thing your asking about? (The answer is obvious, move to sunny CA)....

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Scott
You will have to play with the size of the bulb based on how much you store in the warm box . I would start with a 40watt and put a thermometer in it and keep checking what the temperature is through out the day until you get a constant that you want. If you find it’s getting to warn lower the wattage or vent the box.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Ah yes Wayne, the simplest answers are always the best!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

How you been? I still wear my handplane tee shirt every now and then.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I would suggest you put some R-19 minimum in the ceiling. R-30 is prefered. ut the insulation 90 degrees to the joist for a fast install and it will keep them from falling through the joists. Run a 1×4 about 16” from the side walls to support the ends of the insulation. You will be much happier with an insulated shop. Do the walls with R-13.

You can you West Systems epoxy as a glue for colder temps. It may be more expensive, but will do the job.

A small heater will get the job done if you insulate. The energy savings will pay for the insulation the first season.

I have a climate controlled shop and do not have the problem uf rust. I just use talcum powder on my machines and they are in like new condition always. NEVER leave any wood on a machine for any length of time. It will trap moisture and leave marks, as has been already stated here.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca