Keeping Glues and Stains from freezing in the winter.

There is of course moving them into the house.

I have heard of people using an insulated box with a light bulb that is left on all the time inside.
I have seen a variation on that with a thermostat to keep it from getting to hot

Currently I move them into the house, but I am reorganizing my shop right now and seriously considering the light bulb method. My only concern is it just ‘feels’ like a fire hazard. I guess a thermostat would help with that some by preventing the temp from getting to high, but flammable liquids and hot bulb… just seems wrong.

Last year I did a test with a borrowed heater in the difference between keeping the shop at around 45 all the time compared to letting the shop cool off completely. The results were far from perfect, but it seems that once all the ‘stuff’ in the space is warm, it only cost a little bit more to maintain the temperature above freezing. Also made warming the shop up to ‘working temp’ much faster.

Would love to hear some more ideas from others as well

I may someday add heat to the shop, then my plan will be to thermostat control it and keep it above freezing all the time, but I do have pretty good insulation in my space to begin with.

-- "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

You got me thinking…
I wonder if something along the lines of a ‘pet’ heater would work in an enclosed space.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Heated-Resting-Small-Animals-Inches/dp/B000NVC7DO

Or this (more expensive and much bigger, but has a built in thermostat):
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=216914590&sellerid=25209263

The pad itself wouldn’t get hot enough to cause a fire hazard, but in an enclosed space may be enough to do the job.

ok, now you’ve done it, not going to sleep tonight while I research other possibilities. :)

-- "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

I use a heating pad in a Coleman cooler far from ideal but I live in Texas and we rarely have temps that low and when we do the temp of the contents keeps it warm unless I have to get a lot of stuff out.

-- Trying to find an answer to my son’s question: “…and forming organic cellulose by spinning it on its axis is interesting, why?”

I’ve always used an insulated cabinet with a light bulb in it. I haven’t built one for my new shop yet, but I hope to before winter. I was hoping to find a small refrig or freezer not working, but no luck. Last winter I just brought them into the house.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

A 100 watt light bulb will keep an uninsulated box warm enough in SW Oklahoma so it would really keep a refrig warm enough. A metal cabinet with a light bulb would be enough. You can buy bi-metal wafers that act as thermostats. get a 38 degree for a 60 watt and a 34 deg for a 100 watt bulb. I have known people that have done this.

Sorry Murdock. Hope you get some sleep!!!

-- He: Can I get the plans for that? Me: Plans???