You know it's cold when...

Steve;

That should be plain old illegal!

That’s just too cold.

I always say I’m lazy, and now I can prove it, but I don’t feel like it. Just kidding.

I built my shop about eight years ago. Two things never got finished. Trim around four windows, which are in the skylight openings of the ceiling, and are around 11’ up, so I don’t see them very often.

And the second thing, which is embarrassing to admit to, and a pain in the butt, finally got done yesterday.

My heating and air conditioning system uses outside air for combustion. Two 2” p.v.c. pipes stick out through the wall, one for intake, one for exhaust. No chimney needed due to the efficiency of the units. The down side is it produces about five gallons of condensate on very cold days.

So for the last eight years I’ve had to go empty a five gallon bucket of water every day during the winter.
There is a condensate drain, but the end freezes, so the bucket came into play as a temporary fix.

Yesterday I took about six minutes to install a condensate pump, forever relieving me of dumping the bucket.

I am now a free man.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Steve: My shop is insulated and heating and air conditioned. But it costs about $16.00 a day to heat it with propane. So I only turn it on for a while ti get rid of the chill. It’s usually about 42 in the shop when I go out there. Today it was 32 and outside it was 6. But it was 36 in the area where I have the water storage for the house, so nothing was frozen

The ceilings in my shop are 16’ so all the heat goes up. It’s always nice and warm in the veneering room because it’s on the second floor.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I’ve got a woodburner in it, but it has to get red hot all night if I’m even going to think about going out there the next day to do anything… sure would be nice to just go out and do something in it without my hands wanting to stick to all the metal surfaces… lol.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Geeze Steve, that’s darned cold! I grew up in St. Elmo IL and only saw it -8 once. But, with this “global warming” thing, who knows?

-- Gene

you know its cold when …... mr trim got his long britches on ! heck its 67 right in my house and im wishing i had a furnace ! lol suck it up boys lol

Lee, I’m glad that you solved that problem. I remember last summer when the whole thing froze up.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Mr.Trim, you need some heavier skivvies.

Lee- glad you got that fixed…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Got a call this morning from the Farm ( www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org ) I do volunteer work for asking if I could come out and help thaw the water pipes for the cows. It was -14 outside of the barn and only 18 inside with the 65 milking cows we have. The barn sits in a narrow valley and along a stream which makes it a lot colder. Needless to say after 3 hours of heat guns on the pipes we were finally able to get the water flowing again. I am glad my shop is in the basement of my house and heated.

-- Guy Kroll

lol i must have to import those steve i havent seen any around here ! lol

Got up yesterday and it was -32. You don’t have any bare skin showing in this weather.

-- Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else

All the sudden, -1 feels like a Caribbean Cruise.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Last year we had a -46 night. Second coldest place on Earth that night behind someplace in Siberia. 30 degrees colder than the South Pole. News people talked about it all day.

Haven’t had any of those kinds of temps this year; just some -20’s. My shop is insulated, but I just have a wood stove for heat. I picked up a dorm fridge at the dump and took the guts out. Wired a light on the inside that stays on all the time. 40w bulb is plenty to keep my glue and whatnot from freezing. Popular Woodworking paid me $80 for that little tid-bit and apparently never printed it… At least I haven’t seen it.

Regards, JM

-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/

That’s a great idea for the fridge.
I want to thank everyone for reminding me why I live in las vegas.
I wouldn’t know what to do in 30 to 35 deg temps. lol I can’t wait for the 100’s to get here.
I can’t even imagine an extension cord breaking because it’s so cold.

you know it’s cold when you cut yourself – but don’t bleed!

you know it’s cold when your air compressor just keeps on going, and never realize that it’s tank is already over pressured … .(cold air / pressure/ gauge don’t like one another) and when your tools motors trip the breaker on startup…

brrrrrrrrrr….......

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

The old girl saw me struggling out in the shop, freezing my rear end off and finally let me bring a few things in to work on in the basement. Finished basement. (made a big mess.)
But it was nice doing a little work.
i knew I should have installed that hanging heater out there this past summer….... shucks

-- Eric

Man, you guys are “cold” LOL

Something like 58 for a high in Tampa Bay today and Floridians were wearing parkas!

I really need to shut the windows tonite…..SORRY! :) That was just a joke.

-- http://www.federalsaw.com

Jarrod-

That’s a pretty good idea about the fridge…

FEDSAWDAVE-

I keep my house between 58-62 in the wintertime… anything much higher and my wife and I are opening the windows.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Hit the defrost button on my VW and the vinyl on the dash cracked.

Alternator wiring harness went on my F150 and the insulation broke off of the wires during replacement.

Both cars had dead batteries yesterday morning. My booster battery as well. -22c when I got up

-- The only easy wood project is a fire

I despise dead batteries when it’s that cold… man-o-man… my fingers hate that cold weather.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Steve…no you don’t. No way your house is that temp. No fridge, right? You keep the milk and cheese on the porch?

-- http://www.federalsaw.com

LOL… yeah, we keep it pretty cool. I used to fight it, my wife is a furnace. But, now… I actually like it.

When the wind blows out of the north, even though we’re in the timber the furnace wants to run constantly. So, we got in the habit of just shutting it off in the winter time, and burning wood. Yesterday when it was -1, I finally turned it back on, just for the safety of the pipes. I really didn’t feel like crawling under the house in -1 and dealing with water… or ice, however you want to look at it.

It’s 59 in here now.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

I saw something about using a lightbulb to turn a fridge into a place to dry your wood, why not keep your glues in there too?

defroster (and a previous ding I suppose) cracked my windshield this past week. also Took three attempts to replace my wipers – can’t do it with gloved hands or fingers that are throbbing with numbness – (which doesn’t sound possible)

Wasn’t going to freeze in the basement, but I hate wasting a free day, so yesterday I put on thermals and fleece pants under my jeans, 2 pair of socks, hooded sweatshirt under my shirt jac, ballcap and gloves on to go down into the shop… unlike Karson I have a hair over 6’ clearance between the concrete and the joists (in most places), my low ceilings keeps the heat right where I need it. (And the joists keep bumping me where I don’t, if I’m not paying attention) Otherwise, I had a nice comfortable, and very productive cleaning day yesterday – finally crossed the tipping point, and have a shop that is about as clean as is likely possible. Seriously was never this clean save the day before we moved in. (3 bags full of sawdust, 2 full trashbags of junk, lots of kindling, and finally everything sorted and put away! I found a thermometer on the bench (and Prince Albert in a can), 48 degrees early afternoon, moved it up to a higher shelf, where it was warmer, a balmy 52 degrees!

Yesterday was the coldest day on record for several years, even with a fire going all day, the house barely got above 60.

-- 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/

Except for this year, I would have to close the shop in January and February as it is to cold to work, even with a kerosene heater. (Shop in detached garage) Now that I’m in the new shop, it is very nice… I keep it about 63 during the day and it drops to 50 at night. The 30 min drive to and from the shop in the -18 degree cold is a pain.
I hope spring comes soon…

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

-1? Is that all? I was out buying a dust collector and loading it into my truck outdoors in -9 the other day. I would have loved -1

Brrr.. thank goodness I finally did insulate and heat this year. Worth every penny

-- making sawdust....

-6 yesterday with up to -15 wind chill.

I like cold weather 40’s or so but negatives are a little much, even my van ignition turns slow.

I spilled coffee on my front porch as I was leaving Kori my 8 year old forgot her backpack and as she ran out I was holding the door she bumped my arm and poof. The coffee hit the concrete steps and was ice before I could lock the door.

-- Measure once cut twice....oh wait....ooops.

Cold…................ – 35 Celcius (-31F) the other day, not incuding the windchill. Was in Timmins a few years back and it hit -65 (-85F) .......perhaps it was -65F but regardless, when you spit it sounded like a firecracker when it instantly turned to an ice pellet. Truck wouldnt start, had to have it towed and thawed and when they towed it, I shut the truck door and the door hinges broke, door fell off. I always think about one of my brothers who, during the winter months works in constant -50 C ( -58 F )......ouch

My shop is heated and I keep it at 50 F. Some think thats too cold until they step outside. Most people work faster when its colder and I’m one of them.

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Geesh, and I was whining when I went out to my shop the other morning and it was only 44 F. I had to wait a few hours, but it warmed up and was 68 F by mid afternoon. Then I was able to get some glue work done.

When I went out this morning at 5 am it was in the mid 40’s again, but now its a balmy 54 (0900).

It felt quite comfy while I was sanding.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

-65? That’s crazy. I’d sell everything I owned and move south to the -1’s. LOL Heck, at -65, you’d just about be in a place where any direction you moved would be south. Tell Santa I said “Hi.”

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

steve , your just shameless ! suckin up to santa and its only jan. lol i get my hands on him hes gonna tell me where he left all them tools i ask for ! lol

mrtrim- LOL… Hey, I’ll pull any strings that I can pull when it comes to Santa… I don’t envy where he lives tho.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Jarrod’s fridge pic above could work even if the fridge is in perfect working order. If it is below freezing just open the fridge to warm up the shop to a toasty 40 or so. LOL

For another take on measuring temperature, check out Larry Williams blog on his chewability index

-- Check out my blog and podcast "The Renaissance Woodworker" at www.rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog

I jus’ keep chunkin’ that Juniper in the Blaze King. Maintains about 70-75 F. I like my shop!!!!!

-- Thos. Angle

Anything below -57 is just excessive.

-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/

You know it’s cold when Odie does all the glue-ups on a kitchen counter.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

It’s cold in CT when 10% alcohol microbrewed beer freezes!

-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...

Steve, I might swap you for a day. It was 114F here last Thursday.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

was 10 below here.. and the inside of my car windows frosted over.. kinda sucked

-- making sawdust....

Yikes Grumpy… 114? Maybe we could split it and chill out at a cool 60 degrees or so for both of us… lol.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Needless to say Steve, I did not go in the workshop that day.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

More ice today… lots of crashes. I had to pull out my YakTrax boot chains just to walk around on it. It was the worst kind of ice- spotty. C’mon summer.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

You know it’s cold when: I have to drive without the A\C on, must have been just below 70 today, damn these winters can be so harsh here in SD! Come on summer!!!!!! ;o)

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

You know it’s cold when you can’t walk around in swimmers & bare feet. LOL

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Grumpy- LOL… I don’t have any business in swimmers and bare feet now, I think it’s going to have to warm up about 85 degrees.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Don’t talk to me about cold!

From misc pics

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

From misc pics

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Bob, where’s the swimmers?.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Grumpy:
Just ahot tub here.

From misc pics

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

This guy is crazy

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

15 below here two weeks ago and my overhead flourescents would not come on… It was about 28 below wind chill and even in the unheated, insulated garage the temp was down to -5…

-- good fences make good neighbors...

You know it’s cold when bags freeze.

-- ??? My mistakes heat the house. It's very warm in here. ???

YOU KNOW IT’S COLD WHEN YOUR THONGS STOP STICKING TO THE BITUMEN. LOL

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Grumpy- LOL… I hate that when I lose a flip flop in the tar…. it isn’t the “losing it in the tar” bit that gets me, it’s the step after I lose it…. lol

...too cold to be in flip flops here now, though. My 7-8 inches of snow is finally starting to melt a little…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Steve, I know the feeling. I would be good to have some snow down here for a day or two.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

I had the block heater cord on my car split when I moved it this winter it was around -35c. Car wouldn’t start and it was too cold to fix it so I waiting a couple days until it warmed to -15c to start it and moved it into the garage to get out of the wind and fix it.

Nice pictures Bob and Grumpy

-- Alan, Prince George

Maine, about 20 to -10 usually in the winter. My 25×25 ft shop is insulated. I use a non vented propane heater, about 28,000 btu’s. I use about $100 of gas/winter. Not to bad. It heats up the shop in about 30 minutes enough to work. And it gets toasty after awhile. I’ve made storm windows to help.

Interestingly, The other day I went out and started the table saw cold. I kept flipping a 20amp circuit breaker upon startup because the belt was frozen in position. Turning the belt a few revolutions by hand loosened it up.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://web.me.com/deceiver6/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

Man, it got really cold where I live( SE coast of FL) last week. One of our squirrels went up on the birdbath to have a morning drink. He (or she) was very puzzled when he went to get a drink, and there was no liquid! He took a tentative step out on the ice, and it broke through! I have never seen a squirrel move so fast. Probably the first time it had ever encountered ice. It got down that night to 32. Burrrrrr! The tribulations of winter. I guess we will just have to bundle up and suffer through it. By the way. It was 81 here yesterday.

-- "non illegitimis carborundum"

I just went through every post, and no one had any concern for the Catsand2009!! Steve, bring those babies in!!! You don’t want a kittysicle do you??? Bring ‘em in the warm house!!!!

-- Matt, Houston Texas

Matt- LOL… Ya gotta trust me, they are warm….

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

YOU KNOW ITS COLD WHEN THE GLOBAL WARMING PROTESTORS WONT THAW OUT. LOL

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

I thought Scotland was cold then I went toliove in Germany for five years, they (the germans)thought Germany was cold til they went to Russia. that’s seriously cold.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Poem about our Australian summer
Extremely touching and thought provoking!!
I found this beautiful Aussie Summer poem and thought it might be a comfort to you. It was sent to me and it’s very well written; I hope you enjoy it because it’s the best piece of English literature I’ve seen in quite a while….

S*#t,

It’s HOT !

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python