Shopsmith Forums

Hi All,

I am in the process of renovating my workshop to accommodate my newly acquired MkV 510. The building is a modified sectional concrete garage. It was raised by 9" by erecting it on a course of concrete blocks, I've lined the walls with 1" expanded polystyrene insulation board then covered with 3/4" T&G moisture resistant flooring grade chipboard. The roof at present is fiber cement corrugated sheets, these are now starting to break down and I intent to replace them with plastic covered steel roofing sheets with a number of GRP roof lights. The non lit sections will be insulated with 2" polystyrene board (this has the added advantage, being white, of reflecting light). The floor is concrete with a DPM, I didn't think to insulate it when it was built!.

I now want to heat the workshop. To date I have been using very cheap domestic type fan heaters. Has anyone got any experience of the fan assisted propane heaters? They strike me as being more efficient than electric but according to research I've done both cost about the same to run at about 14 pence / Kilowatt hour - about 22 cents. Other than the efficiency is the type of heat - the electric heat will be dry whereas the gas heat will be wetter given that one of the by-products of combustion is water. Will this cause condensation and hence tool rot?
I suppose another consideration is the electric current requirements but I do not envisage running more than say the dust extractor + shopsmith + lighting at once, here in the UK our 230V ring circuits are rated for a total of 32 Amps with a max of 13 Amps per outlet.

Any comments appreciated.

Chris

Chris, I'd avoid the propane unless the heaters are vented, which would carry off the moisture. If ventless, I'd expect they'd put out too much moisture. I contemplated putting in ventless heaters and even bought the heaters, but never installed them out of concern that I'd have a rust problem. I've got a pellet stove. Like electricity, it produces a dry heat.

Hi Art,

Thanks - you've obviously been through the same thought process as me - I wondered because they are all advertised "for workshop use" unless anyone else has any views I'll get a workshop electric fan heater next week (our local Machine Mart is doing a VAT Free evening, equivalent to a 20% reduction).

Re the pellet heater, again I considered a woodburning stove but I can't really afford to lose the the wall space required around it.

Chris

My father-in-law put a ventless propane heater in his shop. Moisture was such a problem that he uses electric now. More expensive but no moisture problems.

I used propane and there was a lot moisture, now I use a window A/C and Heater, seems to work pretty good.

Hi Guys,

Mind made up - Electric it is and don't watch the meter!

Thanks

Chris

Chris;
I like your avatar. Can you explain what it represents?
Bill V

Hello Bill,

Until I retired I was a UK Border Force Officer, this Force was formed from an amalgamation of the UK Customs and Immigration Services, I was with HM Customs and Excise for about 30 years working on Customs Border Control and the Investigation Service of HM Customs and Excise prior to the amalgamation. The avatar is my uniform cap badge.

I take it from your avatar that you are ex law enforcement also?

Chris

chrism wrote:Hello Bill,

Until I retired I was a UK Border Force Officer, this Force was formed from an amalgamation of the UK Customs and Immigration Services, I was with HM Customs and Excise for about 30 years working on Customs Border Control and the Investigation Service of HM Customs and Excise prior to the amalgamation. The avatar is my uniform cap badge.

I take it from your avatar that you are ex law enforcement also?

Chris

Chris, is you would load the picture of your avatar as your "profile picture" we could see it a lot better.

dusty wrote:Chris, is you would load the picture of your avatar as your "profile picture" we could see it a lot better.

This is my try, Dusty. But you'll have to use "ctrl/+" several times to enlarge. Remember to use "ctrl/0" when done to get normal screen.

[ATTACH]18826[/ATTACH]

BTW - Nice lookin' patch, Chris!