Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys,

I am on the way to finishing my shop. What I thought would take a month turned into months. I'm just wondering what you are using to heat your garage shops in the winter. I know they make portable heats but my concern is fire. What safe alternatives can you reconmend. I currently have 1 vent that is connected to the house ac/heat unit.

I was thinking about 1 or 2 of these http://cozywinters.com/shop/rug-heat.html radiant floor rug heaters. what do you think

I like the DeLonghi oil filled heaters. No element to catch anything on fire. I've had one in the shop for about 5 years.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_100813-33454-EW7507EBL_4294856722_4294937087_?productId=3262151&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Electric%2BFireplaces%2B_4294856722_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1%26page%3D3

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That's the same heater I use, safe as a heat source, but of course not explosion proof as the thermostat kicks in and out, same as a domestic light switch.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I was planning on using one of those oil-filled radiant heaters too. I've had one for an extra bedroom for years. My question is, how big are your shops and how well insulated? I guess what I mean is, without heat, how cold would your shop get? It's not very cold here in the winter. Some nights below freezing, but not bad at all. I have 750 sq feet or so and I'm hoping one of those will be able to take the chill off. Was going to use a small wood stove, but I dont like the idea of it taking up space year round when I only need to heat for a few months.

I'm not an HVAC guy, but I believe you need to be careful if you've added a vent to your existing heating source from the home to your garage. You'll be exhausting air, with no return air. If it was designed in when the HVAC unit was put in, then all's good.

My shop is about 350 sq ft and is insulated the same as a regular house. I keep the heater on low and set it so it will maintain the shop at about 50 degrees F. I have a AC/Heater window unit that I use to bring the heat up to about 65F when I'm working.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

thanks for the response. maybe i'll do a combo of the two ideas. The duct was already in the garage. I put of 2x4 walls with insullation, or I should say I am in the process of insullating. prob finish tomorrow then onto the dry wall, after I run a few speaker lines.... I know now what most shops have but it works for me. I am also replacing the garage door with thick insullated one thanks to the tax credit.

Can't beat the DeLonghi oil filled heaters. I've had one in my shed for about ten years. It can get freezing cold in my 8'x10' during the winter. I switch it on up full for ten minutes before I start work and then turn it down to the lowest setting. Keeps me cozy for the rest of the day.

Bill S.

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Dream to be a luthier

It's hard to beat radiant floor heating for comfort. In the winter the feet get cold and heating the air doesn't really change that much. I think more heat is used that way. Radiant pads are a good idea in my book but I don't have any experience with them.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I use a Monitor direct vent Propane heater.
My shop is 28' X28' and this little heater keeps it warm .
And does it at a low cost.
It's on 24/7 and is just the greatest heater.
Cost was $1300-but well worth it !
My former direct vent heater cost me up to $300 a month
in Jan-Feb.
This one is $50.


Mike

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Mike Collins

I use a Modine Hot Dawg direct vent with enclosed combustion chamber, natural gas overhead unit. Works great, but blows a few things around, paper, shavings, etc. when it comes on. The temperatures here can get pretty extreme. The oil filled unit would be running pretty much full time in the winter, so wouldn't work for my 400 square foot garage/shop. Cost me about $800 for the heater and vent. I installed everything including the gas line myself.

I have a natural gas overhead unit. I heat a 700 sq. ft. shop but only when I am going to be working out there. I just go out about a half hour before I plan on starting work and flip the switch on thermostat on.
Mike