My shop is pretty much same temp as outside was the nite before. Warm sunny day, walk in and still cold from night before. Once open in warm weather, can come out later in eve and still about same as day was for awhile. Must be the insulation! Have Modine type ceiling heat, 75,000 btu and can warm up real fast if I wanted. Cement floor is always wet if cold in garage and open to nicer warmer day. It sweats a lot in spring/fall that way. With heater if starts to sweat, yet gets dried out as heat flows around if you stay out long enough. Still fairly cool at floor tho if I wana get down and low for stuff. Never put plastic down under slab, probly should have. Using foam like I have seen others do might be a good idea too. Course warm water in tubing flowing would be great, but have to keep it on all the time and expensive to build.

How Cold Does Your Shop Get ?
#16
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 12:18 PM
- Alc said thank you
#17
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 12:29 PM
it normally stays in the 30's in the winter it takes a lil while to get it up to where i can work comfortably not being insulated might have something to do with it and im only using a kerosene heater right now. onec the shop is finished however ill have my lil wood stove hooked up.
- Alc said thank you
#18
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 06:56 PM
My building that I built this year is all wood. Its suspended off the ground with a complete pressure treated floor. The building is 15ft wide by 10ft deep and 12 ft ceilings. It's not the biggest but does the trick. I insulated the ceiling with pink panther sheeting in between the rafters and sealed all the corners (and wherever else) with 3" thick foam insulation strips (curtesy of my buddies employer..lol). I also ran a strip across the top and bottom of both barn doors. It doesn't get too awful cold in there but when it does I use a 10lb propane tank with a 2 pod heater on top and it gets damn near 80 if I don't kick it back to low after the first hr or so. That's from 15-20 deg outside temp.
- Alc said thank you
#19
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 07:08 PM
My shop is just tin on concrete, I do have a thermomitor that tracks hi/lo over a 24 or 48 hour period. It does get colder but not for a long duration. Wait till this summer and all three readings may be above 100.
- Alc and HDWildBill have said thanks
#20
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 08:40 PM
My shop has no heat or insulation. It is 6* outside now and I bet the shop is 15*. I do not mind the cold at all. The wind we have right now is what I don't care for. It is 20-25 mph. I have new insulated doors to put in spring and then hopefully insulate the walls and roof. No heat planned, I have a wood stove but no space to put it.
Geno
- Alc said thank you
#21
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 10:39 PM
I lied this morning. It was -6 outside and +6 inside the shop when I went out there. Suppose to be -18 tonight so the shop will be -2 in the morning. I'm afraid it is going to take some air pressure in the waist oil tank to get the oil to flow for a while. Dang that is going to be cold.
- Alc said thank you
#22
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Posted January 21, 2013 - 11:14 PM
My shop is a 650sq.ft. uninsulated garage/concrete floor and overhead door and is usually equalized to the outdoor temp before I pull the door up. I generally don't feel the cold because I dress for it (seems I've always dressed for it plus I love the cold) including several different pairs of fingerless gloves. THEY make all the difference. If you can keep your core, feet and hands warm, the rest is up to attitude.
Years ago I bought an adjustable 80K btu "Mr. Heater" propane "jet engine" heater. It heats fine, 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off, but it is just too NOISY!!! It also makes everything W-E-T with condensation. I put it back in the box and went back to dressing for the occasion (but it's there if I ever need to live out there!). In absolutely worst conditions, like February with a 25mph wind and something that "just has to be done" I might get on the "Carhartt Tractor Cab", insulated coveralls.
- Alc said thank you
#23
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Posted January 23, 2013 - 06:51 AM
Edited by Alc, January 23, 2013 - 06:51 AM.
#24
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Posted January 23, 2013 - 07:39 AM
13*F this morning, supposed to get up around 40*F today, then back down tomorrow. ~~ Lowell
#25
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Posted January 23, 2013 - 06:11 PM
Maybe two degree warmer than the outside world. So about 10*F this morning. That's until the heater is on. When the heater is on, it'll go to whatever I want it to be. Usually around 70 degrees Fahreinheit.
Edited by JDGuy445, January 23, 2013 - 06:12 PM.
#26
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Posted January 23, 2013 - 09:37 PM
Al, like you, I'm from PA also, and experiencing the same temperatures. Only difference between you and I is, my shop is so cold, I have to keep my coffee outside, or it will freeze inside.
These past few days are just down right miserable. I leave for work at 5:45 in the mornings, and the truck just sits there asking me, "Really? You really want me to start in this weather? Why don't you just go back to bed and leave me alone."
Looks like they're calling for some snow Friday. Possible seat time, finally!
- Alc said thank you
#27
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Posted January 24, 2013 - 01:13 PM
Still happy with the temp difference between inside and outside. It was -12 this morning when I went out and still 34 in the shop. I can live with that.
- Alc said thank you
#28
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Posted January 25, 2013 - 07:33 AM
My garage is an oversize 2 car . Walls door and ceiling are insulated. In cold weather I have 1500 watt ceramic heater and an oscillating fan that runs 24/7 unless I'm gone for a few days. I can work in a T shirt most of the time. If I have to paint I have a Mr Buddy heater on a 20lb bottle I'll turn on long enough to get it hot enough to paint and hang plastic for over spray.
larryd
Edited by larryd, January 25, 2013 - 12:35 PM.
- Alc said thank you
#29
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Posted January 25, 2013 - 07:52 AM
My "shop" area is too small and too crammed to heat it.......my shed is open on 3 sides......so today the bottom line is it is "TDC" in my shop.....no that is not "top dead center" ......that is "too darn cold"
I think our high today is below freezing and may see a dusting of white stuff tonight. Guess no shop time for me in this weather.
- Alc said thank you
#30
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Posted January 25, 2013 - 08:06 AM
As part of the whole cold shop thing, what do you guys do to exhaust an engine you're running
in the shop, and not loose all the heat by opening the doors.
Exhaust hose to outside.
Lets see some pictures of your setups. What mat'l do you use?