[TheForge] Resend - Winter is coming (was: sure is quiet)

[Walter L. Mullett]

Obviously, every shop is different in how it can or should be heated.  One
thing we all have in common is that we have a lot of heat absorbing mass.
<A lot on me too>.  Steel, brick and concrete all take a lot of BTU to bring
up to a temperature we like to work in.  Until they are heated, they act
like you holding your house door open.

If you don't heat your shop 24 hr, have a lot of air infiltration, have a
large volume, or have large doors open frequently, you should consider some
form of radiant heat.  Heat just where you work.  If you put your radiant
heat overhead, recognize that cold feet and legs are uncomfortable.  Add
some lower level heating if possible.  If you can, turn on your infared
over your work area ahead of time (timer) to bring the floor up to a
reasonable temperature before you get in the way.

Wouldn't it be great if we could have some radiant heat in the floor (& in
our anvil) ?

If you do whole area heating by convection on a part time basis, you can
save money and be more comfortable if you have your heating start an hour or
so prior to occupancy and shutting it down an hour before you leave.

Walt
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB@pt.fdah.com>
>To: theforge@mailman.qth.net <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
>Date: Monday, October 28, 2002 9:00 AM
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Winter is coming (was: sure is quiet)
>
>
>Dave,
>
>If your shop is drafty enough that you can feel the wind blow in on windy
>days, you will probably save more money in heating than any other way by
>simply plugging the worst of the leaks.  I am NOT advocating an entirely
>air-tight enclosure, but when cold air blows in of its own accord, you're
>just throwing money away.
>
>Insulating the shop is next in line, if it's not already insulated.  What
>you use or how you do it is an economic question.
>
>Heating is third in line.  Most economical only when fuel is free or cheap.
>
>Bruce
>NJ
>
>
>