Hello Everyone,
I have limited time during the week to work on knives, and my propane fueled radiant heater takes long time to get the shop comfortable enough to work on gringing, filing, sanding, pinning, etc. I have a 20' x 30' barn that I turned into my shop, and it is not a "tight" building (plenty of gaps/leaks, etc.). I can't afford putting in a permanent heating system, so I am leaning towards a forced air kerosene heater just to get the air warmed up, then the radiant heater cn take over. What do you all think in terms of safety, function, etc.?
Ed,
Here is an alternative way of looking at it. It might not work for you, but I'm actually buiding a new shop and am partioning off only a part of it for climate control. You might be able to take a part of your barn and wall it in and insulate it so a small heater of some sort would easily heat it. Plus, it would be easier to keep that area clean from grinding dust.
Ed,
I agree with Lin. Separating work you could tolerate in the cold and heat only a smaller area works great for us cold weather makers if you could swing it. A commercially made kerosene heater in itself is safe enough, and it sounds like venting the fumes isn't a problem.
Tom
Lin,
That's a great idea, and I was planning to insulate the entire shop before next winter. Maybe then I won't have this issue. However, I just can't afford it this winter because I'm going to the ABS Intro class at Haywood in March. Next on the list is a decent grinder (KMG?), and then I'll have a problem with dust and wish I would have walled in an area...but I should be able to do it pretty easily when needed.
Tom,
After you answered my post, I did get a ThermoHeat 75,000 BTU Kerosene heater, and it heats my shop in 5 minutes (it was 30 degrees F outside)to where I don't need a coat, jacket, or ski cap! So far the CO monitor doesn't read anything, the field mice don't seem any worse for the wear, and I barely smelled the kerosene...definitely worth the investment.
Thanks for the advice guys!
