Shop heat

GordoSD · Jan 24, 2014

With the propane shortage I am trying to think of a way to help heat the shop.

What is the thermal energy coefficient of a large charcoal burner? Obviously I won't be working there with that going.

I guess an LB White diesel burner in another option?

Greg K · Jan 24, 2014

Eat lots of hot chili and wear coveralls?

Larry NEIL · Jan 24, 2014

LOL!!!

Larry NEIL · Jan 24, 2014

Gordo, what kind of heat are you using? A furnace with a fan or in floor heat?
Reason I asked, my son got to lookin on the compuker about cheap heat and found a "nutty scientist" from Indiana who claims that you can run passive (in floor heat) with the grass clippings from 1-1/2 acres for a year with a tumbler tub plumbed into it. Says manure, horse poop he used helps with the heat and I would imagine old hay would work as well.
I don't have that on my pc anymore, but I think if you looked some you could find some of those sites. Good luck!
Larry

howdy1960 · Jan 24, 2014

I'm looking into Rocket Mass Heaters. Check out youtube when your bored. The tuber named web4deb looks interesting but so many choices to pick from. Good Luck

showcrop · Jan 25, 2014

My shop is 40x 50x17. I have a little catalytic propane heater. most winters, keeping the shop at 38 then up to 55 when I am in there it costs me about $400.00. Propane is very high here in NH.

Dieselrider · Jan 25, 2014

Those Rocket mass heaters are really neat as long as you #1 have lots of time to fire them. They burn the wood up quickly and require refilling every 15-20 minutes over a period of time to get the "mass " warm. and:
#2 They require a mass such as cob or stone to absorb the heat over a period of time and then slowly release it to the air.

They sound really good for someone setting around sipping coffee all day while they fire the stove, but not something one can fire and walk away from and expect the heat to last all day. I wanted to put one in a green house and have the mass heat the green house through the night but, I can't see me firing it all day every day to keep the mass hot.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 25, 2014

GordoSD,
On the news, it says propane shortage is partly because we are exporting propane.

There is going to be a Natural gas shortage, because electric companies are making Natural gas peaking plants. Which someday may be more than peaking plants when coal is phased out.

Because it cost more to use natural gas, guess what? Yep, electric companies say the price of electricity may increase 33% soon.

I'm not going to worry about shop heat. If I have a erge to go to the shop to work in the winter, I set down and wait for erge to pass.
George

GordoSD · Jan 25, 2014

I'm using propane. A big Reznor hanging from the ceiling. The past 12 winters I have been good with the one summer fill of 400 gals, lasts all winter. Already I am down to 35%
The bottom of my thermostat is 40 Degrees. That's were it is 80 % of the time. If I have a long project there I toss it up to 55.

MSD · Jan 25, 2014

Waste oil heater. Son has one for his shop and it is a nice toasty 70 degrees in there all winter long. Down side is dealing with dirty waste oil and finding sources of it. He'll burn about 1400 gallons in a season with it.

Shop heat

GordoSD

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Greg K

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Larry NEIL

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Larry NEIL

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howdy1960

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showcrop

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Dieselrider

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Geo-TH,In

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GordoSD

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MSD

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