Just too cold in California

37chief · Jan 4, 2019

I like to work on my motorcycle projects in my garage attached to my house. It's probably in the 40,s inside. My fingers were so cold I had to stop what I was doing. I can't imagine what some of you go through in such cold weather as you have. Do you notice the cold weather the older you get? I haven't even considered going to my barn to work on my tractors until later in the morning when things warm up. Stan

rusty6 · Jan 4, 2019

Yes, the cold sure does take the fun out of working on old cold iron. And I do notice it worse as I get older. But yesterday I was sweating while working on moving the Merc from one shed to the other. Actually took my parka off finally. It was 30 degrees. That is about 30 degrees above normal for us.

Ande · Jan 4, 2019

40s.... hm, that's a nice day here.

Farmall plowboy · Jan 4, 2019

40's I could live with, won't see that till maybe may if we're lucky!

chuckinnc · Jan 4, 2019

40's inside the work shop, that's about the same here. My problem is seeing, I seem to need more brighter lights sense I retirted
so that with sensitivity to cooler temps make it difficult.

jon f mn · Jan 4, 2019

Last weekend it was -10? at night and warmed to zero or a bit above during the day. I worked in my uninsulated shop both days. Ran a torpedo heater that didn't really warm anything but took the chill off. Didn't need gloves unless the doors were open and the wind got in.

gab · Jan 4, 2019

They say last month was colder than normal in N. Illinois but my attached garage stayed 35 or 40, still too cold to suit me. Still haven't had enough snow to start a tractor and plow, not complaining though. About 2011 or 12 I had a drift across my drive way that was 2 inches taller than my 12.4x 36 tractor tires, took most of the day to get rid of that. Also remember, must of been early 90s, it was 28 below and don't want to see that again either.

grizz02 · Jan 4, 2019

have a 175000 LP heater and wood stove nice and warm

Steve@Advance · Jan 4, 2019

I can't do cold, never have, never will!

Depending on the wind and humidity, about 40-50F is my cold limit working range, unless it's heavy physical and I can bundle up. But anything intricate, or involving power tools where I can't wear gloves, working with numb fingers just ain't gonna happen.

I used to be able to tolerate heat well. Grew up in a house with a swamp cooler in N Texas. High humidity, temps in the 100's every summer. Didn't have a vehicle with air conditioning until I was in my 30's. Air conditioned shop was unheard of.

No more, heat wears me down quick now, AC is a necessity at home, work, and on the road!

JD Seller · Jan 4, 2019

Heck 40s is tee shirt weather to me. I keep my shop at 45-50 and even then I have to strip down to a tee shirt or I sweat. I can comfortable work down to 10-15 without gloves. Colder than that an I have to bundle up more. Also the wind chill makes a HUGE difference too.

sms · Jan 4, 2019

Third story roof with the wind coming across the frozen lake, 40 sounds good.

paul · Jan 4, 2019

It?s up to 41 degrees, the sun is shining for the 6th day out of the past 365, and there is little wind.

It feels nice out, one of the best days to work outside since beginning of October!

All depends what you are used to.

Below 15 degrees is cold.

High humidity damp cloudy days below 40 is cold.

Windy days below 30 are cold.

Paul

730virgil · Jan 4, 2019

tall kid had his 34th birthday 1-1-2019 the night before he was we had a blizzard made interesting trip to hospital.

what should have 10 minutes drive took 30 or more minutes in an ambulance as most streets were closed those that were open were 1 lane

Geo-TH,In · Jan 4, 2019

The only problem I have is called old age shrinkage caused by the cold. My finger gets shorter.

SDE · Jan 4, 2019

I have not been able to push myself outside this winter. I have only accomplished a few things, but today was the day.
Today I made the mistake of trying to walk thru a tag alder swamp instead of going around it. Even my glasses were sweating. Because of the cold, I overdress and then suffer.

kcm.MN · Jan 4, 2019

I just put up a 13' x 20' Shelter Logic building. Snow was already on the ground when it went up. Spread a tarp over the snow/ice and covered that with several layers of big cardboard boxes I'd been saving for a compost pile, but decided against all the chemicals in them, so now it's my floor. Also insulates from the cold ground.

We reached mid-30's today and sunny, so the building got right comfy inside. Was down to a T-shirt and flannel, and should have taken the flannel off. Sweated too much. Was probably close to 40F at shoulder height.

I'll be working.....ooops, forgive my language, using that nasty "W" word again! *lol* Anyway, I'll be doing 'stuff' out there when the temps are well below zero. If it's cold and also windy, I'll have a 4' x 6' room with 6' headroom and a small workbench for doing things; sharpening saw chains or anything I don't wanna do in the house. Setting up a makeshift sawmill in the rest of the building so I can cut some cants for an upcoming project.

Out there, with it dry, it's likely I won't be wearing gloves unless the temps inside the building are -10F or so.

It's all about what you're accustomed to. Most of you can handle 90F weather. Me? I suffer!! I turn on the A/C when outside temps hit 60F. I'd do it sooner than that if the wife would let me. :shock:

J.Wondergem · Jan 4, 2019

When I was younger I could work in the cold. Now It's just right when it's 68 in the shop unless I'm sitting down fitteling around on something small, then I have to set it up to 70..

docmirror · Jan 4, 2019

Yup, when I was a kid, changed tires and did brakes at 110F in Escondido. Moved to upper midwest, could work on trucks in the 20s. Now, I'm waiting until this wknd in the 60s to go fix my new motor grader. Should get it running by Mon.

Russ from MN · Jan 4, 2019

Yes, it's been colder than normal in AZ too, I planned on climbing Superstition mountain today, got to within 300 ft. (elevation) of the summit and gave up, too icy. Very seldom does it get any snow on it.

Commercial Farmer · Jan 4, 2019

Cold is 30 below zero.

kcm.MN · Jan 4, 2019

Coldest I've ever experienced is -50.6F. Was no wind at all. Went outside just to experience it....and don't ever want to do it again!

Don't know what the actual low was, as the sensor was mounted to the side of the house, and therefore never read as cold as it was away from the house.

Didn't last long, either. Had been below -20F continuously for over 2 weeks day and night. Was in the lower -20's the evening before, then dropped to -50.6F between about 4-5am, then rose into the -30's, then warmed up the following day to the -20's.

Here's a pic of someone who REALLY knows what cold is! Anastasia Gruzdeva in Yakutsk, Russia at -56F

kcm.MN · Jan 4, 2019

Here's a short video to go with the Russia photo. Temps in the video are given in Celsius. Says they can get down to -88F!! :shock: :shock: :shock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDOTI-lrOb0

Leroy · Jan 4, 2019

50 is too cold to be comfortable, I need at least 60 and closer to 70. To not be shivering I have to keep house at 75.

Stephen Newell · Jan 4, 2019

Cold in Texas too. We heat the house with wood and were out. Then I'm down sick with a cold and it's raining so I can't cut any more. It's been around 50 in my living room all week.

Apache_58 · Jan 4, 2019

So many different ways to heat a shop or garage.
For a attached 2 car garage..I’ve seen those monitor style kerosene heaters listed on Craig’s List for $200-$300. Used tanks with stand for $150.

Turn it on at night and work on bikes the next morning. Get a used recliner chair to set in the corner..priorities man!

A wood stove or waste oil stove is more my style, but I know many places in California are pretty commie about that.

Apache_58 · Jan 4, 2019

Draw your curtains and hang some sheets in the doorways so you can isolate at least your living room. Roll up a shower towel and place it along the sill of your front door.

One or two of those oil filled radiant heaters will surprise you. Might have a slightly higher power bill, but at least you will be able to relax till it’s wood cutting weather. You can even split the room in half with a couple hanging sheets if your electric heater isn’t cutting it.

Either that or find some guy in the parking lot selling wood somewhere.

Wood pallets are given away free in many places around here. Might take the edge off enough to heal up in comfort.

Billy NY · Jan 4, 2019

I'm comfortable working outside when there is no wind, in the 20's,sometimes lower, but don't mind 30 degrees at all. I have grown to hate the high humidity we get so much more now than I recall, coupled with high heat, just takes the energy right out of me sometimes. I don't mind the summer heat when the air is dryer, humidity is a deal breaker nowadays, did not seem so bad when I was young.

sms · Jan 4, 2019

I was attending college upstate NY 1979-81. Walked to class at
-40F(truck wouldn't turn over with two batteries). Was teaching skiing in
northern VT during Canadian week, everyone was from Toronto, was -37F,
everyone was out there.

Just too cold in California

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