COLD Shop

[MogulTx]

I have a shop that is not insulated. This morning, it was 30 degrees. I have put in about 2.5 hours of set up and cutting already and have maybe another 2 to go... brrrrrrr! I feel for you guys up north. I am sure you put some emphasis on conditioning the environment in your shops. I will be looking to do that in 2015- but for now, I just get lots of coffee and turn on a little stand-heater that is only partially functioning! It's awful, but at least I can GET warm with a coat and gloves ( when not around the spindle!) And I know I will be using the fan and pining for colder weather all together too soon!!! And when I am sweating and wiping my brow, I will think back and smile at the fickle nature of Nature in Texas!

I think my hands are warmed up enough and the present cut should be finishing up in about 30 minutes.... I will have to go back out and check on it pretty quick!!

[kevin]

You have to remember its burned in are DNA what can help make a passive solar heater works great .My temperature is only a couple of degrees cooler
I saw a news article In Florida how to avoid hyper therm-ea at 40 degrees

[jerry_stanek]

I was working in my shop yesterday it was only 3 degrees when I started but warmed up to a balmy 20 degrees by the time I was done. Tomorrow I have to cut some letters and they are calling for a whopping 32 degrees. I always seem to get jobs when it is super cold or super hot. It al started with my first paid job 5 below and had an 8 hr run

[Ajcoholic]

Our winter was mainly -20 to -40 since December. Still in the -30 at night and when Im going to work.

But its always 64 F inside the shop :)

And this year the price of propane was about 1/2 of last winter... sweet!

[MogulTx]

I just finished up and have done a total of about 7 cutting hours today. The temp is not as bad as what you guys experience, but I don't have heat nor insulation... so the temp inside the shop has been around 36-39 this afternoon.... very chilly to be handling metal sheet goods ( aluminum). Plus the rain/sleet all day has made it miserable (going back and forth to the shop)... feet are soaked. Legs are tired. Gonna sleep soundly tonight... the project is complete and all I have to do is some clean up on Monday AM so I can deliver 100 of the shaped aluminum pieces to the customer for assembly into the structure. I have four more things to machine this weekend.... but it is 8 oclock and I think it will wait until Monday!

[Xray]

I have been working in single digit temps for weeks, not too bad if you move around a bit and avoid touching metal too often. I have a propane heater but don't use it too much, when I get too cold I just come in and thaw out for a bit. Tough on machines, my air compressor will not turn over when it gets this cold, major handicap not to have air.

[jerry_stanek]

I have been working in single digit temps for weeks, not too bad if you move around a bit and avoid touching metal too often. I have a propane heater but don't use it too much, when I get too cold I just come in and thaw out for a bit. Tough on machines, my air compressor will not turn over when it gets this cold, major handicap not to have air.

I will was up my air compressor with a heat gen keep trying it till starts. Once it runs the first time it will start just fine. It is a 5hp 80 gallon unit with a cast iron head

[Xray]

I think as the oil gets too viscous with consistent low temps it trips a safety shutoff, understandable.

[Brady Watson]

Ingersoll All Season Select oil works in all temps. Mine runs in negative F temps occasionally...and the Summer heat. It's not cheap, but it's the best. I doubt many change their compressor oil at regular intervals. A good compressor will last a lifetime. Buy the one you want & maintain it...It'll outlast you. At least that's what I was taught.

-B

[Xray]

I'll give that a try, my compressor is a top of the line Ingersoll.
It is a PITA to change oil, no drainage as such you have to tip the whole compressor to drain from the case, I'll wait till it warms up a bit so as to get a better drain.

Got up in the 30's today and it ran like a champ.

[curtiss]

Cold Shop in Texas ?

Perhaps an electric heating pad in your coveralls / if it does not throw a breaker...

[chiloquinruss]

I usually can stand the cold in my shop at around 30ish, but my problem is getting GLUE to set! Yesterday I set two pieces to be glued under a couple of sun lamps until warm and them glued them up leaving them under the sun lamps. Glue was not set completely set this afternoon! Russ

[MogulTx]

Russ- I bet that is a difficulty. I just had trouble getting the DS tape to stick to the aluminum well enough to accomplish all the cuts I had to do.

Circulation in my hands is not very good due to an injury, so it makes the cold, while handling/manipulating metal a bit more difficult. But you get REAL chill. ( repost the train track clearing video some time!)

Enjoy your posts! All the best!

[Brady Watson]

I just had trouble getting the DS tape to stick to the aluminum well enough to accomplish all the cuts I had to do.

Ya gotta heat up your tape a little in the Winter. WAY more effective. I take the roll and lay it in the duct for a few minutes. You can also store your tape in the house and bring it out just before applying.

-B

[jerry_stanek]

for double sided tape I put it on hit it with a heat gun and stick the part

[shilala]

My shop is in our attached garage.
When I ordered my bot, I ripped all the inside walls off, ran all my electric, and insulated it half to death.
Then I got up in the attic above the shop, insulated it, and put a floor in.
Then, instead of drywall, I hung osb board everywhere for an extra barrier. Adjusted the garage door so it's nice and tight against the gaskets.
Two little electric heaters keep it nice and warm, it's that tight.
I HATE cold. And being that I'm not on a clock, I knew I just wouldn't work if it was cold out there. lol :D