Shop temps

Shop temps · 11-06-2009, 09:37 AM

I am currently working out of my two car garage which is finished (my house was a model home and they builder must have used the garage as an office).

I know that too much heat/humidity is bad for wood and some shop equipment, but on the reverse side, what's too cold? I have a portable AC unit that I am using to cool/heat the space, which is also a dehumidifier.

What would be the ideal temp range for the space?

Dave

Travis Porter · 11-06-2009, 10:12 AM

I just don't want my stuff to freeze. Primary reason glues and paints go bad. Otherwise, I personally have not had any issues.

Knock on wood.

dave · 11-06-2009, 10:22 AM

So maybe nothing below 40-45 degrees then? Trying to find a compromise on not being too cold, but also not having to run the AC unit any more than is necessary.

woodnick · 11-06-2009, 10:25 AM

Furniture should be built at the same temperture as it will be put in when finished.

dave · 11-06-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by woodnick

Furniture should be built at the same temperture as it will be put in when finished.

Forgive the question, but I am a complete noob... does this mean I should try to keep the temps constant or only that when I build something, I should have the temp at what I expect it will be where the item is kept?

In other words, could I keep the temp around 45 when I am not in the shop working and then raise it up to around 75 a couple hours before I begin work?

Canuck · 11-06-2009, 01:33 PM

Dave,

My "shop" is an attached two car garage as well.

The temp out there rarely gets too much below 45 degrees or so in the dead of winter. I do bring my paint, glue etc into the house when I know its going to get real cold.

I have not let this stop me from working on a project. (After all I am still a Canadian!

)

I generally crank up the little kerosene heater and warm it up to about 65 degrees and just carry on. No ill effects on indoor destined projects I have built yet!

Where it may get tricky is when I am ready to apply a finish. I try and keep a consistent temp until the finish has dried.

Wayne

dave · 11-06-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks Wayne! I suspect my temps in the winter will be similar, but this is the first year I'll be working out there, so I've had no reason to check before.

I do know that in the summer, the temps can climb past 80 easily. Part of the attic (unfinished) is over the garage and I think that adds to it heating up.

Trying to decide if I want to have the work done to the garage to make it more suitable for year round work or talk the wife into moving to a house with space for a proper workshop in back.

JackLeg · 11-06-2009, 07:49 PM

You guys have HEAT in your shops? WOW! I'm impressed!

mkepke · 11-06-2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by woodnick

Furniture should be built at the same temperture as it will be put in when finished.

Why do you think that ?

-Mark

Bas · 11-06-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by dave

What would be the ideal temp range for the space?

Ideally, you'd keep it at 68.9 degrees year round. But that's not practical.

Although I come pretty close to that with my basement shop

Freezing is bad for glue, finishes etc. And it's not good to let get things over 95 or so. Paste wax gets runny, and the humidity here in NC gets so high around that temperature that everything "sweats". So your extremes are 35 - 95.

I would definitely try to keep things at 45 or above, or it will take a long time for things to heat up in the winter. The air might feel warm after 30 minutes, but cast iron has a lot of mass, and cold tools easily lead to accidents.

If you're doing glue-ups, keep the temperature above 60 degrees while it cures, or it will take a very long time. I remember seeing David Marks put an electric blanket over his vacuum press to keep things warm.

Temperature doesn't have too much of an influence on wood. Humidity does, and warm air holds more moisture. But, it's not like the wood absorbs it like a spunge. If the normal temperature in the shop the summer is 85 or so, and you run the A/C to bring it down to 70 for a few hours, it's not like the wood suddenly shrivels up. It takes days if not weeks for it to adjust.

I definitely think you should move to a house where you have a dedicated workshop out back, with heat and A/C

Skymaster · 11-06-2009, 11:32 PM

I wood maintain pretty much the same conditions you keep in your house. 65 - 70 ish if possible. That just keeps everything in a nice steady state, no need to run out and either warm or cool it. One thing that gets un noticed is that it is NOT just the air temp. Anything with mass IE: wood, bottles of glue stain,paint etc will NOT change temps as quickly as air. Steady shop temps means EVERYTHING is at a steady state IMHO

Rob · 11-07-2009, 07:52 AM

My shop is in the basement, pretty much runs close to what the house is and I've never had issues with wood, glue, nor finishes.

Skymaster · 11-07-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by JackLeg

You guys have HEAT in your shops? WOW! I'm impressed!

Yes I do

. Here in NJ and: in the NEW house in Zebulon heated and A/C I am soooooooooo soooooooooooooorrrry but builder FORCED me

junquecol · 11-07-2009, 08:41 PM

Temperature is a matter of perspective. The other night, when it was 34 outside, went into 57 degree shop, and it was WARM. Two days later when it was 70 outside, 57 degree shop felt COOL, if not COLD.

dave · 11-07-2009, 09:02 PM

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I don't think the temps have ever gone above 85 in the summer, but I have no idea what they do in the winter. I think I'll pick up one of those electronic thermometers with a humidity guage and watch the temps as the weather starts turning colder.

I would love to find a house with space for a nice workshop. We've only been in this house a little over two years, so it's sooner than I would like to think about moving, but may be worth considering.

Thanks again!