Pre air conditoning workshops?

[The_Mad_Woodworker]

Having a great appreciation for old architecture (and old anything else), I know that before air conditioning, the geographical/topographical placement of buildings held a very important roll in the heating/cooling of a building. As well as strategic placement of windows and and Doors (tall doors) to allow airflow for cooling, and the integration of root cellars for geothermal cooling.

Now here is the question, did pre air conditioning woodworkers employ any such methods in the construction of their shops to keep them more cool in the hotter months?

[BWSmith]

Look at the way RR's setup their shops WRT "ridge venting".

Up here in Va some of the classier barns follow this same notion.Down through NC would think the garment industries would have used some clever ventilation?Just guessing here,and have spent alot of quality time touring and studying the subject.........that in many cases as industry "took off",these earlier examples got torn down to make way for new structures.Looking back,would also say that as "finishing" techniques and materials changed......so did construction,HVAC'ly speaking.BW

[CarvedTones]

I grew up just north of Atlanta and A/C was rare (often just a window unit in master bedroom and/or living room). My dad wasn't a woodworker, but a number of my friends' dads were and the majority of them had basement shops with 2 or 3 walls mostly or completely below ground.

[Glennbear]

Architecture changed as woodworking methods changed. Once powered machines came into use ceilings were made taller to accommodate the jungle of overhead pulleys and belts from central power sources (water or steam) A lot of the old shops had a clerestory row of windows at the ridge line which could be opened from floor level with long operating levers. These high windows added light to the shop and enabled heat accumulated at the highest point in the shop to escape. The methods used in days of yore to make the shop cooler are counterproductive in today's shop with HVAC .

[Jeff]

I wonder if the split-ductless cooling/heating systems would be a good fit for a "modern" WW shop? They seem to be moderately priced and have apparent advantages over the more traditional ducted systems.

Just curious.

[Glennbear]

I wonder if the split-ductless cooling/heating systems would be a good fit for a "modern" WW shop? They seem to be moderately priced and have apparent advantages over the more traditional ducted systems.

Just curious.

Some folks here have used such a system with success and I am sure they will chime in. IMHO the first step is to well insulate your shop. I insulated my 24 x24 shop to residential standards and it stays comfortable using a window AC unit and a wall mounted 220V fan forced radiant heater. I went this route since I already had the AC unit and a split system exceeded my budget.

[Skymaster]

3 car attached garage, insulated, LG mini split I LUV IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Works better than the 3.5 ton unit for the house

[Philr]

Air conditioning? What's that in my shop. I have the garage door open and two fans blowing 90+ degree air around on those hot days. I follow the work rules of the past and work in the morning, take a siesta in the afternoon and back in the shop in the late afternoon. Learned that lesson while stationed in the Middle East years ago.

For our snowy mountain winters I do have an electric heater which keeps the paints above 65 degrees.

[bwat]

Check out the WWJ eZine newsletter. Looks like they picked up on this thread. They listed NCWW as the source.

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/Ez...e_Be_8592.aspx

[CarvedTones]

Check out the WWJ eZine newsletter. Looks like they picked up on this thread. They listed NCWW as the source.

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/Ez...e_Be_8592.aspx

My 15 minutes of fame?