Workshop Temps
 

I had read an earlier post about the temps affecting the glue and epoxies, but will cold temperatures have an effect on the wood itself? I have a 1 car garage separated from the rest of the basement that since I started flying has also become my workshop. It is insulated but only heated by a portable kerosene heater that I use when I'm working on something. It can get pretty chilly in there though....right now it's only 14 degrees outside. Do you think I will be alright leaving the kit in there when it's not heated or should I try and find a warmer location for building. I work outside all night for a living fixing airplanes so the cold doesn't really bother me. Any tips or suggestions?

Darren

RE: Workshop Temps
 

when i lived in texas i found the cold didn't ever hurt anything othere than me but the humidity is what will warp things out of shape,epoxy had to be warmed up to get it out of the bottles but that is all

RE: Workshop Temps
 

I agree with 3dd. I only heat my garage/workshop when I'm building. I haven't had any problems. Try to keep your radio gear in a constant temp. The condensation from the heating and cooling can cause problems.

RE: Workshop Temps
 

I USED to have my workshop in an unheated garage = hated touching those tools in the winter time. Used a kerosene heater and it worked O.K.....kept everything except my tx. out there.

Jerry

RE: Workshop Temps
 

I agree with everyone else. I would however keep the glue inside until I went out. I have the opposite problem. I live in central PA. And The dragon is just beyond the wall. I have a radiant coal heater going in the other part of the downstairs. It gets kinda warm down here. Good luck and keep the tootsies warm.

Mark Shuman

RE: Workshop Temps
 

My workshop is in the 3rd stall of my insulated garage, it is heated by a low profile gas heater hung from the ceiling. For the first year, I had the temp set on a programmable thermostat so that Monday-Friday at 5pm it would heat to 65 degrees, and at 11pm it would drop to 45 degrees (thermo wouldn't go any lower). And on Weekends I had it set so that it stayed at 65 degrees from 7am till 11pm both days.

I had a lot of problems with glue drying, especially epoxies. I had to heat the bottles up a few times with the heat gun.

Since then, I just set the thermo to 65 degrees and let it run around the clock. I've hardly noticed a difference in the gas bill, and its nice having the workshop at a constant temp.

Dav

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Ditto on other replies. Watch leaving your engines in unheated area as well. One year I suspended a couple planes from the ceiling in my garage (due to lack of space). The cooling/heating made enough condensation on the engines to rust a little (just enough to notice in carb barrels). This could cause problems if it gets to the bearings!!

Humidity is my major woe. I can't keep up the humidity in the winter enough to keep my covering from sagging.

You pilots in sunny states don't know how good you have it!

Pilgrim

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Can't say from experience, but have read how you don't want to put opened CA bottles back in the 'fridge. Condensation then turns the whole bottle into a plastic brick. Maybe a problem in cold/hot/cold/hot shops as well?
I just can't imagine enjoying building and bothering to take time and do it right much below 65 degrees.

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Pilgrim:

Not so, sir! Why do you think we are here? We've been there, done that, and made the choice not to do it again.

Haw.

Bill.

RE: Workshop Temps
 

I live in Texas, and its hot. I leave most of my stuff out in the garage and everything works fine. Gets cold in the winter. A Max min of about 20 F. I do keep my bateries inside though.

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Robinson: OK, I can retire in about ten years, so maybe I'll come join you then. I'll have to find a good club as a prerequisite before I choose my retirement city. FL is in the top three!!

Pilgrim

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Pilgrim:

Check it out:

www.nfmi.org

And we now have eight flying fields, not a measly seven!

Bill.

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Robinson,
All right, NOW I'M REALLY JEALOUS!!!
We used to have two fields, but lost the lease on one a couple years ago, so now are down to one. I thought our club was awsome because we have a paved runway, but WOW, you can take your pick!!

BTW, very nice website, too!

Enjoy!

Pilgrim

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Hi well here in ND it can get very cold in the winter.and very hot in the summer !! outside temps can very from -40 to 110 has been hotter and colder than that but these are temps that can be seen at some point each yr!! Not every yr I will add..
I just finished building my work shop for my planes and have decided to heat and cool it yr round ! looks like that cost will run me around $15 month ! I did the varing temp thing too and didnt notice any thing but cold glues and so on ! paints and glues dont warm up as fast as the room temp does .. since I keep the temp at 65 winter and A/C is set to 75 i now can keep everything out there battery packs glues paints what ever always good !!
I doubled the size of the room this summer and wish i had twice as much now again LOL just love this hobby !! now its 10X20

RE: Workshop Temps
 

Pilgrim:

Are you now saying you don't want to wait the ten years before retirement?

Six of the sites have paved runways, one has been left in grass because the sail plane boys want it that way, and we'll probably leave number eight in grass also, but we've only had it for about three months now.

Our "Fanciest" site also has the smallest paved runway, it's only 60' by 400' I think, not sure. But it has our best float fly site, the pond is roughly 150' by 600' long. When the site is finished we'll have two c/l circles also, one paved, memory says at 70' radius.The Pensacola Ukie boys have gone in with us on the site, as has one rc boat club. They are associates, now lease owners. We've made provision (left room) for an off-road car track, but the car boys haven't organized themselves too well yet. We'll still let them in if they ever get their crap together. Left room? That's a joke. We have about 600 acres there. All cleared, but there are trees surrounding. You might have looked at some of the work crew pictures there, it's still not really finished.

Don't own it, we have it on a ten year renewable lease from Escambia county,

Shall I call a real estate agent for you?

Bill.