CHAT: studio heat

["Robin Putnam" <icarvestone@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Since the silence is killing me....

My experience with radiant heat in one's studio / shop.

My studio is a large ( 24 x 30 ), un-insulated metal 'barn'.  I installed a
well used radiant heater that works on propane.  I hung it from the bottom
of the roof trusses about 12 feet up.  It is angled slightly to point the
heat towards me as a whole as oppose to hitting the top of my head.  It's
about 6 feet away from the banker with my latest project on it.

I won't say it's the perfect solution to a freezing studio but as long as
the temp inside is around or over 30 degrees F. I find it keeps me
comfortable enough to work for hours. One downside....my butt and legs get
cold...so insulated pants and  long-johns are necessary when the temps are
below freezing.  The best part is that the heat is directed towards my
hands, head, tools and the stone.  I do not have to wear so many clothes
that I can barely move or gloves as my hammers and chisels are kept very
warm !!

Once I put up insulation I am told it will keep the whole place warm and use
less propane to do it.  I have a 300 gallon propane tank and  the previous
owner of the heater says it runs 2hrs per gallon so I figured it would get
me through the coldest winter months.  Lately, here in SW Missouri, we have
been blessed with a lot of unusually warm days with sun and temps ranging
 from the mid 50's to the high 60's !!

BTW the heater was an old, dusty, bug clogged thing that had been laying
around in an unused shop for 2 yrs. The owner  gave it to me just to get the
thing out of his way !!  It's the older version that uses ceramic tiles and
a lot of people think they are obsolete..... BUT....not for us scrounge
hounds !!!  One man's trash......

~Robin
no-stoneunturned
pics @ http://public.fotki.com/Robinlea/