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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    805

    Default Shed heating options

    Hi Guys,

    Looking for suggestions on how I should heat my shed here in Canberra during the winter months. It’s a large shed, I think nominally it’s a 4 car shed (although with all my benches etc you cant get that many in there now). No insulation, just clad in tin. Its bloody freezing in their after dark and as such my projects tend to stagnate for at least 4 months of the year.

    I was looking for an old wood heater to put in there as I have access to free hardwood from a mates property. I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t find any locally til I realised the ACT government buys back all old wood heaters for $600 a pop….which is propping up the price of second hand heaters something bad.

    So I was toying with the idea of making a flued hard wood burning heater out of an old hot water system. But I really need to be in there working on projects quickly so was wondering if you guys new of any other economical options that might do the job? I have a dazzling array of electrical circuits in there (2400w, 3600w and 4800w three phase) so maybe something electical is the go if a DIY combustion stove is going to take too long to make.

    Would appreciate your thoughts and opinions.

    Cheers,

    Brendan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Melbourne - Australia
    Posts
    12

    Default

    I bought one of these from Supagas years ago.

    3THF_with_HESTND_1.jpg

    If your shed is large enough (there is a minimum shed size/volume) then they are great. More of a local heater, you can move it around to where you are working.
    It will end up heating my whole workshop. And no mucking around with firewood, enough trouble keeping up with the wood heater in the house.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    79
    Posts
    31

    Default

    I think the first thing I would do is get a bit if insulation in the roof as least,a slow combustion unit would be good, all our mistakes could go into it
    If the local gov have a buy back going have a look around in other states.
    I am lucky here,my shop is below the house(we are on a sloping block) and there is enough leakage from the ducted system upstairs to keep my room ok,just right in winter and just right in summer,I can wear light clothing the same all year round.
    The only problem I have is when using the drop saw SHMBO says it's too much when she is watching a movie above me,should have put some sound insulation at day one,but I say you want your thing? done put up with it

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Melbourne Australia
    Posts
    1,376

    Default

    Hello Brendan.

    You might get some inspiration from this thread from a few months back if you missed it.

    http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/sh...nament-171758/

    I've not made one, but been in a few sheds with them. Its amassing how much radiant heat those heavy drums put out.

    Regards Phil.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Colyton, NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    50

    Default

    I was very impressed with the Rocket Stove. Seems reasonably easy to build and very efficient

    John

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    0

    Default

    I pulled out the fireplace from our place when we first moved in. I came from a small town and always had to chop the firewood i didnt want to store a ton of wood in my backyard etc so i gave it to my father in law. I didn't realise thry buy back at 600 a pop. Wow did I lose out there or what. I'm considering one of those gas heaters on wheels. It should keep my brick workshop warm enough

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default

    Another vote for the Supa Ray gas heater that jvb recommended.
    Chris

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,945

    Default

    The first thing I would do is to put insulation in the roof area, even if it is the foil type, you'll find that it will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, plus minimal loss of heat going thru the roof. Then look at the gas type heaters that others have suggested, that can be moved around, maybe onto the back verandah for the barbie that we are ALL going to be invited too. Just joking.
    If you want to go the wood fire route, it will be far more efficient with insulation installed.
    Kryn

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Oakleigh, Victoria
    Posts
    55

    Default

    I've got a little J15 Jetfire. Expensive, but gets a big space unbearably hot in minutes.

    Industrial and Commercial Jetfire Gas Heaters and Dryers

  10. #10
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
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    Canberra
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    Default

    Hi Brendan,
    I put a pot belly in my shed for this winter, it does a good job of heating the whole area. I do have insulation on the roof and walls though. A lot of heat does go up the chimney with the pot belly though, thats where the rocket heaters are better.
    I have 1 truck drum here if you want it, i don't think i'll ever use it.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    - Put at least some sisalation under the roof, keeps cooler in summer and warmer in winter!!

    - a wood fire stove is good if you have free firewood. If you own am anvil it may double up as a makeshift forge for occasional use. The downside is that it takes some time to start a fire, which may delay you starting work in the shed. And then the job is done, you cannot simply turn it off like an electric heater. If you got a small job to do, say one hour or less, you will find that you put it off for another day because its not "worthwile" to fire up the stove.

    - an electric fan heater is cheap to buy, clean, and quick to turn on/off, but expensive to run.

    - a flued gas heater is as good as an electric fan heater, but cheaper to run IF you have town gas in the shed..... Troube is, few people on town gas would also have a shed. And LPG is just too dear.

    - an unflued gas heater is probably the last thing you want in a shed with machine tools in it. Burning gas releases large quantities of water vapour, which will condense overnight onto your precious lathes / mills etc.

    - best option I found is a reverse cycle airconditioner. Very energy efficient, as it is also called a "heat pump". Just turn it on when needed. It can not only heat in winter, it can also cool in summer -- and it also has a dehumidifier setting that you can put on for half an hour before leaving the shed to get rid of any humidity left behind from your breathing. Chris

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    Hey Chris, i agree with pretty much everything you said. I think I'll look at somethin like this:
    http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=290942999002

    There is a 5000w one on there too for 180. Do you think that would be overkill for my shed? I measured it and it's smaller than i thought, only 5m by 9m. A heat pump would awesome but out of my budget at the moment.

    Thanks for the offer of the drum ew, I'd like to make a fire but just concious that i have too many projects on already.

    Brendan
    Last edited by 19brendan81; 12th Jul 2013 at 10:23 AM. Reason: Poorly formatted due to writing on tablet

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
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    Default

    I think the heat pump efficiency thing is overstated. I have 2 Daikin inverter ducted reverse cycle air conditioners in my home. They are frighteningly expensive to run. So much so that I have installed 2 gas space heaters in the house. They are much cheaper to run. The reverse cycle is only used for cooling now.

    Also, the dehumidifier mode on many (all?) air conditioners will not work below a certain temp. This mode is for dehumidifying houses in the tropics.

    My workshop has a Supa-Ray on the wall and a Rinnai un-flued gas heater on the floor. I haven't noticed any condensation issues, but my workshop is well ventilated.
    Chris

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jvb View Post
    I bought one of these from Supagas years ago.

    3THF_with_HESTND_1.jpg
    Blowing my own trumpet here, but I did the gas approval for this heater, for Supagas.

  15. #15
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    Jul 2010
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by P J View Post
    I've got a little J15 Jetfire. Expensive, but gets a big space unbearably hot in minutes.

    Industrial and Commercial Jetfire Gas Heaters and Dryers
    I've got one of these on loan from a mate. I worked out it cost about $3.50 an hour to run. But its been so cold lately there isnt a lot of choice(must be getting old) and its not like it needs to run for an hour at 17kW. Mostly just use it in the morning to knock the chill off.

    I'm going to start looking into running town gas to the shed for a heater and furnace.

    Stuart

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