Okie dream man cave!

[knuckle47]

A wood stove would be the best for me regarding fuel… I have more oak than I could burn in 15 years already cut and put aside. but I have little space dedicated to an area that would be a “safe space” around the firebox. An overhead radiant seems like it has the best option as long as I can keep the minimum clearance to the foam spray above the heater. This week is predicted to be the coldest week we have had in a year or so…20’s and windy and today was dropping for 57F to 26F currently

i will head over to their website and start looking. Thank for for sharing !

 

[greenbeast]

A wood stove would be the best for me regarding fuel… I have more oak than I could burn in 15 years already cut and put aside. but I have little space dedicated to an area that would be a “safe space” around the firebox. An overhead radiant seems like it has the best option as long as I can keep the minimum clearance to the foam spray above the heater. This week is predicted to be the coldest week we have had in a year or so…20’s and windy and today was dropping for 57F to 26F currently

i will head over to their website and start looking. Thank for for sharing !

I too kicked around a wood burner since we have lifetime supply of hardwood on the farm. In the end I'm glad I went with just being able to turn something on and off when I get in the shop and when I leave. Hopefully 3-4 weeks the radiant heaters from Infratech will be mounted abover their respective windows, once that happens I will gladly share, of course when neither of us will need them!

 

[knuckle47]

@greenbeast this is exactly why I would do the same… the convenience of on or off…babysitting a burning firebox when I need to head elsewhere bothers me. Back in the mid 1970’s We lived in a 1 room schoolhouse and heated with wood. The week it was -50F the wall around the thimble where the pipe passed thru the wall started to smolder and we had poured a ton of water to keep the 1800’s wooden house from burning….photo from 1975

 

[knuckle47]

@greenbeast read a bunch on your diesel heater…. Do you use the floor mat shield? Is this a necessity with my epoxy floor I wonder?
years ago I used a salamander type kerosene/ diesel heater in a 2 car garage. Ran it for 20-30 minutes…then shut it down to work inside until I got cold again…usually an hour or less with no insulation. It was noisy like a jet engine.

my guess is that this VAL6 is not like that?

 

[greenbeast]

@greenbeast read a bunch on your diesel heater…. Do you use the floor mat shield? Is this a necessity with my epoxy floor I wonder?
years ago I used a salamander type kerosene/ diesel heater in a 2 car garage. Ran it for 20-30 minutes…then shut it down to work inside until I got cold again…usually an hour or less with no insulation. It was noisy like a jet engine.

my guess is that this VAL6 is not like that?

I crawled all over ground with hands on that new floor. Minimally affected then what research I could find it has stable temp at or around 250 degrees once it cures.

Basically I decided I didn’t need the heat shield not that I still may get one just to be safe with my investment in the floor.

 

[Michael B]

I use a propane mini-torpedo occasionally. But the noise and the exhaust fumes are annoying. Does the diesel heater have any exhaust fumes?

 

[knuckle47]

Of course the one to ask is @greenbeast …I did look up a bunch of statistics for the diesel radiant heater and it says “ no smoke no odors”
but I am interested in hearing if this is the case.

my old torpedo days were smelly and loud as well and exhaust was always an issue

 

[greenbeast]

Compared to the torpedo, smoke and odors is very minimal. It’s not quiet but far from how loud the torpedos are.

 

[1911]

I use a propane mini-torpedo occasionally. But the noise and the exhaust fumes are annoying. Does the diesel heater have any exhaust fumes?

The diesel torpedoes do; smells like diesel/kerosene of course.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Just keep in mind that a major product of combustion is water which contributes to condensation inside a building. I would start with the radiant - set it and forget it.

 

[knuckle47]

I’m guessing without any solid background in definitions of radiant, infrared, etc… I am getting confused…so all I am looking for is an electric radiant ….! Is this the one that hangs in the ceiling and glows red with warming objects or… the oil filled radiator looking portable units ?

 

[Michael B]

I already run a dehumidifier when the doors are closed.

 

[greenbeast]

I’m guessing without any solid background in definitions of radiant, infrared, etc… I am getting confused…so all I am looking for is an electric radiant ….! Is this the one that hangs in the ceiling and glows red with warming objects or… the oil filled radiator looking portable units ?

Well to be clear the three electric radiants are just that. No oils or anything. They will be mounted on the header above each window in corner of shop then directed towards my work area. Two are around 56-58 inches or so, the other is 48 inches in length. The longer ones have around 12’ coverage in front of them, the smaller one I think is around 9’.

Here’s my diesel radiant heater.

 

[Michael B]

Of course, happy to share.

The three electric radiant heaters are from Infratech. They make em for all kind of applications. Their website does decent job indicating coverage area for each type.

Purchased my diesel radiant heater at the Farm show last year. Made by Hy flow which is fairly local in Kansas. I think its between 100k-110k btu. I would run it too long inside small shop but it warms up things quickly and i run for half hour then shut it off. Mine has thermostat also. I know there are many brands out there like this and I am sure they all do decent job.

View attachment 3533254

How are the fumes/exhaust with this unit?

 

[knuckle47]

It appears that you are well setup for a cold weather test….have you done such so far? It has been in the low 20’s here for two days in contrast to the 57F on Saturday and almost every weekend since September….what a comparison… it just feels way colder. Snowing tonight and weather people jumped on the “ no snow for 700 days“ bandwagon. I can’t believe how much I loved cold weather and now I cannot stand it.

i need to make a decision on these heaters if I am going to get any work done out in that polebarn before spring. I am going to start with the 2 electric radiants.

 

[greenbeast]

How are the fumes/exhaust with this unit?

Not bad took an hour before I got lightheaded!!!

Just kidding of course, I’d say fumes almost nonexistent.

Michael never even considered dehumidifier but it’s good idea for sure.

 

[greenbeast]

It appears that you are well setup for a cold weather test….have you done such so far? It has been in the low 20’s here for two days in contrast to the 57F on Saturday and almost every weekend since September….what a comparison… it just feels way colder. Snowing tonight and weather people jumped on the “ no snow for 700 days“ bandwagon. I can’t believe how much I loved cold weather and now I cannot stand it.

i need to make a decision on these heaters if I am going to get any work done out in that polebarn before spring. I am going to start with the 2 electric radiants.

Just got back in shop short while ago. Yesterday was single digits with negative 9-11wind chill. Today while driving to work it was 1 with high 14.

Haven’t turned heater on for few days but little while ago the thermostat on my diesel heater showed 44.

The beauty of these isn’t obviously to heat the shop but heat immediate area I’m working in quickly. The beauty of the insulation is that the heat doesn’t dissipate much.

 

[Michael B]

Not bad took an hour before I got lightheaded!!!

Just kidding of course, I’d say fumes almost nonexistent.

Michael never even considered dehumidifier but it’s good idea for sure.

Thanks, I started having mildew issues this summer. A friend of mine, that lives in half of his post and beam building, suggested the dehumidifier. Here in the south with the ambient humidity levels and moisture from the slab, it’s a good idea to use one in an insulated building with no HVAC system.

After my last post I googled the Val 6. According to their website, your unit and one other are supposed to be fume free. Now if I can just find a distributor. According to the website the nearest one is in Virginia.

 

[greenbeast]

Call them direct. They are small time and offer good service. I had to go couple hours to NE Oklahoma to pick tree puller for skid steer. They met me halfway and we transferred to my truck and I was on my way.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Thanks, I started having mildew issues this summer. A friend of mine, that lives in half of his post and beam building, suggested the dehumidifier. Here in the south with the ambient humidity levels and moisture from the slab, it’s a good idea to use one in an insulated building with no HVAC system.

After my last post I googled the Val 6. According to their website, your unit and one other are supposed to be fume free. Now if I can just find a distributor. According to the website the nearest one is in Virginia.

I didn’t realize you had no AC/heat. That definitely causes a problem with humidity in the south. The insulation unfortunately just makes it worse at times.

Edit: Assuming they put a vapor barrier under the slab (plastic sheeting) then you shouldn't have any moisture draw from the ground through the slab. Unfortunately though, with no HVAC, when the temperature goes from cold to warm you will get a lot of condensation on the slab since the slab temperature will be below the dew point of the air. The dehumidifier will help.