Best option to heat workshop to fit vehicle graphics

[David Hammond]

We have just installed a ‘multi oil’ heater. It will run on any oil, even used oil (although you need a licence from the council for that, and costs about £3000) we run it on Kerosine, or Red Diesel.

Workshop is a toasty 15 degree’s.

It’s a bit of faff, cleaning it each day, but cheap as chips to run.

I can recommend a local company to us for your Flue if you opt for a wood burning heater :thumbsup:

[Colin Bland]

Have you got any pictures David?

[Colin Crabb]

Just to be different…

… We have a solar battery system installed – panels charge battery bank, which then power tube heaters in the workshop (or in summer will power the extractor).
Its a 4KW system so give a discharge rate of 3.6KWH (ish)

[David Hammond]

Here’s our heater.

Free standing, with a flue out the roof. :thumbsup:

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[Hugh Potter]

Currently a couple of oil rads in the (well insulated) office, and for the fitting bay I just use a gas space heater when required , not ideal I guess but I have noticed that any moisture just condensates on the cold shutter doors so no biggy!

My intention is to put in an air source heating / cooling system, a self contained twin output set-up looked to be around £1200 and would heat or cool the two areas independently, would fit myself.

If you want quick hard heat for a fitting bay then the space heater will get you by for the time being, within 30mins I’m applying film in a t-shirt! downside is the cost of the gas cylinders but, at £32 for a cylinder, it will easily get me through 10-12hrs of fitting… nominal really!

[Martyn]

Nice bit of kit you have there David, i bet it also cost a pretty penny aswell tho. My fitting workshop does not need to be warm all the time only when needed.

Hugh, with regards to your direct space heater- you dont have any issues with fumes building up? and the moisture hasnt affected your fitting of wraps etc.
This direct heater would be my cheapest and easiest option, i would be running it on red diesel instead of gas tho

[Colin Bland]

Thanks David that is the one I was looking at but cleaning out seemed to be a real chore and seemed to take about an hour before you got any real heat out of it, also does it have any smell?

[Hugh Potter]

quote Martyn Heath:

Nice bit of kit you have there David, i bet it also cost a pretty penny aswell tho. My fitting workshop does not need to be warm all the time only when needed.

Hugh, with regards to your direct space heater- you dont have any issues with fumes building up? and the moisture hasnt affected your fitting of wraps etc.
This direct heater would be my cheapest and easiest option, i would be running it on red diesel instead of gas tho

I don’t think it caused me any issues, the only condensation I was aware of was frost on the cylinder, and the tiniest amount on the cold steel shutter.

[David Hammond]

The garage over the way has a Hiton 145 heater, which in my opinion is much better, trouble is they’re hard to get hold of.

The Hiton has fans behind it, giving more airflow out of the heater, thus quicker. I’m going to stick a fan behind ours just to disperse the heat quicker.

It will take a bit of time to warm the unit up… as daft as it sounds it’s a different heat to the space heater we had. We can open the roller door up, and it doesn’t seem to loose the heat.

Cleaning isn’t a massive issue, just knock the carbon out of the dish before relighting it. No fumes, or odour.

[Paul Whyte]

quote Martyn Heath:

Hi guys.

Im going to be working on my garage soon, converting it so it can be used for fitting graphics in the winter. Its old and wooden, basically a large shed. I will insulate the walls and ceiling.

Im not sure which heating method to go with, as you know its not just about heating the area but also how it affects the vinyl.

Size is 120 cubic metres.

Methods i have in mind –

Diesel space heater direct – low cost purchase (concerned about fumes and moisture)

Diesel space heater indirect- (high cost purchase)

Wood burner- wood is free (flue high cost, work to keep it going)

Be very happy to hear your opinions and which methods work for you. Also needs to be a heating method with a bit of punch as it will involve heating from cold -10c up to operating temp.