Heating a workshop?

[Toaster Pilot]

Do all of my car repairs in an old barn (~550 sq ft) and it's getting bloody cold - starting to wonder how to heat it at least to take the chill off.

Propane space heaters seem to be a fairly cheap effective option but I'm not sure I'm keen on having an open flame kicking around somewhere I also do things like change fuel filters

Electric heating is going to be ruinous for such a large space with not very airtight doors / no insulation etc, isn't it?

any suggestions?

[thatdude]

Oil heaters (the portable heaters with oil in them) are probably the safest. The electric heaters with the incandescent filaments (sort of like the electric bar heaters then) are a more risky ignition source.

Consider doing some work on the barn (insulation etc) as well to trap in heat

[Toaster Pilot]

Just myself, to keep myself warm.

Can't do any work (insulation etc) because it's rented

[Landlord]

Is insulating the place not an option? My Dad's workshop (though much, much smaller than yours) is well insulated and doesn't have any heating at all for most of the year. In the depths of winter a small fan heater to take the edge off suffices.

[Beer Man]

Alternatively, MTFU ?

[Toaster Pilot]

Beer Man said:

Alternatively, MTFU ?

We're fresh out of that I'm afraid

[Landlord]

Toaster Pilot said:

Can't do any work (insulation etc) because it's rented

Landlord said:

Is insulating the place not an option?

In my defence, I was typing my reply as you posted yours. I didn't just ask an idiotic question straight after you "answered" it. :P

[J4CKO]

Do all the maintenance in Summer ?

Wrap up, get a propane space heater, section a bit of the space off and heat that ?

Make a log burner out of an old propane bottle, loads of stuff ont he net on how to do it.

Cant you get stuff to burn old engine oil ?

Wear a hat as most heat goes through the head.

[Toaster Pilot]

J4CKO said:

Do all the maintenance in Summer ?

I like that option but unfortunately my wallet doesn't - I'm a part time trader (but not THAT part time )

I do like the idea of a propane heater (they seem to kick out a shed load of heat for not very much money) but I am nervous about open flames and having flammable stuff in the air (I guess turn the heater off when doing anything with fuel would be a compromise)

[Toaster Pilot]

Purity14 said:

Double curveball;

I use my heated motorbike gear when I go camping in winter, its like wearing an electric blanket, and it is not bulky, you could wear it under your garage overalls.
Great not just for sleeping in, but for walking around in too esp when its minus temps that really bite.

Works off rechargeable battery packs, and will keep you heated very well for 4 hours on one charge easily.

If you weren't so far away I'd have let you trial mine, some of them get so hot it will start to burn you, so make sure you get a controller.
www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk give you a very long return period, so you could just try it out for yourself for a week, and see how you get on!

I would have said Oil heaters too as someone else mentioned; but it depends on how big the barn is, if its decently insulated or not to how many heaters you would need. Plus electricity costs.

That sounds very cool - amount of time I spend rolling around the floor under cars I'm not sure it'd be that comfortable mind

[TallPaul]

Build a polythene tent area and just heat inside the tent.