Ran search under 'shop heater' could not find any info. Would like to accomplish much as possible during winter months in 20X20 metal building. Use to have a kerosine heater but chucked it. Went on ebay and found couple types that look like they may work; the forced air, looked simular to a tube with a fan forcing air across heater. Another had either a large, or double burner mounted on propane tank. Imagine it would take min. of 50 btu to keep my backside toaster, too much bigger I could probably use an egg timer to judge when tank needed refill. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

dave

 

for a 20X20 building, you will want at least a 110,000 BTU kerosene space heater. the one i use in my 24X26 is called a bullet, or a salamander heater. i have it hooked up to an in line thermostat, and it takes about 15 minutes to get the interior from 20-30º to 65º. then the thermostat will only kick it on about every 1/2 hr-45 minutes for about 5 minutes.

 

What kind of climate do you have there in CA?

 

Appreciate the info. Wow, a gallon of kerosene an hour, althought it has to beat cost of propane. Interested if there is any residual kerosene fumes lingering. The kerosene heater I chucked was smaller and not designed for outside/shop use so it was difficult keeping mixture dialed in.

dave

Redwoods, wet and humid. Favorate passtime during winter is having banana slug races, and picking wild 'eatable' mushrooms. Average rainfall 35-45", last year it was 62".

 

The fumes with Kerosene is an issue. Propane would be easier on your lungs and easier ignition when it's really cold.

 

i get a slight smell of kero on initial startup, but it aint bad. the only time the odor is bad is when you forget to fill the tank, and run it out of fuel. a 10 gallon tank of kero lasts me about 2 weeks of 8 hour days in the garage at 60º

 

Went to online tool and equip supplier found the propane 125,000 btu heaters spec's indicate 11hrs for 40lbs of propane, and the kerosene 15hrs on 14gal. May be limited to the 125,000btu propane unit, according to spec's larger units require 100gal tank. On the other hand, kerosene no limitations, matter of how often one fills the tank. Surely able to extend the amount of use by regulation amount of flow; although, in either case it seems lot of fuel to keep backside toasty.

dave

 

Kinda embarrassing, do not know how the kerosene type heater's flame is generated, do they use a wick? Also, like to purchase new but have seen some used on ebay and but not familiar whether parts are hard to come by or so costly it would have been better to purchase new. Any info would be appreciated.

dave

 

the salamander heaters use a fuel pump to a nozzle like a home oil burner does, and a fan behind the nozzle to blow the heat out the front. there is a heat difuser plate to keep flames from coming out of the unit. then they use some type of ignitor. most use a spark plug.

 

I would not reccommend the single or double burner on the propane tank. I have the Single and nearly froze to death trying to work with that thing. I went to a larger propane model with the fan in it that looks like a bullet, 90,000 BTU but it drinks propane tanks like nothing. I now have a natural gas furnace 30,000 BTU and it is perfect. All you need to do is connect it up to your gas meter, check with your village and see what they say. Mine had no problem with this and even reccomended how I hook it up. No permits needed in my case. Cost $400 online, also saw it in Menards for about $70 more. If you want to work in your shop you will need a constant supply of fuel. Besides you can set the thermostat and you paint and other chemicals won't freeze.

 

Appreciate the information, there is no natural gas in my neck of the woods so unfortunately appears option narrow down to either electric, propane, or kerosene. Guess I could install a wood burning stove but does not take much imagination to see what hazards that could lead to. Once I make a decision may check w/ rental shop and if they have simular unit that I can rent for the day to test before purchasing. Obviously, going to have to be conservative, set therostat at the thaw setting, and for minor paint project 'pump it up'. Appreciate the input, already saved myself some money by taking the single or double propane burners off my shopping list.

dave

 

Scratch an electric one off your list, too, as that would be very expensive to operate - probably moreso than propane. I use a 170,000 BTU bullet heater in a 26' x 22' attached garage that's uninsulated on the one outside wall and the ceiling. It'll heat it from 10 below zero to around 85 degrees above in under five minutes. What I like is you can aim it at yourself if you just want to heat your backside, but you have to maintain at least a 10 foot distance between you and the discharge of the heater -- otherwise it get's much too hot. You must keep all combustibles at least 4 feet away from the discharge end, else they may catch fire.

I use #1 kerosene, and the consumption rate isn't that bad unless you operate the heater at max all the time. Yes, there's a slight odor when it fires up, or when the 13 gallon tank starts to run dry and the heater starts kicking on & off rapidly. I'm also very aware of the buildup of carbon monoxide when I'm using the heater, but there seems to be enough freah air infiltration from around the double-wide overhead door and through the attic that I've never had a problem. I have, however, cracked open the overhead door about 3" if I'm running the heater in very cold weather so it's running a lot. I also don't want to starve myself of oxygen because it's been consumed by the heater, plus the carbon monoxide bit, too.

I had little 80,000 BTU infrared propane heater before this, and that toy was useless. Perhaps this 170,000 BTU bullet heater is a bit much for the size of my garage, since my home furnace is only 100,000 BTU for the whole house. But I can sure stay toasty warm in the garage, no matter how cold it is outside. When it's to 25 below zero outside and I need to work in the garage, I want all the heat I can possibly get - and in a hurry! This does the job for me.

 

Appears kerosene is only option at this time for reasons noted by other members. Looking at the 125,000 to 210,000 btu range, probably towards the higher end, I also like to get toasted in a hurry then set the thermostat lower. Not familiar with the kerosene forced air variety, used the wick type in the past and don't care for them at all. Found it difficult to keep mixture adjusted in shop conditions and would end up with a coat of residual soot as if I had been working in the coal mines all day. Feels like winter is setting in so need to make decision within next 2-3 weeks, have to keep eye out for sales. Again, appreciate the information.
dave

 

My garage is 20x20, uninsulated, tin roof. I have a 125,000 BTU kerosene/fuel oil salamander type. I leave one of the doors open about 8 inches when it is in use. All last winter I used about 15 gallons of kerosene. I had it running half the day yesterday, with both garage doors open. It finally ran out of fuel, so I put in about 3 or 4 gallons. I usually run it on a thermostat. I am happy with it's performance. It's an old Homelite unit. I paid $18 on eBay for it.

 

Heater?

I wear an old coat and gloves and put some kindling in my large ash tray