Working on the Z in winter

[ghlkal]

I’m blessed to have a 30x50 shop/garage which I love to work in 6 months out of the year. The other 6 months are called winter here in Wisconsin and it gets cold. The shop isn’t insulated and it’s really too big and expensive to heat normally. (Yup, first world problem to be sure)

I decided I would try this experiment. I purchased a 10x20' “tent” for 60 bucks and set it up inside the garage. The ZR-1 is inside the tent. I can now heat inside the tent without heating the rest of the shop. Yeah, I know the tent isn’t very efficient at holding in the heat, but it’s much better than nothing. I just set it up today and I won’t really have a chance to use it for a couple weeks due to some other issues, but my preliminary test seems to indicate this should work. I plan to run my torpedo heater for 15 minutes inside the tent, and then switch to one of my electric heaters. In the small space, the torpedo heater will really warm things up, but it’s so darn loud. I’m hoping the quiet electric heater will be able to sustain the warmth over a few hours.

I’ll report the results in a month or so.

In the meantime, I’ll don my nomex suit and you can flame away regarding my idea.

Gary

[G-Sting]

Looks like a creative solution to work in a heated space! Let us know how it goes!

[XfireZ51]

Sounds like a great idea.

[Mr.Yuck]

I think that will make a big difference for you. Another idea for ya, I park my Z on a over sized rubber car storage mat it helps keep the cold cement away from the Z and my feet when working on it.... I hope you pulled the correct permit for that structure Lol [emoji23] ... The tent police are harsh.

Sent from my Gt-p7510 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

[George Maz]

Consider using a CO Detector inside the tent while torpedo heating, or running engine. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.
A large ABC type extinguisher nearby in case tent material catches fire. Halon type for the cars makes no powdery mess.
I heat a 20x20 peaked roof garage with wood burning stove, gets warm enough for just a tee shirt.

[Z51JEFF]

Ain’t nothin wrong with that,lookin good!

[efnfast]

Clever.
I agree with the CO detector.

[Paul Workman]

Fantastic idea! I recon heat will be from and electric heater - (CO, CO2 = XXX)

However, being a WI "cheese-head", I recon you could heat it by keeping a couple dairy cows in there with ya. And you could periodically burn the methane they generate too!

I do place cardboard on top of 8x10 carpet remnants to 'kill the chill' on the ol body when working under the car, and reduce condensation (!).

Anyway...sometimes "simple and elegant" solutions trump the "complex and wonderful". Your idea is great! (Why didn't I think of that!?)

[Karl]

I use to use kerosene floor torch heaters. They would always burn out and fail.

Was thinking about an electric heater but never got around to buying one.

[WARP TEN]

While this won't help Gary, if you have a two car garage and would like to heat it, here's what I did in 2007. Prices higher now I am sure. First I got an insulation company to blow in insulation in the attic and in the walls. About $900 as I recall. I really don't think they put much in the walls but the ceiling seems to be sufficiently done. My garage walls were already drwalled; otherwise I would have put batts in and dry walled it. Second, I put an electric heater in an upper corner of the garage. I got the 220v kind as it is a bit more efficient that the 115v one.I think it is a Fahrenheat model FUH54 240 volt 2500-5000 watt heater that sells for about $300 on Amazon. Had an electrician run a 220 line from the basement box to the heater (about 25'-30' total) and install the heater. As I recall the heater and line installation was about $1,000 total. (Some people use gas heaters; my son the residential architect just installed gas garage heaters in a spec house he is building. I guess they are OK but I feel more comfortable having an electric one). I keep the thermostat set at 50 degrees so on a cold day in the winter the garage near the kitchen door is about that temp; near the garage door is is probably 10 degrees colder. I later installed a steel insulated door and I think that improved the situation. It works great to keep the cars moderately warm and I can store chemicals and things in the garage that would otherwise not be able to stand a freeze.-Bob