I will be sharing a 30x40 garage that remains unheated. The unit heater gets turned on only while working on cars, and then when done gets turned off. This is fine, and this is how we want it. What is not fine is holding onto tools that are ice cold. Air tools will hardly work when they are ice cold, battery tools also have crappy performance. I had a first thought of getting harbor freight fiberglass welding blankets, then sewing on some commercial moving blankets and making a tent frame to place around the bank of tool boxes. Then using (2) 100 watt light bulbs to keep them at like 50 degrees or so. I would be open to any other ideas.... Needs to be fire proof, and needs to be cheap.
How can I heat my tool boxes affordably?
- Thread starter Fordiesel69
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How about wrapping the tool box in some whatever cheap corded blanket and maybe throwing a tarp over it to keep more heat in. You can start off on the low power level and check as you go.
Something kind of like this maybe? don't know how big your tool box is. The smaller the better.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/berkshir...ersized-throw/P990346609?itemNumber=990364140
Something kind of like this maybe? don't know how big your tool box is. The smaller the better.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/berkshir...ersized-throw/P990346609?itemNumber=990364140
There is no internet at this garage so I cannot get a wifi stat for the heater to turn it on ahead of time. It will be a bank of three tool boxes. Two tall skinny one of mine and a short but wide snap on as well.
We will have a 20x30 area that is heated in two more years once sewer and sanitary water is run and the cement can be finished. This is only a temporary issue.
We will have a 20x30 area that is heated in two more years once sewer and sanitary water is run and the cement can be finished. This is only a temporary issue.
I'm a huge fan of the cheap Chinese diesel heaters. Check out my Duster thread as I have one permanently fitted to my car for morning preheating.
If fitted will they provide safe and reliable heat very efficiently. On it's lowest setting it uses just 2oz (US) per hour of diesel!
I've seen people fit them to houses, garages, caravans, trucks, chicken huts etc etc.
If fitted will they provide safe and reliable heat very efficiently. On it's lowest setting it uses just 2oz (US) per hour of diesel!
I've seen people fit them to houses, garages, caravans, trucks, chicken huts etc etc.
What about getting some heating pads from the pet store? The ones used for reptiles are thin vinyl/plastic mats that can slip inside the drawers of the toolbox. Place them in the bottom of the drawers and put your wrenches and sockets on top of the mats. You can turn them on when you get to the garage and heat the tools directly.
Just search for reptile heat pad on Amazon. They come in many different sizes.
Just search for reptile heat pad on Amazon. They come in many different sizes.
Another consideration would be to use a wall mounted infared heater aimed at the tool boxes. Infared heat is known for heating items in a space vs heating the air (convection heating). You would still have to come up with some kind of system to turn it on in advance before you started your work session.
https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...89LtfdgaXgWgdmvYqXuhSaV9uVF3XcXhoCuJ4QAvD_BwE
https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...89LtfdgaXgWgdmvYqXuhSaV9uVF3XcXhoCuJ4QAvD_BwE
How about one of those outlets they use for pets and outdoor water troughs that turn on the power to something when the temp drops to 40 degrees. then plug a heating pad into it and put your tool box on top. that's a cheap solution.
I hate working with cold tools with stiff cold fingers.
The light bulb trick is still the best.
Switch to corded tools. Wear gloves.
If heater is electric then a timer can be used, there are mechanical and electronic ones that go between wall power outlet and electrical device. There are ones that have light sensor built-in as well.
You can set such a timer to turn heat on say an hour or two before you start work and run only preset time frame.
You can set such a timer to turn heat on say an hour or two before you start work and run only preset time frame.
I like this, and maybe don't keep your batteries in the shop? Mine move into the house as my "shop" isn't heated either. Also if you keep your core warm, your hands will get full blood flow even handling cold tools. I'm good to maybe 24F using bare hands with a warm body.
Hair dryers are a cheap way to make some heat fast too, maybe get a couple from the 2nd hand store, maybe cut a hole in the bottom of a tool chest and aim it in? Don't leave it unattended, but turn it on when you first get there, a 1000W of heat into a chest shouldn't take too long to get the tools above freezing and not let condensation form? I've never melted one run continuously as long as you don't restrict air flow.
I guess in rough calcs a 1000W will heat 500lbs of steel 60F in an hour.... Maybe use two per cabinet, also a hair dryer can warm up an air gun or you pretty fast.
Mr heater propane heater. It sits on top of a propane tank and will heat the box up in 10 minutes. So by the time you warm up in the morning it is all good to go.
This is the easiest, fastest way without something internet controlled.
I too was going to suggest infrared but it wouldn't really heat tools in drawers. It basically needs line of sight to heat anything.
If left on full-time, yeah, the whole box would warm and slowly heat the tools, but I don't think it would transfer like you think.
I have a 220V Fostoria infrared hung over one of my mills for spot heat. It's kinda weird, but feels good on a really cold day. It'll slowly destroy or delam LCD screens like on cheap calculators. And doing the math by Kw, it's not really affordable to run long-term.
I wear gloves and haven't experienced significant performance declines in Milwaukee tools in my unheated Colo shop. That said, east coast cold is a different animal and may affect performance-- I couldn't say.
If left on full-time, yeah, the whole box would warm and slowly heat the tools, but I don't think it would transfer like you think.
I have a 220V Fostoria infrared hung over one of my mills for spot heat. It's kinda weird, but feels good on a really cold day. It'll slowly destroy or delam LCD screens like on cheap calculators. And doing the math by Kw, it's not really affordable to run long-term.
I wear gloves and haven't experienced significant performance declines in Milwaukee tools in my unheated Colo shop. That said, east coast cold is a different animal and may affect performance-- I couldn't say.
Wear gloves. That’s what I do.
You could build a closet around your tools, basically a small tool room and heat that with a small heater. Alternately, you could get one of these and point it at your tools.
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-Forced-Propane-F271390/dp/B00KRFVG5G
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-Forced-Propane-F271390/dp/B00KRFVG5G
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