Heating your Wood Shop

[IBMer]

Howdy,  It's starting to cool off here in North Carolina.   I have a nice little propane heater that I was thinking of using in my shop, then I got wondering...   Sawdust in the air can be flammable.  Would it be safe to use a gas heater in a woodworking environment?

My heater is a "Mister Heater, Big Buddy" which is supposed to provide temporary heat for barns, sheds, cabins, campers, patios, garages, sporting events, hunting blinds and more. Dual heating system combines radiant heat comfort with convection heat air flow for maximum heating efficiency. 4000, 9000 and 18,000 BTU with the capacity to heat up to 400 square feet for up to 108 hours on 20-lb. propane tank."

It's a Radiant Heater, so there isn't an Open Flame...    I prefer not to use electric heaters since the power going to my shed is already heavily taxed by my power tools.  What do the rest of you use to heat your wood shops?

[BilltheDiver]

I rarely need heat in my Florida shop, but when it is a must, I plug in my 2- 5000 watt worklamps and that's all I need!

[Billy in Va]

I use an unventilated radiant propane heater. No problems so far.

[Danny]

Happy Hump Trick or Treat Day.... 
I have the same Propane heater in my outside shop.  Been using it for the last
couple years with no problems.  A good Kerosene heater would get a small shop
warmer.    Danny  :+}

[countryscroller]

I have the same heater, I noticed that it heats upward more than out, so i put  a little fan above it and it blows hot air. No problems with the saw dust catching fire.

[GrayBeard]

I've been using my Big Buddy for three years now and have never had a problem. Last year during 10 day stretch of 2? temps I was able to start the heater, go back out in 15 minutes and have to turn it to the low setting or else take off my sweatshirt!
No problems with dust and my tank sits outside the garage wall and feeds thru an extension hose that is thru the wall and sealed with silicone so no worries about a tank in the work area.

~~~GB~~~

[Crabbyboater]

I also have a "Big Buddy" heater in my garage/shop that I've used the last couple of years with no problems.  There is a small fan in the unit that helps spread the heat and I always run that as well.  I put the tank outside the garage door, but don't feel it is a real problem.  Can't say it makes my uninsulated two car garage toasty, but it does take the chill off to where I can work. 

[Marcellarius]

I've central heating but that only works when the rest of the house needs heating to.

so I use an electric room heater to make it a little comfy most of the times.
only have it on for 15 minutes or so on 2000W and then back to 650W.
it shuts down atomaticly when its about 65F

[IBMer]

Thanks for all the feedback.   So fine sawdust in the air is not a huge concern.     I just didn't want to blow myself up.  The Big Buddy heater doesn't have an actual open flame so it's probably pretty safe.

Thanks again.

[GrayBeard]

Thanks for all the feedback.   So fine sawdust in the air is not a huge concern.     I just didn't want to blow myself up.  The Big Buddy heater doesn't have an actual open flame so it's probably pretty safe.

Thanks again.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!

The Big Buddy and all the 'Buddy' heater models have an open flame that is called a "Pilot Light"!!!!

But 3 years of using one has not been a problem for me.

~~~GB~~~

[geneVG]

I use a propane heater (Conair) in my shop, and two 100 lb tanks outside.  It does have a flame comeing out of it.  I have use this for now 3 years and have no proplems at all.  I do have my shop insulated(sp) from the walls to to the cieling and even my 16 foot door.  When I first start it in the morning it takes about 1 hour to bring it to 80 degrees.  I than shut it of and maybe start it in the afternoon, depending how cold it is.  But I just have not had any problems at all.

gene

[king310]

The amount of sawdust for an explosion would be more than you could stand. The fact is that your lungs would stop working long before you need to fear that. But paint fumes is another story