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Karl Townsend
 
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Default Torpedo or Salamander Heater use in shop


wrote in message
ups.com...
I have borrowed a Kerosese, space heater several times. Even a 165,000
BTU one is small for my shop as it takes an hour or more to just start
to get it warm. My shop is a 3200 ft^2 hog barn with marginal
insulation and if I am working all day the woodstove works fine, but if
I am out for an hour or two in the evening, the woodstove takes too
long. I have been looking at larger heaters, like the big Master
units, 350 or 600K. Found a used one for sale. Anyone have experience
with these larger units. Any major faults? The building has a ridge
vent so there is a natural convection and fumes can get up and out.

....

I use a 350 all the time to take the chill out of the big shop. My preferred
method is to fire up the big unit for 1/2 hour before I go out. Then shut it
down once I'm in the shop. A small unit makes less noise and fumes and will
handle it after the first big shot. If I had your setup, I'd start a wood
fire 1/2 hour early also, then shut the big unit down once its warm enough.

BTW, a neighbor has a great trick to start a wood fire in an outside stove
fast. He puts his used motor oil in sawdust. The cuts the top off the little
oil quart containers and fills back up with oily sawdust and stores outside.
Put one container at the bottom of your wood pile in the stove and light 'er
up. You'll have a smokin' HOT fire in about two minutes.

Karl