"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message
...
BTW -- if you've got a fuel fed heater in the shop -- beware
that aside from possibly introducing carbon monoxide and poisoning you,
it is also *very* likely to produce water vapor, ...

Not just "very likely"; burning hydrocarbons produces primarily water vapor
and carbon dioxide. Propane C2H6, butane C4H10, acetylene C2H2, methane CH4,
combine with oxygen O2 (combust) to produce primarily H2O and CO2.

... which will condense on
the cold metal for quite a while until you get the tools warm enough.

And again once the air cools and can no longer hold its water. All the
moisture you made comes back out in your shop. The only way to get rid of it
is to vent it and replace it with cool dry air, at a net loss of heat. You
have to pretty much keep it at constant, non-condensing temperature. It's
better all around for the tools and accuracy; metal expands when it warms
up. How warm is warm enough? You shouldn't see your breath, and your hands
shouldn't shake. Hypothermia also hurts accuracy.

Better to use electric heat, or put heat sources (e.g. light bulbs)
inside the machine to keep it warmer than the surrounding air. (And
lots of surface lube again.)

Halogen worklights are incredibly good heaters. A bright workarea helps
eyesight, thereby enhancing accuracy. This one is a win-win, except during
the hottest summer nights, when you should be out and about with the kids
anyway.