Jim wrote:
I have a 4800 watt 30 amp construction heater. Those little ones with a circular
element and a fan.

Installed a ceiling version of this (Dayton Electric heater) last
winter. Set to keep the shop ~ 55 degrees, it comes up to 70 or so very
quickly. Impact on electric bill was neglible.

My shop is also well insulated and is ~ 24'x13'


I allow have a residential 2200 watt electric base board heater on a wall
thermostat.

I considered this but passed due to the inevitable build up of saw dust
on the element and I didn't want to go the extra bux for the oil-filled
or antifreeze filled that are more like radiators since I would still
have the dust buildup problem

My shop is 14x18 and well insulated but we get plenty of below zero days.
I'm wondering if either of these two heaters is cheaper to operate than the
other.

I was once told by a relative who worked for the power company that with
total electric homes - such as ours - you can figure the heat is pretty
much 100% efficient, i.e. 150 watts of a lightbulb is going to give you
about the same amount of heat as 150 of baseboard radiant heat.

Ergo, to maintain the same level of heat, your baseboard unit at 2200w
is going to have to be on a little more than twice as long as the 4800w
heater.

I'm sure that there will be differences between the two due to placement
and the fan but, again, nothing to really worry about.