Perused a copy of Popular Mechanics at the inlaws last night after
dinner and saw an advert for "Econo-Heat" flat panel heaters
www.eheat.com
and was wondering whether one of these would suffice to take the area
around my workbench in my insulated but unheated half garage workshop
from "damn cold" to merely "cold" over the coming winter months.

Anybody have one of these?

Also, though the working temperature is 175F and is said not to pose a
great fire hazard elsewhere in the home, would a coating of sawdust
and/or cobwebs make this unsuitable for workshop use?

Thanks,

J.

"John" wrote in message
...
Perused a copy of Popular Mechanics at the inlaws last night after dinner
and saw an advert for "Econo-Heat" flat panel heaters
www.eheat.com
and was wondering whether one of these would suffice to take the area
around my workbench in my insulated but unheated half garage workshop from
"damn cold" to merely "cold" over the coming winter months.

Anybody have one of these?

Also, though the working temperature is 175F and is said not to pose a
great fire hazard elsewhere in the home, would a coating of sawdust and/or
cobwebs make this unsuitable for workshop use?

It uses 400 watts of electricity. That is the equivalent of four 100 watt
bulbs. Is that enough to heat your shop?

They give a figure of 3¢ an hour to operate, but that is based on 8 cent
electric. Most of us in the north a near double that.

400 watt = 1365 Btu. I use a 30,000 Btu heater in my shop and it is not
enough on the coldest of days. I'd pass on it.

I have 2 of these. I would say they are good for a small area. I use one in
a 9 X 12 room with 8' ceiling and it does a good job if the room is left
closed off. Last Winter I just left it on 24 hours a day and it was more
than warm enough. This year I have put timers on them to cut down on usage
figuring the electric was going to be higher. Good part is that nothing is
exposed so should be very safe. It's just like a big piece of white corian.
Solid. I wish they had a thermostat. If your shop is much bigger than 9 X 12
I don't know if I would use 2 or go for one of those oil filled radiators.
Since both are enclosed.

wrote in message
news:HpYhf.859$ob4.830@trndny02...
I have 2 of these. I would say they are good for a small area. I use one in
a 9 X 12 room with 8' ceiling and it does a good job if the room is left
closed off.

Where is the room located? The OP is talking about a much larger garage
with fairly large heat requirements.

wrote:

I have 2 of these. I would say they are good for a small area. I use one in
a 9 X 12 room with 8' ceiling and it does a good job if the room is left
closed off. Last Winter I just left it on 24 hours a day and it was more
than warm enough. This year I have put timers on them to cut down on usage
figuring the electric was going to be higher. Good part is that nothing is
exposed so should be very safe. It's just like a big piece of white corian.
Solid. I wish they had a thermostat. If your shop is much bigger than 9 X 12
I don't know if I would use 2 or go for one of those oil filled radiators.
Since both are enclosed.


Thank you. I had also been considering one of those mineral oil filled
heaters until I saw the ad for the panels. Thought they might be more
space efficient in a small shop.

J.

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 15:21:29 -0500, John wrote:

Perused a copy of Popular Mechanics at the inlaws last night after
dinner and saw an advert for "Econo-Heat" flat panel heaters
www.eheat.com
and was wondering whether one of these would suffice to take the area
around my workbench in my insulated but unheated half garage workshop
from "damn cold" to merely "cold" over the coming winter months.

Anybody have one of these?

Also, though the working temperature is 175F and is said not to pose a
great fire hazard elsewhere in the home, would a coating of sawdust
and/or cobwebs make this unsuitable for workshop use?

Thanks,

J.

I have something similar; Lee Valley carries a radiant quartz heater;
I believe these are 1500 watt units. I have a couple. Working in the
"zone" of the heater is tolerable enough for winter work in the
Pacific Northwest with a sweatshirt on, it could be 30-40 degrees
outside and I can do work in my uninsulated garage. I mounted them at
about 10' high and I think I could go higher and get more area
coverage and be comfortable enough.