Custom built space heater

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Ongoing build thread.In design right now.... tbh.Basically I work at a typical weld shop, My workload is probably 80% TIG 20% MIG.I have... really really bony fingers, and it's really tough welding when my hands are frozen!especially since most of the material are .010-.045" thick stainless to similar size material, or else being welded to a 1/8" or thicker piece.So torch/filler manipulation is needed badly. (if anyone is familiar with expansion joints, I'm typically always welding a bellow or fusing plies)Bad news for me, is I work in Buffalo in an unheated shop.So if it's 10 degrees and snowing outside... it's 10 degrees inside... and usually snowing as well since the fans on the roof dont seal very well, so snow comes in there sometimes when it's windy.What do you guys use to heat yourselves up typically?Right now I'm using a Sunbeam 1.5kW heater. Keeps a small part of me warm...I could buy a few of them, but I don't want to do that...I'm limited to 120v outlets. (no 240v)I do have a 440v, but considering my MIG welder is not hardwired, I need the 440v for the MIG.So more or less, I'm looking to make a space heater, which gets it's power from multiple 120v lines w/ a breaker on each. As 120v is limited to 15amps... Can't really get more juice than 1500watts per line.Final build will probably be similar to a home heating solution I think...with a large heating unit, and a fan to blow air over the electric elements, leading to duct work.That way I can get heat all around me, (and my hands above the table!) instead of just one side.duct work can just be some cheap flexible hose from home depot or such, and long as it can take the heat.drawing up plans on Inventor, but figured I'd toss it up here to see if anyone has anything they've done, or any thoughts.Tired of freezing my butt off every morning! (considering we're working 10-12 hour shifts 6 days a week now, that doesn't help any either! Got massive orders to fill, thankfully)
Reply:Get one of the reedy kerosene/diesel forced air heaters,they work great.Just build a stand to raise and lower it.
Reply:meh, I would but grounded electric is my only power source -.-I'd use a waste oil heater, but the company won't let me bring one in ;p
Reply:You can't bring in a propane tank?Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:If I had to deal with that ****, I'd be lookin for a new job.  Try dragging in a nice clean barrel and slowly filling it with firewood, then news paper and hope somebody asks what you're doin before you light it.  If not, light it and set it behind your chair or work station.  They might let you have a heater after that, or you could be finding a warmer job....My name's not Jim....
Reply:Have you tried a radiant type, that heats you and not the air?  They have the parabolic electric ones, and gas ones.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenYou can't bring in a propane tank?
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmIf I had to deal with that ****, I'd be lookin for a new job.  Try dragging in a nice clean barrel and slowly filling it with firewood, then news paper and hope somebody asks what you're doin before you light it.  If not, light it and set it behind your chair or work station.  They might let you have a heater after that, or you could be finding a warmer job....
Reply:Got 12V and $126 ?http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PR...el/tmpantliner
Reply:lol I was looking at these before... there's some battery operated ones too.No 12v though, but could probably figure out a way to get it.maybe a transformer.. mhmm.Oh actually...how do you think that will go If slag burns through my pants on to that? lol.o.O
Reply:I'd opt for a couple of the Parabolic heaters from COSTCO.  Those things turn like a fan and throw out quite a bit of heat.  If you have two plugs then two of those moving in tandem will keep YOUR space pretty warm.Cheers,/Jman...Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:Originally Posted by Hass. . .I do have a 440v, but considering my MIG welder is not hardwired, I need the 440v for the MIG. . .. . .Final build will probably be similar to a home heating solution I think...with a large heating unit, and a fan to blow air over the electric elements, leading to duct work.That way I can get heat all around me, (and my hands above the table!) instead of just one side.duct work can just be some cheap flexible hose from home depot or such, and long as it can take the heat. . . . . . .Electric is free for me, so that's the way to go. . .
Reply:Your worried about a transformer being osha approved and at the same time talking about carrying heavy objects across ice inside?  Your company has an obligation to provide a safe working environment for you and an ice skating rink deffinately doesn't fit that.  And you have to spend your own money to buy a heater to make it managable to weld in your work station?  Sounds like a pretty crappy deal to me.
Reply:Your working environment is what brought the unions into being. You're working in a "sweatshop" except it's at the frostbite end of the scale!!!!! I doubt your summer working conditions are any better!!!                               MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:If you are in a large open bay with doors being opened on a regular basis and I would imagine high ceilings your pretty much wasting your time with any kind of spot heater. If your gonna use a little portable you may want to think about getting yourself into a smaller space or at least trying to create a little enclosure out of whatever you have available.    I have worked outdoor construction in the dead of winter doing structural welding, all kinds of weather , But I made top money at union scales and dressed for it as this was the job, you know it going in. But to sit at a bench doing tig work in a shop with no heat, I hope you are getting top money, and I mean over 28 bucks, or you really should be looking for a new place to work. It sounds a lot like your employer doesn't care about the well being of his people. Structural work with thick gloves in the cold is manageble, TIG with frozen hands or thick gloves , Out of the question.   I understand large facilities with a lot of storage areas don't and can't afford total heat. Thats why they make drywall and insulation. They should have a heated area for the production work. I have worked in shops as well and for some real cheap pricks, but alway had at least enough heat to work comfortable in a sweat shirt. I'm in CT, we get pretty cold, But Buffalo with no heat, No Way!   And union or not, it's not up to you to provide your own heat.  If all else fails , Try Mittens, Ha Ha."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by ponch37300Your worried about a transformer being osha approved and at the same time talking about carrying heavy objects across ice inside?  Your company has an obligation to provide a safe working environment for you and an ice skating rink deffinately doesn't fit that.  And you have to spend your own money to buy a heater to make it managable to weld in your work station?  Sounds like a pretty crappy deal to me.
Reply:Interesting that your shop is allowed to get that cold...  Perhaps you should educate the owner about the likelihood of your welds cracking or failing when made in such cold air!     I read a while back that a weld made at 10 degrees celsius is something like 30 or 40 times more likely to crack than one made at 30 celsius, particularly for non-ferrous.  In fact, some recommend having it so warm that it's almost uncomfortable for welding aluminum and stainless.    Anyone know for a fact if this is actually true or seen the studies to confirm/refute it?Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:IF you've got a furnace 10-15ft away, you don't need a heater.  You need a fan and some duct work....My name's not Jim....
Reply:Lifting eye made up in the shop?OSHA violation.Ice across a shop floor?OSHA violation.And they are coming down on a two-prong plug for a space heater?  If the heater is UL listed with the two-prong plug, they they are wrong.  If the heater was -supposed- to have a three-prong plug and someone cut that off and stuck a two-prong plug in place and thus bypassed the third prong/wire (the ground wire) then they are right.Unchained/unsecured gas cylinders?  OSHA violation.  Unchained/unsecured gas cylinders that fell over?  Double OSHA violation.And dude, if all you have available is a 120V 15amp outlet then all you have available is 1800 watts MAX (actually for sustained usage, the NEC limit on that circuit would be about 1400 watts).  The reason that the 'bigger' 240V heaters can make more heat is that they are more than 1800 watts.  Taking some transformer and boosting 120V 15amp power up to 240V would get you LESS THAN 1800 watts because of the transformer inefficiency.  TANSTAAFL  And do you really think that some sort of home-made electrical heating appliance is going to be 'approved' when the company already fires people with two-prong space heaters?  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseAnd do you really think that some sort of home-made electrical heating appliance is going to be 'approved' when the company already fires people with two-prong space heaters?
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmIF you've got a furnace 10-15ft away, you don't need a heater.  You need a fan and some duct work....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmIF you've got a furnace 10-15ft away, you don't need a heater.  You need a fan and some duct work....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmIF you've got a furnace 10-15ft away, you don't need a heater.  You need a fan and some duct work....
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW I was thinking the same thing!On a standard 120v outlet the most heat you will get is about 5200btu's at 1500watts. If you want more heat, you'll need more outlets (on different breakers) and more heaters.
Reply:i'd try and split another outlet from the 440 for a heater.personaly, I wouldnt complain about cold/hot work environments.  botom line, I dont know how available work is by you guys, but I'd Hang on to whatever job I could get.  seriously, I am Bored off my rear end.Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick WelderOriginally Posted by denrepSkip the fan and the duct.He needs that forklift running, to drag his bench over there.
Reply:Get another radiant heater and put it on the other side.  Then get a panel of some kind, that is reflective (like foil) and stand that up behind you to reflect the heat back to you