Heated garage/shop cabinets

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4spdragtop

4spdragtop

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Hey everyone, I was thinking last night that one of the main reasons that I need to keep the temp up in my garage is to stop liquids/aerosols etc from freezing. Im happy with warming the shop up about an hour before I go out to play in the shop, but that wont keep my liquids etc from freezing. Is there such a thing as an electric heated cabinet??

Thanks
4spdragtop
 
Interesting concept. I usually move mine into the basement about now, but always seem to lose something I forgot. Subscribed.
 
I have an old cabinet that I was thinking of lining with 1/2 styroform board. Then put a heat lamp in. That would keep the breeze out and hold the heat in and should work well and be cheap.

And no need to heat the whole garage...
 
How about this idea... an old refridgerator?? Already insulated, and I've seen many people just fix an incandescent lightbulb inside and keep other things from freezing like horse medicines and such. Best of all they could be free if you see one somewhere, and it doesn't even have to work!! They already have shelves in them and the drawers would come in handy as well. Just a thought, Geof
 
Hmmm, to be honest I havent done any research on this(internet,hardware store) but doesnt it just seem to make sense?? I dont need the entire shop heated 24/7, just enough to keep stuff from freezing.
Cosgig, good idea with the fridge, but to be honest I couldnt fit all my "perishables" in a fridge LOL.

fz max...I hear ya with moving the stuff in...a huge pain in the arse!!

Hemipar, I was thinking of lining a "cupboard" but never thought of the light...good idea!
I got no floor space left, so if I did the cupboard/light, that means I have to take down another shelf...again!! This might just give me a reason to go to the auction Friday night!!
 
Ummm, those "perishables" should be in a seperate fridge by themselves, or better yet enjoyed with friends during this festive holiday season. Then there would be plenty of room for the other stuff. And better yet, when you replenish the perishables, they could stand a little chillin' out in the open, and at the ready if you will!!! Geof
 
Find a junk refrigerator, put a 60 or 75 watt light bulb in it. You will be surprised how warm everything stays. I put my aerosols an the bottom shelf, that way they don't get too warm.

Bill S.
 
x3 on the old fridge / freezer. I've got two in my shop, one for powders and chemicals (with the powder bags in the door, there's plenty of room on the shelves for the rest of the stuff) and the other is strictly dry storage for parts-in-progress because they won't rust in there. I don't need to keep the stuff warm or cool, just dry, so I don't even have them plugged in or have lights in them but they work GREAT.

This photo was from last December before I got the second freezer, but you get the idea. The parts are Robbie's, Slappy's and 65Dartman's.

View attachment Powder Storage Freezer.jpg
 
Where do you have them now? If on a shelf type cabinet, just box it in and add the light. That way you are not adding something new to your space needs.
 
Hey Hemi, the stuff is on a "rack" type system. I would have to go buy a shelf style cupboard....Auction Hunting Mopar style!
 
if you check at a pet store, they make "rock" heaters, for our reptile pets, that are thermostatically controlled.this way you don't have the overheating problem and the light isn't always on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just my 2 cents, Mike
 
I keep my 800 sq ft garage here in Alaska at about 40-45 degrees. If I come out to work in it I just crank the heat a lil. Nothing freezes and it doesnt really cost much.
 
cosgig said:
How about this idea... an old refridgerator?? Already insulated, and I've seen many people just fix an incandescent lightbulb inside and keep other things from freezing like horse medicines and such. Best of all they could be free if you see one somewhere, and it doesn't even have to work!! They already have shelves in them and the drawers would come in handy as well. Just a thought, Geof
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Thats the ticket.........A buddy of mine has that sort of set up in his garage.......Seems to work great. With grills in the old fridge the heat seems to go all over.He used a very small baseboard heater with a thermostat on it............Just a idea
 
I'm hesitant to suggest anything that could casue an explosion. I dont have many rare and valuable spray bombs. Think about it. Good luck
 
cosgig said:
How about this idea... an old refridgerator??f
Click to expand...

^^^THIS^^^ Here's what you do

Get your fridge, obviously

Mount TWO lamp sockets in there, SAFELY, maybe with a wire guard so you don't break em

Now, go out and either buy or find an old "line voltage" thermostat. What I'm talking about here, is a line voltage WALL thermostat designed for baseboards or in-wall radiant heat.

Wire the two sockets IN SERIES (which is NOT normal---normall is "parallel") In other words, wire in this path------

Hot side of line plug (black)----to thermostat, out of thermostat to center pin (brass) of one socket, out of first socket shell (silver screw) to center pin (brass) of second socket, out of second socket shell (silver) to white lead of line cord

So what you have is the power going in series with the thermostat and the two sockets each in series.

NOW you get two heavy duty (130v) lamps, say, around 150 -- 200 watts.

IN SERIES, these will put out 1/4 of that wattage, IE 50 watts instead of 200

Also consider adding a "high limit" snap type "reset" switch for safety, in case the main 'stat sticks, like this one:

http://www.designworldonline.com/uploads/ImageGallery/selco-thermostat2.jpg

THE REASON is that they will not operate at a very high temperature, and because they are operating on lowered voltage (60V instead of 120) they will last a long time, and the chance of them leaving you with OUT heat in your "fridge" is slight.

Then all you need is a thermometer, watch 'er for a few days/ a week to get the temp set where you want, and you can ferget 'er.

I see no reason why you need to keep it much above 40-50 degrees

Most chemicals keep BETTER at lower temperatures.
 
Good ideas here guys, I gotta chk my floor space out to see what I can do.....garages are NEVER big enough!
 
4spdragtop said:
Good ideas here guys, I gotta chk my floor space out to see what I can do.....garages are NEVER big enough!
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Toss some stuff in a shed that won,t be used til spring,make room for your stuff.Any word on your car Steve?Hope you can get it home before your snowed in.:snorting:
 
pettybludart said:
Toss some stuff in a shed that won,t be used til spring,make room for your stuff.Any word on your car Steve?Hope you can get it home before your snowed in.:snorting:
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Sheds are full....garage is full....no word on the car yet...but I havent called him either...I gotta get me arse in gear!! But I am heading to the garage right shortly to put the finishing touches on the 4 spd!! It aint in the car but at least its purty:blob:
 
Well I hope you can get your car home Steve.4-5 months is alot of time to be thinking about whatcha coulda done over the winter months LOL.Sorry to be a pest Steve,I,d just really like to see ya get cracking on the jewel and seeing now that Craig is a cuda owner....We,re going cruisin!:evil4:
 
pettybludart said:
Well I hope you can get your car home Steve.4-5 months is alot of time to be thinking about whatcha coulda done over the winter months LOL.Sorry to be a pest Steve,I,d just really like to see ya get cracking on the jewel and seeing now that Craig is a cuda owner....We,re going cruisin!:evil4:
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Picking it up tomorrow!!
 

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I buillt a 6' tall by 3' wide by 15' deep cabinet with plywood doors to use in my shop to keep oils, sprays, fuel treatments, paints etc, etc in. I installed a light fixture on one side about halfway up and put a 75watt bulb in it. Works fine and doesn't allow my stuff to freeze.
 
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