VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #11  
Old 12-01-2016, 09:05 PM
Aerosport1's Avatar
Aerosport1 Aerosport1 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canal Winchester, Ohio
Posts: 417
Default

Val6 heaters. Val6.com I have a KBE5L 2 step with a thermostat. It heats my 50x50 hangar all day to 65 degrees when or more and when below 20f needs no ventilation. Burns JetA or kerosene. They are not cheap but they will out perform any salamander heaters. They are also very quite

http://val6.com

FWIW
__________________
Geoff Combs
RV-10 N829GW 865hrs
1940 Piper J3 Cub
Rans S21
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-01-2016, 09:14 PM
TimO TimO is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 612
Default

I'm sure people won't believe it when I say it's clean but...

I've used Propane torpedo heaters for many many years in my garage and hangar. I also have a high sensitivity (not for home use but for RV trailer use) CO monitor that I keep right near the workbench. I only use Kerosene for heat, and within seconds of firing up the heater (I have 115K BTU, 110K BTU, 155K BTU, and now a 140K-180K BUT version in various hangars and garages) they are making lots of hot air. Not much for any smell either, when warmed up. If you let them run out of fuel, they will huff and puff during their last gasps, and make plenty of CO for a minute...but if you avoid that, they burn very clean. Also, short cycling them where they turn on and off a lot, will increase CO a bit. So you don't necessarily WANT to buy the biggest and most expensive one you can. I'm in WI, and worked on 2 airplanes thru winters when it was sub zero. If you're anywhere in the lower 2/3 of the country, you won't need a very big heater for a normal garage.

Now, one time I got cheap and stupid and tried to run diesel in them, since they run fine on diesel, but I ended up with a headache and it was very noticeably worse than kerosene.

My latest one I just bought a couple weeks ago because the local Natural Gas company here decided to up my zero usage meter reading rate to about $35/mo...and that's without using any natural gas. That got me irked enough at spending hundreds a year to heat a hangar that I only need heated a few days a winter that I decided to get another torpedo and just do it that way.

The only real drawbacks are that Kerosene isn't easy to find sometimes, and the heaters make some noise. But depending on your work area, it may or may not be a big deal. Make sure to get a CO meter, and if you have CO readings climbing up, make sure you have adequate ventilation. My garage leaked enough that I didn't need to add more.
__________________
Tim Olson - CFI
RV-10 N104CD - Flying 2/2006 - 1400+ hours http://www.MyRV10.com
RV-14 N14YT - Flying 6/2016 - 350+ hours http://www.MyRV14.com
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-02-2016, 07:42 AM
Paul K Paul K is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,004
Default

We are lucky to have natural gas and use overhead radiant heat in both ny workshop at home and in the hangar at the airport. Keep the hangar at 50f all winter, just enough to make working and prepping comfortable.
__________________
Paul K
West Michigan

Unfortunately in science, what you believe is irrelevant.

2020 donation made, exempt but worth every dime!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-02-2016, 08:31 AM
wolfrv6 wolfrv6 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25
Default

Floor is heated
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-02-2016, 08:36 AM
plehrke's Avatar
plehrke plehrke is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Defiance, MO
Posts: 1,674
Default

Put in a home furnace and run off propane tank.
__________________
Philip
RV-6A - 14+ years, 950+ hours
Based at 1H0 (Creve Coeur)
Paid dues yearly since 2007
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 12-02-2016, 11:15 AM
rv7boy's Avatar
rv7boy rv7boy is offline
Forum Peruser
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
Default

Just an observation...

Some folks can work in their hangar/shop when the temperature is 45F or above. Others want it at 75F. I insulated my shop extremely well and heat it with an oil type radiator space heater and for really cold weather I pre-heat with a propane heater before I actually work out there. I have found that I can work comfortably at 60F or above.

Now those who know me well are wondering why don't I get out in my shop more and finish my 7...? Good question. I hereby resolve to do just that!
__________________
Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!

?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 12-03-2016, 05:49 AM
bobnoffs bobnoffs is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 777
Default

cost of fuel is sometimes an issue. fwiw there are ways to tap into your bulk propane bottle at home. fuel there is a fraction of getting a 20lb bottle filled.
__________________
Bob Noffs
n. wi.
dakota hawk/jab 3300 built and flying. sold 6/18.getting serious about the 12. in the hangar now as of 10/15/19
RV-12 kit as of 9/13
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 12-03-2016, 08:29 AM
dave4754's Avatar
dave4754 dave4754 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Edson, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 483
Default Have used a few types

I don't have a hangar so i just use my garage which I hope this year gives birth to a wonderful RV -7.

This latest house I had installed a Natural gas garage overhead heater and man I am glad i did. IT keeps the garage warm but at -30C(-22F), yes it gets that cold here I need to use an electric heater for warmth near the bench while working on small stuff. Otherwise an extra shirt and I am good to go with the rest of the fuselage work.

I am surprised at the kerosene "Herman Nelson" use(that is what we call them here) as no_one picked up fumes. I would be very careful with these and would not use them in an enclosed area without a sufficient cold air source AND a really good functioning alarm type carbon monoxide monitor. Those fumes really do kill and SILENTLY!

Good luck with your build.
__________________
Dave Cobb
[color="Red"]=VAF=2019 Donation - and a bit extra for great work![/COLOR="blue"]
Empennage RV 7 - Tipper
Wings complete

Dynon installed and running
Fuse closer to completion, Canopy complete
AME reviewed and repaired O-320-Lyc installed
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 12-03-2016, 08:39 AM
LettersFromFlyoverCountry's Avatar
LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
Default

I've built a plane in -10 weather in Minnesota in an uninsulated hangar and it was like working on the moon. I started out with just a little Buddy Heater to warm up frozen fingers.

Eventually I graduated to a couple of kerosene heaters and moved to an insulated hangar.

It heats up nice and toasty. If you let the fuel get too low, you will get some fumes that can get obnoxious.

The hangar was leaky enough, air wise, that I never had a concern about CO.

There's another piece of equipment that I'd highly recommend for building: A good pair of fleece-lined jeans from LL Bean.
__________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, MN.
Blog: Letters From Flyover Country
RV-12iS Powerplant kit
N612EF Builder log (EAA Builder log)
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 12-04-2016, 06:03 AM
bobnoffs bobnoffs is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 777
Default

i don't have heat in my hangar but i built a 10' x 10' insulated shop in it.i wouldn't want to try to build an airplane in an unheated space but this set up works well for maintenance . surprising how comfortable 25 deg. can be with no wind chill. shop can be heated quickly with up to 4 space heaters and then one maintains it.
here's my tip.........get an electric frying pan for $5 from goodwill and keep the tools you are using in the frying pan next to your work. metal really pulls the heat from your fingers.
__________________
Bob Noffs
n. wi.
dakota hawk/jab 3300 built and flying. sold 6/18.getting serious about the 12. in the hangar now as of 10/15/19
RV-12 kit as of 9/13
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:09 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.