Freezing shop supplies

DaveNay · Sep 27, 2004

With winter approaching, I am considering building a heated cabinet for my shop. I would like to put items in here like PVC glue, caulk, cans of paint, adhesives, spray lubricants, etc. How much of this type of stuff really needs to be protected from freezing? I was thinking of a simple plywood cabinet, some ridgid foam insulation and a 40 watt light bulb on a thermostat switch. I don't need to keep it real warm, but 40-45 F would be nice.

For you southerners and Australian desert dwellers, freezing is when the ambient air temperature drops below 32 degrees F or 0 deg C, and water based products turn into a solid. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Dave

slowrev · Sep 27, 2004

I just move all Latex based paints, caulk, etc into the basement and leave them there. I leave Oil based paints, RTV, solvents, etc in my workshop, which is not heated all of the time. Has worked so far.

Not sure on your idea of a heated cabinet, probably will need some insulation at least.

Ben

rockinmywaypa · Sep 27, 2004

an old fridge might work as well and save construction costs. even has light sockets although some rewiring would be in order to add thermastats.

Boondox · Sep 28, 2004

Dave -- Over the years, having lost a lot of stuff to winter cold, I've developed a system. Anything subject to damage or loss from freezing that is normally kept in the shop or garage in warm weather has a blue band around it. I use blue electrical tape. About this time of year, with the first freezing spell just around the corner, I go thru the unheated spaces with a tote, gathering all the blue striped items and moving them to the basement.

For all you folks who confuse "chilly" with "freezing," even cans of WD-40 are rendered useless by a few days of minus 30. The spray mechanism gums up and never recovers, so every spray bottle or can, no matter what's inside it, is a blue stripe item.

I've never relied on heated storage since around here the power supply in winter is subject to failure.

Pete

RobS · Sep 28, 2004

so every spray bottle or can, no matter what's inside it, is a blue stripe item 

OK Pete, what the heck is a blue stripe item??? 

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Sep 28, 2004

( OK Pete, what the heck is a blue stripe item???

)

I bet it's Vermont's version of K-Mart's Blue Light Special ! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

daedong · Sep 28, 2004

Dave,

 For you southerners and Australian desert dwellers, freezing is when the ambient air temperature drops below 32 degrees F or 0 deg C, and water based products turn into a solid. 

I will tell you how to store stuff in winter if you tell me how to keep my beer cold in 45c
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Boondox · Sep 28, 2004

( ( OK Pete, what the heck is a blue stripe item???

)

I bet it's Vermont's version of K-Mart's Blue Light Special ! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Jeez, you guys don't really read posts, do you? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I put a stripe of blue electrical tape around every container in the garage or shop that has to be removed before freezing weather arrives. Pete

Golfgar4 · Sep 28, 2004

( Jeez, you guys don't really read posts, do you? )

Actually Pete, I had planned on mentioning to Rob what you had put in your original post, because I had read it.

But it wouldn't have been nearly as funny! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DaveNay · Sep 28, 2004

( I will tell you how to store stuff in winter if you tell me how to keep my beer cold in 45c)

Place your beer in a mesh bag, with a couple of rocks for weight. Tie the bag to a long rope...SECURELY! Tie the other end of the rope to something solid, and then toss the beer-in-a-bag into that nice cool river you have. Cold beer in about 30 minutes.

Dave