Winter is here....what do do
 

Alright so it's getting cold soon up here and I dont have a heated garage. I have all my tools in the garage though and up here it gets up to -40ºC (-30 Faehrenheit) in the Wintertime. Should I bring all my wrenches, sockets, my grinder and my welder in for the Winter time. Will the cold affect the welder at all?




Thanks,


Mike

Tool Storage
 

Cold won't hurt moisture will..so what ever you do keep the tools dry..:thumbup:

I agree about the moisture. I try to give the less-used tools a quick WD-40 spray and wipe. We don't get as cold as you do...thank God. I can still work some parts of the Winter.

I also transfer all the electrical "stuff" to the basement, along with car wax and some of the rattle can products.

-40 C = -40 F. (honest)
I don't know about Winterpeg but moisture is not a big issue in Alberta -this has to be one of the driest places on earth in the winter. Your tools etc should be OK but as stated I would take the cleaning products and paint that could freeze inside.

I have only one suggestion for that kind of weather - Hibernate 'till it warms up.

Allright so I'm leaving my wrenches outside and the rest of my tools outside except the welder and the grinder.



Mike

I am hijacking this thread.
 

I live in Grand Rapids (the suburbs on the southeast side), about 40 miles from ya. Cool.:)

Why not install a heater? I'd hate to move things in doors for the winter and back out in the spring. Reminds me of every year when I go to set up the christmas tree

I have 2 suggestions as to the cold winters.

1) Take any electronics (Digital meters and such)inside, as they will freeze.

2) Move to a warmer climate. Here, +30 is cold.

I'm leaving my rattle can products outside, bringing my welder and my grinder, drill inside for the winter. My wrenches and sockets and screwdrivers and what not I'm leaving outside hanging on the board.

Move to warmer climate?

:D tell ya what adtkart, you pay for my ticket and rent me an apartment down there and I can asure you that I'll be at your airport waiting to be picked up from you in no time:D








Mike

Heating was suggested. I can tell you from experience that you do not want to try and heat an uninsulated garage. I tried it for a while last winter and it is expensive and almost impossible. I'm adding a storage building and, as soon as I get all the junk out of the garage, I'm going to start finishing the garage with bats in the walls and a thick blown-in blanket in the attic. I already chose insulated doors when I had to replace them a year ago. My goal is to be able to keep it slightly above freezing without sending all my income to the power company. Most of my vehicles are not sensible enough to wait for the spring thaw to break down so I need a space that can be used when there is all that white stuff on the ground outside (like fell last night. winter has arrived in Denver)

Bring the paint in...

Cold won't hurt your tools..............just don't put your tongue on them.....................

My welder has been left in my garage ( unheated) since I bought it. It still performs and looks like new. Actually, I never thought of taking it inside as I use it a lot year round.

Take your tools inside, the freeze thaw cycling in the fall and spring will create condensate inside the tool box leading to rust. If you can't bring them inside get some dessicant bags and put one in each drawer, you can buy it at crappy tire...it's called Sorb-All and comes in a large white bag about 10 pds. Repackage the stuff in the bag in a double wrapped cheesecloth square and twist tie it shut.

To reenergize the stuff, stick it in the oven at a low temp (<350F) to drive out the moisture and it's good for another year of tool box duty.

Worked all day
 

In my garage and I needed heat I start off in the am for .5 hrs with an Oil hot air furnace to get the chill off while i build a fire in my wood stove. I circulate the heat with fans around the garage where i need it.. the walls are insulated but not the ceiling, next year i will lower the ceiling to 8 ft its 10 ft now. I can work all winter in my garage as it is now but I will make it better. New England winters are cruel