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[Robert Yarger]

I am considering going high-teck, which in this case means putting air conditioning in my work shop (garage).  I have always thought of such devices as being a frivelous expense for a guy as cheap as I am, but these 95 degree high humidity days are really kicking my butt.  It is only going to get hotter.  I am tempted to justify the cost by convincing myself that a cooler room will increase productivity and pay for itself. 

I would not buy a new unit (again I'm cheap), but would just cut intake and exhaust vents in the wall and hook them up to my home unit.  I regularly block off vents to 4 rooms in my home that I don't use regularly, so my current home system should not be over stressed by the addition of the garage, but I would have to put in some good filters to keep sawdust from circulating through the home.

Any other thoughts on how to stay cool before I start pounding holes in my sheetrock?  I have already considered a swamp cooler, but don't want the high humidty near my equipment.

P.S. Robert (the accountant) would be sure to say to remember that it is a tax write off.

[Canuck]

You really should go for it, well worth the cost/effort.  I have central air as well and what I find is that it removes the humidity which is the biggest thing.  I can't imagine not having it especially for all the long hours you put in

[Robert Yarger]

My second choice is just a big fan, which works well with my current dust collection method (which is "da wind blows it out da door."

I would have to add lighting, since I use only a light bulb and natural light, and would also have to add insulation and a good dust collector to the garage.  In the end, it is probably money well spent and I have put off such things for a long time anyway.

Lets make a deal.  You package some of that cold Novia Scotia air and UPS it to me, and I will send you some of my warm air in the wintertime.

[Mark McCallum]

I am in the same boat with you Robert.  I also work in my garage which has no AC.  These last several days have really been tough.  I've been sweating my nuts off, and I've only been working in the evenings after the heat of the day has passed.  If this is any sign of things to come for this summer, I don't want to know! I've thought of doing much the same as you, however I am concerned that there is enough radiant heat coming off of the garage door itself that the AC wouldn't do much.  I would feel like I would need to insulate my garage door somehow. Not to mention the air gaps under the door letting in a lot of hot air!  If you do it, keep me posted. I'd like to hear how it works out.

[Peter Wiltshire]

Hello Gents,

Not sure if they sell them down there or not, but with our cold winters in Canada they sell a garage door insulation kit!  I'm sure that would cut down on radiant heat off the door (especially if it is hit with afternoon sun) 

Also don't know if you can find a used (to keep cost down) portable air conditioning unit something like these http://www.sylvane.com/garage-portable-air-conditioner.html  Maybe nicer than cutting holes in the wall, and possibly putting dust into your home (My wife would kill me )

Oooo or you could move to Canada, I hear Nova Scotia's nice 

[Robert Yarger]

Mark,

Now I am really bummed.  My hope was that you would say you had an air conditioned shop and that I should just come on over.  I have been doing the siesta thing and napping from noon to three, but working extra hours after the sun goes down.  I had the same fear that gaps in a garage door would make it futile.  Perhaps a large fan could create the same measure of results for a lot cheaper.

I have been opposed to working nude out of fear of certain things getting caught up in equipment, but it does not sound like an unreasonable idea right now.

I usually time things better and get all outside work done in the spring and fall so that I can assemble indoors in the summer and winter.  This time it just did not work out.

Hey, at least there is a slight breeze today.  (By slight breeze I mean 80 mph wind gusts.)  Man, Oklahoma is a strange place for weather.  With the strong hot wind gusts, it feels like I am standing in front of a hair dryer.

Does everone feel sorry for me yet, because I can rub it on a lot thicker.

[Mark McCallum]

I usually refer to our summers as standing in a convection oven.  Most days I'm making my own gravy!

[Eric Fuller]

My shop's been hot as hell this week too.  Or so I hear...been working on my next box design and it's kind of kicking my ass.

Seriously, if you get air conditioning, I'm gonna be jealous.

[Robert Yarger]

You've got your own sweat shop worker don't ya Eric.

Mark - it helped a little to know that someone else was sharing my pain.  But only a little.  I think we have been having 100 mph wind gusts recently

Oklahoma - where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.  Hey its a song!

[Scott Peterson]

It was 54 deg F in the Seattle area today, and more pissy rain!  I would trade you, just for some sunshine!

I do hope your ideas work out for adding AC to the garage - but I know I can see big air gaps all around our garage door.  I think the garage doors will be your biggest hurdle.  Peter - do you have any links for the door insulation kits?  I don't remember those, even after growing up in WI.

[Peter Wiltshire]

Hello Scott,  Here are some links to Garage door insulation kits.  The first link is what my father used to insulate his garage doors, he said they insulate well, but are tricky to install, and he wants to replace the cross bracing with metal pieces instead of the plastic ones that come with the kit.  The other links are just what came up on Google.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=941465&Ntt=941465&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber
http://www.texasgarages.com/insulation.htm
http://www.garagedoorsupply.com/insulation.html

[Kerry Verne]

I can at least open the door to the house and release wood dust into the rest of my residence. My only other option is blowing in insulation as the walls are sheetrocked in.

[Carl Morris]

Now this is a thread I can empathize with.  I'm in Orlando, the combination of heat and humidity in Florida can be tough.

Instead of the whole garage, how about air conditioning yourself?  Run a hose from your A/C source into the back of a pair of those zip-up overalls, the air will escape from the arms and legs, cooling you in the process.

Never tried it myself, but thought about it from time to time (probably heat-induced hallucinations).  If you try this, we want pictures!     

    -- Carl

[Robert Yarger]

I like the way you think.  Only cool what has to be cooled.  That is a "cool" idea.

[RKB]

I like the way you think.  Only cool what has to be cooled.  That is a "cool" idea.

And in the end it all comes down to the brain... Just thinking of ice cream may do the trick