Replies

1. 
   beachfarm | Feb 10, 2005 02:31am | #1

   It's easier (and safer) to bring the box with the glues back to your home/office/cabin/teepee/cave if the goal is to keep them from freezing.

2. 
   mrbird90 | Feb 10, 2005 03:06am | #2

   Keeping the glue warm is only half the equation as the wood also has to be up to 50 degrees for Titebond etc. When I don't want to keep the furnace running in the shop overnight I bring the wood in along with the glue. Makes a mess in the kitchen.

3. 
   TomMGTC | Feb 10, 2005 03:33am | #3

   You could set it up with a thermostat.

   Tom

   Douglasville, GA

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 10, 2005 07:44pm | #7

   Simplest is best for me-  Around here we keep pumphouses, water troughs, hen houses, etc, from freezing up with light bulbs-  Costs little to operate, it's either on or off-  Thanks for the thought Tom-

4. 
   AlanWS | Feb 10, 2005 03:48am | #4

   I saw a picture of someone's shop who had an old dead refrigerator in use as a cabinet for glue and finishes. There was a light bulb for heat when needed.

1. 
   dukeone | Feb 10, 2005 06:20am | #5

   I have a 6 drawer tool box where I keep my router bits, planes, squares and anything that would be affected by moisture. It has a heater underneath with a variable controller (turn it up in winter and down in summer). During the winter I keep my glue bottles in it. The box stays 10 or so degrees above ambient which keeps out the moisture and keeps the glue just toasty. A thermostat or humidity could be used and many types of heaters are available from Graingers or other industrial suppliers.
   KDM

2. 
   Yogi | Feb 10, 2005 07:46pm | #8

   Right idea, wrong size-  I'm thinking of something on the wall-  Thanks-

5. 
   BG | Feb 10, 2005 02:23pm | #6

   Dave,

   'Jeff in Vermont' discussed his solution about a year ago...I think it was an old refrig with a 25 w bulb.  Might check the archives...

    

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 10, 2005 07:52pm | #9

   BG-  Thanks for the thought-  Fridge is a little too big for my work area-  I'm thinking of an insulated cabinet, hung on the wall- 

2. 
   Jeff | Feb 11, 2005 05:29pm | #19

   Hi BG

   I used an old upright freezer with a 25W bulb and thermostat.

   Upgraded to a planting heat tape with a built in thermostat for this winter.

   Works great, keeps the freezer at 60 all the time.

   Have to heat the shop for glue-ups because the wood is too cold otherwise.

   More important that the glue doesn't freeze and go bad.

   I'd probably visit the dump for a mini fridge (like a dorm room size) if I was short on space.

   Jeff

    

6. 
   Steinmetz | Feb 10, 2005 08:15pm | #10

   Dave,

   A friend of mine had a custom wood working business in a New York City storefront and he had a large upright fireproof safe which he used to store all his corded tools also hooked up a small lamp to warm up the tools and glue (especially over a weekend, when the landlord shut off the heat.
   (Hasn't had a router or belt sander stolen since,)

   Steinmetz

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 10, 2005 11:58pm | #11

   Steinmetz-  There you have it-  A sumple lamp-  I was thinking of some low voltage somethingorother, but I guess I'll just use a standard socket & low wattage bulb-  An insulated cabinet doesn't need much-  Thanks- 

7. 
   PhillipB | Feb 11, 2005 02:42am | #12

   Dave,

   Sounds, from what I've read, that you've found a solution to your dilemma. I just want to pass on something somewhat similar which I have done and perhaps it will help you or others.

   When I use Tried & True products or the like, due to their inherent viscosity, I put them into a very small crock pot to warm them prior to use. This works great for that specific purpose and as I recall, the cost was about $8. This particular pot has no controls: it's either ON or OFF. It heats my T&T varnish very nicely. Never too hot.

   The interior of this crock pot is quite small: 5 1/2" in depth by about 3" in height. So its lack of volume precludes a person from leaving it on overnight because the water would evaporate before you returned in the morning. With a can inside, the lid would not go on anyway. However, this may be a way for you to keep your glue warm as you use it rather than having to reheat it as you go along.

   Once I get the varnish on the wood, I use an old hair-dryer to , again, keep it warm as I rub it in. My shop is the basement of our home in the mid-west so I understand the need to keep things warm. Good luck.

   Regards,
   Phillip

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 11, 2005 04:46am | #14

   Great idea- Thanks for passing it along-

8. 
   Michmesquite | Feb 11, 2005 03:29am | #13

   Dave

   I think your idea of keeping temp sensitive materials in a warm location is okay if only to keep them from freezing.

   Problem is if your glue is at 65d and your wood is at 40d, then your glue will rapidly go to 40d and be nearly useless. You will still need to warm your shop to at least 55d+ in most cases to do any glue ups. This will warm the shop, the wood after a some time and the glues a little bit quicker.

   _________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 11, 2005 04:48am | #15

   Mike-  Thanks for the thought-  You're right, of course, about overall temps-  But I hafta tackle overall problems with little bites-  I'm getting there-

9. 
   Lightman | Feb 11, 2005 05:02am | #16

   Dave

   Same problem, same task. Built a small cabinet about 18inh x 18 inw x 10ind. Just happen to have a small digital thermometer. Set up a basic socket mounted to the wall of cab. Started with 60w bulb. Ended up with a 40w. It would keep the box/cab about 12 to 15 degrees above the ambient temp. The 60 about 20+. Gets in the 20s here but only 1 or 2 days max and only at night. If it stays over 70 for a while I just shut it off. Good place to keep biscuits too. Here in the south, the moisture is all year, sooo it's keeps the biscuits from swelling. Lost 2 packs of them so it is an issue. Anyway good luck.

   Jimmy

   as always I wish you enough. 

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 11, 2005 08:52am | #17

   Jimmy-  There it is-  Simple, convenient, and probably a 40 watt bulb, considering insulation-  Thank you-

1. 
   Lightman | Feb 11, 2005 03:06pm | #18

   Hey Dave, your more than welcome!

    Just to let you know it is 29 as I write this. Inside the shop it's 33. Inside the glue cab it's 46. My shop is insulated and I'm assuming it's getting enough sun thru the windows to keep it a couple of degrees above outside. The cab is about right on time though. This is the 2nd winter I've had it. Have a good one Dave.

   Jimmy

   as always I wish you enough

10. 
    Steinmetz | Feb 12, 2005 03:40am | #20

    Dave, during my fifty years of working with wood,
    I hated the winter as all my bottles of glue
    would go bad due to freezing in my truck.

    Solved the problem by carying the bottle of glue in my inside coat pocket (An idea close to my heart)
    It soon graduated to wood filler
    then spackle then Bondo.

    I recall a story about Abe Lincoln,
    when as a young boy trudging off in winter
    to his railspliting job,he would carry
    hot potatoes in his gloves to keep his hands warm.

    When the spuds cooled off, Abe jist ate 'im.
    Steinmetz

1. 
   Yogi | Feb 12, 2005 05:31am | #21

   I have this picture in my mind:  There you are, making your way through sidewalk crowds, subtly approaching one pedestrian after another, covertly displaying for each the inside of his overcoat and whispering lasiviously, "Hey, wanna buy some glue?"

    

    

11. 
    bobhallsr | Feb 12, 2005 05:51am | #22

    Dave, I use a pair of light bulbs wired in series in my pump house.  That way each bulb "sees" only half the voltage and they will last just about forever.

    BJ

     

    Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland