Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

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SteveHGraham
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Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by SteveHGraham »

I made an offer on a place in northern Florida, and I got shot down. I picked out another place, and some miserable creep made an offer before I could even go look at it. Now I'm looking at a THIRD one.

Problem/blessing: the people who built this place included a 2356-square-foot garage. That is not a typo. The detached garage has three garage doors, a central AC system, plumbing, and a 612-square-foot upstairs apartment which still needs to be finished. When I die, I want to go to that garage.

I'm excited about the idea of having a giant workshop, but I'm pretty sure the AC system is only intended to cool the apartment, and even if I'm wrong, I don't think I want to pay to air condition a blimp hangar. That means it will be warm out there maybe five months out of the year.

Here's what I want to know: will I be able to bear the heat and humidity of northern Florida with just fans? Does anyone here have a non-AC shop in a place that hot and sweaty? I would like to know how you cope.

I hate sweating onto my tools and work, and I really hate having my glasses and face shield fill up with sweat over and over.

The smaller attached garage is big enough for metalworking, and I can stick a unit in it and keep my metal machines there, but it would be convenient to have everything in the same building. With that much room, I should be able to protect the metal stuff from sawdust.
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GlennW
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by GlennW »

SteveHGraham wrote:Does anyone here have a non-AC shop in a place that hot and sweaty? I would like to know how you cope.
Yes, it's usually around 110+ degrees in the building in the summer months.

I'm 61 and I sweat onto my tools and work, and my glasses and face shield fill up with sweat over and over, and I do it twelve hours a day.
Glenn

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Harold_V
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by Harold_V »

SteveHGraham wrote: With that much room, I should be able to protect the metal stuff from sawdust.
Likely not. The fine dust created by sanding and other operations will travel to every nook and cranny in the building, including attaching to the bottom surfaces of light fixtures.

Don't ask how I know.

Harold
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by SteveHGraham »

GlennW wrote:Yes, it's usually around 110+ degrees in the building in the summer months.

I'm 61 and I sweat onto my tools and work, and my glasses and face shield fill up with sweat over and over, and I do it twelve hours a day.
You should do yoga while you're at it.

I admire your grit, but I reject your approach to the problem.

I just found out the recommended AC size is 34000 BTU's, or 19 amps at 230V.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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GlennW
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by GlennW »

I have two 5000 sq ft buildings...

Although, where I moved from was 5000 sq ft and I had 23 tons of AC. It was pretty nice, but a bit expensive during the summer...

It also had all white walls and ceiling (24' height) with an off white floor with 9000 watts of lighting. I didn't know if it was day or night time, raining, or sunny outside!
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!
spro
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by spro »

I think you should investigate a suit. There are suits which keep you cool while the outside temp is unbearable. This is beyond the Comeaux and other towels. I couldn't stand the very hot summers when I got older/fatter. I really haven't checked recently but years ago there were jumpsuits with battery pack or AC . It isn't about the temperature, man, it's about you. The machines don't care if it is hot. There is no reason to air condition a huge space as this and I for one, would not think you stupid, for investigating the newer options. It would take a fraction of energy to make one comfortable and a machine handle is burning hot.
I hadn't checked for a long time but these suits are out there. Some people made their own and when it ripped, duct tape. Lots of things were done where otherwise heatstroke.
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by SteveHGraham »

GlennW wrote:I have two 5000 sq ft buildings...

Although, where I moved from was 5000 sq ft and I had 23 tons of AC. It was pretty nice, but a bit expensive during the summer...

It also had all white walls and ceiling (24' height) with an off white floor with 9000 watts of lighting. I didn't know if it was day or night time, raining, or sunny outside!
Now I feel like I can point to you if anyone accuses me of excess.
It isn't about the temperature, man, it's about you.
No argument there. It's always about me.
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spro
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by spro »

Please remember this is not a socialist board. I and know others are very happy these opportunities arise. Try to assist from different situations. You did a lot of work, that others did, to arrive to the point at considering that property. What I mentioned should be used and it isn't ego. It is ability and self preservation during these months. It is like hats, in a way. "Cowboy" hats had a very wide brim as did the Mexican sombreros . This evolved from knowledge about the old folks die ing from the unknown scabs and tumors which we know now as Melanomas. There ain't no changing the weather or the sun rays. We are able to adapt to the inevitable and to heck what people may think. Survival in this very old world. One melanoma can take down a fair skinned person.
It almost comes down to what Harold said about rust. By every top layer , something else is below the surface.
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John Evans
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by John Evans »

Simple ,put up a wall for the metalworking stuff and cool that area. Do the same for the woodworking tools. Material storage areas ,air compressor etc don't need to be heated/cooled. Climate control only the area you are using.
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by SteveHGraham »

John, that is good advice. To me, it's most important to cool the metalworking area, because when you do woodworking, you get filthy no matter what, so AC doesn't help that much.

It would be nice to put the compressor in a place where I wouldn't be blasted off my chair every time it goes off.
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Steggy
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by Steggy »

SteveHGraham wrote:With that much room, I should be able to protect the metal stuff from sawdust.
Never happen. That stuff will be like blowflies around a fresh corpse.
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Is Shop Life Possible Without AC in Florida?

Post by SteveHGraham »

I'm not pessimistic about containing sawdust. A little drywall and a door will do it.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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