My kingdom for a giant, heated workspace - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

MetroMPG · 12-20-2007, 05:46 PM

Winter came early this year (OK, winter came this year approximately when it used to come in years past). I was caught off guard - pushed a few outdoor projects into December that I figured I'd have time to finish. And, well... Mother Nature had her way with my plans.

At least I'm driving a reliable car now. Not too many years ago, I used to have an annual rush to do preventive repairs & maintenance in the autumn as an attempt to avoid having to fix busted stuff in the middle of the winter.

How many of you have heated workspaces where you can keep tinkering through the winter (if you get winter)?

cfg83 · 12-20-2007, 06:37 PM

MetroMPG -

Outdoor driveway parking all the time,

. It's not cold like you, but it is desert-cold, so I don't work much at night, except for what I can do inside the house.

CarloSW2

Lazarus · 12-20-2007, 06:55 PM

I have a garage that I can work in. It doesn't get real cold here but being out of the elements is nice

TomO · 12-20-2007, 11:12 PM

Double car garage 22'x22' not currently heated but with the recent insulating job I did to the door it stays ~20Â° warmer than the outside temps.

MetroMPG · 12-20-2007, 11:15 PM

Nice. Maybe I just have to accept my lot in life and aim for winter projects that will fit in a basement workshop.

Either that, or head south!

krousdb · 12-21-2007, 08:49 AM

I vote for heading south!

MetroMPG · 12-21-2007, 11:43 AM

I was thinking more about that... and then I realized for it to work, I also have to bring all my projects with me! Suddenly I need a multi car carrier.

Silveredwings · 12-21-2007, 11:48 AM

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were hoping for some global warming.

As it is, I'm insulating my garage with about 2 feet of snow on top and all around it.

trebuchet03 · 12-22-2007, 03:24 AM

Heated workspace! Ha! You need a workspace in order to have it heated

I therefore take over the apartment dining and/or living room and/or tiny balcony when it comes time for project building and such

XFi · 12-22-2007, 09:22 AM

At my house, the garage was converted into a 4th bedroom by the previous owners.

But I do have my Parents house (less than 5minutes away) that has a new garage (unheated) that I put the space heaters or kerosene heater on. But before that, I always worked in the driveway too.

metroschultz · 01-01-2008, 03:54 AM

Just found this thread, I've got a 2 car garage withe one car in the middle that needs a new crank. all covered up like the car in the Lowe's(? Home Depot?) ad. Therefor I do most of my work in the driveway. Luckily the winter here is never too harsh. But my old boss, who was my Friend first and remained my Friend after I left him for greener pastures, allows me to use the shop (1500 sq/ft heated, two lifts, air compressor, spring compressor, etc. think corner repair shop meets auto dealer) any weekend I ask for. Isn't he a swell guy?

MetroMPG · 01-01-2008, 09:27 AM

Schultz - that sounds like an ideal arrangement. The guy I know who did the machining for the ForkenSwift has a big door on his shop - which he doesn't use on weekends... I've been toying with the idea of talking to him about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XFi

At my house, the garage was converted into a 4th bedroom by the previous owners.

Sounds like the same thing that Jerry did at EV Convert. With a new baby on the way in the spring of '07, the electric Ford Probe project got evicted from the garage, and some new living space took shape in its place.

Note the Prius outside just past the halfway point - "work vehicle of choice for subcontractors everywhere!" (Actually that's Jerry's car - and him doing the work.)

oldschool · 01-06-2008, 11:27 PM

Sigh, We planned on moving this yr , got the house.emodeling it, had a contractor build a garage; was supposed to be done in August, finished it Dec 9th. Where I am I have a heated garage but with everything thats happened this yr the wood for the wood burner remained at the back of the lot at the other place, plus my heated garage is so stuffed with junk there is just room for our 2 cars. My son in law and I just finished installing the fold down stairs for the attic at the new garage and the attic floor is just about installed. So I have had lil time to work on mileage projects last yr and it may be a while this yr

roflwaffle · 01-07-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I was thinking more about that... and then I realized for it to work, I also have to bring all my projects with me! Suddenly I need a multi car carrier.

Nah, just a tow bar, car with a hitch, and some magnetic lights. They let ya tow four down up north right?