Thanks. I'll take that at face value, based on your experience. Getting a 50k BTU garage heater, vented appropriately, looks like it will do fine with my 400lbs propane bottle for the couple of months of the year where less than 6 degrees is normal.
And if I find out otherwise from experience, I'll look into more complicated controls.
I missed this comment of yours Paul. I think
@TorontoBuilder missed it too or he would have jumped on it more emphatically than I am here. You are
NOT GUNNA LIKE what I say next.
The salient point of controlling temperature to reduce Humidity is to heat the space ABOVE ambient temp.
It must not be the same as ambient. It is the act of warming the air that reduces its relative humidity. No warming means no reduction in relative humidity.
So if you set your temp to 6 degrees and outside temp is also 6 degrees, you could have relative humidity of 100% inside your shop and dew becomes possible. For temp control to work, your inside temp must be warmer than outside temp at all times. Depending on how well your shop is insulated, your propane bottle may not last doing that.
The objective is to maintain a temperature differential, not a specific temperature.
That works for me because I have both overhead radiant heaters AND A LARGE DEHUMIDIFIER. So, when the outside temp is low, heating keeps my shop air dry, and when the outside temp is high, a Dehumidifier keeps my shop dry.
In summary, for heaters to work on their own, they must maintain an inside temp that is
warmer than outside.
Controlling the heaters by humidity as TB suggests will solve this dilemma, (I can see him smiling all the way from here right now) but it could also mean that your shop could get unbearably hot and that your heating bill could get outrageous. He will agree with that too.
That's why I do both. I heat in the winter to reduce humidity, and keep my water from freezing.
AND I have an electric Dehumidifier that comes on when the humidity gets above 60%. The 60% is somewhat arbitrary. 50 or 70 will work too. I like 60 because it's right in the middle of a humidity sensors most reliable and most accurate range.
Perhaps, you and all your awesome tools could also benefit from a thorough review of corrosion and humidity fundamentals. This is a VERY LONG THREAD, but it covers rust from A to Z and its content is well worth the read for almost everyone. Even our expert members can learn something here. I know I did. The debate is interesting and fun too. The technical aspects of relative humidity, room size, water volumes, and even tool cabinets and cases is also thrashed to death. It's a good read.
Humidity is a constant challenge living here in SW Ontario. Humidity breeds rust like an invasive species.
I saw a thread just now by
@Johnwa about this VERY COOL Collet Box he made. I am SOOOOO jealous! Not just because the box is REALLY COOL, but also because I'd be terrified of putting my collects into an enclosed container of any kind in the hot humid climate I have here in SW Ontario.
https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/collet-box.3590/unread
I've tried to handle humidity and rust in numerous ways by:
1. Keeping tools and bits well oiled. Spray oil is awesome...
