Heating a Garage Workshop

Q: I'm thinking about using a kerosene heater to warm things up in my garage workshop. Are these safe to use in a space where I plan to do sanding and finishing? I'm concerned about dust and fumes. I've been working on this table far to long to have it (and me) blow up!

A: I agree. Blowing up isn't a good thing. Since kerosene heaters involve open combustion, I wouldn't used them anywhere near wood dust or flammable vapours, though there won't be any danger in places where you'll be using waterborne finishes since they're not flammable. A bigger problem is the effectiveness of a kerosene heater in your situation. They're cozy to snuggle up to, but don't put out a lot of heat when it comes to warming an entire garage (which probably isn't well insulated). It usually takes something as potent as a woodstove or oil heater to keep a garage warm enough for finishing, but these still present a fire hazard. You might consider waiting until warmer weather to finish your project, or get permission from the house boss to do the work inside. Waterborne urethanes are almost odourless, so you shouldn't have to beg too hard.

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