Hey gang,
I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
Thanks!
Rob
Wood doesn't care. I keep a couple hundred BF out there in stage toward use
all the time.
I wouldn't leave any tool I loved out there. Just too much of a problem
come spring and condensation time, much less problems with cold tools and
wet, warm vehicles.
"rob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
> oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
> freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
> there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
> would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
> conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
> Thanks!
> Rob
I guess you would be right about the moisture, however I have left my
tools in the garage for the last 15 or so years and I have yet to find
any rust or other problems with tem. I guess it depends on the climate
that you live in. Here in Denver, I don't worry. Besides,I don't work
well when it's cold and neither do the tools.
>George wrote
>Wood doesn't care. I keep a couple hundred BF out there in stage
>toward use all the time.
I wouldn't leave any
>tool I loved out there. Just too much of a problem come spring
>and condensation time, much less problems with cold tools and
>wet, warm vehicles.
--
Woody
Check out my Web Page at:
http://community-1.webtv.net/WoodworkerJoe/WoodworkerJoesInfo
Where you will find:
******** How My Shop Works ******** 5-21-03
* * * Build a $20 DC Separator Can Lid. 1-14-03
* * * DC Relay Box Building Plans. 1-14-03
* * * The Bad Air Your Breath Everyday.1-14-03
* * * What is a Real Woodworker? 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Definitions. 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Laws. 4-6-03
* * * What is the true meaning of life? 1-14-03
* * * Woodworker Shop Signs. 2-8-03
On 17 Nov 2003 12:09:00 -0800, [email protected] (rob)
scribbled
>Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
>oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
>freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
>there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
>would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
>conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
I live in the Yukon where it gets to 40 below zero (ackshally to 87
below, but that was only once and a long time ago). My only advice is
to avoid licking your tools when it's very cold. :-) Oh, I've also
heard that steel gets very brittle somewhere around 40-50 below, but I
have never experienced metal failures due to that, so it might not be
true.
Hot humid weather and a cool garage are much more likely to be
damaging to your tools than cold (Rust). As long as your garage is
warmer than outside (even by a degree or two), you should be OK.
Also, solid phase H2O is an excellent wood glue, stronger than wood
and easily reversible. The procedure is the same as with hide glue .
It works really well as long as the temperature stays below 0 degrees
Celsius (32F). :-) In other words, keep your wood relatively dry so it
doesn't stick together.
I also haven't had any problem with cordless battery tools left in the
cold shop, but they are Milwaukee and Bosch, so YMMV.
Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" twice
in reply address for real email address
"Man is a tool-using animal. Weak in himself and of small stature,
he stands on a basis of some half-square foot, has to straddle out
his legs lest the very winds supplant him. Nevertheless, he can
use tools, can devise tools: with these the granite mountain melts
into light dust before him: seas are his smooth highway, winds and
fire his unwearying steeds. Nowhere do you find him without tools.
Without tools he is nothing: with tools he is all."
Thomas Carlyle
On 17-Nov-2003, "George" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I wouldn't leave any tool I loved out there.
I don't know why, but Shop Vac says not to leave their products
in a place they might freeze.
Mike
"Howard Ruttan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3" wrote
> > Condensation, moisture & possible rust would be your only real worry
> during
> > drastic temperature changes, <snip> Here in Canada that can
> > be a serious consideration.
>
> The colder the air, the less its ability to hold moisture. Besides, I
don't
> know what part of Canada you're from but where I grew up (N. Alberta) the
> winter was dry as a popcorn fart. You couldn't buy humidity even if you
won
> the 6-49.
>
> That having been said, my tools have never had a problem, in either
Northern
> Alberta or New Jersey, with cold or humidity in the winter.
>
> Cheers,
> Howard
My shed is a little damp & often in winter after a mild spell we get a cold
snap, any exposed metal surfaces get a thin film of frost especially
circular saw blades, metal bases etc, bringing them somewhere warm then
results in wet tools, since wrapping them I have not seen another rusty tool
in the shed, I also do the same for my hand saws, garden shears & other
similar items. Only takes a few seconds to wrap them up...come spring I just
toss the old papers away.
As far as powertools go just bringing them in from extreme cold to warmth is
enough to make condensation form on all the cold metal parts, under some
conditions a very light duty tool such as a dremel or other multitool with
ultra fine field & armature windings & push together field contacts &
switches can short out quite easily just from condensation. Heavier duty
tools will probably not be effected at all & the condensation will evaporate
as soon as the motors components warm up slightly.
--
© Jon Down ®
http://www.stores.ebay.com/jdpowertoolcanada
have momma knit some sweaters for them.
dave
rob wrote:
> Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
> oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
> freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
> there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
> would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
> conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
> Thanks!
> Rob
"rob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
> oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
> freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
> there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
> would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
> conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
> Thanks!
> Rob
I would be concerned about rust. When I have put tools in an unheated
environment I have sprayed Boeshield t-9 rust preventive all over the cast
surfaces.
Bob McBreen
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ZXMsIGFyZSBzYWlkDQo+IGNvbmRpdGlvbnMgYXQgYWxsIGJhZCBmb3Igc3RvcmluZyBoYXJkd29v
ZHM/DQo+IA0KPiBUaGFua3MhDQo+IFJvYg==
"rob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
> oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
> freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
> there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
> would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
> conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
> Thanks!
> Rob
Good Question.....
Condensation, moisture & possible rust would be your only real worry during
drastic temperature changes, lightly spray some WD40 or other thin lubricant
on some large newspapers or brown paper & when absorbed wrap the tools in
the paper before storing them in the garage for the winter, that should
prevent any problems if your garage is at all damp. Here in Canada that can
be a serious consideration. The cold can make the rubber on the cords &
boots crack but generally only if they are getting old & brittle anyway.
As for the wood.....not my scene man! Chop it up & burn it to keep warm <g>.
--
© Jon Down ®
http://www.stores.ebay.com/jdpowertoolcanada
On 17 Nov 2003 12:09:00 -0800, [email protected] (rob) wrote:
>Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
>oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
>freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
>there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
>would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
>conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
>Thanks!
>Rob
A problem I encountered was not so much severe cold, but a cold front
coming through. Moisture condensed on the cast-iron tables and fence
of my almost brand-new jointer and it had a coat of rust the next time
I saw it.
Took some steel wool and elbow grease to clean it up. That was 30
years ago, but I still remember it. :-(
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a
"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood
"rob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey gang,
> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
> oevr winter? I live in Minnesota, so the garage gets well below
> freezing. I would like to store some of my lesser used tools out
> there, so I need to know if the bitter cold is bad for em. Any info
> would be greatly appreciated. Also, along those lines, are said
> conditions at all bad for storing hardwoods?
>
> Thanks!
> Rob
My stuff is in an unheated garage with no problems. The only thing I do
is bring the cordless tools, batteries and chargers in for the winter.
It's a shame you leave the batteryin your car when you take those lucky
power tool batteries in the house. I'd think you should take it in too.
>tootsweet wrote
>My stuff is in an unheated garage with no problems. The only
>thing I do is bring the cordless tools, batteries and chargers in
>for the winter.
--
Woody
Check out my Web Page at:
http://community-1.webtv.net/WoodworkerJoe/WoodworkerJoesInfo
Where you will find:
******** How My Shop Works ******** 5-21-03
* * * Build a $20 DC Separator Can Lid. 1-14-03
* * * DC Relay Box Building Plans. 1-14-03
* * * The Bad Air Your Breath Everyday.1-14-03
* * * What is a Real Woodworker? 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Definitions. 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Laws. 4-6-03
* * * What is the true meaning of life? 1-14-03
* * * Woodworker Shop Signs. 2-8-03
Same thing happened to us when I was reassigned to class in Enid, OK after a
stint in Minot, ND. Of course, it's colder there than Ottawa, and so I had
two plugs, one for the trickle charger and one for the engine heater. We
were allowed to plug trickle chargers at work, but not engine heaters, as it
would have cost Uncle too much.
My cars stay outdoors here, and we rarely have any problems. Thinner oil
and better battery plates seem to have overcome former problems.
"Michael Daly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Don't they have battery heaters in the US? They're quite common here in
> the Great White North.
>
> One friend of mine moved back to Maryland from Ottawa with a block and a
battery
> heater in her car. Took it to a mechanic there who was afraid to touch
it -
> he'd never seen a car with wires and plugs sticking through the front
grill.
>
> Mike
On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 18:28:53 GMT, "mttt" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>Sure was a helluva lot easier than trying to pull a battery out in bitter
>cold.
The car in question was a '73 Ford Torino. Pretty easy in and out on
that battery.
>Block heaters and dip stick heaters never really did much for my car...
Block heaters do a lot for new/er cars. Too bad I don't have an
outlet outside.
> "mttt" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >Sure was a helluva lot easier than trying to pull a battery out in bitter
> >cold.
I had a '64 Karmann Ghia convertible and not much money. I used to bring
the battery in the house every night so it would start in the morning. I
eventually converted it to 12V with a Chevy alternator. It would not work
on a VW as there was no room for it under the hood but the Gaia had plenty.
Ed
"Joe "Woody" Woodpecker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >tootsweet wrote
>
> >My stuff is in an unheated garage with no problems. The only
> >thing I do is bring the cordless tools, batteries and chargers in
> >for the winter.
> It's a shame you leave the batteryin your car when you take those
lucky
> power tool batteries in the house. I'd think you should take it in
too.
>
Well, while rehabbing the house, I've yet to run into a need for a car
battery. I have two sets of tools - one in the shop, one in the
basement. I only have one set of cordless though so they live in the
garage for 3 seasons while woodworking and inside the house for 1 season
while rehabbing.
"Lazarus Long" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> I live in SE Wisconsin, and during one of those really bitter cold
> winters (routinely -20F), well, more than a few years ago, I *WAS*
> bringing the car battery in. It really made a difference in the
> morning starting up. The car started like a warm July day even though
> the outside temp was -20F.
I lived in SE Wisconsin too. Lake Geneva area. Well OK, it's more like NE
Illinois, I guess.
On cold nights (0-20 below) I'd stick a 100W drop light on top of the
battery and let the hood down gently. On bloody cold nights (20-40 below), I
had a cheap heating pad sitting underneath the battery that I'd plug in.
Sure was a helluva lot easier than trying to pull a battery out in bitter
cold.
Block heaters and dip stick heaters never really did much for my car...
On 18-Nov-2003, "mttt" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On cold nights (0-20 below) I'd stick a 100W drop light on top of the
> battery and let the hood down gently. On bloody cold nights (20-40 below), I
> had a cheap heating pad sitting underneath the battery that I'd plug in.
Don't they have battery heaters in the US? They're quite common here in
the Great White North.
One friend of mine moved back to Maryland from Ottawa with a block and a battery
heater in her car. Took it to a mechanic there who was afraid to touch it -
he'd never seen a car with wires and plugs sticking through the front grill.
Mike
On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 15:56:59 -0700 (MST), [email protected] (Joe
"Woody" Woodpecker) wrote:
>It's a shame you leave the batteryin your car when you take those lucky
>power tool batteries in the house. I'd think you should take it in too.
>
>
I live in SE Wisconsin, and during one of those really bitter cold
winters (routinely -20F), well, more than a few years ago, I *WAS*
bringing the car battery in. It really made a difference in the
morning starting up. The car started like a warm July day even though
the outside temp was -20F.
On 17-Nov-2003, [email protected] (Joe "Woody" Woodpecker) wrote:
> It's a shame you leave the batteryin your car when you take those lucky
> power tool batteries in the house. I'd think you should take it in too.
You have lead-acid batteries in your tools?
Mike
"mttt" <[email protected]> writes:
[...]
> I lived in SE Wisconsin too. Lake Geneva area. Well OK, it's more like NE
> Illinois, I guess.
>
> On cold nights (0-20 below) I'd stick a 100W drop light on top of the
> battery and let the hood down gently. On bloody cold nights (20-40 below), I
Somehow your fake Lake Geneva has some problems. Here at the real one
(Geneva, Switzerland, Old Europe) it hardly ever gets that cold.
--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
mailto:[email protected] Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23
"P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3" wrote
> Condensation, moisture & possible rust would be your only real worry
during
> drastic temperature changes, <snip> Here in Canada that can
> be a serious consideration.
The colder the air, the less its ability to hold moisture. Besides, I don't
know what part of Canada you're from but where I grew up (N. Alberta) the
winter was dry as a popcorn fart. You couldn't buy humidity even if you won
the 6-49.
That having been said, my tools have never had a problem, in either Northern
Alberta or New Jersey, with cold or humidity in the winter.
--
Cheers,
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
Caractacus Potts wrote:
> "rob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Hey gang,
>> I am just wonderign if its OK to have power tools in the garage
>>oevr winter?
>
> My stuff is in an unheated garage with no problems. The only thing I do
> is bring the cordless tools, batteries and chargers in for the winter.
>
No trouble if you let them warm up before using. Put them in a plastic
bag before bringing into the house, this will keep it from frosting or
condensation from forming. And you don't want to run a cold machine anyhow.
--
Mark
N.E. Ohio
Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)
When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)
"Michael Daly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> I don't know why, but Shop Vac says not to leave their products
> in a place they might freeze.
>
> Mike
Only reason I can think of is the Wet/Dry vac that could freeze up if not
drained and dried. Mine stays out in the garage all winter for the past 10
years or so. . I only use it dry though.
Ed