> Gentle folk

> I live in Oregon and this time of the year it has either rained, is about
> to rain, or is presently raining. I need to varnish a strip rural mail box
> I did as a practic project. It is also a long over due present for a loved
> one. I am using or have Captains I believe and it says don't use if about
> to rain.

> My hope is four halogin lights on the project will allow me to get away
> with using in my weather conditions. Without the lights the best I can
> hope for is about 50 degrees in my humble shop.

> Please the more opinions, I know there is many on this subject, the
> better.

> Thanks Tony

I'd drape the area with clear or frosted plastic to kp down heat losses to air movement, and then either put a few Halogen lights outside the area, and let them shine in, or I'd use a ahir dryer under the palstic tent.

I've had good luck with using hairdryers to heat cold basemsnts. Typically they were truned on for a hour to raise the temperature of a 3200 cu ft basement by about 3 degrees. You'll want to drape your work area under that plastic tent to keep the work area to a fraction of this. They are a bit noisy, but they are available, rather cheap (check garage sales) and they move the air as well as heating it, which makes for a more even heat. Dont aim them at the palstic, or the project, just let them blow hot air around, andthe tent will trap it. Keep a thermometer near your work.

One project I made that was painted with a polyurethane paint was nt setting up properly, so after two days ( and the paint was still a bit tacky) I used a floodlamp to speed its drying. The basement stayed cool ( couldnthelp that) but the surface of the project finally got warm enough for the paint to harden.

Be careful not to get halogen, or any other lights, too close. I've kept pizzas warm under these things, and I know people who used to light cigarettes off of them. Get them too close and your varnish will boil, not set.

The amount of heat from 1500 watts of halogen lights ( either 5 300 watt lamps, or 3 500 watt ones is going to be about the same. If you don't want to use halogen bulbs, you'll get the same amount of heat from 15 100 watt light bulbs. something to consider if your electric company has a "free" lightbulb deal for regular bulbs.

A few years ago I estimated that an enclosed triangular area made from three sheets of 4 x 8 expanded styrene foam could get up to 250 degrees F if heated by three 500 watt halogen lamps.

Ratings on commercial 1500 watt elecric space heaters seem to all be about 5250 BTU, regardless of manufaactureer, fan speeds, and type of heating element.

A 750 watt hair dryer shoudl put out half as much heat as a 1500 watt one.

A heat gun gets the air near it to a higher temperature, but moves the air slower than a hair dryer of the same wattage. The faster flowing air from the hairdryer promotes more even heat around your work area. any of these electrical appliances will get hot enough to cause a fire if they are allowed to. Electric sparks, and red hot filaments can promote explosions of volatile thinners and paints. Again, be careful. While these things work, nobody in their right mind would ever certify these things as safe home heating devices, so if you start a fire, your homeowners insurance may balk at paying for damages. I'd heat the general area for a while before applying the varnish, then turn off all the heating gear as I worked with teh varnish, and leave it off for anhour or tow. If the stuff didn't set up b then, I'd use the lamps ( from a safe distance) and not the hairdryer, for fear fo the moving air stiring up dust. If you use 4 lamps aren't you going to blow a fuse? Just some thoughts. Hope they help. Paul Jacobson