Good Old British Weather?

Hello Ian B,

I have a 14 x 14ft wooden workshop that is insulated much as your own. It has a 14 x 8 ft extension on one side with access from the main workshop. Although there is an air gap below I did not insulate the floor - something I wish I had done. Originally I had two 3ft long tubular greenhouse heaters permanently on but these had no thermostat. These would be boosted by secondary heating used as and when. I accepted the cost as part of my hobby.

I experienced no rusting on machine surfaces over this time but the odd piece of stock would sometimes acquire a slight patina.

I replaced all with a seven fin oil filled 3Kilowatt radiator in each side set on the one kilowatt setting. The two or three Kw settings have never been used. Save for the very warmest months these are also on permanently but of course thermostatically controlled. My wife, who keeps a wary eye on such things - assured me that the extra cost of not having to reheat the workshop on each use was hardly noticeable so it has worked like that for years now.

None of my equipment is covered other than when I am taking a break from machining - lathe has its original Myford cover and one mill a cover made from an old sheet. The other mill and all other tooling is left uncovered. It is a permanently warm place to walk into but ready for instant use without having to wait until things warm up. FWIW I have no rust issues whatsoever with this set up.

I spend a lot of time in there so the cost, as said, is considered part of the hobby - we've just this last week had a smart meter fitted. Last night as we retired my wife remarked we were spending 4p per hour at that point - not bad she said for two 1Kw heaters and two fish tanks plus an outside pond pump as well as the lighting.

Never ever having had to deal with condensation in the workshop I can't comment on de-humidifying but if you can prevent the temperature deviation in the first place (and do away with that paraffin heater) I'm you'd find you soon make a huge improvement given the insulation you have installed already.

Regards - Ramon (Tug)