Summertime Shop Relief

1885
17

What do you do to beat the heat. I built a three panel screen door for my shop. I started with pressure treated 2×4 s and and ripped a saw cut down the middle of each edge. Then I screwed the three frames together each apps 36" wide and measured to fit the height of the opening. Once together then came the hard part, attaching the screen. I bought a roll of spline cord and 3 rolls of the cheapest screen I could find. I used a double ended roller tool for putting the screen and spline into the groove created from the thin kerf table saw blade. It took about an hour for each panel. I then screwed each of the side panels in place with long deck screws, one on top and two on each side. The middle panel was attached with only one screw on the top and one on each side, incase I need to move materials in or out. After a few minutes of the screen up I realized the bottom needed to have a crossed brace to keep the dogs from scratching at it. I made sure the panels would still each be independent. Next I did the same for humans at eye height but only 2×2s and staggered so people would realize their was a doorway. After one 250lb fellow landing on his arse it was a must. Anyway, the shop seems to stay cool until about 2pm then I just open the garage door and the breeze is fantastic. I should have done this years ago but never seemed to get around to it, now I seem to have many more people stopping in cause they can see into the shop. Any questions just ask away, thanks for watching.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

17 Comments

Looks good! I’ve never had problems with folks just walking up/into the “shop,” even when I lived in a neighborhood. Now, I’m in the country, so no way will I have walk ins. :-)

Keith "Shin" Schindler

I don’t think I have ever had a whole 8 hour day without someone stopping in, most people come to hang out but a lot bring things to be fixed or built. Some come to scrounge wood…they are quickly chased, lol

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

So how hot can it get on PEI?
I start struggling at about 90 F. This in the open garage and in the shade. In the sun the tools can get so hot that you can’t hold them.

Madts.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

90F is rare for PEI, but the normals for July are close to 30C or 87F, every day, then at night down to around 15C or 60F. The best part is not having the bugs enter the shop. We have a lot of Mosquitos and black flies all summer. As well their are always hornets getting in the shop I guess it’s the smell of freshly cut wood that seems to draw them. I have placed curtains on the south facing windows when the sun gets to hot, but you are right they can get too hot to hold if not shaded. So what kind of solutions have you come up with Madts?

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

Well I kind of stop working during the summer. The wife and I try to take several trips in the summer to the cooler parts. I have become heat intolerant, so I have to take it easy in the heat. Too many heat strokes.

Madts.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

I hate the heat, I once spent 2-1/2 years straight in the heat between Middle East postings Texas Alberta ranger school and a summer trip to whales for a stint with the sas I was burnt to a crisp. That’s right continuous summer weather sucks if you never get a break from it.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

I’m lucky, in that the doors on my shop, the old hangar, open wide, providing a 38 foot opening, on the East side. Our prevailing winds, plus a fan blowing into my usual work area, help keep the temps tolerable.

Even with that, I usually work in the morning and evenings, using the heat of the day for napping, etc. I keep a Bubba Keg jug, filled with ice water, handy at all times.

Keith "Shin" Schindler

Kewl shin. The most I can actually work with my old injuries is two hours max. But their is always things happening in the shop, but u will normally find me in the shop lazy boy. I think you are like me and appreciate a good nap.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

That should work out well for you, nice air flow makes such a difference. I just can’t take the heat the way I used to …. an age thing I’m sure. I usually run an air conditioner during the real hot weather just to keep the humidity down to a reasonable level. Much better for the wood and tools and me if it’s drier.

WC (Bruce)

Very nice, good air flow and no bugs. Oh to dream, I work out of my one car garage, very tight quarters. Nice for you though, good job.

Jamesw

Nice, I’ve thought about doing this with my garage, would love the airflow and the light. I’m a pretty private person though, and would hate that it would be an invitation to my neighbours to stop by every time they saw me in the garage….

Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

My neighbours don’t seem to stop in at all, I guess none are woodworkers or fishermen. I am glad I did it manitario, it’s such a nice breezeway. You should go for it, it cost me about $125 for everything. Money well spent I think.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

Some people bring ice cappuccinos, some bring beers some just show up to bum a smoke, lol

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

Nice. Every time a neighbour stops by its 45min of my life that I can’t get back! As a fellow Canadian Tire shopper, it’s nice to see the Mastercraft mitre saw in your shop!

Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

I just love that sliding saw, my kids bought it for Xmas for me three years ago. It’s the best I have ever tried or used. It’s the one tool I use the most and would recommend the most.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

Few neighbors stop by when I have the garage door open.
Most of the time it’s the witness of Jehovah stopping for a chat. I have not seen them lately.

Abbas, Castro Valley, CA