Shop in Winter
The thermometer is dropping and even the desert is cold in winter. The challenge of keeping the metal shop warm is ongoing. Cold fingers make manipulating materials next to impossible, and cold feet just make sore bones.
Woodstove Warm
A wood stove would be cozy, but with all the materials and supplies we use, there would need to be a lot of space cleared for safety. It wouldn’t be cost effective to heat the shop continually with a furnace like we do the house. So we use the most efficient and inexpensive sources available.
Workin’ in the Sun
The big, open, south facing shop door is Mike’s favorite. The mid morning sun blasts down on the concrete like Christmas. His tunes float through the air like a 70’s rock concert, and he heats copper on the gravel outside. That big torch really adds warmth to the surrounding area.
Heating Copper
Work benches hover at the opening and my solar powered coppersmith is in his element. The sunny Southern exposure energizes him to create some amazing works of art.
Workbenches Set in the Sun
Maybe next year we’ll clear out a section to move in the Glass kiln. That little workhorse heats up to 1500° in an enclosed unit, and puts out a lot of warmth; too much for the summertime temperatures around here. But we’re just beginning with winter now and the heat sounds glorious.
Do you have a sunny workspace to be creative in? How do you keep the winter chill under control in your studio?
