torching in a trailer in Chicago during winter

glass obsessed · #1 2010-12-12, 2:26pm

I live in the Chicagoland area, have my studio in a detached garage and have a travel trailer sitting in my driveway. Is it safe for me to move my torch into our travel trailer and torch there when it is below freezing outside?

I believe have the ventilation worked out and am thinking about buying a strong electric heater to use instead of the built in propane heater since it has an igniter that sparks to start the heat. But when the trailer is not in use it will be very cold in there.

So my question is if I go out to the trailer and turn on the heat an hour or so before torching will it be safe to then use my torch inside the trailer? I am thinking about the propane tank and regulator in particular. But would like pointers about any of this idea as I hate to go through another winter without lampworking.

houptdavid · #2 2010-12-12, 4:49pm

Well you still have to deal with ventilation in the trailer and a power supply.
Sure you can go heat the trailer but your vent is going to suck it all out, not to mention that the trailer is about as insulated as the garage.

If you are in a detached Garage why not wall off an area for your studio? insulate and sheetrork the walls.
Are the cars parked in the garage?

glass obsessed · #3 2010-12-12, 9:09pm

David there are no cars in the garage but also not much space as it is mainly my husbands' workshop space. Your idea of walling off the garage is a good one, however, I am sure I would not be able to talk my husband into walling off an area for me in the garage since it is so tight in there already. I have already taken over the basement with my crafts so the garage is his only space

There is the same power supply (an outside outlet) that feeds either the garage or the trailer which is 30 amps. The trailer then has electrical outlets inside and also lights and is double insulated. But I think I understand what you mean about the vent sucking out the heat. In the garage I have noticed that I can tolerate the cold much better than the glass can but when it gets to around freezing temperature my beads sometimes crack due to the chill in the area. So I have a small space heater sitting on the table warming the area around the torch. i was thinking I could get it to stay a bit warmer in the trailer. But for safety am concerned about the propane and regulator being frozen before I turn the heater on. Is that an issue? Or am I just in lala land thinking this could work out?

houptdavid · #4 2010-12-12, 9:33pm

Well the propane can be resolved, but you would still need to work on ventilation to not be sucking out all of your heated room air.
Why not a studio in the basement?

Alaska · #5 2010-12-12, 9:37pm

If using tanked oxygen you should be fine with Chicago weather. However a concentrator likes to run in the range of 5 to 40 degrees C. And better if the temperature is kept content in a normal in home patient range.

glass obsessed · #6 2010-12-12, 9:39pm

In the basement (which again is small) there is a pilot light for the water heater, a gas dryer with a igniter that sparks to turn it on, and a natural gas heater that again uses an igniter which sparks to turn on. And no ventilation to speak of.

glass obsessed · #7 2010-12-12, 9:44pm

Not to sound dumb but .... what is 5 to 40 degrees C translate to in Fahrenheit?

I do also have tanked oxygen in the garage in addition to my oxycon but I would not be physically be able to lift them into the trailer. And where I live I have to take my tanks to be filled and bring them back myself. We have a law here that does not allow the trucks that deliver the oxygen on the residential streets

glass obsessed · #8 2010-12-13, 6:57am

Quote:

Originally Posted by houptdavid

Well the propane can be resolved, but you would still need to work on ventilation to not be sucking out all of your heated room air.

Any thoughts on how I might do this?

houptdavid · #9 2010-12-13, 4:15pm

Well I't isn't going to be easy if you are still planning on using the trailer for camping

glass obsessed · #10 2010-12-13, 4:20pm

Well if I give up that idea I will have to wait until around March 15th or so to fire up my torch again

This is what I have done for the past three winters and guess I was just hoping to feed my addiction earlier than that.

AvenueBeads · #11 2010-12-13, 4:41pm

Why are the pilot lights in the basement giving you concern? Unless you leave your propane nozzle open when not torching you're not going to blow anything up.

glass obsessed · #12 2010-12-13, 4:44pm

Joe, Ed Hoy warned me to not ever use my torch with propane in the basement. Was he wrong? If so then I would still have to working on ventilation in the basement (and my husband)

Amy's Artisan Beads · #13 2010-12-13, 4:59pm

Hi Katherine, I don't know if this is something you would consider but I thought I would just throw it out there. How about finding a glass studio in your area that you could rent studio time? Since it would be for only 3 months or so, it would save you the headaches and the time of thinking how to torch safely in the trailer...just a thought. Good luck

AvenueBeads · #14 2010-12-13, 5:16pm

The only thing you have to worry about is a leak or leaving the propane nozzle open. I've been torching in our basement for 5 years with the gas dryer, furnace and water heater. I'm still here.

Also, anything can set propane off not just a pilot light sparking. A light switch, a shock from touching something etc.. So where ever we all torch, if you have a big leak it's not going to end well. Thankfully you can smell a gas leak so there is really nothing to worry about as long as your vigilant.

Id be more worried about a space heater burning the house down than my torch.

glass obsessed · #15 2010-12-13, 5:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvenueBeads

The only thing you have to worry about is a leak or leaving the propane nozzle open. I've been torching in our basement for 5 years with the gas dryer, furnace and water heater. I'm still here.

Also, anything can set propane off not just a pilot light sparking. A light switch, a shock from touching something etc.. So where ever we all torch, if you have a big leak it's not going to end well. Thankfully you can smell a gas leak so there is really nothing to worry about as long as your vigilant.

Id be more worried about a space heater burning the house down than my torch.

Joe For some reason, I thought your studio was in your garage and not in your basement. And I really did think one should never torch in a basement with appliances using gas.

Hmm something to think about and discuss with my hubby. Thanks!

glass obsessed · #16 2010-12-13, 5:33pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy's Artisan Beads

Hi Katherine, I don't know if this is something you would consider but I thought I would just throw it out there. How about finding a glass studio in your area that you could rent studio time? Since it would be for only 3 months or so, it would save you the headaches and the time of thinking how to torch safely in the trailer...just a thought. Good luck

Amy, There is a glass studio around one hour from me in Chicago that has HHs available and has a few open studios per week. That is where I was originally trained and I do like the people there.

And I know there is a studio a bit closer to me in the opposite direction - I will check out their ventilation after the holidays.

Thanks for your thoughts

Dale M. · #17 2010-12-13, 6:40pm

Some thoughts on basement studio...

http://www.artglassanswers.com/forum...php?f=12&t=430

A studio in basement is perfectly ok... It just takes some extra considerations...

Dale

glass obsessed · #18 2010-12-13, 7:53pm

Dale, thank you for your informative link. According to your article I have lots of considerations in my basement, including one of those drains that goes directly to the sewer that I never even thought about in relationship to lampworking.

Heaven1 · #19 2010-12-21, 9:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by glass obsessed

Not to sound dumb but .... what is 5 to 40 degrees C translate to in Fahrenheit?

I learned a little device that helps me translate C into temp ranges my mind understands :S

"At 30 - your hot, at 20 - you're not, at 10 - you sneeze, at 0 - you freeze"

hth

glass obsessed · #20 2010-12-23, 7:21am

Thanks Heaven it is a cute and helpful saying.

wildfireglass · #21 2010-12-29, 9:51pm

We rent space out here at Wildfire. Lots of room so there shouldnt be a problem with scheduling. We would love to have you

dragon · #22 2011-02-08, 1:46am

I'm comming into this discussion kind of late, but I work in my garage when its warm out, but during chicago winters I move everything in doors and work infront of my fireplace. ( very close, like on the hearth stone) If I start a fire, it stays warm and actually helps warm my glass rods. Plus the fumes get vented out the chimney!

glass obsessed · #23 2011-02-08, 7:42am

Dragon, while I am no expert that does not sound very safe. ???

FYI: I gave up on my trailer idea because I got the impression from this thread that it would not work with the cold air coming in and the warm air going out too fast. I am going to sign up for Lil Streets class starting next week which will give me access to a hothead for a reasonable price.