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Mrs B has just moved into a little workshop that appears mostly uninsulated. She will be there for a max of 9 months.
It place has electricity, but no gas. The windows are single glazed with steel frames. Here in snowdonia it will be cold when she is sat at her sewing machine making her gravel bags.
We were thinking about jackets with heating elements. Does anyone use them?
We have several DeWalt 5aH batteries and are aware that dewalt do a heated jacket. Is it any good?
We are also aware that there are motorcycle versions that also take a battery or plug into the motorcycle loom too.
So we would like some recommendtions please....
Thanks
Ian
Whisky and a hot water bottle.
I use a gilet that works of a usb power pack commuting on the motorbike. Bought it off Amazon, it was about thirty quid a couple of winters ago. Works well, would buy again.
Can't help with the heated jackets though i know some people get on with them but, I am in an unheated workshop.
Winter temps are often below that of the fridge.
I use an infrared heater. Helps quite a bit and might be ok for working fairly static like that.
The only potential issue being that your back can still be cold, as can your legs if blocked by the work bench etc.
Still, something to consider.
Our builder used a DeWalt heated jacket putting up a roof in a freezing February and he raved about it.
IMO you would still need to keep feet, hands and head covered as they are the bits that loose the heat.
I have tried a cheap, USB powered gillet, it was OK.
Found the heated fleece blankets things much better. Sit on them or wrap them around your legs if getting really cold.
hot water bottle.
in a backpack
the jackets etc work ok although worth a bit of research as the heated part of the garment can be quite small - i had a makita electric blanket and it wasn’t that large as a blanket anyway but the heated part was roughly A4. They all tend to be quite expensive for what they are
its surprising how long the batteries last mins. The blanket could run all day on one charge but that sort of indicates how small the heating element is.
However a 18v battery is quite a large, heavy, awkward item to have about your person - not a nice thing to carry all day. That’s why I sold the blanket in the end - the attached battery made it really quite impractical to use
if it’s stationary work maybe something like a regular elec blanket on the chair
bits of insulation can help - your generating heat anyway. I have a little A2 sided spare slab of 25mm kingspan I keep in the van. Sitting on it feels like sitting on a radiator after a minute or so. Having it under your feet if it’s a concrete floor is good too.
Heated Gilet from Amazon. Works well, and it's nearly 3 years old and it hasn't gone up in flames yet. Just make sure you get the correct usb power bank to supply it.
Is there anyway to insulate it at all? What you spend on fancy jackets and power may cover enable some insulation.
I also think, having worked in an unheated and single glazed office before, that it takes a lot of effort to stay warm on a bad day. I found more traditional approaches like multiple layers, a fluffy rug underfoot, hot water bottles and a multiple larger hot rocks (left overnight next to the woodburner in the main lounge and lugged out each morning) coupled with a brisk walk every couple of hours was as effective as 'crank up a heater and let it all out'....
brisk walk every couple of hours was as effective
For me this is key. You can get cold sitting still even at 18c but with regular exercise you'll be right
I use a gilet that works of a usb power pack commuting on the motorbike. Bought it off Amazon, it was about thirty quid a couple of winters ago. Works well, would buy again.
+1
Having worked sat at a computer in the winter unheated (so even less active) my tips are.
1. Heated pad. Like a electric blanket, or indeed use a na electric blanket. Something warm to sit on and go up you back. Cheap to buy , run and directs heat where you want.
2. Something under you feet. Uninsulated concrete will suck the heat out your feet. I have a bit of wood with a cushion on it
3. Usual hat and fingerless gloves.
Calor Gas Heater
Gravel bags ?????
Got a link to em ?
1. Heated pad. Like a electric blanket, or indeed use a na electric blanket. Something warm to sit on and go up you back. Cheap to buy , run and directs heat where you want.
I have on on my desk which one (or more) of our cats sleeps on all through winter. Keeps me company whilst I'm working away..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53154678701_29815ca362.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53154678701_29815ca362.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oZ6C6B ]Cats on heat pad[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Burpes or Jumping Jacks, you will get fit and stay warm
I bought the panels seprately. You can get 4/5 panels already wired up to a switch and a usb plug for a tenner. And just pin them in a jumper/gilet. Makes it easier for washing the garments too.
andy8442Free Member
Heated Gilet from Amazon. Works well, and it’s nearly 3 years old and it hasn’t gone up in flames yet. Just make sure you get the correct usb power bank to supply it.
^^^^ this +1, thorough recommend a gillet/body warmer over a jacket, as they are more flexible & less restricting. I bought one, when I got my g/f one, as she does outside dog classes in most weathers, and she recommend it too. Ours has three setting, the hottest being too hot for any length of time. The issue you have is you need a good quality power bank with a decent output. I have a number of power banks that will no longer power the jackets, but plug it into a computer USB slot and it still works fine. Considering it cost me £30 three odd years ago (you pay more for better quality), and the power bank* not much more, you aren't getting any useful amount of insulation for the workshop, for that money
*go for multiple units over one larger unit, as they weigh a ton & very noticeably drag one side down. Also means your more likely to have one fully charged unit.
Sit in a sleeping bag
brisk walk every couple of hours was as effective
Burpes or Jumping Jacks, you will get fit and stay warm
or an old fashioned treadle powered sewing machine. Put it on a slant so you have to treadle up hill.
I used to work with my hands in a cold workshop. Keeping my body warm without a heater was easy -it was my hands that was the tricky bit. I'd spend the money on a small heater to go near the sewing machine.
Bags look great btw
I have on on my desk which one (or more) of our cats sleeps on all through winter
I have a board over my laptop keyboard as I can't stop the cat sitting on it.
Heated gilet, plus an infrared radiant heater on the work surface to keep hands at a reasonable temperature. My fingers are always the coldest part of me, so having something like that, that doesn’t cause a draught like a fan heater would be the best option. They’re fairly cheap, and lots of places were selling them as extra low-cost heating when gas prices were being really stupid.
Nice bags!
I found wristwarmers made a massive difference working in a cold room, unlike mitts they don't have anything between the fingers which gets irritating after a while.
e.g. https://www.manbi.com/collections/womens-gloves-mittens/products/manbi-ppp-mg640snr-062-m
Also, merino long Johns and long sleeve top.
I used to work with my hands in a cold workshop.
Where was the rest of you?