Even though Fall only officially started on Sept. 22nd this year (according to The Old Farmer's Almanac) many of our customers are already firing up the shop heaters. We wanted to take a few minutes to pass along some tips to help you get ready for the coming cold.

First, before firing up the shop heaters, make sure they are clean and ready to go. You've had dust blowing around the shop all summer long, so take a few minutes to vacuum them out and blow them off before you fire them up. A lot of shops I've been in, the workers often turn the heaters on before management even knows. So don't wait around, you do not want to find out the hard way that they are filled with dust, wasps or a bird's nest. (I've seen all of these) You may also want to have your heating contractor come by for a proper cleaning and tune up. If you've not done it in a few years, you may actually save money on heating this Winter.

While you are cleaning out the heaters, don't forget the other appliances around the shop. Back when I worked ina stair shop we had a very exciting afternoon as the dust built up behind the shop refrigerator burst into flames! Which also reminds me that you may want to insure that your smoke detectors are fully operational as well. Not only do batteries get low, but dust build-up can cause false alarms or failure.

While most professional shops are not allowed to get too cold during the Winter, many home or part-time shops do. Did you know that glues and finishes can be adversely affected by cold? In my unheated home shop I bring glues and other non-volitile items into the house to keep them warm. I do not bring flammables in, but do try to minimize the ammount that I have in the shop that may be spoiled by the cold. Check the labels or manufacturer's websites for this sort of information. Epoxies are less adversely affected by cold, but are much easier to work with when warm, so those get moved indoors as well.

And, of course, in prepping for the cold, you want to make sure that you have the right sanding supplies on hand so that you do not run out due to weather-related shipping issues!

What sort of seasonal tips do you have to pass on and share that I've missed here? Share them here on this blog, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter. -2Sand.com

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