Awl--
I have turned my garage and adjoining areas (about 700 sq ft) into a fairly complete home machine shop (cnc milling, 13" lathes, 3 ph elect (via rotary converters), welding, etc), and last year installed a sleeve A/C *inside* the shop, via a "plenum box", properly ducted (I thought) to the two clay vents (about 8" each) that supply an adjoining room. Promptly burned out the A/C--the exhaust was *very* hot, indicating that the vent lines were not adequate--either too small, too long, or both.
The garage is a ground-level basement-type deal, w/ overhead door. The foundation walls are very thick, and mounting traditional A/C's thru the garage door is really a hassle.
I'm considering two portable A/C units (12,000 btu ea), which are not really full 12,000 units, cuz they cheat on the venting, but apparently work. Since the exhaust on these units is two 4" diam vents, I should be OK w/ my clay portals to the outside.
Any thoughts on these? Anyone solve shop/basement A/C problems in a novel way? PC Richards has 12K Amanas for $549 each, mebbe closer to $500 each if I get two.
I have two other trad'l units I could use, but like I said, installing them would be a hassle, as would be another plenum, which might not work anyway.
Appreciate all input.
-- Mr. P.V.'d formerly Droll Troll