Water vapor is a byproduct of burning *any* hydrocarbon fuel, in *any* type of burner. This includes propane, butane, natural gas, kerosene, gasoline, heating oil, vegetable oil, corn cobs, alcohol, and wood, to mention a few.
But with a vented system, most goes up the flue. With the system he's talking about, it stays in the shop.
Point is, it doesn't matter what he's burning, or what he's burning it *in*, there's gonna be water vapor produced. Some of it will wind up in the shop. More winds up in the shop if it's unvented, true, but *any* combustion heater will put some water vapor in the shop.
Im worried about the dust explosion. I dont know enough on the subject to know if those are warrented.
It makes sense to me that with plentry of dust in the air, and a open flame heater that takes in that dust filled there would be some sort of explosion hazard. Warranted?
If there's so much dust in the shop that there's a possiblility of explosion, you'd probably suffocate before it could happen. IOW, don't worry about it.
I may have a humidity problem this winter. I have about 5000 brd. ft. of lumber drying in my garage/shop. Finding room to move is a challenge at the moment.
Your humidity problems will likely be the result of temperature changes. De-humidifiers work well, until they freeze solid. Their efficiency tends to drop a tad after that.
Give this a think.
As for the inside of the big shed, imagine lots of drywall thats about half way done priming, and a whole lot of empty. The empty part is what the wood pile is all about.
latecomer to this thread. Your planned approach (Forced air kero heater for the "heavy lifting" and an electric unit to keep the edge off) makes sense. There was alot of concern about moisture as a byproduct of combustion.
Curious what you did.. The Salamander (what we call the kero topredo 'round here) is a sound choice for periodic use (as opposed to maintaining constant temp). The shop is an out-building with an uninsulated floor, then theres more moisture coming thru the floor (concrete?) than a kero or propane heater will throw i bet.
So What Did you go with and how is it working?
MikeD
Way late on this thread but this might help someone. There are "basement" dehumidifiers that specifically address the colder ambient temperatures. Interesting sidelight is that they'll generate heat for the area as well. Got mine at Graingers. Best if you run the drain through a hose to the outside instead of worrying about emptying the tank.
TomNie
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