ceiling fan vs floor fan?

[mrjaw14]

It's hot as hell outside! Yep it's that time of year. I need a fan for my shop. I've got some box fans circulating air through the windows, but I need air blowing direct on me and box fans lack the power to really be effective there without moving it all the time. A large floor fan would be great, but then there's storage concerns with those large fans.

looking for input on using ceiling fans in their garage instead of floor fans or has any input on how to stay cool on these 100* days in a non-air conditioned space

 

[manwithtools]

If you have the floor space, I'd get a big oscillating pedestal fan. Depending on the project needs it could circulate air over a wide area or concentrate it where you are working.

 

[American Locomotive]

My advice: Go find a vintage 16" vintage/antique fan. Put a new cord on it, some oil in the motor, and enjoy. They're compact, They blow way more air, and are far quieter than any modern fan. Just keep your fingers out of them.

Something like this:

 

[oldgoat]

I depend more on a ceiling fan although I have a floor and desk fan. You might consider a good exhaust fan in the window. I've had them in homes and when you open up a window at the other end or maybe lift up the garage door a little it pulls through a good breeze. Never thought much of the value of a box fan anyway.

 

[benchracer]

I have a NewAir Windpro 18" fan that I bought off of Amazon for about 80 bucks. I mounted it on the garage ceiling using one lag screw in the center hole of the bracket. I can turn it in any direction I want. It's has 3 speeds and it cranks. I usually only need to have it on low. Nice unit.

 

[Dragfluid]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782639
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782651
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782657

Here's a start. Plus my build thread.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

My advice: Go find a vintage 16" vintage/antique fan. Put a new cord on it, some oil in the motor, and enjoy. They're compact, They blow way more air, and are far quieter than any modern fan. Just keep your fingers out of them.

Something like this:

X2. My 1930 Emerson Electric fan is great. My local Post Office was going to throw it away and they let me take it. I took it apart, cleaned the transmission, blade shaft and bearings, packed the transmission with new grease, reassembled it and oiled the motor. I mounted it on a joist near the center of the garage and it moves just enough air to keep m cool without taking up floor space and it doesn't blow everything off my bench.

Tommy

 

[rossomania]

The Lasko 20" high velocity floor fans with wall-mount hook work great. Serious air output that you can feel from across the garage. The wall mount option (included in some models) is great for making additional floor space or to bring the breeze up high when working under the hood.

Unless you've got tall ceilings, I do NOT recommend ceiling fans. They're great for moving air but ceiling fans are a hazard if they're not up and out of the way.

 

[Bert_]

I've got some old all metal box fans or I've also got a few used furnace fans that work great. The furnace fans are great on low, on high they will blow everything around the room. They can usually be had for free.

 

[Jeff May]

Both......

 

[Aaron_W]

I like ceiling fans, but they tend to change the temperature of the room by mixing the air.
They have a completely different effect from a fan blowing air across you as a box fan or floor fan do.

Assuming swamp coolers or misters are not an option in Tennessee due to humidity? They are cheap and work great in dry climates.

 

[manwithtools]

Tennessee, humidity? Ha, I call it "Air you can wear"

 

[mrjaw14]

Tennessee humidity indeed. Immediately ***** the life out of you. I usually try to stay inside during the day in July and August, but I'm just getting too busy to do my work in the evenings.

very interesting comment about air mixing with a ceiling fan vs ventilating with horizontal air flow. That's why I love this place

 

[manwithtools]

Yeah, TN heat and humidity and I chose today to chip up tree tops. Of course yesterday I cut the trees down. I'm not so good at planning these activities.

 

[6768rogues]

I am in western NY and it is 96 degrees today. I put AC in my barn and it is 68 degrees in there right now. I only run it when the temperature gets over about 80 to 85, depending on what I am doing and how humid it is. Yea, it uses some electric but otherwise I would be sitting on my fat *** in the house and accomplishing nothing, probably eating food with a value exceeding what the electric costs for the shop AC.

 

[tom-ky]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782639
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782651
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=37782657

Here's a start. Plus my build thread.

Links don't work for me.

 

[Trey T]

A ceiling fan is effective of providing a breeze to the sweaty skin. The primary purpose of a fan is potentially lower the temp caused by humidity (or sweat). The sensible temperature (temp that can be sense by a machine/device; I.e. thermometer) can’t be lowered by the fan.

Lowering the humidity/sweat on skin with a fan is a good start if you like to work in the heat. To work in a comfortable shop, you must get AC system.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

I have ceiling fans in the shop also, but when the heat in the shop eventually becomes almost the same as the outside temperature I don't us them at all , I find it just blows the heat down. I'm looking at getting a portable shop fan to use. But for now Tonight after dark I'm going to open all the doors turn on the ceiling fans and try and get some of the heat out and replace it with the cooler night air. Also leave the lights off as not to attract bugs into the shop. We'll see how this works. BCD.