New shop—currently no insulation

[TomL.]

We put up a 30 x 40 x 12 new shop this year. Been waiting for 10 years so really happy so far. While I have some air seal issues to deal with in the spring (contractor did not use the foam seals underneath the steel roofing), am looking to purchase a heater for this shop.
My head goes back to the days of kerosene forced air heaters, but honestly don’t know which one to purchase—kerosene or propane. Then size and a reputable brand that doesn’t break the bank.
I realize there are SO many posts about this, but I don’t see where the same details are posted in almost any of them so looking specifically for some input. We plan to spend lots of time this winter and would prefer to be mildly comfortable. It’s windy at our rural home so that factors in as well

 

[PCustoms]

No insulation or no foam seals on the roof?

Where are you? How cold does it get?

How hot do you want the shop?

Maintaining temp, or just when you're out there?

Etc.

Need a lot more details

 

[TomL.]

Yes…Currently zero other than tyvek sealed. In Iowa, so rough during January and February, then factor the wind into the mix.
Not looking to maintain a temp, just warm it up while working

 

[PCustoms]

Yes…Currently zero other than tyvek sealed. In Iowa, so rough during January and February, then factor the wind into the mix.
Not looking to maintain a temp, just warm it up while working

Well, that's a lot of space to heat and nothing to keep the heat in. big *** propane/torpedo heater pointer right at you is about all I've had luck with.

Some say infrared heaters work well, but I used one in a small poorly insulated garage stall and wasn't impressed.

 

[Kaizen]

Well, that's a lot of space to heat and nothing to keep the heat in. big *** propane/torpedo heater pointer right at you is about all I've had luck with.

Some say infrared heaters work well, but I used one in a small poorly insulated garage stall and wasn't impressed.

This. I have the same size and just went out and kicked on my torpedo to get it above 30. I have a 40 gallon tank and small torpedo. Just having it blowing in your general direction works. You won't heat the whole place up. Also don't recommend 100 gallon tank as they are just too hard to move around and take to get filled. If you insulated your ceiling it would get up to temp. Mine is all still open with insulation in the walls only. Even running all day it won't go up ten degrees. You can probably get the tank and heater for under 300

 

[TomL.]

Nice to have a similar state Kaizen—that helps me a bit. I am hesitant to insulate only the walls while the roof bleeds any warmed air up. This helps me with an immediate decision. Next year will be different and the other issues will be buttoned up. Thank you brother

 

[Kaizen]

Nice to have a similar state Kaizen—that helps me a bit. I am hesitant to insulate only the walls while the roof bleeds any warmed air up. This helps me with an immediate decision. Next year will be different and the other issues will be buttoned up. Thank you brother

Definitly do the ceiling first. Even with walls bare it will heat up. No ceiling= no way. Only reason i did the walls was so i could hang plywood and start moving in. Now i have so much **** in there i doubt i'll ever put up a ceiling. Its 26f here now and i just went out there for 2 hours with it running in my direction. Even at 15 feet away it was tolerable. When i left it was 32 inside the garage.
No way i'd try doing heriloom woodwork or other high dexterous stuff though. 40 degrees and I can work on anything all day long. Best of luck my frozen friend

 

[Bert_]

Tube heater works great even in a drafty building. Lot of shops heated with tube heaters here in Iowa. Get the ceiling up.

 

[TomL.]

Put new skids on snowblower yesterday, lol, we are not predicted to get snow for At least a few weeks, but I had time so. Was I think 9f, plus the bitched wind yesterday, I was miserable. I’ll have to plan for a lift to get the roof and make that next priority

 

[ToolsRCool]

Propane would likely be a little more fuel cost, more annoying to refuel, but a little safer from a CO perspective and should be near zero fumes?

Neighbors just gave me a brand new used-once 80k BTU Master brand kerosene turbo-bullet (forced air) heater. I use it to heat my uninsulated 26'x24' garage here in MI when I am out there. It can get pretty warm in there pretty quickly. First I am taking my coat off, then turning the thermostat down on it. They gave kerosene with it, so I have not tried it on diesel fuel yet. At least on kerosene, it really does have almost zero smell, I was impressed. I'm anxious to try diesel next. I was raised with an old red Sears 110k BTU one that stunk badly and burned your eyes. Even though these new units look the same, they somehow have the smell way down on them, or my old one was just really out of whack. The diffuser cone plate at the front seems to glow a lot hotter on this new one, I'm thinking this helps to burn off any raw fuel that did not get combusted in the main chamber.

Just my take on em', not an expert.

 

[sparky 1971]

I use the old (10 years) version of this

www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/heaters/gas-garage-heaters/dyna-glo-delux-220-000-btu-hybrid-radiant-forced-air-kerosene-heater/mhrfa220dgd/p-1642874261946633-c-6861.htm

to heat my 30X40X9 uninsulated, concrete block shop in Iowa quickly to 60°, then turn the maintaining temp over to one of these

www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/heaters/gas-garage-heaters/mr-heater-reg-80-000-btu-portable-forced-air-kerosene-heater/f210180/p-13285244100038922-c-6861

set at 65 but I do have a ceiling. I spent about five hours out there today and the two heaters ran together for about 10 minutes before the big one shut down but it was kicking back on every 10 minutes or so for about five minutes each time for an hour before everything got settled down and the smaller heater was able to take over. I normally go out and turn them on before returning to the house for awhile and go back out after everything is warmed up and shut the big heater off.

I've also used the big boy to heat several pole barns of about 40X60X14 or 16. It's freaking loud and uses a bunch of fuel but it gets the job done.

I try to run kerosene through it but there have been times that I've run diesel. There isn't much difference when they are running, but upon shutting off, it stinks and belches fumes if it has diesel. If it looks like I am going to run low, I try to fill it with diesel before the tank gets below 1/2 of kerosene, that helps but doesn't eliminate the problem.

 

[dsimatt]

I’d get the biggest kerosene heater you can find and want to pay for. I have a 125k BTU propane heater and while it heats up my garage fast the stink and either running it or shut off gets old.

My Bil has a big kerosene heater with the thermostat which is nice that it turns on and off as needed.