Can’t stand the heat
Regardless of what you think is the cause, there is some crazy weather these days.
Regardless of what you think is the cause, there is some crazy weather these days.
We live in an area that has always experienced hot summers. That’s why California’s central valley has been one of the world’s largest tomato producers. Tomatoes love heat. But woodworkers, maybe not so much.
Cooling a woodworking shop is not so easy. Most shops are located in commercial buildings and few of these were built to be energy efficient. My shop is in a concrete tilt-up with a 17’ ceiling, 6”-thick cement walls and 3/4” plywood roof sheathing. Insulation? Not a scrap.
Running AC in a shop like this is virtually impossible. Considering our power bill as is, adding the cost of cooling would wipe us out. I did install a large evaporative cooler and it did make the shop more tolerable but the humidity it added was unacceptable. We ended up shutting the water off and just using it as a big fan.
So we flee for home when it hits a 110 and look forward to fall.
D.D.
David DeCristoforo possesses an extensive resume as designer/maker of fine furniture, high-end cabinetry and architectural woodwork. His experience in professional woodworking spans a period of 35 years. For the past 20 years David DeCristoforo Design has been located in Woodland, California. During this time David's shop has ranged in scope from a "full on" cabinet production shop with as many as 15 employees to a small fine furniture and custom millwork shop, working with his son, David RBJ, a highly skilled maker in his own right.
