Replies

1. 
   mvac | Dec 27, 2004 11:52pm | #1

   Kenney,

   I'm not an expert - so I'd love to hear what others have to say. But most problems I've heard of or experienced regarding power tools involved overheating, not excessive cold. That said, you might want to call the manufacturer or dealer of one of your bigger tools - like the table saw - and ask them.

   I'm also wondering, is it unsafe or not practical to get one or two electric space heaters to bring the temp up from "I'm getting frostbite" to "Damn, it's cold!"? I would think that your inability to work comfortably might pose a safety issue - if your fingers can't nimbly pick up, adjust, and otherwise work with things in the shop, that's a bigger problem than blowing out a tool. Just a thought.

   Good luck,

   Mitch

2. 
   Peter36 | Dec 28, 2004 03:43am | #2

   Hi Kenny. Nothing scientific here but I worked in residential construction for 7 yrs, outside year round, in Ontario. I do not believe that any of our tools died as a result of running them in the cold. My current shop is heated so no worries here, but previously I did not have any problems before the heat. Just do your usual rust prevention routine.

3. 
   WayneL5 | Dec 28, 2004 06:24am | #3

   Contractors use tools outdoors in the winter all the time.  I'd be more concerned about your safety working with numb fingers or gloves getting caught in a blade or bit.  Careful what you wear.

4. 
   Midnight | Dec 28, 2004 07:23am | #4

   Only prob I can see is being sure your power cords are rated to take the cold. Some insulation types can get stiff / brittle at low temps...

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   kenney66 | Dec 28, 2004 05:40pm | #5

   Thanks all for your input.  I did not think it would be an issue but better safe than sorry.  If I get so cold as to have my fingers go numb I think I will sit down and watch a tape of WoodWorks instead.  Happy New Year.

    

    

5. 
   jc21 | Dec 29, 2004 12:00am | #6

   You might check your owner's manuals. I've used portable power tools outdoors in sub zero weather and I suffered far more than the tools did but having said that my band saw has a temperature operating range spec'd in the owner's manual .......... first time I can recall seeing that done. Won't hurt to check.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/29/2004 9:16 am ET by jc

6. 
   mike4244 | Dec 30, 2004 07:30pm | #7

   Only tool I can think of that is affected by cold is a oil filled compressor. In severe cold they are hard to start, the oil thickens.Once running they are fine. When working in cold weather it pays to open the drain cock very slightly if you are using compressor sporadically. This makes it cut in often enough to keep the oil thin. Some compressor manuals tell you what weight oil to use in severe cold.I used to heat the compressor up in the morning with a halogen bulb clamped on the frame, a cardboard box sat over it. Usually took 15 or 20 minutes when temperatures were in single digits.

    

   mike

7. 
   LostOne0069 | Dec 31, 2004 01:42am | #8

   I don't think your tools will have any problem with the cold, but watch out for glues/stains etc.  a lot of them don't work very well when it gets cold.  Also, watch out for condensation on the tools... like the surface of your tablesaw etc.

   Good luck!

   LostOne

1. 
   kenney66 | Jan 03, 2005 05:46pm | #9

   Its funny you mentioned that.  With the recent warm trend here in the northwest suburbs of Chicago I had some rust issues.  I just had to quickly clean my table saw top, jointer table and mortising machine as their was quite o bit of condensatrion on them.  Bought some K-9 and that worked great. 

8. 
   TPZ | Jan 07, 2005 09:12am | #10

   Kenney,

   I had this situation in a previous shop and although the follign reply doesn't answer your question directly, it may be worth noting (in case you get tired of the cold one day):

   I started using a propane heater - just enough to take the edge off the Michigan winter air. The heater worked great, but I learned something - warming up a shop full of cold tools (especially cold cast iron like my cabinet saw and jointer tables) with propane heat (which produces moisture in the air - I learned) is a tailor made recipe for wet metal and rust. Tricky thing is that it's slight enough to be almost invisible, but it was enough for my shiny new cast iron to start turning "tan".

   Moral of the story - the tools worked fine for me in the cold, it was changing from cold to hot w/ propane heat that I'd avoid. If you're going to tough it out in the cold, then be sure to coat your rust-susceptable tools with Top Cote or something like it. The moisture from your relatively warm hands can have the same effect on the tools. Gloves are probably not a safe option around spinning blades, etc.

   Just in case you decide in the future to warm up a bit, consider kerosene (check to see if it creates moisture, though) or a radiant heater (which heats stuff, not the air). My new shop has a furnace, so the problem is just the opposite. I recently had to install a humidifier - the irony of it all.

   Good luck.

   Tony

9. 
   ings | Jan 10, 2005 08:11am | #11

   Having been a carpenter/homebuilder in Chicago from 1985 to 1997, I have much experience using power tools in the cold.

   Just be sure to let the tools run long enough to warm up before putting under load: run it for a minute or two to let the bearings and lubricants warm up and run smoothly before touching wood to blade.

   Metal gets brittle, too, especially aluminum, so be carefull not to knock it harshly, as it may shatter.

   Chris

1. 
   cowtown | Feb 10, 2005 07:40am | #19

   watch the bandsaw--- -30C or close to -30F will make the tension really high.....Then the other tools you gotta watch in the cold is her hands. When you get freakin cold, and start to rush things to get back into the heat sooner, then these tools, at the end of each arm, start to do stupid things, accompanied by yer cold-weakened and heat-seeking distracted brain.Hey, when it's -30C, you wanna believe that yer fingers bleed just as much when they hit the saw blade. But the blood freezes on the equipment, so next day you got a graphic reminder of yer stupidity. Bright red. Don't ask me how I know. Eric
   in Calgary.

10. 
    MarkRD | Jan 14, 2005 10:21pm | #12

    I would worry more about long sleeves and loose clothing, also cold fingers don't have the dexterity of warm ones so be extra careful around saw blades and use the push sticks...

    Hearing protection will keep your ears warm though :-)

    Mark

11. 
    BGodfrey | Jan 21, 2005 04:05am | #13

    I wonder about the accuracy of your measuring tools in such cold. If you use a metal ruler and cut everything while the ruler is a uniform temperature, there probably won't be a problem. But what if you cut some parts of a project when the weather is 20 and then some other parts of the same project the following weekend after it has warmed up to 50. The dimensions of the wood won't change all that much, but the length of the ruler might, so you'd end up with different sized pieces. I just don't know if the change of length would be enough to matter. I suppose that depends on what you're making...

1. 
   DrynDusty | Jan 22, 2005 12:22am | #14

   One problem is the burning of propane and kerosene produces moisture, so you do need to keep the ventillation brisk.

   My fingers ache at the thought of working cold, like that, but they'd better get used to it! I have a project that will require my presence outside like yours.

   Norm

2. 
   jquinn | Feb 05, 2005 06:11pm | #17

   temperature will have an effect on a measuring tool's accuracy (compared to a controlled standard) over a range of temperatures.  Most metrology labs (if they are certified or audited to standards) have to keep the lab room temp at a constant - I think its about 72F at all times.  But I don't think the expansion or contraction that will occur over the range of temperatures we would work in would have any effect on your work, unless you are doing precision machining to tolerances of a few thousandths of an inch or less.

   I would guess that very low temperatures and very low humidity on clear cold days would have much more an effect on wood expansion/shrinkage.

   Running a router at 10000+ rpms on very cold days does make me wonder though, at least starting up the cut.  I woudl say most steels these days don't suffer the high ductile-brittel transition temperature that sunk many Liberty ships in WW2.

3. 
   highfigh | Feb 05, 2005 07:18pm | #18

   The expansion coefficient of that material will tell how much it changes, based on the temperature change. I'm sure there is a chart somewhere online with this info. Otherwise, any engineers out there? Little help? A tape measure won't change much going from +20 F to +50 F. If you're dealing with extremely large dimensions, it may add up. If there are a lot of large pieces in the project, tolerance stacking can occur. You know, like part A is +.03", part B is +.01", part C, 5 each are +.05" and they are assembled in a line, the total(.29") is significant unless the assembly is very large.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

12. 
    jes | Jan 23, 2005 03:22am | #15

    I have a couple of 18v dewalt tools and the manual states that the charger should NEVER be used in temperatures colder than 4 degrees celsuis (whatever that is in farenheit).  It doesn't, however, state anything clearly about using the tools in the cold or storing the batteries in the cold.  I know that cold weather weakens laptop batteries.  If you're using battery operated tools in the cold, you might want to check with the manufacturers.

    Jesse David
1. 
   toolpouchguy | Jan 30, 2005 02:24pm | #16

   Have a truck full of tools.I live in ontario canada.it gets very cold here. but any how I leave all my tools in my truck year round .as well as cordless tool batteries.ranging from 12 volt to 24 volt and i charge them out side in subzero teperatures i have no choice .and i can get 6 or 7 years from a battery and maybe longer .Only tool i have a problem with is the paslode nailers they do not like cold