How do you work on things in the cold?

"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes) 11/29/2016 at 22:28 • Filed to: None

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I usually just look at cold from the warm and sneer and curse at it. One time it was like 30 degrees outside I resorted to wool everything to cover my body.

Any tips?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:34

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Heated garage.

smobgirl > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:35

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I’m curled up in a blanket in front of a space heater, so I’m hoping someone else has some useful advice.

Noodles > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:37

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I use snowboarding gear. I treat it like I’m about to get on a ski lift. Everything but the boots and gloves. If it can keep me warm on the top of a mountain with the wind chill at -15 F. It will work in my driveway. I do have a garage these days, but I used to use snowboarding gear.

PatBateman > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:39

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Tip #1: Move to Texas (or the warmer climate of your choosing).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:42

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Ta-dah! It’s called a Torpedo heater and it runs on kerosene and has approximately the same thermal output as a jet engine and it’s super loud and scary. Point it at yourself from like ten feet away and you’ll still be warm working out in the open in the driveway.

Urambo Tauro > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:43

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I find that shoveling the driveway (no plow, no snowblower) generates some serious body heat. I usually have to shed a layer by the time I’m done, and even that’s not enough to keep me from sweating.

But you’re probably referring to wrenching, which means standing (or sitting) still a lot. Now that’s a toughie. I usually just set my gloves and boots on the heat register and slip them on right before I go out. That helps a bit.

AvE posted an interesting idea last week that I’d love to try (if only I had a steel workbench).

Connqr > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:44

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Be Canadian. 30°F is like -1°C. That’s nothing. I’ve worn a T-shirt in that weather. It was not the most pleasant of experiences, but it was very manageable. We go out in like -20°F and are fine. And you can escape Trump, if you’re into that sort of thing. Canada FTW. And our flag is easy to draw. And we are really nice. And we get to eat our maple syrup. Come on over!

lone_liberal > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 22:47

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Avoid if at all possible. Years ago my car wouldn’t start when it was -15F or so and I had to get to work. The battery was toast so I had to take it out, get a ride to a auto parts store, and install the new one. Replacing a battery shouldn’t be all that big of a deal but my hands haven’t been able to deal with the cold since then.

Frank Grimes > Urambo Tauro 11/29/2016 at 22:58

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So I did catch that AVE video I guess I could strap those heat pads all over my body.

Frank Grimes > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/29/2016 at 22:59

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Do those put out nasty fumes? If not I need it.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 23:01

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Whisky

Wacko > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 23:06

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Gloves, what I do is keep a pair in my jacket to keep them warm. Work with the other pair. Once my hands are too cold put on the warm ones. Trick is to keep the gloves dry.

But 30 degrees ain’t that cold. That’s about freezing point. When I go snowmobiling i have a pair of gloves in my jacket in case. I have my leather mittens for ridding. Even warm in -30c weather. Helps that my snowmobile suit is made for cold weather. I think emy suit is rated for -40.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Connqr 11/29/2016 at 23:08

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I’m nowhere near a Canadian aside from my state being next to it and the natives being unable to discern that I’m not one of them (really, after a few days I pick up enough accent that they think I’m lying when I claim I’m from south of the border), but I can also do this. I think genetics are critical here - my dad was born in SoCal like I was, yet we have almost no resistance to the heat and extreme cold resistance.

Still, the best solution is a heated garage.

knowonelse > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 23:51

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Good gloves. Replaced the clutch cable on a ‘76 VW bus somewhere in Canada when it was 5 degrees F outside, and snowing, in some random parking lot.

My bird IS the word > Frank Grimes 11/29/2016 at 23:56

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Don’t. Winter is our off-season (unless you are into trucks or rally cars)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Frank Grimes 11/30/2016 at 00:11

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I wouldn’t use it in an enclosed space.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Frank Grimes 11/30/2016 at 00:50

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Thin gloves are useful because grabbing cold tools sucks. Otherwise, 30F warrants a bunnyhug and that’s about it. Get down to 15F and you might want to upgrade that to a jacket. Down around 0 and you’ll likely want a toque, especially if it’s windy, maybe some heavier gloves too. -20F you’ll want to put the bunnyhug back on under the jacket. If you’re doing anything with coolant at this temperature the gloves may have to come back off because they will stick. Depending on what you’re doing you really down’t want much more than that unless you’re outside for hours or days or its -40 and the wind’s howling. Too much clothing tends to interfere with doing stuff, and you really don’t want to start sweating because then you’ll be cold and wet... Depending again on activity, that could mean you end up outside with no shirt at -40, if you’re splitting wood or something.

ateamfan42 > Wacko 12/02/2016 at 08:56

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I was going to say, 30 degF is seriously not a point to be whining about the cold. Put on a sweatshirt and suck it up.

Single digits (and below), you have to really start considering how to worry about cold. One of the biggest things is to make sure you can block the wind. I’ve been out ice fishing at subzero temps, but with no wind (and with sunshine is even better) it can be wonderfully pleasant. That same location at 20 degF and a good breeze can feel downright frigid.

Figuring out how to keep the heat of your body in is the key. For wrenching, even an unheated garage can be a godsend if there is cold wind. If that isn’t an option, see if you can construct a wind block. Even a basic blue plastic tarp strung up somehow can make a huge difference.

Gloves are super important. I’ve been accused of being a “glove diva” because there is very little I will do on a car (regardless of weather) without some sort of gloves. Clean up is so much easier, and I have different types of gloves depending on the dexterity I need and the messiness factor of the job at hand. The general purpose neoprene mechanic’s gloves give enough dexterity for many jobs, and still provide some insulation when the air is cold.