Unheated Garage
- Thread starter 03z71
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Kristopher1129
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- Jan 3, 2011
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My shop is only heated by a wood stove. So basically it's only heated when I'm there. There are times in the winter that get fairly dead for business. But, I haven't had a problem with my compounds, waxes, polishes, etc.
But, your soap may freeze up a bit. As long as you keep it in the far end of the garage away from the door. It should be alright. IMO of course :dblthumb2:
Bates Detailing
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- Jan 11, 2011
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A simple transport of goods into the laundry room shelf should work for a month right?!?!?! I bring my chemicals inside after every job cause I have no garage - sucks but saves me from worrying about my products.
Old Tiger
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- Oct 27, 2009
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Your soaps & washes should be fine. Your cods are a different matter! Get a good heater and turn it on an hour or 2 before you go to work.
GaDetailDoc
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- Dec 20, 2010
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I keep my shop heated to about 60oF and it is also well insulated including the garage door...You can get a radiant heater which would efficiently provide you with heat. Otherwise, move chemicals indoor.
BobbyG
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- Dec 29, 2009
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This is one topic that comes up regularly especially during the winter and what I can tell you is from my own personal experience.
It's not good for any liquid or paste product that touches any cars finish to freeze. If you are in doubt, contact the manufacture of that product and ask.
When a product freezes it's chemical makeup begins to separate thus changing the overall characteristics of the product. If your fortunate to be able to re-blend these products to a uniform solution then they "might" be OK.
My garage is also unheated and for the most part I'm pretty religious about bringing all my detailing products inside and storing them in the basement of my home where it never gets below 55 degrees.
If I need to do some winter detailing I'll warm up the garage and take only those products I need and once complete they go back in the basement.
Now, I have a confession to make.
Occasionally I have left a liquid polish and or wax in the garage for the duration of the winter. Winters in New England see temperatures well below zero and while it never gets that cold in my garage it will see 20 degrees which is cold enough to freeze these products.
The bottom line is I've had to throw away products that would not re-blend. This is akin to tossing cold hard cash in the wood stove to get it started.
Bob's Rule of Thumb:
If it touches the finish don't let it freeze, bring it in...
It's not good for any liquid or paste product that touches any cars finish to freeze. If you are in doubt, contact the manufacture of that product and ask.
When a product freezes it's chemical makeup begins to separate thus changing the overall characteristics of the product. If your fortunate to be able to re-blend these products to a uniform solution then they "might" be OK.
My garage is also unheated and for the most part I'm pretty religious about bringing all my detailing products inside and storing them in the basement of my home where it never gets below 55 degrees.
If I need to do some winter detailing I'll warm up the garage and take only those products I need and once complete they go back in the basement.
Now, I have a confession to make.
Occasionally I have left a liquid polish and or wax in the garage for the duration of the winter. Winters in New England see temperatures well below zero and while it never gets that cold in my garage it will see 20 degrees which is cold enough to freeze these products.
The bottom line is I've had to throw away products that would not re-blend. This is akin to tossing cold hard cash in the wood stove to get it started.
Bob's Rule of Thumb:
If it touches the finish don't let it freeze, bring it in...
Agreed, also in New England here and what I do is keep my polishes/waxes in a separate tote and just bring them inside to the basement. Plus it's portable whenever I need it. Excellent reason to get the separate squirt bottles so you only roll with the products you need for a given job.
HeavyMetal
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- Dec 29, 2010
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:iagree:
Bring them inside for winter. Even tho' I've only used Megs, Mothers, etc OTC products in the past, when I allowed them to freeze for any length of time they became separated/lumpy and would not reblend. Save yourself some money and bring them inside during winter.
Bring them inside for winter. Even tho' I've only used Megs, Mothers, etc OTC products in the past, when I allowed them to freeze for any length of time they became separated/lumpy and would not reblend. Save yourself some money and bring them inside during winter.
vet
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- Jun 6, 2010
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Years ago, a guy who usually let me wax his car used some wax that had froze on his hood. It either wouldn't come off, or it really faded the paint. I used some rubbing compound on it and then waxed it. He was happy. That was in the 70s, long before I knew anything other than wax on, wax off. But if I even suspected a wax has froze since then, I pitch it.
If your unheated garage doesn't get too frigid inside, you might try putting the stuff in a well insulated cooler, that might help. Or you might build an insulated cabinet and heat it with a light bulb, but this might be a fire hazard, I don't know.
If your unheated garage doesn't get too frigid inside, you might try putting the stuff in a well insulated cooler, that might help. Or you might build an insulated cabinet and heat it with a light bulb, but this might be a fire hazard, I don't know.
Scott DeBrun
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- Sep 27, 2010
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I went to wally world and bought some clear plastic totes for all of my waxes,sealants,interior cleaners, etc and put them in a spare bedroom. Make sure you get locking tops if you have pets and store them high if you have kids.
StoneRaizer
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- Jun 10, 2010
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My garage is full of all sorts of stuff after my basement was flooded and I couldn't get to my polishes/waxes to bring them in. Products that I have out there that I actually care about are Optimum Polish Liquid, Optimum PoliSeal, Optimum OptiBond, DG Aquawax, Meg's Ultimate Compound, Optimum NoRinse and two bottles of Collinite 845IW. Hopefully they'll be ok. :doh: