Propane Fuel
Propane (often called liquefied petroleum gas - LP Gas or LPG) is a versatile, multi-purpose fuel that is highly portable, odour free, clean burning and non-toxic. The average Canadian price (2007) is 60 cents per litre.

Propane is a fairly widely used fuel. You'll find it heating homes, used as an alternate power source for kitchen appliances and automobiles, and of course, as the common fuel source for backyard barbeques. So, it should come as no surprise to find that forced air propane heaters provide an excellent heat source for both indoor and outdoor use wherever heat is needed during the cold winter months.

Propane appliances are very efficient, require minimal maintenance, operate very quietly, and are less expensive than electricity or fuel oil.

The ReddyHeater
DESA makes a wide range of propane and kerosene heaters, including infrared heaters, convection heaters, and forced air heaters, like the ReddyHeater TB100. Forced air heaters use propane as the fuel source and an electric fan to distribute the heat. It's a good proposition as these heaters quickly heat up.

The TB100 is a very easy unit to use. Connect it to a fuel source, plug it in, and press the starter. For my fuel source I simply used the propane tank from my barbeque. The tank connects directly to the TB100 via the same hose that I connect to the barbeque. The TB100 runs from 7.5 to 14 hours on a 20 pound tank (dependant upon how high you turn up the burn rate adjustment know). The unit needs to be connected to a standard electrical outlet to power the high capacity fan, so you can't use it as a heater if the power goes out (unless you have a generator).

An adjustable-height foot allows you to angle heat upwards for specific spot heating. The unit has a rugged roll-cage design that is manufactured to withstand hard use and harsh work environments. Moulded plastic end-caps protect the heater should it ever be dropped or knocked over. If the unit does get knocked over it automatically shuts off, as it does if it runs out of propane.

There is a large, comfortable handle on the top of the unit, which makes it easy to move the heater around the shop or from shop to work site.

Performance
I tried the TB100 in a 30' by 30' shop with 10' ceilings. Without a heat source my shop cools down to about 36°F (2.2°C). I like to keep the shop at 68°F (20°C), which means I need a 32°F rise in temperature. This requires about 38,000 BTUs per hour: 900 x 32 x 1.33 (to factor in the 10' ceiling).

The TB100 can easily handle this, as it generates from 30,000 to 55,000 BTUs. The manufacturer rates the TB100 for spaces up to 1,265 square feet. I was surprised as how quickly the TB100 heat up the shop. It throws out a lot of heat, particularly when cranked up to the top setting. Unfortunately, once the shop got nice and toasty I had to manually turn the TB100 off - it doesn't have an automatic thermostat. Once the shop cooled down I had to manually turn the heater back on. And so on. This really limits the TB100 to use as an intermittent heat source. There are other ReddyHeater models that come with an automatic thermostat and are more suitable as a source of continuous heat.

You need to leave a good 6 feet clear in front of the unit, as the air coming out the end is hot. And of course, there is the issue of an open flame. While I have a pretty effective control system in my shop I was still apprehensive about the flame. The unit was in the front end of the shop where I do all my handwork - at the opposite end of where the dust collector sits and where the machines are located. I also do all my sanding in the back corner and I use a downdraft table.

However I did loan it out to a finish carpenter who used it over a five day period while installing trim work and cabinetry in a new house. He thought that the TB100 was the cats meow. Particularly as he was moving from room to room, and could easily bring the TB100 with him.

Largely because of the open flame I would not recommend the TB100 as a continuous heater for woodworking shops, and definitely not in a finishing room. If you need to heat a garage, basement or other space that doesn't contain a lot of combustible dust or fumes then this unit would be the ticket. If you are a tradesmen - plumber, carpenter, drywaller, bricklayer or the like, the ReddyHeater might be worth looking at.

There are 8 models to choose from. The TB100 generates up to 55,000 BTUs, while the top end RLP170VT generates up to 170,000 and has an automatic thermostat.