I will be working out of my garage this coming deer season, it's not heated yet( will probably put one of those oil filled electic radiators out there for heat ) I've insulated the garage door with styrofoam panels, bought a new seal for the bottom of the garage door and weatherstripping for the sides...ok...I'm getting to the question...
I have my tanning chemicals, hide paste, Killer Glue, Apoxie Sculp and Critter Clay out there. How low can the temperature be before the stuff either freezes or can't be used? I know water freezes at 31 or 32 degrees, but what about this stuff? And if for some unforseen reason it does happen to get partially frozen can it still be used?
It's Knobloch chemicals.
And just for curiousity sake, ( I'm rambling )how many other people work out of their garage or basement. I'm just starting out, and can't see trying to build a separate shop until the clientele is steady enough to warrant the cost. I'll probably just tan some hides and mount the antlers that I have this year to use as a reference so they can actually see some of my work.
Thanks!
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All epoxy compounds and acrylic polymers are rendered useless by freezing. As a general rule, most chemicals and liquid or moist supplies carry ambient temperature warnings. read the fine print on the labels. All water-based acrylic paints will be damaged by freezing too.
As far as work places go, most taxidermists, as least in my experience, work out of garage or basement or home additions. The folks who have a stand alone shop are the fortunate few, as numbers go.
Be extremely careful about fumes and vapors. The heater may spark and blow you and your garage to kingdom come. Most hazardous vapors, including carbon monoxide stay low in the air column and they may create a hazard that will not provide any warning until it is too late. There are some who are allergic to acrylic fumes and particles too and I appears that you have created a closed air cell. You may want to consider some form of venting for the shop to preclude accidents. I would suggest doing any application with volatile materials such as acetone, mineral spirits, xlenes, lacquer thinners and the like.
I'm not into sniffing fumes either.
The only solvent that I have is laquer thinner for my oil paints.
Don't have an airbrush yet either.
I'll get there eventually!