OMG! If you haven’t noticed, it is hot outside. Here in the Southern Plains (never refer to Oklahoma as “the Midwest”, never). Oklahoma City has recorded about 15 to 16 days of 100-degree temperatures so far this summer in 2026, which is above the typical annual average of 12 to 13 days. We have at least 6 more 100-degree days coming. If your country has never landed a man on the moon that temperature is 37.7 Celsius.
With those kinds of temperatures my metal shop building with the lovely radiant heat effect temps often climb above 120°F (48°C). That’s warm. And for a man of my age that is considered “dangerous”. When you start looking at the wet bulb numbers you can easily quantify your chances of a heat related injury.
| 85-88 | Working or exercising in direct sunlight will stress your body after 30 minutes. | Take at least 30 minutes of breaks each hour if working or exercising in direct sunlight |
| 88-90 | Working or exercising in direct sunlight will stress your body after 20 minutes. | Take at least 40 minutes of breaks each hour if working or exercising in direct sunlight |
| >90 | Working or exercising in direct sunlight will stress your body after 15 minutes. | Take at least 45 minutes of breaks each hour if working or exercising in direct sunlight |
So we have had wet bulb numbers above 85 all of August. Brutal.
So I’m looking at options to adjust the temperature of the shop down to a “reasonable” temp. That will take at least two major items to help.
Exhaust Fan
This weekend I put a 2200 CFM exhaust fan in. Shops my size should have at least a 1500 CFM fan. So I grabbed a Chinese made fan from Vevor. I ordered one with a “control module”. It was broken when it arrived. I had to repair it. Then I tested it. The temp rheostat did not seem to work as I would have expected. Set on 100°F the fan didn’t come on. So I set it to the lowest temp 32°F the fan came on about 60% speed. That is not going to be acceptable.
So I’m going to wire an old fashioned on off switch to a plug. Plug the fan in and when needed I will turn it on the day before. Simple, efficient.
The second thing in the research, planning, I need some money to buy stage is Prodex.
I’m looking at something like $1,000.00(US) to get roughly 1,410 square foot of Prodex Total 5m material and the ancillary materials to mount it to the building frames.
The testimonials and YouTube video promise I will see some significant temp reductions. And in the winter I’ll retain heat.
That’s what were up to. That’s where we are headed.
Thanks for reading, like and subscribe, and support my work by contributing on Patreon.
May the wind take your troubles away….