Portable A/C info wanted

[Tx Bohemian]

Looking for info on portable a/c units, the kind that you can roll from room to room and stick a vent out a window.
Wanting to temporally a/c a 525 sq ft garage that is new (so somewhat sealed pretty good yet) that has insulation in the walls but not the ceiling yet.
The best I can tell, you know being an internet a/c guy, I'll need around 12000 btus.

Looks like the "mini-split" units are the wave of the a/c future but I don't want it permanent. 
When we installed central air in a previous house, I kept a couple of the OLD window units that have come in handy when we or family had a/c issues (usually Friday evening in the hot part of summer!) and I'm thinking this/these portables could take the place of those because they're on their last leg.

Anyone have experience on these?
Good, bad, ugly?

[Jess from VA]

I have great experience with a small window unit in my bedroom.  Even though I have a new Bryant central system, this makes sleeping upstairs (hottest place in the house) possible without cranking the whole house down overnight, mostly July-Sept.  I close the door and only cool the one small room.

Can you not use one of your old window units?  No window?  Even if no window, can't you just run it in there anyway (when you need it)?

I once borrowed a small window unit and ran it inside a rental cabin (with no heat or air) for a weekend, and it worked fine.  It made a little water which was easy cleanup.

I know nothing about the units you are asking about.

[cagrote]

We have used them for a few years now.  They work great. Currently using the DeLonghi. I'm using 3 to cool a 900 s/f room that has no insulation from roof to floor.  If it gets really hot they can't keep up.

[rocketray]

I have unit that uses a gallon or so of water that gets refrigerated and goes down several cooling towers with some fans that then blow out nice cold air..not expensive and runs a lot cheaper than an A/C unit

[Tx Bohemian]

We have used them for a few years now.  They work great. Currently using the DeLonghi. I'm using 3 to cool a 900 s/f room that has no insulation from roof to floor.  If it gets really hot they can't keep up.

Thanks for the info. This is similar to what I'm attempting to do. And having the same thoughts about using multiple units.

What to you consider "really hot"?

[f-Stop]

What do I consider "really hot?"

113˚F on the shade (east) side of my warehouse.  That was the temp this past Wednesday at around 4:00pm.  

Yeah, it felt really hot!

 

[cagrote]

It's hot when it reaches 95+. mainly because we don't any insulation in the walls or ceiling.

[RainMaker]

I had one but it never did that good a job.  Put in a window unit and everything is great now.

Guess it depends on the brand, reviews, etc.