Shipping container shop ideas
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 26
Shipping container shop ideas
I'm getting at least one 40ft steel intermodal shipping container (they go for 1500 bucks delivered in Sumter County, SC if anyone else is nearby) to add some shop space, and am looking for slick ideas to make it as useful as possible. A white interior paint job, power and AC will be easy, but I'm sure some of you have worked with sophisticated shops based on these.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
There is a thread here that mentions one users shop plans for using these containers. You could always use 2 sitting side by side about 30' apart and roof over them. That would give you a 30x40' shop with storage and shop space on either side.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 431
Likes: 3
From: Saskatoon sk
I actually Have many of these containers I rent them out for storage units as well as use them myself for storage. I have a extra door in my 30 x 30 shop and I have it tight to the wall so I have a "cold storage unit 8 x 20' off this extra door. I keep the not so used shop stuff in them ie: motor lift hydraulic press removed parts from current projects etc...
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
We used alot of these in a small shipyard I used to work at years ago for small shops and storage. The first thing I suggest is cut a hole in the top or side and install a air vent or fan. They can get pretty warm inside if they are in a sunny spot. We also put two side by side, welded the roof and ends together and cut out the common or middle side making a double wide.
Pbfoot
Pbfoot
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I'd suggest looking into getting one of the refrigerated ones. The last two I've set up were this style. They come with stainless steel interior walls, a white ceiling, a hole and vents in the front for a/c, and grated aluminum floor.
They use foam insulation. The exterior walls are smooth and the interior walls are only slightly corrigated. This makes the install of vents, windows, etc a lot easier that the regular corrigated.
The grated floors are channeled for the return air flow. The gap between the channels are wide enough to accept 1/2" or 3/4" EMT and it's easy to put some down before the floor. But the channels are ridged and spaced close enough to use 1/2" plywood for the floor - no problem.
They cost a few bucks more. The one I did last week was $1800 w/$350 delivery.
They use foam insulation. The exterior walls are smooth and the interior walls are only slightly corrigated. This makes the install of vents, windows, etc a lot easier that the regular corrigated.
The grated floors are channeled for the return air flow. The gap between the channels are wide enough to accept 1/2" or 3/4" EMT and it's easy to put some down before the floor. But the channels are ridged and spaced close enough to use 1/2" plywood for the floor - no problem.
They cost a few bucks more. The one I did last week was $1800 w/$350 delivery.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
A little cold and dark up there, bob?..
I'm not sure what the R factor of the insulation on these are. It can't be much more than a couple inches, so about R-8 to R-12 would be a guess.
We have pretty mild winters here in the valley and it doesn't take much to heat. In the summer, an uninsulated/unvented container box gets pretty warm - probably bake biscuits.
I'm not sure what the R factor of the insulation on these are. It can't be much more than a couple inches, so about R-8 to R-12 would be a guess. We have pretty mild winters here in the valley and it doesn't take much to heat. In the summer, an uninsulated/unvented container box gets pretty warm - probably bake biscuits.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
From: alaska
this time of year , its real cold and real dark, can you tell by some of my replys that I sometimes stand out in the cold and dark a little to long? good luck,bob
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: The Show Me State
Torque1st,
I'd actually given some thought to "use two and put a roof over the space in-between", but was unsure if they'd support the weight of the roof (trusses and metal). Does anybody have engineering specs, diagrams, etc? Whatever I build would have to be "code-worthy"... Anybody out there actually done this?
DadVan
I'd actually given some thought to "use two and put a roof over the space in-between", but was unsure if they'd support the weight of the roof (trusses and metal). Does anybody have engineering specs, diagrams, etc? Whatever I build would have to be "code-worthy"... Anybody out there actually done this?
DadVan
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 26
Support is no problem, as the containers are designed to be stackable, and a roof, by comparison, is trivially light. This is done often in my area, even with weaker trailer bodies.
I"m going to get around calling the result a permanent structure by using some steel building trusses, but making them removable by attaching them to the container top edge by a simple hinge pin setup. Roof bolts will be anti-seized (worked insanely well on my 20ft Steelmaster) so I actually could field strip it for moving.
The wife had the nice idea to paint them military (either OD or Forest) green to conform to the "deployable" theme and blend seemlessly into our country setting. (She's an ex USAF CH-3 crew chief.)
I"m going to get around calling the result a permanent structure by using some steel building trusses, but making them removable by attaching them to the container top edge by a simple hinge pin setup. Roof bolts will be anti-seized (worked insanely well on my 20ft Steelmaster) so I actually could field strip it for moving.
The wife had the nice idea to paint them military (either OD or Forest) green to conform to the "deployable" theme and blend seemlessly into our country setting. (She's an ex USAF CH-3 crew chief.)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: The Show Me State
All,
Thanks for the replies to my query. Yah, I live in a "coded area" and would therefore be unable to utilize a creative (less expensive) solution. Back to planning for a pole barn I guess...
I do have to tell ya that it's not always been so strict around here! Twenty years ago I built my own home (actually built it, didn't have it contracted...), a dome home at that, and had a building inspector that wanted to HELP me get it right. Imagine that, a public employee wanting to help the public! <g>
DadVan
Thanks for the replies to my query. Yah, I live in a "coded area" and would therefore be unable to utilize a creative (less expensive) solution. Back to planning for a pole barn I guess...
I do have to tell ya that it's not always been so strict around here! Twenty years ago I built my own home (actually built it, didn't have it contracted...), a dome home at that, and had a building inspector that wanted to HELP me get it right. Imagine that, a public employee wanting to help the public! <g>
DadVan
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
If you do go for a container..Iv'e seen a buddy of mine put up a wide flange beam lengthwise and added a chain fall to it to move things around inside the unit...worked pretty good. As for joining them...you can weld pretty much anything to these units...they stack them 10 high on the ships...
rgds,
stk
rgds,
stk
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 26
I wouldn't give up just due to living in an area with building codes or covenants. Waivers are not impossible if your presentation is good.
A Google search for "shipping container houses" shows a fair number of advanced structures built with intermodal containers, and with a roof and siding they can be indistinguishable from a much weaker conventional structure.
Even if one lived in a suburb, siding or stucco and a suitable roof would be a breeze to set up.
A Google search for "shipping container houses" shows a fair number of advanced structures built with intermodal containers, and with a roof and siding they can be indistinguishable from a much weaker conventional structure.
Even if one lived in a suburb, siding or stucco and a suitable roof would be a breeze to set up.