20ft container workshop

[papadon]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of transferring my hobby workshop in a 20ft container.
Bought a used container, transferred it to my garden, cleaned derusted and painted inside and outside.
I kept the original wooden floor of the container and sealed it with polyurethane varnish.
For storage purposes I installed metal shelves in one corner and built a 180cm x 180cm corner workbench.
It is taking some time to come together as i work in merchant ships and i am frequently away from home.
I still need to finish the workbench, install all the electrical wiring, sockets etc.
I want to build an overhead crane inside the workshop to be able to lift and move heavy parts and jet skis. I already have a 250 kg electric hoist, top weight I am expecting to be lifted is on the 150 mg area. Any ideas?


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[papadon]

More progress photos

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[papadon]

Also, has anyone installed a/c on a 20ft container? What type of a/c?

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[DynoDave]

Great work papadon!

 

[cderalow]

any sort of typical split system should be possible in a container. You'll find your problem is that it's not insulated.

i'd suggest building inner walls and insulating with foam.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Your AC depends on your insulation - the better you insulate the walls and especially the top of your box, the smaller AC you can run. But you also need a window to mount it in ad a door or window to vent it out of...

The BIGGEST thing you can do is build a shed roof over it so the top doesn't get direct sun, and when it rains it doesn't sprout rust leaks.

After you do all that you can get by with a room AC. Until you do you need a BMF AC. You're trying to cool a metal over in summer, and warm up a metal icebox in wonter otherwise...

 

[rixtrix1]

Great looking shop. The only way I have seen a/c or windows added is to cut out the appropriate size opening and welding in a box made of 4"-6" wide steel flat to make a flange to mount the unit inside. Even without insulation in the shed, a window type A/C unit should be able to cool down that hot box if you only use it occasionally. Mine Unit even has electric heating elements to provide heat in the winter. It has 12,000 BTU cooling (5 AMPS @ 240 volts) and 11,000 BTU heat (11 amps @ 240 volts). My garage is about 350 sq ft and well insulated and I can keep it at 75 degrees in winter @ 30F outside and in summer @ 115F. Small portable units that only require a 5"-6" hole to run a vent hose to are available, too. Some kind of insulation would definitely help, though.

Good luck with your shed and projects! Thanks for sharing!

 

[papadon]

The idea is for the container to be able to be shipped in case I move from this house in the future. Building an insulated roof on top of the container would be a good idea but in case of shipping it would have to be completely removed.
Heating is not a problem, as I live in Cyprus and it never gets really cold here during the winter. It can be easily solved with a portable heater.
But during summer months we have consistent temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius on an almost daily basis. This means that the inside of the box turns to a big oven during daytime if the doors remain closed.
I have literally no experience with a/c systems, but I have seen several a/c package type coolers in the local market which do not require an external unit. Does anyone have experience with such systems?
I was thinking also to insulate the ceiling from the inner side with foam and cover the foam with wood, but I have to return home at some point to do that. I am between Argentina, Chile and Magellan strait for the last two months so I don't have a clear view of how hot it will actually get inside the box now that it is summer in Cyprus.

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[rixtrix1]

I think inside insulation is what everyone is thinking. Must require a lot of patience being away so long.

 

[cash68]

I think a powered fan to just keep it breathing during the day would be a requirement so you don't cook everything sitting inside. Building a 2x4 wooden frame to support a 'roof' over it, with a 1 foot gap to allow air to flow between the container and the roof would make a huge difference. If you build overhangs it could just 'sit' on the roof of hte container, and be removable if you need to ship the container somewhere new.

 

[TomcoPDR]

nice work papadon

 

[Strouty]

From my experience a false roof is absolutely needed, condensation can build up on the ceiling when you have temperature swings or if you get snow. I will be using insulation from the roof of an old building and rubber membrane over that. As for the lift, I found a used one of these, it is a neat idea, they show a video to give you an idea of how it works.

https://curbtender.com/products/cargomaster/

 

[Dividing Creek]

I think a powered fan to just keep it breathing during the day would be a requirement so you don't cook everything sitting inside. Building a 2x4 wooden frame to support a 'roof' over it, with a 1 foot gap to allow air to flow between the container and the roof would make a huge difference. If you build overhangs it could just 'sit' on the roof of hte container, and be removable if you need to ship the container somewhere new.

Something similar to the simple solar powered Nicrovent or Marinco version used on pleasure boats
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/nicr...oZoKnhszB5f-C1pCWj2f_5B1K5U1iC_BoCBVQQAvD_BwE

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mari...R2-RdouCm_wAITZlsFjASfcdi7ZYNHexoComQQAvD_BwE

Solar powered,temp activated, simple install, and will vent the box and keep things from cooking when the container is unused for weeks @ a time.

 

[papadon]

I was thinking of something like the below as an exhaust fan with a louver vent on the outside and adding 4 ventilators at the sides of the container to assist circulation.


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[Strouty]

That would make for decent air flow. I would also say you may want to make sure that there is airflow under the container too. It will rot the steel and wood if it traps moisture, it will take a while, but it will happen.

I need to paint the inside of mine, did you sand or rough up all the paint or did you just clean the rust and then paint over it?

 

[papadon]

I also found chinese options on Ebay for the fan, but I wouldn't want to go cheap.
I was also thinking that the same type of fan could be made cheaper with a car radiator fan and a solar panel, thermal switch and fuse box.

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[papadon]

The container is sitting on a concrete slab, so there is no moisture trapped on the underside.
When I painted the outer shell I thoroughly derusted all the box, applied 2 coats of primer and 1 coat of paint on the sides( two coats on the roof).
I am planning to apply a final coat of paint outside after all the work on the shell is finished, as there will be some burns on the paint from welding.
The inside of the box did not have any serious rust. I used a 200 bar water blaster and cleaned all the inside and the floor. Any area which was slightly rusted was cleaned very good with the blaster. (We use the same practice onboard ships, but with a 500 bar blaster).
After good drying time, 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of paint.
The floor was sanded, cleaned and sealed afterwards with marine grade polyurethane varnish.

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[papadon]

Sorry, I just noticed the other question.
I only sanded areas where the original paint was gone, not all the box. But cleaned and degreased it all before painting.

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[papadon]

I bought this one, let's see the results when it will be installed.

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[papadon]

It is supposed to be sufficient for 1200 sq ft, so I am expecting it will be an overkill for the container.
I will be back home in about a week, so will start with all the other preparations.
First thing is to finish the roof insulation and wood lining from inside. If after the fan installation it is still very hot inside I will plan for a dummy roof.
Regarding the insulation panels, you just glue them to the roof or build a wooden frame to install them?

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[NUTTSGT]

Nice looking space Don. I thin that fan will help keep the temps in check somewhat. Just remember, for air to get out, you need to get air in, hopefully at a lower level.

 

[cash68]

Something similar to the simple solar powered Nicrovent or Marinco version used on pleasure boats
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/nicr...oZoKnhszB5f-C1pCWj2f_5B1K5U1iC_BoCBVQQAvD_BwE

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mari...R2-RdouCm_wAITZlsFjASfcdi7ZYNHexoComQQAvD_BwE

Solar powered,temp activated, simple install, and will vent the box and keep things from cooking when the container is unused for weeks @ a time.

Still need to keep the sun off of it somehow.

 

[rixtrix1]

Can you install the ceiling insulation a little below the roof of the container and ventilate that space separately? Should really help with heat gain while keeping the portability of the container intact.

 

[cash68]

It's a metal container, and metal conducts. Again.... build a small frame above it. Stretch fabric/tarp/literally anything. Put it about 6" to 12" above the top of the container. Have some overhangs on all sides. It would make a HUGE difference to have the sun beating on a tent like coating, and keep the sun off from the metal container.

 

[papadon]

I will check what is available in the local market when I return to Cyprus, I am still in Chile.
I was thinking something like a fabric sun cover on top, keeping a small distance from the container roof.

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[papadon]

There is a company called prolift in Australia. They have 2 very nice crane options for a container.
Shipping something like that from Australia to Cyprus will cost ridiculously high, but I will fabricate something like that locally. Already have the traveller and the electric hoist, only the jib is missing.

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[papadon]

Otherwise I will just put an H beam across the width of the container where the stand for the 2nd ski is to be able to lift it and put it on the stand.
When the stand was finished i lifted it myself there with no assistance and this is not something i would like to do again.

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[nwdustin]

Digging the X2!!!

 

[papadon]

The X2 was a present from my wife, completely neglected for 20 years in a field.
It still has a 650 in it, but fully built and ported with many aftermarket parts on it. I finished rebuilding it 5 years ago from the ground up and it is by far the most reliable ski I ever had. Never missed a beat and really fun to ride, especially in the surf.
The 440 on the stand has total 3hrs of use since it left the showroom, it is in pristine condition. This year it will get a ported 650 and a 750 pump, tubbies, etc. I have just collected all the parts but have no time...

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[papadon]

Motor pic

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[nwdustin]

Very nice, I've had 4 or 5 X2s over the years, great skis and a ton of fun to ride and like you said, reliable as hell! That 440 does look pretty sweet. I would probably have a difficult time even touching it. Ride it once or twice a year in a fresh water lake and just leave it be, but damn, a 650 in that would absolutely rip!
Once my shed is cleaned up and ready for projects, my X2 is first on the list. It's a 94 I picked up for a couple hundred bucks. Needs a carb and the gas tank put back in and I will be ripping it around the lake again!!

 

[Krang]

I've toyed with the idea of a i-beam track hoist system for my container shop.. just seems like a great utilization of the space. I haven't found a solution yet though.

I like some of your ideas though! I need to look into ventilation as well....

If you get any inspiration from my build, I would be stoked!

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=404733&page=6

 

[papadon]

I have checked your project from day one on this forum. Many nice ideas!

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[papadon]

I returned home and had a surprise waiting for me.
My wife decided to paint the container.

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[T-handle]

Wow man! Beautiful Job with the paint

 

[DynoDave]

Yeah, that looks amazing.