Efficientizing my shop

[Iron Beaver]

I have a mix of storage & work space at home, I have two 40' high cube containers for long term storage & recently added a HF portable garage Plus an outside bench. I have the garage set up as a shop with the most used equipment & tools with a decent amount of work space, but it's nice to work outside when welding & grinding. I have 220 & 110 receptacles to plug into as needed & the portable garage allows me to leave it out of the weather, both tools & project plus I can easily move the structure is needed. I have a Miller max star that will run off 110 up to 90amps & very portable, can be run off a honda 2000 gen if needed.Keep in mind there are lots of different size shipping cont, you could get a 10' or 20' if space is a problem with a roll up door already installed.
https://bakersgas.com/products/mill...iner.com/storage-container-20ft-roll-up-door/
https://www.azteccontainer.com/storage-container-20ft-roll-up-door/

Those look super useful. If I set one up around here the wind would shred it and move the shreds to the next county.

 

[Iron Beaver]

my father used to have a utility box turned trailer
just make sure it can't leave w/o your approval.

search Service body trailer.

like this. welder on the tongue.

This is very much the vibe I was envisioning. I know a few ways to help a trailer stay put . As always whatever anyone else knows is welcome

 

[Iron Beaver]

Then the trailer fits the bill.

I live in Canada so I am not going to give you names of insurance companies. Normal insurance give you depreciated value when they are stolen or burnt. I wanted replacement value. I specified the garage shop as an addon item beyond the normal household stuff. I declared a value i think of 25K. I took lots of Pics and opened and photographed all the drawers and sent it to them and kept it for myself. It cost 20 bucks a year on top of the normal payment.

When you actually look it over with tool catalogs in hand it is a big number. You've assembled your shop over time and at smooching hot deals. If you had to replace it tomorrow it would be a huge amount of money.

I think the winch will be Mickey Mouse. You welder and Plasma wires are a certain length and you'll be moving the trailer or logging the welder. I'd look at something motorized. They are from 300 to 3000

https://www.google.com/search?q=trailer+mover&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA950CA950&sxsrf=ALeKk0354SAz_kRmfm9ozXuTDBhdyJsC5g:1620141494528&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjX1JCyqbDwAhXBLH0KHTnwCjMQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1190&bih=633

The winch IS motorized. But if I opt for a stationary or barely portable setup like a trailer, any way of moving it becomes almost pointless because I still have jobs to do in places the trailer won't go. And if my Multimatic 215 is solidly attached to a skid and attached to two gas bottles I might need a lightweight portable stick welder for those jobs

 

[quickfarms]

No forklift, just a Bobcat S130. I've thought of the truck box idea, if I find one I might try it. You guys near the coast have much better access to shipping containers and I'm jealous.

I am very close to the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach but I have two 15 foot truck bodies because the county does not consider them containers and they are at the limit to not requires permit

This is the inside on my wood shop truck body

 

[PugetDude]

Agood plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
80/20 Rule= design for 80% of what you need it for.
The other 20% will make it overly complex, costly, and cumbersome. ..."If only..." is better in hindsight.
Deal with the odd 20% as those situations arise, instead of trying to cover every eventuality up front.
Paralysis by analysis is any easy trap to fall into...

 

[Iron Beaver]

I'm leaning towards a skid that sits in a jobsite box and a hoist to lift it out, probably mounted on a trailer. I still have to find a way to have a stick welder at hard to access jobs though.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I'm leaning towards a skid that sits in a jobsite box and a hoist to lift it out, probably mounted on a trailer. I still have to find a way to have a stick welder at hard to access jobs though.

Get one of the bigger vertical job boxes, run some sj cable sized for 50 amps, leave enough slack to move where you need it. I have two 50 foot 50 amp cords plus a 50 amp plug at each end of the shop, plus I made a couple of plug in adapters to get to 20 amps, with breakers.

 

[Iron Beaver]

The vertical ones would not be stable on the terrain around here. Also that would be many hundreds of feet of cable. It would work well by the welding table if I can afford it but I'd still need something different for more mobile applications

 

[Renegade1LI]

The vertical ones would not be stable on the terrain around here. Also that would be many hundreds of feet of cable. It would work well by the welding table if I can afford it but I'd still need something different for more mobile applications

I didn't realize you had to go hundreds of feet, than your best bet is a gas welder, which powers you other tools as well.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Well....

I took a look at some jobsite boxes in person today. They don't have any rubber seal and the wintertime wind will blow snow into them before I can say "That was expensive".

 

[Renegade1LI]

Well....

I took a look at some jobsite boxes in person today. They don't have any rubber seal and the wintertime wind will blow snow into them before I can say "That was expensive".

The ridgid boxes have weatherstripping around the lid.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-48-in-x-24-in-Universal-Storage-Chest-48R-OS/300748574

 

[Iron Beaver]

Good catch! The biggest my local Homeless Despot sells is 48" x 24 x 28. I measured and I think I can fit the welder, plasma cutter, and associated shielding gas tanks into this.

Before you pile on to me for putting pressurized tanks into a closed box, these boxes are not gas tight so no danger of pressure build up. And these tanks hold inert gas so no danger of an explosion.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Good catch! The biggest my local Homeless Despot sells is 48" x 24 x 28. I measured and I think I can fit the welder, plasma cutter, and associated shielding gas tanks into this.

Before you pile on to me for putting pressurized tanks into a closed box, these boxes are not gas tight so no danger of pressure build up. And these tanks hold inert gas so no danger of an explosion.

Always have a few tanks in boxes, they are far from air tight.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Well, I knew all you GJ folks would be helpful. Thanks! My official plan is now to use a Ridgid 48" 16 cubic foot jobsite box and build a skid that fits inside it and holds my welder and plasma cutter. Maybe the mag drill as well, depending on space. This skid will be lifted out by a small crane and sit on the closed lid of the box with a pad to protect the paint.

I may add a second box and put them on a trailer in the near future. But I can only get to one step at a time.

I'm not yet sure what I will do for welding stuff that I can't drag the box to. Meanwhile the Fronius Transpocket 180 with it's anti-stick, arc force adjustments and 6010 ability is haunting my daydreams...

 

[rancherbill]

Meanwhile the Fronius Transpocket 180

You're a brave man to mention that foreign stuff here.

haha

 

[lis2323]

You're a brave man to mention that foreign stuff here.

haha

Brave enough to mention a stick welder far superior to what most of us own[emoji2]


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[Worsedog]

If I could get one for less than $5000....

Not sure about your area, but we bought a very nice 40 ft. one tripper high cube for that. We use it for car parts storage at work. It has shelving for smaller parts, racking for body panels and some open space for engines etc.

 

[rancherbill]

Brave enough to mention a stick welder far superior to what most of us own[emoji2]

Yes those ferinners know more about electrons

You should be glad you weren't born a fish, you went for the bait.

 

[deberly12]

Sorry I'm late to the game and don't mean to confuse you but I had a thought.

What about adding a tongue to your current cart and using a cheap Craigslist lawn tractor to back it up the ramp into your garage. Be cheaper than a crane.

Also I plus one for having a small lunchbox welder. I could never justify a transpocket but I picked up a cheap 110v multi-process(mig, tig, stick, Flux core) on clearance for $170 a while back. Honestly I love it. I have even done 3/16 or 1/4 though I probably wouldn't do critical structural things that heavy. But if you are like me that would handle alot of your welds and be able to carry it anywhere and even use regular extension cords.

Sent from my SM-G970U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Iron Beaver]

The issue is getting it up the ramp out of my basement. The current cart is also too topheavy.

Yesterday I started on the skid to hold my gear in a jobsite box and be lifted out when needed. I will likely put that on wheels and use something powered to move it around in the future

 

[Iron Beaver]

Not sure about your area, but we bought a very nice 40 ft. one tripper high cube for that. We use it for car parts storage at work. It has shelving for smaller parts, racking for body panels and some open space for engines etc.

Florida is pretty near shipping ports. Wyoming is a little further away and the truckers bringing them have to charge thousands of dollars of shipping. The price is undoubtedly fair, but still makes even a 20' WWT kinda costly

 

[Iron Beaver]

You're a brave man to mention that foreign stuff here.

haha

Just wait until you hear about how close I am to buying this:

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/tig-stick/powerarc-210stl

haha

 

[deberly12]

Old Chuckie2009 sure liked the Everlast machines. I miss him. I never saw the video that was so controversial but honestly I dont care. He helped me weld better I didn't go to him for political opinions. Rant over.

Anyway why no wire feed process? I think it is so much nicer especially on smaller stuff. (I mean my wire feed looks like smooth **** as opposed to regular **** with a stick lol)

Sent from my SM-G970U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Monza Harry]

Just wait until you hear about how close I am to buying this:

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/tig-stick/powerarc-210stl

haha

That looks like a lot of power for not much money! That would be tempting if I was in that market, I understand the draw for sure.
As for a shipping container the one linked back a page with the side door is an interesting idea, (post #41) I would want it as a canopy door instead of roll up, adds shade and (limited) rain protection for you and tools as well as easy access. The big problem with the container is weight they are HEAVY!!! an 8 by 20 is 5000#'s+ empty so it will live where it lands pretty much. I in your place would aim more at an enclosed trailer with Ramp rear [and maybe a smaller side] door and add retractable canopies as time and money allow. put everything on wheels even lawnmower wheels make moving moderate weight items easier, things that need to go "to the back 40" will need bigger and better wheels and move them with an old lawn tractor or ATV/UTV (mentioned in previous post) as reasonable/handy/already there. You could possibly build a ATV sized trailer [wheels on your "Job-Box" would be an excellent starting place] for tools for remote work that has what you require for those locations. For things like your welder/plasma, etc. consider a lift out/up mechanism like used in some of the old "Tanker Desks" [ https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39224&highlight=Tanker+Desks ] for typewriters or today these are made for people with physical challenges or just heavy duty slides leaving the top as a clear "Bench top". Just some ideas to play around with, I hope this was helpful. Harry

 

[didit]

I've thought of building an outdoor cabinet. I do wonder though how the welder would stand up to the 150 degree range of temperatures we get around here, from the occasional -40 day in the winter to sometimes 110 in the summer. It is an inverter machine, not the transformer type that would put up with everything

You can buy a Dodge Caravan minivan with "stow n go" seats pretty cheap nowadays. Remove all the seats and organize all your equipment so it is easy to store and access anywhere you park it. There is a ton of useable space. You can even build "slide-out" platforms on both sides and the rear doors. Install an In/out electrical box for supplying power. A little planning could check all the boxes. It would be out of the weather, secure and inconspicuous. Document/record the contents and insure for an amount to cover any loss.
I bet your stated $5000. would just about cover a good used vehicle that could be outfitted to suit your needs.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Well, the $5000 figure was outside my budget. I did make a big step forward today and filmed most of it. Stay tuned...

 

[Iron Beaver]

Old Chuckie2009 sure liked the Everlast machines. I miss him. I never saw the video that was so controversial but honestly I dont care. He helped me weld better I didn't go to him for political opinions. Rant over.

Anyway why no wire feed process? I think it is so much nicer especially on smaller stuff. (I mean my wire feed looks like smooth **** as opposed to regular **** with a stick lol)

Sent from my SM-G970U using The Garage Journal mobile app

He did, but I think he might have been sponsored by Everlast. Either way, they do seem to be decent if you get one that isn't DOA.

I already have an entry-level mig/tig/stick welder that does wire feed just fine. I also prefer stick for most things because I build with a lot of rusty old scrap metal and weld with 6011 most of the time.

I'm still dreaming about either the Everlast or Fronius machine I linked above to be able to run 6010. I hear it's much better and am curious to see for myself. Also to have adjustable arc force, which I'm told is a must for good out-of-position welding.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Well, I put my welder on a skid that fits a job site box. I planned the purchase based on the advertised dimensions for said box and didn't account for all the things that protrude into the inside. It all worked out in the end though

I also put together a quick video to document the process and show the change from the super sketchy ramp to a much more elegant setup. You can find it here:

 

[pmiranda]

That's fantastic! I take it you're leaving the job box where you do your work and wheeling a small cart with the other stuff back and forth?

 

[Iron Beaver]

I'm working on it. The only day off I had since setting that up was spoken for but I'm definitely thinking about something of the sort. Maybe even another jobsite box.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Just wanted to thank whoever suggested the jobsite box idea. So far it's a winner!

 

[rancherbill]

Well, I put my welder on a skid that fits a job site box.

Neat. nice and tight. I would have never thought of that solution.

I wished I was young again. That setup looks like it take 2 men and a horse to change the gas bottle. Post a video of changing it by yourself. I can see how to do it by adding to your design if the box is big enough.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Just one man and a gantry crane I should post a video of how that works though.

 

[tyyost]

I like your solution, quick and easy, and accomplishes your goal.

After some use I’d think about adding a door to assist with bottle changes, or possibly adding a bulkhead that lets you connect a spare tank from outside the box if you ran out during a job, but I guess an extra tank/regulator would allow that pretty easy now too.

 

[Iron Beaver]

Boy do I love to be able to walk in and out of my basement now

 

[rancherbill]

The more I thought about your project the more I had bad thoughts.

Your tank should be VERTICAL

https://app.aws.org/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=32993

"DO NOT use Acetylene, 100% CO2, or LP turned sideways because they are a Liquid in the bottles, and if they are turned sideways, then you will be drawing out liquid (not good). They can be turned sideways for transportation but need to be upright for use."