Grain Bin for a Small Shop

[MoparTrucks]

Anyone use an old grain bin for a small shop? I built a 24'x32' pole barn shop a couple years ago because thats all I could afford at the time but need more storage/work space and have been looking for a shipping container but they have gotten pricey around here.

I have seen some 300bu corrugated metal grain bins for sale pretty cheap and was thinking they might be good for a shop/tool crib. Has anyone done this and do you have any pictures? I can see a decent small work area and a loft storage area with ladder access.

I am just having a hard time getting my mind around how to frame something for a door and windows with them being round but I've recently seen some for sale for less than 1K.

 

[stewie97]

I think they are/were using them in Haiti as housing after the last huricane/earthquake. This video may give you an idea for framing a door...

 

[wdrumheller]

Cool idea.

 

[hawkeye2]

Do you have te dimensions of a 300BU grain bin?

Saw pictures of a round shop once that had a jib crane in the middle that could reach the entier shop.

 

[bcook07]

Alot of bins already have a frame for a door that is flat.

For windows, you may be able to section a grain bin door frame and make it smaller?

EDIT--You are going to want to check out this link. Should get plenty of ideas here
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=8122.0

 

[kbs2244]

The problem is noise.
The curved walls concentrate it.

Spray insulation would be perfect.
(The one I saw was done by a guy who did it, so it was cheap to him.)

Maybe hang old rugs on the walls?

 

[Blk88GT]

Build some walls, and use half the grain bin laying on it's side as the roof!

 

[MoparTrucks]

Awesome links and ideas thanks. I dont have the dimensions of the two I found for sale yet but I am going to go look at them and see whats what. Some of the ones on that Countryplans site make me want one for a hunting cabin.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've seen one or two in Farm Show magazine. I think they would be hotter than heck in the sun.

 

[crf731]

The accoustics are pretty good inside them.

 

[mark52621]

As a farmer who has to do yearly work inside of bins, I wouldn't recommend it.

1 hot, hot, hot
2 very loud inside
3 you have to step up to go through the door
4 small door

That being said they are dirt cheap. Spray foam insulation is a great idea, it would solve 1 and 2. For the door you would have to get creative.

I think 300 bushels would be way to small to be of any use. 2000 bushels is a more reasonable size.

I did see a blacksmith shop built inside of one. the guy placed the forge in the middle of the bin and let the smoke out of the center cap. I also saw hippies turn one into a house. They had two floors, and insulated with straw bales.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

There's somebody near here in Ames, IA that's building a new house, and part of the addition to his new house is a round grain bin house, trimmed out with double hung windows and walk in doors etc. Not sure how he handles insulation.

But growing up on our farm cleaning out corn cribs, I too can guaran-freeging-tee you it can get hot as hell in there during the summertime.

So like others have said, work out the insulation and ventilation concerns, and it might suit your needs.

 

[REPO]

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Hands-On-How-To/Grain-Bin-Building.aspx

 

[bygasper]

Google "grain bin house". There are hundreds of these now scattered across the country. For a shop, things may/may not be simpler depending on what you want.

 

[MoparTrucks]

My pole barn is pretty darned hot in the summer so I can imagine a grain bin would be brutal. I am mainly looking at something for storing tools and equipment to free up space in my shop and I kind of had it in the back of my mind it would also be big enough for a small work bench or something.

I am going to look at one next week to see for myself and to check out how I would transport something like that (I imagine it would have to be disassembled). I like the ready functionality of a shipping container but they are getting pricey and a grain bin would look better here on the farm aesthetically.

Appreciate the input, I am on dial up and it can be an exercise in frustration to search Google and wade through the various links.

 

[yousesteers]

a 300 bushel grain bin is going to be about 6' in diameter and 9' tall. I would suggest a 1000bu it will be about 12 to 14 in diameter and side walls are about 8' a bin will have to be on a concrete foundation as they are flimsy when un bolted you can move a 1000 bushel and never dismantle it

 

[crazytrain]

If shipping containers are to much locally, how about a used tractor trailer box trailer? I have a friend who bought a refrigerator trailer used took the axles and landing gear off and set the box on blocks. He removed the refrigeration unit and sold it, making up some of the cost of the trailer. He used some thin sheet steel to cover the hole and insulated it with a piece of foam board and covered the inside with plywood. He set the trailer next to his pole barn and sided it with the same color siding as his pole barn. He keeps 4 wheelers and his compressor in it along with other toys to keep them out of his shop space. The best part of the refrigerator trailer is it's insulated already.