Justanoldguy
Well-known member
After all the posts done here, the sensible thing would be ...
In reference to post one .. bla bla bla ..
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
After all the posts done here, the sensible thing would be ...
In reference to post one .. bla bla bla ..
Same in Iraq. The containers were used for all kinds of things. Living quarters, repair shops, storage, the list goes on and on.
The cheapest I've seen in this area is $2000 for a 20 foot, I'm looking for a cheaper one for storage.
Are you a flag officer? Sounds like the Ritz to me. I lived in a 3-story conex bldg, shared a room with 3 other guys, and shared a bathroom/shower down the hall with the other 80 guys on the floor.
But seriously...while not very attractive, the utility of these things is amazing. Secure, durable, stackable, relatively cheap.
polexican23
Banned
After all the posts done here, the sensible thing would be ...
In reference to post one .. bla bla bla ..
one would assume that the post by Ford would be in reference to the title/theme/subject of the thread.
Falcon67
Well-known member
If you wanted a lift you'd have to stand them on end. 
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This was too cool. I dig American ingenuity!!
Justanoldguy
Well-known member
Assumptions are generally wrong.
Anyway.
Sorry, it never works that way.
Tell me the last time a thread went 20+ posts and actually stayed on track.
jb3
Well-known member
there is a junkyard with one of these structures local here. Guy loves it, each side is made up of two stacked containers with a large roof covering about 50 feet between them for machine parking. The containers are for parts storage
bauschracing
Well-known member
Lived in a 20 ft. container in Iraq. Had a 4ft. bathroom (shower, toilet, sink and hot water heater) and 16 feet of living space. Had air/heat, twin bed, desk and storage locker. When you rolled over in the bed and touched the wall with your back, it would wake you up.
Do not care if I ever get in another container.
oldthudman
Member
Awesome.................great job.........
Whiskeymike
Well-known member
I'm thinking of getting a couple for storage, so my shop can be focused on work. My tentative plan is to lay a gravel bed, set them up parallel about 15-20 feet apart and be able to have inside/outside storage. I have an HOA, but a pretty simplistic one. It allows trailers, RV's, etc.. but they have to be behind the house. And it also has an architectural board, but I don't think that would apply to a temporary/movable box.
I'm going to have to send them a note and see if they have an issue. Best thing is that it shouldn't affect property taxes.
I'm going to have to send them a note and see if they have an issue. Best thing is that it shouldn't affect property taxes.
WNYflyer
Well-known member
I have run across them being used as outside controls buildings/offices in industrial plants
The vendor buys them cheap and fits them out with all the electrical, controls, cuts in doors and windows, puts in wall mounted HVAC. All done off-site then drops them on prepared foundation or elevated steel frame. Just need to power them up.
Only problems I have seen is some had wood floor decks which I suppose could be a fire hazard especially depending on the location of the container/building in the plant.
The vendor buys them cheap and fits them out with all the electrical, controls, cuts in doors and windows, puts in wall mounted HVAC. All done off-site then drops them on prepared foundation or elevated steel frame. Just need to power them up.
Only problems I have seen is some had wood floor decks which I suppose could be a fire hazard especially depending on the location of the container/building in the plant.
madoc1
Well-known member
rmalkow2
Well-known member
On the subject, this ad showed up recently in my local area CL. Someone taking the container idea to the commercial level to sell ready made roof structures combined with shipping containers.
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/fod/5606611575.html
Probably not all that uncommon around the country but a new idea to me and coincidental to this story.
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/fod/5606611575.html
Probably not all that uncommon around the country but a new idea to me and coincidental to this story.
matta5
Well-known member
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Check your local codes first. My dad had two of them. Had them about a week, long enough to fill them up when code enforcement showed up and said they had to go. He knew code enforcement well. Nobody really cared living next to Sanford and Son.
CutterFarms
Well-known member
I'd like to have one along side my shop for overflow and have shelves down one whole side.
Ed ke6bnl
Well-known member
I do sort of the opposite, I put my lathe, mill and surface grinder in the shipping container and they stay dry, dust and varment free. adj. to my 3 car garage, plant to have a door to the side of the garage so I can go in there through the garage to the shop.
There seems to be a misconception by some posting in this thread on what a sea container would sell for. I have been selling them as a side-business for nearly ten years. When I started, a really nice used twenty foot box retailed for $1300-$1500. A comparable forty footer would run $2200-$2500. Remember when steel went through the roof? Prices DOUBLED at that time. They have come down over the last couple of years, but have pretty well stabilized at $2200-$2500 for a used twenty and around $3500 for a used forty. You can also buy what are referred to as 'one trip boxes'. These are containers that are built, loaded with freight, shipped to the U.S., unloaded and then sold. Basically a brand new box. These will run $3000 or so for a twenty and a little over $4000 for a forty.
Prices will vary a bit from one part of the country to the other, but these are ball-park figures. The biggest factor in the pricing is how far you are from the nearest shipping terminal. I don't have a large mark-up on my boxes, but I have to ship them 300 miles from Houston, and that is about $1000 a trip. I get a deal on freight by hiring some guys I know to back-haul them for me. The Houston container yards get $4.00 a loaded mile if their trucks deliver them.
If you are looking at a box, there is a large metal tag affixed to one of the doors. This similar to a VIN tag on a vehicle. It will tell you the name of the manufacturer and the date it was built. Most shipping companies retire boxes at around ten years of age, regardless of condition. If a box gets dented or twisted so it won't easily stack with others, no matter the age it's sold. Within reason this will not even be noticeable unless you are stacking them. If possible, check the roof for dents. While they are made from Corten steel, if water puddles on the roof, it will eventually cause a pin-hole. A coat of Kool-Seal will take care of this and help keep the interior a bit cooler in hot sunny weather. Check where the walls connect to the floor beams. This is a place prone to corrosion. Lastly, check the door seals. If the door seals are good then your container will be mouse-proof and virtually bug-proof. Door seals can be replaced, but finding new seals can be difficult.
Prices will vary a bit from one part of the country to the other, but these are ball-park figures. The biggest factor in the pricing is how far you are from the nearest shipping terminal. I don't have a large mark-up on my boxes, but I have to ship them 300 miles from Houston, and that is about $1000 a trip. I get a deal on freight by hiring some guys I know to back-haul them for me. The Houston container yards get $4.00 a loaded mile if their trucks deliver them.
If you are looking at a box, there is a large metal tag affixed to one of the doors. This similar to a VIN tag on a vehicle. It will tell you the name of the manufacturer and the date it was built. Most shipping companies retire boxes at around ten years of age, regardless of condition. If a box gets dented or twisted so it won't easily stack with others, no matter the age it's sold. Within reason this will not even be noticeable unless you are stacking them. If possible, check the roof for dents. While they are made from Corten steel, if water puddles on the roof, it will eventually cause a pin-hole. A coat of Kool-Seal will take care of this and help keep the interior a bit cooler in hot sunny weather. Check where the walls connect to the floor beams. This is a place prone to corrosion. Lastly, check the door seals. If the door seals are good then your container will be mouse-proof and virtually bug-proof. Door seals can be replaced, but finding new seals can be difficult.
ich_liebe_meine_arbeit
Well-known member
Please elaborate, I really think I saw one on a show they were burying for use as a tornado shelter.
They cannot support much weight on top of them. They are designed to carry sea cargo and be stacked on each other using the 4 corner support posts.
Weird Tolkienish Figure
Well-known member
The history of containerization is pretty interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization
I think the modular concept of them, and of them being relatively cheap and ubiquitous captures some people's imagination for a while of the possiblities. Then they became a fad with the trendy eco types.
You should read about people who have built geodesic dome houses in the 60's and 70's. The idea is great, the reality was quite a bit different. The dome houses had many many problems. Turns out that our square houses are very space efficient, and handle things like acoustics, and protection from water well. Who woulda' thought!?
I think the same thing is true with living in containers: neat concept but reality is different. Then again as other haves said people have used these in the military. Who knows?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization
I think the modular concept of them, and of them being relatively cheap and ubiquitous captures some people's imagination for a while of the possiblities. Then they became a fad with the trendy eco types.
You should read about people who have built geodesic dome houses in the 60's and 70's. The idea is great, the reality was quite a bit different. The dome houses had many many problems. Turns out that our square houses are very space efficient, and handle things like acoustics, and protection from water well. Who woulda' thought!?
I think the same thing is true with living in containers: neat concept but reality is different. Then again as other haves said people have used these in the military. Who knows?
Lord Diesel is correct. If it is to be buried, the roof and walls need added support. The corners and beams are very strong, but the sheet metal sides and roof are not nearly as strong. I've seen four 40 foot boxes buried into the side of a hill with a slab poured over the roofs and a shop built over them. You'd never know they were there unless you went to the down-hill side.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it
I have not spent much time in the workshop lately outside of doing some small machining projects for some friends. It's almost a shame to spend so much time and effort on building this kind of a shop just to have it sit idle.
I have been up to my eyes in starting a tech company that deals with drones, software and sensor integration. It's been dang busy but I am hoping things settle down and I can give up my day job to just work for myself. Fingers crossed!
Paul.
JustinBravo
New member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2016
- Messages
- 3
Apparently, shipping containers can be used not only for a shop, but some people stick them together to build a livable house. Here is more info on that, plus the overview of costs of used shipping containers: http://www.150points.com/advice/top-20-sustainable-shipping-container-homes/
they are great but dont think for one second they are secure, if somone want in they can get in easy.
I saw a container that was near a wall so the front could be seen and used by workers, anyway the pavee's cut a hole in the side and emptied the container of all the tools, not even touching the doors
I saw a container that was near a wall so the front could be seen and used by workers, anyway the pavee's cut a hole in the side and emptied the container of all the tools, not even touching the doors
don long
Well-known member
I have one that I made into a sand blasting box.
I had a 20 footer cut in half, added a rollup door on the end and a man door in the side. Cut a hole in the side for my hose to fit in and welded a set of hinges to the back wall for a swing bench to work off of and put a fan in the roof to pull the dust out of the room and it works great
the hole in the roof for dust extraction
a little paint and its ready for use
I had a 20 footer cut in half, added a rollup door on the end and a man door in the side. Cut a hole in the side for my hose to fit in and welded a set of hinges to the back wall for a swing bench to work off of and put a fan in the roof to pull the dust out of the room and it works great
the hole in the roof for dust extraction
a little paint and its ready for use
rerod
Well-known member
Wow..
Attachments
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rwilly
Well-known member
Dredging up an old thread.
Cost of putting 2 containers spaced 20’ apart, 39’ trusses which gives roughly 18” eaves.
Sheath with OSB, finish off with either 3 tab or rolled roofing.
Adds up to about $10K.
I live in the Seattle suburbs.
It’s expensive but, putting up a permanent, stick built garage would be far more costly.
. $10K is a lot of money, but it would give lots of covered storage and quite abit of lockable storage.
Fairly easily removed and the containers could be resold.
Cost of putting 2 containers spaced 20’ apart, 39’ trusses which gives roughly 18” eaves.
Sheath with OSB, finish off with either 3 tab or rolled roofing.
Adds up to about $10K.
I live in the Seattle suburbs.
It’s expensive but, putting up a permanent, stick built garage would be far more costly.
. $10K is a lot of money, but it would give lots of covered storage and quite abit of lockable storage.
Fairly easily removed and the containers could be resold.
RobertKitt
New member
I'm planning to expand my garage. I have a home forge, and I'm using the garage as my workshop. Now, I'm doing the works on a contract basis and want to expand my garage. I didn't have enough space to keep my forge and tools, and I don't want to expose them to the harsh weather. So I rented a shipping container. After using it, I think It's better to use shipping containers for expanding my workshop. The extreme heat from the forge won't damage the container, so it is an excellent choice.
denis4x4
Well-known member
See my avatar. Not quite $10 K Mine is 10' apart. Extra cost for the monitor roof design. Some extra storage on top of the containers.
rerod
Well-known member
True but you cant really compare that, to a stick built with footings and foundation.
I bet the material price for a regular pole barn would be comparable, but the one thing that bugs me about the containers is you have to go outside, to get inside the container.. Sure you can cut another door inside but it wont be as secure..
Joemctag
Well-known member
Containers are 7’-8 1/2” wide inside. Refrigerated ones are about 7’ -4 1/2”. They have to be able to go over the roads by truck.
nadogail
Well-known member
While sitting here scheming, came up with the idea of spanning the space between parallel containers with welded steel truss joists welded up from repurposed steel. If you are concerned about solar heat gain the joists could extend the extra width of the container walls to allow the tops of the containers to be shaded.
TylerRNEMT
Well-known member
Go to youtube and search "Andrew Camarata"
See you in 3 weeks when you emerge from the hours of videos you just spent watching.
You're Welcome
-Tyler
See you in 3 weeks when you emerge from the hours of videos you just spent watching.
You're Welcome
-Tyler
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Keep in mind guys this is an older thread brought back by a first time poster.
csp
Well-known member
Too funny, I was sucked down that rabbit hole several weeks ago.
Go to youtube and search "Andrew Camarata"
See you in 3 weeks when you emerge from the hours of videos you just spent watching.
You're Welcome
-Tyler
Interdesting, but that home is extremely ugly!