Shipping container workshop

[browntown]

So I should say that the fiance and the HOA will never let me do this. I'd like to imagine some day after the kid is out of the house, we'll move to the country and I can do what I want.

But until then I was hoping for some pictures of converted shipping containers. Seems like the perfect easy structure to me. Heck they even make houses out of them:

Anyone have a storage container shop, man cave? Would likely need an A/C unit in the summer and a heater in the winter, but it seems doable.

 

[REAL HOT SCHITT]

hi theres a company here that imports houses from china.

the tradename here is..."habode"....

 

[mjb]

Knife maker Ray Rogers has two for his shop.

Link to his site: http://www.rayrogers.com/shoptour.htm

 

[coldfusion21]

I think insulation is a big issue. I would like a few burried in the side of a small mountain for insulation. Would be cheap and reasonably easy.

 

[BUGTHUG]

I think insulation is a big issue. I would like a few burried in the side of a small mountain for insulation. Would be cheap and reasonably easy.

You can buy refrigeirated trailers that are insulated, about 2x as much as the standard. As far as burring them in the ground , I don't think the sides are strong enough, most are aluminium or fiberglass.

 

[A_Pmech]

The 48' reefer container I bought for storage has structural panel walls about 3" thick made from styrofoam and FRP panels. I think 3" of styrofoam is about R-20.

 

[formek]

I wanted to do this! I was looking at getting two of them place them 8 feet or so apart and build one common roof over both of them. This would give you the two containers as lockable storage and open (out of the rain and or hot sun) Storage My wife was dead set against it. I am now bulding a medal bulding.

 

[larry_g]

I wanted to do this! I was looking at getting two of them place them 8 feet or so apart and build one common roof over both of them. This would give you the two containers as lockable storage and open (out of the rain and or hot sun) Storage My wife was dead set against it. I am now bulding a medal bulding.

When I bought my building kit the builder had a truss/roofing kit to span two containers with a space between just as you describe.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[idoine in toronto]

Google "shipping container home", or "shipping container shop" and you'll get 100's of examples.

 

[rquackenbush]

You can pick up these shipping containers just about anywhere. I think they would make a great shed, outdoor office, etc. Here are some of my favorites that I've seen:

Nifty remote installation:
http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html

Bike repair shop:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...t-those-ready-made-shacks-to-shame-9#fbIndex9

Not a container, but great inspiration for setting up equipment in a small space:
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/make-it-anywhere-with-a-mobile-lab.html

 

[John in OH]

I wanted to do this! I was looking at getting two of them place them 8 feet or so apart and build one common roof over both of them. This would give you the two containers as lockable storage and open (out of the rain and or hot sun) Storage My wife was dead set against it. I am now bulding a medal bulding.

This configuration of two containers separated by about 12'-20' and with pre-fab roof trusses connecting them together to form an open air sheltered work area has been used on nearly every construction project that I ever worked on. Generally, used by pipe fitters or electricians for pre-assembly work, welding, threading, etc. Add string-o-lights on the bottom truss chords and a dozen GFI drop chord outlets, and you've got a cheap, fast, effective shelter with lots of adjacent storage. In winter, the ends are closed in with plywood-over-stud walls and salamander heaters installed.

I had always hoped to salvage one of these structures at the end of a job, but it never worked out.

 

[neonnblack]

You could probably avoid alot of code issues also if you put it on leveled gravel or concrete piers, since technically they are still mobile. and if anyone asks just say its storage only.

 

[formek]

I have not seen them until today Some very cool stuff

 

[MartyO]

neato!

 

[formek]

You could probably avoid alot of code issues also if you put it on leveled gravel or concrete piers, since technically they are still mobile. and if anyone asks just say its storage only.

Yes this was part of my attraction there were no codes or laws for or against
They are movable! I had to go for a variance for the bulding cast me good money and time and Dealing with the town bull sh*#.

 

[neonnblack]

I thought about this a while ago also, but i was thinking of joining the two together long ways and brace the center and roof and cut out the middle, maybe a steel "rafter" every 4 feet or standing on metal poles at each end, giving it the support a flat roof would need esp in a snow load and giving you something to screw wood purlins to to be able to hang cabinets and such. any one see any big issues with this?

 

[dladcock]

Here's a container "Tool Crib". Needing to store the shop junk while the shop is being finished, this became a viable solution for me.

The seller painted the outside the color of my choice and delivered for one price. I had to paint the interior walls and floor. Rustoleum White on the walls, Rustolem White and Smoke Gray mixed 3:1 for the floor. Three coats on all.

I did purge a good deal of stuff during the transfer from the shop building to the container. The shelving was an idea borrowed from here:


http://www.ciscocontainers.com/Accessories2.html

Of course, the shelving was made in-house since we never buy what we can make.

Since setting up the Tool Crib, I have decided to make it a permanent fixture. It has helped organize tools, and store car parts that I'm not ready to purge.

 

[justanengineer]

Worked in a few, lived in a few more...with A/C theyre doable, but tiny for a shop. Without A/C I wouldnt consider it.

 

[ADaughen]

On a survival forum I am on, there are a few guys that have made their own. One was an "L" shape with a two-car carport on the inner angle. It was pretty well laid out.

Personally, I've wanted to dig a hole and drop a 10' in the ground then stack a second on top. After all the rain we got the past two weeks, I am glad I didn't go that route.

 

[ishiboo]

This 1600 square foot example uses 2 containers, but the front facade you see is all shipping containers. The siding is the corrugated sides from the containers being cut out on the interior. Not a halfway bad looking building, either.

No association.

 

[ZRX61]

I don't think the sides are strong enough, most are aluminium or fiberglass.

The sides etc aren't structural, that's why you can put windows & doors where ever you want

 

[rickairmedic]

I have a 28' like APmech's . I picked it up last year after a house fire . I was looking at PODS and quickly realised I would need 2 of them and would be out a few grand by the time I was done . I picked up my 28' off of craigslist delivered and set for $1500.00 . I figured after all was done with the fire I ended up with a 28' deep 8' wide 9' high shed with a nice roll up door on one end . I plan to eventually add a 36" mandoor to the other end and put a wall in the middle of it . The end with the roll up door will be for lawn equipment and the end with the man door will be for garage / shop overflow.


Rick

 

[paranoid56]

yea, once get out of the city i want to do the same. some more pics for fun.

 

[paranoid56]

This one is camp Eggers in Kabul, where most of my main unit stayed.

[/QUOTE]

 

[containerhomeinfo]

Its so great to see continued interest in the use of Shipping Containers as building elements.

There are a few points that are touched on in this thread that are common misunderstanding about Shipping Container Construction.

We have a number of free videos that address these misunderstandings - we try to explain the "why" in detail rather than offer some dismissive statement saying you cant do this or that so the videos are "lengthy".

1, You must never bury a shipping container - here is why

http://www.containerhome.info/tutorial-9.html

2, shipping container wall are "structural" are care must be taken with any modification of any form of irregular off axis stacking.

http://www.containerhome.info/side-wall-modifications.html

3, Shipping containers and insulation.

http://www.containerhome.info/tutorial-8.html

I hope this information is of use to the members of this thread.

Regards

Victor

 

[TOOL MASTER]

stack em like logs and weld it all together...add steps.

 

[forgedfromtexas]

You can get pretty creative with this stuff. I like it!

 

[stankp]

Hey, one of those is mine....

Here is one of me welding a window in...

This is our cabin about two hours north of Minneapolis. It is two 20' containers with a framed section in the middle. There are two queen sized beds above the blue container in what we call the loft. The blue has a kitchen and store room, the red is the living/hangin'-out room and the glass middle is the dining area...

 

[Capt Chrysler]

We made one into a club house for our Trap Range. Easy works great and at the time was cheap.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[toxicz28]

I don't think the sides are strong enough, most are aluminium or fiberglass.

I've been aroud alot of cargo containers, and never saw one that was not steel!

 

[creativecars]

My favorite!!!

http://www.screanews.us/BubbaPages/JpgBubba/CondoRedneck.jpg

BTW, how do I get pictures to come up as on the page, I tried to copy and paste the pic.

 

[555]

I lived in one in Kosovo. It had been insulated and paneled inside, had a combination heater/air conditioner. Actually a lot of room and quite comfortable. I'm interested in using one or two as a shop on our farm (zoning, etc would be no problem). I also have a lake lot and have done a couple of doodles using 2-3 containers in a U shape for a lake house. Alas, I doubt that the zoning committee at the lake will buy off on this idea. Dwell magazine did a nice article on container homes a while back. They are very popular in Japan.
Regards,
555

 

[ed_v]

My favorite!!!

http://www.screanews.us/BubbaPages/JpgBubba/CondoRedneck.jpg

BTW, how do I get pictures to come up as on the page, I tried to copy and paste the pic.

If my 401k don't improve, this is where I might end up having to retire!

Ed

 

[denis4x4]

I wanted to do this! I was looking at getting two of them place them 8 feet or so apart and build one common roof over both of them. This would give you the two containers as lockable storage and open (out of the rain and or hot sun) Storage My wife was dead set against it. I am now bulding a medal bulding.

Check out my avatar.

 

[formek]

Check out my avatar.

Yea man that is what I am talking about !!!!!! looks good I was trying to get a larger view of you avatar but cant seem to. If you get time please post a photo. thanks for sharing. LOVE IT.

I will have to show this to my wife.

 

[oldwino]

Originally Posted by neonnblack View Post
You could probably avoid alot of code issues also if you put it on leveled gravel or concrete piers, since technically they are still mobile. and if anyone asks just say its storage only.

Under the California Building Code you can use these as temporary storage containers WHILE you have active construction on-site. Once you attain final approval of your project you must install as a permanent structure with engineered foundation accounting for wind loads, seismic and all sorts of #&*%...OR, you can keep it and hope to never get caught.

 

[coldfusion21]

Reason 10257 to not live in the republic of California.

 

[redjalopygarage]

My buddy shares a shop with another guy. They each bought a container to store expensive tools they didnt always want to share (the shop was not always secured), and to store the snowmobiles. They work perfectly, and for the $1500 bucks apiece, well worth it.

 

[neonnblack]

Under the California Building Code you can use these as temporary storage containers WHILE you have active construction on-site. Once you attain final approval of your project you must install as a permanent structure with engineered foundation accounting for wind loads, seismic and all sorts of #&*%...OR, you can keep it and hope to never get caught.

Reason 10257 to not live in the republic of California.

Indeed. Damn californians. thats why you guys keep coming here to reno, to build cheap container buildings : /

 

[denis4x4]

Better photo of my container shop. We welded brackets on the edges to hold 4X4's and placed the trusses on teco fittings. The old boy that dropped these in place got them within a quarter inch side to side and front to back!