welding on a shipping container

[toplessHO]

I need to weld some tabs on shipping containers.
Most likely 1/4 inch mild steel.
Im thinking 7018 and the 250A Miller 240v
or maybe flux core with my smaller 140A 120v.
I ll probably use one of my portable generators for power so theres no voltage drop.
Any tips?

 

[Spareparts]

Vertical or Horizonal, if veritcal 7018 vertical up a lot depends on load applied???

 

[rslaback]

Vertical or Horizonal, if veritcal 7018 vertical up a lot depends on load applied???

Or just roll the container to make all the welds horizontal.

 

[Wrench97]

6010 or 6011 is what I used on containers, Not usually over 125 amp unless I had 3/16 rod.

 

[rockinacummins]

Depends on your skill and the location you're welding to the container. If it's on the load-bearing structure, either should be fine as it's thick enough to take the heat of 7018 (vertical or horizontal). If it's on the corrugation, it's pretty thin and I would recommend using the flux core. I've welded to the corrugation with 1/8" 6010 on low heat, but you gotta move fast and even then you'll most likely have to go back and fill some holes.

 

[Lwel9226]

Or just roll the container to make all the welds horizontal.

Ifyou do that then you can use 7024....

LynnW

 

[WoodsTruck]

I use a connex for a storage unit at work. To be earthquake compliant I needed to anchor the shelving to the wall so it wouldn't tip over. The facility manager suggested welding strap hinges to the wall so they could be swung out of the way if the shelves ever came out. I just used my MIG with gas and it welded great. Burnt the paint off the outside, but oh well. I have a man door on one end and the factory end opening doors so I could get a cross breeze for ventilation.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's a fairly young guy, late 20's/early 30's my guess on Youtube called the "Container Guy." He has a company that builds container upgrades and such. Some of their work is cutting and welding them back together. I'm not sure if they ever discuss what they use to weld. Could go rabbit hole on his videos since it's Sunday.

 

[Jswain]

I need to weld some tabs on shipping containers.
Most likely 1/4 inch mild steel.
Im thinking 7018 and the 250A Miller 240v
or maybe flux core with my smaller 140A 120v.
I ll probably use one of my portable generators for power so theres no voltage drop.
Any tips?

What size generator do you have? That might make your decision easier, unless the miller is an inverter

 

[toplessHO]

I have a couple of generators 6500w and 9000w
yes the Miller is inverter style.
Mainly worried about type of filler and compatibility.
I have 1/8" 7018 and will be welding on corrugated but mainly the outside edges.
All will be horizontal

 

[toplessHO]

I just watched a video that has a first time welder using 8018G 1/8"@80A.
Ive never heard of 8018,let alone used it,but Ive burned a boatload of 7018.
How is the 8018 different other than the 10k increase?

 

[PCustoms]

I don't see any reason to over analyze what filler or method to use.

Scrape a little paint off and burn it in.

 

[toplessHO]

I don't see any reason to over analyze what filler or method to use.

Scrape a little paint off and burn it in.

look up corten structural and tell me this again

 

[dcg9381]

I don't have tips, but ran into this over the weekend 20' shipping container with a ton of welding on it.. Bolted to a military truck.
Most of the welding seems to be at the corners where there is structural steel.

 

[PCustoms]

look up corten structural and tell me this again

Are shipping containers made from corten?

Are you welding structural members to the container?

 

[toplessHO]

yes and yes

 

[VR6ix]

ASTM A606, ASTM A588, for example. The light amount of copper, chromium and nickle content gives it the corrosion resistance. It's not much, as seen in the Corten A example pulled from a UK website below (%'s).

If corrosion is a concern then Corten welding should be a concern. If not, well sure, just have at it and deal with the inevitable rust some band-aid way. I'm pretty clueless on stick welding but I'd imagine you want a rod with some nickel and chromium content in it. That said there are no doubt a ton of real-word examples of mild steel welded to Corten containers with standard fillers doing just fine and in the right (arid, desert) environments the failure point could be decades away and not a concern.

I'd like to do a fire pit ring in Corten and use 309 filler for the weld seam. Or TIG braze with silicon bronze/aluminum. In my mind it would be a nice colour contrast when the Corten weathering steel, uhm, well, weathers with age.

Sorry toplessHO I'm not much help other than saying yes, you have a valid reason to investigate.

 

[toplessHO]

welding tabs on the top to mount solar panels.
I was thinking of 1/4" but dont see any prefabbed that thick
so may need to revert to 3/16"

 

[Ricky Joe]

I just watched a video that has a first time welder using 8018G 1/8"@80A.
Ive never heard of 8018,let alone used it,but Ive burned a boatload of 7018.
How is the 8018 different other than the 10k increase?

Just strength. I have a 50 pound box of 9018s. They will burn the same.

 

[Lwel9226]

I just watched a video that has a first time welder using 8018G 1/8"@80A.
Ive never heard of 8018,let alone used it,but Ive burned a boatload of 7018.
How is the 8018 different other than the 10k increase?

Just strength. I have a 50 pound box of 9018s. They will burn the same.

Ricky Joe beat me to it.... Just higher tinsel strength.... welds about the same....

LynnW