A cheaper way to build a shop

tryppyr

tryppyr

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
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Today I had a brainstorm. There's a place I drive by a few times a year that has numerous cargo containers stacked five high with a sign that says you can have one for $1500. These are the big shipping containers that cargo ships carry, then drop onto semis when they get to shore. It occurs to me those would make a pretty decent start for a shop.

The larger ones are 8 feet x 45 feet with about 9 feet interior height. They are already weather proof. It's essentially fire proof too. They already come with high security doors. If you want you can customize it by adding doors and windows. They can be driven right to your lot and dropped on a pad, if you have one. If you ever move you can have a semi come and take your shop to the new location. And it could even double as a moving van for all your stuff during a move.

Think about it... over 360 square feet of space... and if you need more space, get two and connect them.

May not be the prettiest shop in town, but it's totally practical. It's environmentally sound too, as this is essentially reusing something that is non perishable. If you spend a little it could be very comfortable. A window air conditioner could service the whole unit (when the forge wasn't fighting it). A small ventilation and filtration system could keep dust and fumes in check. Build in a row of Streater tables/shelves and you'd never want for counter space. Weld workstations directly to the walls.

And when you outgrow it, cut the metal into stock for knives.

What do you think?

- Greg
 
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I have a friend in NC who has five of them out behind his house ( rural).
He has all his business equipment and offices in them.

BTW, they are quite popular as meth labs.
 
In Holland they've build student appartements on a campus out of them.
I think it would make a good shop.
Don't forget to post pics when you get it.
 
There are complete homes built out of multiple units with, as you say, doors and windows cut into them. I would think you need to insulate the perimeter before conditioning them as it sounds like a "hotbox" in the summer and a freezer in the winter. Good, cheap, open space, however. Check the local codes and hope your neighbors like them as much as you do!
 
Set 2 of them say 12 ft apart with a concrete slab in between. Then put trusses over them and wall in the ends and you have a 28'x40' shop with a center bay. A guy close to Portland used 8 of them 2 rows of 2, 2 high. spanned the 30' in between with steel roof and had a huge shop.
 
I have one setting in the pasture that I use as a storage unit. You won't believe how hot it is in one when the outside temperature is a 100 degrees or better.
 
I' been using one for a shop for some time now and it works pretty good. I have mine set so that its shaded so heat doesnt bother that much and the forge keeps it pretty well in winter. However I might add here that winters in NE Texas are not usually very bad. Mine is 8' x 8' x 40'. Shop is in entrance with back portion for storage.
 
Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
What about running electrical lines in a steel box? For $1500 you could buy a shed that would not be such an eyesore in your backyard.
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agreed.
my dad used to have one of them for... well storage.
theres definately some work involved in converting it to a usable work space.
as already said, they get hot as hell and damn cold.
maybe he had a smaller one but i dont think id wanna be working inside one
 
Excellent example! Ray's shop looks very clean and efficient.

To those worried about heat and cold, you can always insulate. Since I live in western WA state, heat usually isn't a problem for us, and shade is readily available. Cold could be a problem, but with a forge not so much.

And Bobby, you need to know that there are more than one size of container out there. The ones with 6 foot cielings obviously aren't suitable. Some have even larger interiors than 9 feet. I've seen a few with 10.5 feet of interior space.

- Greg
 
tryppyr said:
Excellent example! Ray's shop looks very clean and efficient.

To those worried about heat and cold, you can always insulate. Since I live in western WA state, heat usually isn't a problem for us, and shade is readily available. Cold could be a problem, but with a forge not so much.

And Bobby, you need to know that there are more than one size of container out there. The ones with 6 foot cielings obviously aren't suitable. Some have even larger interiors than 9 feet. I've seen a few with 10.5 feet of interior space.

- Greg
Click to expand...

double tap
 
tryppyr said:
Excellent example! Ray's shop looks very clean and efficient.

To those worried about heat and cold, you can always insulate. Since I live in western WA state, heat usually isn't a problem for us, and shade is readily available. Cold could be a problem, but with a forge not so much.

And Bobby, you need to know that there are more than one size of container out there. The ones with 6 foot cielings obviously aren't suitable. Some have even larger interiors than 9 feet. I've seen a few with 10.5 feet of interior space.

- Greg
Click to expand...

I just checked mine. It is 8 X 8 X 40 and 8 X 8 X 20
 
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ib2v4u said:
Set 2 of them say 12 ft apart with a concrete slab in between. Then put trusses over them and wall in the ends and you have a 28'x40' shop with a center bay. A guy close to Portland used 8 of them 2 rows of 2, 2 high. spanned the 30' in between with steel roof and had a huge shop.
Click to expand...


That's a good idea, Though in wintertime any heated metal building sweats, even when insulated. But we are talking -20 -30, But I hate wood for a shop, as much as I hate gypsum on walls.
 
Also have to take into consideration how much extra it's going to cost to stud and sheath the interior walls...you will want insulation in one of those; it not only helps with heating but also cooling. Then wiring, lighting and all that.

They are an eye sore, but you can dress up the outside if needed.

I entertained the idea of getting one, but after adding in all the extra cost to make it usable, it just seemed like a better idea to get a stick-built shed/shop.
 
We have several at work that are used for storage/shop space. Painted the exterior to pretty them up a bit, hung some lights, good to go. Won't find a more sturdy shop.
 
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