Shop in a box

[ozzymanii]

Don't know if this is the right place for this, if not I'm sorry.

I thought I would share a brainstorm that I have had that worked well for me and might work well for others.

I just moved out to a large tract of land in a mobile home. I've always had a wood shop, even if it was just a garage size, so I wanted to build a new one quickly and cheaply.

After much thought and looking at pre-fabs and the like I came up with (what I think is ) a brilliant idea.

I bought a shipping container.

Delivered to my doorstep a 8' wide 9 1/2' high 45' long container was only $2,300.00 I have since built large wood storage shelves in the last 10 feet of it for holding all my stock. I've started putting wheels on all my woodworking tools and put in a lot of cabinets.

About the last 15' of it I have left empty. I can work wood of any length, and only have problems when the wood gets up about 4x8 feet. But in that case I simply roll my tablesaw down the ramp I built and cut the big stuff outside.

I could not be hapier with my purchase and thought I'd mention it to the people here as a cheap alternative to a shop. It also has the side benefit that it can be moved if required.

As of right now, I have mounted an attic fan in the rear roof to help with ventilation.

The next step is a full 100 amp service for it.

As soon as I finish a few more things I'll post some pictures.

James

 

[DaveO]

I have heard of doing that before. There is a Woodnetter who had his shop set up the same way, I think he joined two side by side. Unfortunately it caught fire and burnt up most of the insides...but didn't spread to anything else. Where I work we use two storage containers to store our small equipment. Ain't nobody gonna break into to them.
Great idea and something to think about for those needing a shop or more shop.
BTW welcome to the site, please post your introduction in the "Who We Are" forum and let everyone know a little more about you.

Dave

 

[Monty]

Cool idea. The 8' width seems like it might be a little limiting, but it sounds like you've figured out how to work around that. We need pics!!!

 

[Ray Martin]

Can't beat tha price for a 45' long shop... or for all the security it affords.

Ray

 

[cpowell]

Necessity is the mother of invention...or in this case, addiction is the mother of accommodation!

I think it is a very secure solution for your machinery. Is it going to get a little warm in the summer?

I applaud you for finding a cost effective solution. The most important thing is to have a space to make sawdust and it sounds like that will fit the bill nicely. :-D

Chuck

 

[quid_non]

Hi James-
Welcome to the site! That is a realy cool idea you mentioned. Look forward to seeing some pics when you get a chance. Is there a source for these containers that you can share?
Thanks
quid_non

 

[McRabbet]

Very effective solution for a perennial problem -- sounds like a very economical solution and very workable, too.

Welcome to the site.

Rob

 

[Gofor]

Just a thought for the summer. We (a team I was on in the USAF while on active duty) built some portable 750 KW generator portable power plants by putting a diesel genset and the switchgear in shipping containers. We found that putting a camo net (relatively cheap at surplus houses) over it dropped the temp inside by about 15 degrees. (By "over it" I mean with the net suspended above, not on, the container top)

By getting it in the shade (however you do it) and letting air circulate over it, it will greatly reduce the heat build-up of the sun on the metal sides. (painting it white helps, but not as much as shading it).

Great idea. :lol:

 

[NCPete]

Just a thought for the summer. We (a team I was on in the USAF while on active duty) built some portable 750 KW generator portable power plants by putting a diesel genset and the switchgear in shipping containers. We found that putting a camo net (relatively cheap at surplus houses) over it dropped the temp inside by about 15 degrees. (By "over it" I mean with the net suspended above, not on, the container top)

By getting it in the shade (however you do it) and letting air circulate over it, it will greatly reduce the heat build-up of the sun on the metal sides. (painting it white helps, but not as much as shading it).

Great idea. :lol:

How about painting the fly white???

 

[ozzymanii]

That's a good suggestion and I had already thought of it, just not implemented it. I'ts a very VERY big box, and that is a bit of an undertaking.

One thing that I had toyed with doing, and my still do, money permitting is purchasing another one and place it about 10-15 feet to the left of the first one. Then using prefab trusses put a simple tin roof over both of them. Then the area between both of them is "dry" outdoor storage of lumber, lawn mowers, etc. One becomes the wood shop, and the other storage.

I could even buy a shorter one and do this.

The possibilites abound.

James