Thread: Storage Container Machine Shop?

My only comment is we have a 40' at work used for storage, its got some good lighting and would make very usable work space, my biggest gripe is the things so damn long, given the choice i would personally have a couple of 20' with a nice door in-between side by side. Would make for a lot nicer space and being 2 rooms, help keep the mess more contained from things like the surface grinder + mill that launch chips every were! Condensation is not a major i, but it does get plenty warm in the summer + cool in the winter. Never been any signs of rodents though, no way to get in as the original doors are a damn good fit!

As is i currently work out of a single garage some 20'x8', bigger would be nice, but there's still enough room in there to make a comfortable living, just as sami says, work tidy and keep it organised.

FYI You can get side opening shipping containers.

SHIPPING CONTAINER 20 ft Side door SC4 :: £3750.00 :: 20ft to 30ft :: New :: CONTAINERS DIRECT

A mate built a very nice shop out of 3 side door 40 footers.

Originally Posted by rj newbould

You need to read more carefully, Gary. I referred to a reefer, not a container. You are aware that a reefer is a refrigerated trailer and licensed aren't you?

Trailer trash? That's kind of harsh isn't it? You consider that I'm trailer trash?

I have commercial property. I've had a reefer here and currently a 40' container, both of them legal and appropriate.

Ok, I missed the "reefer".... most posts in here refer to containers... and I looked at the map, and it seems your out in the country side and as you state in a "commercial" district.... I apoligise... but if that was a typical suburban area, many dont even allow a pickup to be parked in your own driveway... pickups with a biz name on them are verboten unless its the repair guy working on your home... Anyway, I again appoligise for the remark.

How do you or anyone actually WORK in one of those things without the A/C going full blast ??

Originally Posted by Gary E

Ok, I missed the "reefer".... most posts in here refer to containers... and I looked at the map, and it seems your out in the country side and as you state in a "commercial" district.... I apoligise... but if that was a typical suburban area, many dont even allow a pickup to be parked in your own driveway... pickups with a biz name on them are verboten unless its the repair guy working on your home... Anyway, I again appoligise for the remark.

How do you or anyone actually WORK in one of those things without the A/C going full blast ??

No problem.. If I was gonna use one as a shop, I'd have to insulate it. In a reefer, there's no problem. Mine used to be quite comfortable even on a summer or winter day. I miss it..

Originally Posted by demoj21

My bad i missed the loaded part to your reply. The one advantage i can see is no property taxs on a shipping container.There are guys around here who are using them for home shops and they work for them. I have one i use for storage and it is great for that but i think i would try to find a building to run out of if i was going to make a living with my shop.Later Jason.

They started taxing these around here not too long ago. They now even tax the steel canopy/carports.

They are now requiring a building permit here to park a container in an industrial yard.

Originally Posted by Pattnmaker

They are now requiring a building permit here to park a container in an industrial yard.

Give someone a little power and it's sure to be abused.

Trust me in the uk the number of days there too hot with the doors open you can afford to have those off, probably not as valid a approach in Florida. Equally leaving the door open and having a gator walk in would some what put you off the task at hand :-)

Would love a couple of side opening ones here, but no way can i do that in this location :-(

I was searching the net for the same thing, and found this guy in West Texas that had 30ac. and wanted a weekend place. He bought 4-40 footers and a backhoe. Over a summer of weekends he prepped the site and placed the containers one on top of the other about 40' apart. He put trusses over the span,roofed it with tin and a leanto on each side. He then made one contaier into living quarters. By this time he was getting a divorce and needed a place to live. It was a 20+ page story and very interesting how he got it done.

Rick

Saw the same thing done by the town of vallejo at the marina about 10 years ago. The took three 40's and made three walls, put trusses over top and left the one side open for equipment. Things ground to a halt - I think they started the project and only well into it realized that they too, needed to abide by building codes. Brilliant. I liked the idea and have considered doing a smaller version with 20's, albeit a bit more off the beaten path to avoid the building code issue.

Brent

Nice shot. What lens did you use?

That picture (in the original post) was pirated from the internet.