Container Weld Shop build -

[mark in portugal]

I recently bought a second 20' container for the wife to store her works in; since she's an artist and particular about things, hers got painted inside and outside.
I also laid aluminum skinned asphalt roofing felt on top.
I maintain some old barges, and I'm used to painting large objects; still painting a container is a big pita.
I used Jotun marine paint, which comes in big cans and is a bit cheaper than other metal paint; but it's a LOT of surface and a lot of paint.
The Jotun primer goes over everything; old metal, old paint, it's great stuff. I just clean it for a good long time with a big 8hp high pressure cleaner, then roll it on. It can be sprayed with an airless, but I don't have one of those.
The coregations have to be rolled 1 by 1. I used a big roller and cut it short so it would fit. I'm fast with a roller, but this job took a lot of time.

Conclusion; it looks great and all, but painting an old sea container is a job done for love, not practicality. We live in a 'nature' reserve and building any new permanent structures isn't allowed.

 

[Oldpath05]

"Do you have to do any paint touchups to prevent rust on the shipping containers that you buy?" <<<<<<<yes maybe, and gravel floors are optional! and yes I was bored this morning.

 

[BukitCase]

Got the rest of the pieces for the crane's corner braces cut out, and about half of 'em cleaned up; if I can still move manana, maybe I can get the OTHER half; then comes a bunch of holes (some too small for "maggie" - rats...)

Then it'll be time to figger out how to fixture things on the big weld table so they'll stay square.

Probly be a good plan to see if the HF crane ITSELF is close to square ...Steve

 

[Xfaxman]

Got the rest of the pieces for the crane's corner braces cut out, and about half of 'em cleaned up; if I can still move manana, maybe I can get the OTHER half; then comes a bunch of holes (some too small for "maggie" - rats...)
--------------------------------- ...Steve

I don't know how your mag drill holds drill bits. Can you remove the chuck from a hand drill and adapt it to the maggie?

I had a small drill chuck on a 3/8-24 thread bolt with the head cut off and used it in the 3 jaw lathe chuck.

 

[BukitCase]

As is my "usual", I've gone a bit overboard - here's my "drilling station", still a work in progress -

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-table-build-6.html?highlight=mag+drill+table

And I also bought these
Metabo 635 1/16-Inch-1/2-Inch Keyed Drill Chuck - Power Lathe Chucks - Amazon.com
G&J Hall Tools 18Y17 Powerbor Weldon Chuck Adaptor, 1/2"-2 UN Thread Fitting, 3/4" Arbor, For All Electromagnetic Drilling Systems: Drill Press Accessories: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

My Hougen mag drill (+ the "fabricator kit") came with a standard chuck, but you have to partially dis-assemble the drill to change to a regular chuck, which I'm not patient enough to wanna do for a few smaller holes - those two links make it so you just insert the regular chuck in place of an annular cutter, BUT (there's ALWAYS a "but"...)

Twist drills are all different lengths, depending on diameter, which "type" bits, etc, and even tho my mag drill has a fairly long stroke it's not enough to compensate for bits that might be anywhere from 2" up to 6" long.

So one of my "tuits" is to do yet another mod to my setup, but I haven't found a suitable "donor" bench model DP to accomplish that. (Setting the mag drill on a DP table mounted to my "drilling table" would give a LOT of vertical range, and STILL let me use the XY table for repetitive spaced holes)

That's the "short" version, now ya know why my friends all laugh when I claim NOT to have modified some new tool I bought :laughing: ... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Notta lotta progress last few days, life (and taxes) been gettin' in the way; I DID get most of the parts cleaned up, but not drilled



Also raised the HF crane up to the LOWEST setting it'll be able to use with the diagonal bracing bolted on (decided AGAINST any PERMANENT fastenings to the basic crane); as it is now, I'll have the option of removing all MY mods (including the bigger casters AND heavier I beam) and putting the crane back to factory stock, or just removing the diagonal braces if I need minimum headroom to put it somewhere ELSE - BTW, my "bucket case" in this instance is working well - keeps all the chains/hooks out of "headache range" when not in use, takes maybe 10 seconds to ready for use -



Picked up the conduit and fittings yesterday for getting power (120 AND 240 volt) and air to the weld shop container, will need to dig a small (6") ditch across the "alley" between shop and container, probably won't happen til the NEXT dry spell, 'sposed to get wet again starting tomorrow and I do NOT wanna end up with a clay mess across my access to the OTHER 40' container backed up to the weld shop one. Still needing to move more stuff OUT of places that're in my way and INTO containers, and that alley is the ONLY path during any but dry weather... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

"BTW, my "bucket case" in this instance is working well - keeps all the chains/hooks out of "headache range" when not in use, takes 20 minutes to ready for use"

I corrected your typo error. I keep my hoist chain at hands reach and oof to the side, no need of spending all that time looking for a ladder that I'll fall off from just to get the chain in the bucket 119-15/16 up in the air.:stirthepot:

 

[BukitCase]

Nope, 10 seconds is about right; what is NOT showing in those pics is another 6' (1.83 meters:=) piece of 1" (25.4mm :=) conduit leaned up against the side of the container; that one has a 5/16" (7.93mm) bolt thru one end, I just use that bolt to slip under the 5 gallon (18.92706L) bucket handle and lift up off the hoist, then lower to my hand (I can tell when it's low enough when the 1.83 meter conduit touches the (gravel) floor

('bout got the sides of that pot wore out yet??!? :laughing

Spent most of yesterday movin' "inventory" outa the wood shop and into one of the OTHER containers (no "horizontal rain" yet, that started this morning ) - each load gives me a little more room to stage the NEXT batch ready for the NEXT dry day. my "contingency plan" is that the 6'x8' (1828mm x 2438mm) brush bucket can be fully loaded or UN-loaded in either the wood shop OR a container, and be completely out of the weather (except for 2-3 minutes travel time between) - there's been a couple times that's come in handy (starts to rain just as I start to unload stuff I wanna keep dry; drive into container far enough to put bucket out of weather, flip mother nature the bird, unload brush bucket, mother nature takes offense, MISSES me with lightning bolt :thumbsup:..

Supper time, I might get a bit more done on the crane diagonal braces after; or not ... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

(''bout got the sides of that pot wore out yet??!?")<<<<<<<<<<Nope the pot is in great shape but my stirring stick is broken........ I'll have to get another one when I see some pictures of something that I can pick apart, like maybe when I see a picture of that so called conduit piece demonstrated that is really 184 meters long, AKA>>Bucket Getter, cant wait.

 

[BukitCase]

"maybe when I see a picture of that so called conduit piece demonstrated that is really 184 meters long, AKA>>Bucket Getter, cant wait."

Might HAFTA wait a bit; this morning BOTH toilets didn't wanna flush, even with a plumber's helper - first "honey bucket" outfit I called could get to it in about a WEEK - second one couldn't do it today, but can tomorrow morning :thumbsup: The gal told me they could dig it if I knew where it was (I do, to the nearest inch) BUT.... if it's more than a couple inches down they charge an aditional $80 an hour to dig it out

Sooo, 'bout 3 hours later (I already knew it wuz right at a FOOT deep, from the last time about 18 years ago) I had the lid clear of dirt (spelled "crappy clay mud" ) - last time I did this, I'd just replaced the teeth on the hoe bucket - and I had exact location from the time before THAT; so I put a small stake where I thought the lifting eye was, reached out with the hoe, slowly crowded in after I heard the scraping sound (bucket on concrete) - then leveled the bucket, slowly crowded a bit more, til it hesitated - then I extended the hoe bucket about 6" and raised it up - put that bucket full beside the area to dig up, and moved some dirt around with my hands - there wuz a scrape mark on the lid, right where the center tooth of the bucket had slid INTO the lifting ring :thumbsup:

Couple more buckets full and a little square point shovel work and it was done.

This time, I was REALLY glad I knew exactly where to dig - too many cylinders on the hoe that still need some cussing at, so it wuz pick and shovel time - gotta love clay soil when it's still just right to glue itself to whatever you're diggin' with

Anyway, it's all opened up and ready for the "honey bucketeers" - they'll be here manana in the AM. They offer an "old fart" discount AND a "military" discount, but I doubt they'll let me "stack" the two

Oh, and yes; it really WAS more fulla crap than I am (usually) - so hopefully manana we can get back to our "regular" programming ... Steve

 

[cmyoung2]

I marked mine with a big flat stone, flush with the ground and almost resting on the lid, mine is not deep. I can find it easy, don't think anyone has even noticed it in the yard,

 

[Oldpath05]

"The gal told me they could dig it if I knew where it was (I do, to the nearest inch)">>>>>>>>

Last fall I thought I knew where my tank was to the nearest 12" since it was only 9 years ago which I thought was 20 years ago till I accidentally found the 2008 receipt. I ended up being 8' off, I dug down with my FEL 2', wondering WHY in hades haven't I found it yet, walked back and forth, looked in the cellar where the pipe went out, twice, then I set over 8' and finally found it less than 12" down, an hour job took 4 hr. A guy at work after he got done laughing told me about the two piece string method, just have to remember where the the string is stored, the septic people came out the next day, around $175.00.

 

[BukitCase]

"told me about the two piece string method, just have to remember where the the string is stored"

I've tried things like that, either can't find the string or don't remember WHICH "really important" thing it was for

So in my case it's a good thing I've been working on/with computers since a hard drive was actually the size of your washing machine, and cost about $40,000 (and OK, I might be just a TEENSY bit OCD )



(just in case ya thought I wuz BS'ing about that 1 inch thang)... Steve (BTW, the cad file name is "septic-loc.gcd" :thumbsup: )

Oh, and YES I know the "cracker box palace" needs new siding; there's two full units of the stuff in one of the containers, looks like this summer might be a good time to think about that along with a new sliding glass door - that's the WEATHER side; the North side still looks new...

 

[BukitCase]

Well, it only took about 4 days of "general malingering" to recover from that little dab of actual work so I finally got around to doin' some more on the crane braces -
First "spreader" ready to tack - (I wanted a thicker web, didn't have that size, so "winged" it)



Various stages of the process -



On the left, next in line - on the right, done ready for drilling -



Next one in the vise, ready to smooth out -



Next couple of days I MIGHT get far enough along to get a couple pics so ANY of this makes SENSE ...Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

I'm all caught up with the shiny metal fabrication from the shiny metal fabricator SMF, ready for some more pictures when you get done doing some more>>>"general malingering"

 

[BukitCase]

My "general malingering" today involved some fence repair (dobermans tend to get sidetracked away from wantin' to chomp on trailer trash neighbors when they can get into the lower pastures and chase Bambi and Thumper) - also, put a couple tarps back where I wanted 'em, instead of where Ma Nature thought they should be - tried that yesterday, but turned out she wuz WATCHIN' me - old broad still has a sense of (perverse) humor...

Gonna shoot for a vague resemblance of some actual progress in a bit, keepin' fingers/eyes/toes crossed ...Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Got some more done on the HF crane mod today, these pieces will clamp crossways to the top flange of the bigger I beam - there will be another pair that're similar, that clamp across the INSIDE surface of the vertical posts - then each end will get 2 45 degree gussets (2" square tube" welded near the outer ends of the channel pieces, leaving a 10" wide gap BETWEEN the gussets so they don't restrict travel of the trolley/hoist -

In order that the braces can be removed or adjusted WITHOUT taking the legs clear off of the I beam (a royal PITA), the ones in the pics will get the angle tubes welded ONLY to those 4" square (BOLTED on) pieces of 1/4" flat bar - that way, the braces can get unbolted at those 4" square pieces, and that will leave everything ELSE on the INSIDE CORNER between post and beam so it can be adjusted OR removed.

I should get enough done in the next day or two so the pics will be self-explanatory... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Sort of a "sneak preview", I got just enough done to see where the previous parts will go;

Left and right ends, from below -



Top view, from above the I beam -



One of the post-mounted spreaders drilled -



One of the diagonal tube gussets ALMOST in place -



the post mounted spreader (channel) will get notched out so the 45 deg. angle end can sit flat inside the channel, then everything will get fiddled with til the gaps go away - then I'll tack everything (with all the spreader bolts tight), then take both braces down and weld 'em out using the "hopscotch" method combined with "kopius kwantitys of Klamps"...

But probably NOT today; still have the other post-mounted spreader to drill and chamfer, get all the spreaders square to their mounting locations (and aligned so everything fits), run a 240 extension cord out there, move the MM211 out there using "hand truck mode", wait for the dang wind to pause for a breath

Still, it was nice being able to get an idea of how it'll go - those gusset tubes will be 10" apart inside, and the biggest hoist I'll be using on this crane is 8" wide - this design lets me get a long enough gusset to really solidify the post mounts WITHOUT having to give up a couple feet of travel on each end of the beam... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Discovered there was no decent way to cut the slots in one side of the C channel "spreaders" that I need in order to get those 45 degree tubes to sit flat on the INSIDE of the channel (necessary so the FLAT side of the channel can rest against the upright posts on the HF crane) -

The mill is still the "interloper" in the WOOD shop (where the ONLY 240 volt power is ) so I re-arranged things (again) and set the mill up to cut those (45 degree bottom) slots with a 8mm, center-cut, solid carbide milling cutter - used my auxiliary angle table, set @ 45 degrees, bolted the channels thru their (already drilled for mounting) 2 holes, "eyeballed" to the edge of the mill table, locked down hard and "removed everything that did NOT look like a 45 degree slot" :laughing:

The setup -



Closer view -



Fit check (used a 45 degree cutoff, actual pieces are 30" long - dang, good thing I don't FEEL as old as my HANDS look )



Left the pieces down in the shop last nite, 100' walk in the rain and things rust too dang fast anyway - might get things at least partially tacked before I give up tonite... Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

Nice notch work!