DIY Cheap Equipment Storage Barn

[phantom309]

Howdy TBN'ers-

I've seen many threads here before on cheap ways to get tractors and other equipment out of the elements. Thought I'd throw in an article I wrote up for a welding list on a 1260 square foot barn that I just recently completed (pictured).

The barn uses home made metal trusses, which while time consuming to build, were lightweight (could be handled with limited equipment) and inexpensive.

The barn cost about $3,000. $2,000 of that was the tin to cover it.

I've more details on the construction of the barn, with pictures along the way at:

Best,

Mark

 

[nuvz]

Really neat project! Thing I liked best was the tractor scaffold. Think I may need one of them!

 

[pajoube]

Very impressive web sight. You really know what you are doing.
How did you attach the tin?
PJ

 

[phantom309]

Thanks PJ-

I used self-tapping sheet metal screws that I bought from the tin manufacturer (Mueller). There are two different types of screws - one for "lapping" two pieces of tin together and another for attaching the tin to the structure. Both are color matched to the tin and also have a little washer/grommet thingy on them to make them waterproof.

Related to that, a good drill driver or two is a must for this project. Between me and my various helpers, we drove close to 1500 screws to attach the tin. The drill drivers were GREAT for this part of the job!

RE the tractor platform - yeah, I sure liked having that on there. It measured 8x13 and was really handy! If I didn't have a canopy for my tractor (temporarily removed), I may have kept the platform on there (maybe with the lower section removed as it obstructed the forward view a little).

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark,

Great Job(s)! Great work!


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Now I want that welder more than ever!

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[em14]

Nice work ... How long have you been welding ... I also like your shop ... did you built that also? once again - nice work!
Leo

 

[gmason]

Mark, what kind of welder did you use? Stick, wire, or gas? Sure looks like it must have been pretty portable. What did you use to remove the oil/scale off the metal? wire brush?
Very nice project and website.

gary

 

[fishman]

That is some nice work, well-documented, and a neat web site to boot. Congratulations on a nice barn!

 

[phantom309]

Hi Gary-

In my "shop"/garage, where I have power, I used a MIG when it was still cool out. When it got hotter and I fired up the swamp cooler I had to use a Lincoln 220V stick welder because the cooler disturbed the gas shield of the MIG.

And out at "the site", where I had no power, I used a little portable Lincoln arc welder. It's a nice little unit. 4000W generator and 125A welder in one. Bought at Sam's years ago to build some pipe fence. It's visible in the picture of my wife raising a truss - sitting on a little trailer behind a riding lawn mower.

On the oil, I used diluted Simple Green and lots of blue paper shop towels and elbow grease. It was lots of work. The round stock had a little scale that I hit with a wire brush.

Mark

 

[njrqs]

Mark

You sure are one handy man with a welder.

And mate, that website is fantastic !!!

The barn step by step is great !!

If only some companies had sites that informative, the net would be a better place.

Keep up the good work.

And hey, fill in that profile so we can see a bit more about the handyman !!

Cheers