Shipping container for some workshop equipment

[PutneyChapParticipant @putneychap]

Looking to get a 20 foot shipping container to store some workshop equipment and be used as a very ocasional workshop.  I am i sw london.  I am thinking other members may have thought of this as an option when they dont have space at home. I rent a garage at moment. Its damp and not secure.  Container would sort me out. Any thoughts ?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Following my relocation in mid 2022, I have been renting a container for ‘general storage’ whilst I am working on the property [so not exactly your scenario].

I have been very pleasantly surprised to find no problems with condensation or wild temperature variations, despite two winters, and some very hot days in Summer.

A good container seems like an admirable solution so far.

Provision of power and light will be a ‘challenge’ of course … but the only serious difficulty seems to be that when those big doors are open, you and the contents are at the mercy of the elements !

MichaelG.

[JAParticipant @ja]

Yes.

The Britsh Army used, or may be using, containers for mobile workshops. They have been known to come onto the market, with contents, through the normal MOD disposal agents.

The motorcycle club spares scheme used a container to store its new spares for quite a few years. Rust, or anything else, was never a problem.

JA

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Try Containers Direct for some ideas.

John

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I had a mate years ago whose workshop was a container and he never had any condensation problems

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

If you can get an old refrigerated container, it is insulated all round so makes a great workshop for hot or cold weather. Otherwise they are stinking hot in the summer and freezing cold in winter. Trade-off is you lose a few inches of internal space on each wall with the insulation thickness.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I used one of those containers as a workshop when I had to move house [not by choice ! ] and had no problem with it.

I was a bit like working in a submarine, everything HAD to be in the right place, but you get used to it, and it was dry, no rust problems.

I fitted a false wall, just inside the doors, so that I could fit a smaller door for going in and out, without having to use the main doors all the time, I just closed them over, unlocked.

Never had any real problem with it and I gifted it to the man whose space I used, for free, when I moved. Fitted with lights and sockets, it was as good as any workshop. Worth a punt !

He is still using it for storage of car parts.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I have a friend who just leaves his equipment outside and has never had a rust problem. Oh, did I mention that he lives in the Sahara Desert.

Why do we get this ‘I haven’t seen a problem’ and ‘make a big hole in the wall for ventilation’ rubbish every time someone askes about heating and insulation.
Actually even in the Sahara a container WILL experience condensation as the ceiling cools off by radiation at night. This is physics, and in the UK whenever a warm front comes through, like the last few days, condensation happens on the surfaces that were previously cooled off, or cool off overnight.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Hi PutneyChap,

I’m not convinced about “no condensation”, but as Bazyle says it’s physics.  However, I guess people speak as they find.

Hopper’s idea of a refrigerated container makes sense, although I wouldn’t think they’re the cheapest option.

If “two big doors” concerns you, it may be worth looking for shipping containers used for purposes other than shipping.  I’ve seen them with at least one single sliding door.  If I recall, they were for housing large portable generators.

[PutneyChapParticipant @putneychap]

Its not if a container will do the job its where can I put one. Sw london or further down the a3. Insulation will minimise condensation as does the container being well sealed and virtually air tight minimising replenishment of moist air. Did anyone have a contact who i could rent a space from

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Wonder how many ‘Site Huts’ and containers are available now that HS 2 has hit the skids?

Regards Ian.

[PutneyChapParticipant @putneychap]

Ha lots.  Not being advertised though

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I’ve seen a lot of the smaller size ones, used by contractors to keep all their gear in, while working on site. A workmate and myself, once had to make-up and fit a rain deflector for a side door that was cut into a very large one on a commercial site of several, this particular one was all lined out to make it a clean room and had controlled heating, and lights fitted, as it was for storing a lot of paper items that had to be keep totally dry. It wasn’t really a fun job to do, but somebody had to do it, and we were the unlucky pair.

Regards Nick.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

From direct experience over many years with ISO containers and more recently knowlege of how the military continer compatible units are built (can’t share details of those) I can say that condensation is an issue with them. If you get any moisture inside it can be very hard to get it out again. An uninsulated container will develop it’s own climate and you can literally get rain inside them from condensation on the inside of the roof. Even going inside with a wet coat can start problems. Insulation or / and lining will help a lot. A “sunshade” roof will also help. This is a flat roof above and slightly larger than the container. It is spaced off slightly pitched (side to side) and open all the way around. This keeps the sun off and hot air on the underside can escape. It also stops direct rain on the top of the container which causes sudden cooling. Also helps stop rusting

A ex military unit may be a good choice but they can be heavy. Ex MOD sales tend to be through Witham Specialist Vehicles or Ramco.
Containers are quite expensive and a bit of a commodity prices soar when the East-West shipping balance is slewed.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Well, shipping containers converted into workshops are a thing, including firms who will do the work for you.   Condensation is a red-herring – like any workshop, if one suffered condensation, the owner would have to sort it out by applying the usual remedies.

But that may not be what PutneyChap is after.  I guess his city home, perhaps a flat, doesn’t have room for a workshop of any kind.  He’s found an unsatisfactory lock-up garage, and wants better.   I empathise – my workshop is too small, with no obvious way of extending it apart from moving house.

Does anyone know of a company who has set up a container park providing power and basic services to customers who need temporary office space, or a workshop?   Bit like a storage facility but with better access and facilities.    I don’t know of any; round here, if people have a container, they also have land.

Downsizing the hobby might be the answer.  Clockmaking can be done in an ordinary room; it requires much less space than a general workshop, and is clean and low-noise.  Lots of fun and interest, but not the answer if one wants to make a traction engine!

Dave

[PutneyChapParticipant @putneychap]

Dave you have summed it up perfectly. Its the site or land to park a container that I lack doesnt need mains power the few machines in it i can power off either a genset or battery bank. Its hobby use and very occasional at that.  I do have a basement workshop so this is mostly storage and occasional tool use

 

adam

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The orginal question was regarding th suitablity of a containr as a workshop. Condensation IS a particular issue with uninsulated ISO containers.

The OP has now raised another issue. Using a storage unit  / container as a workshop is likely to be a breach of planning permission. I know the company that rents the container based storage I use prohibits using them as workspaces. They also prohibit storage of hazardous material which also precludes the storage or use of a generator. You cannot use a generator inside a container due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Running one outside is unlikely to be popular.
The level of enforcement of rules may vary.

Robert.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Years before I retired, we used several 40 foot containers for storage and as workshops.

They were lined with 12 mm ply, with a thick ply floor, which probably acted as insulation.  Never heard any complaints of rust, but there might well have been heaters used from time to time.

Dairly frequent opening of the doors would have satisfied any need for ventilation.

Howard

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