I repurpose and install a used blower fan motor and housing out of an old air handler. Work and use at your own risk. Very heavy duty exhaust fan! Super Duty exhaust fan.
Actually the best thing is to keep the direct sunlight off the container. Easily done. Glue wood slats/batons with shade cloth tacked to the slats to cover the walls that get the sun. And roofing iron separated from the top of the container using wood also. Its not expensive to do. You will be surprised how much shade cloth will inhibit the sun from heating those walls. And just to say you need something like rubber gasket to muffle that fan drone between the metal.
Neat idea for a tool shed or short term work space. I would cut out and install foam to seal the blower along the corrugation. I know you're getting a ton of advice from us "experts" but great job and thanks for taking the trouble to post this.
Good morning, I know you’re getting suggestions and advice on this project, ... but I’m thankful you made this video!!! I’m sure many people are using these conex containers for storage and while rodent and weather resistant, ... they were not designed for the humidity issues some parts of the country deal with. I don’t have the electrical access at the moment, ... so I’m going to try some sort of solar powered system and mount it on the end wall to create a tunnel draft effect. Then as one of the commenters suggested. ... cut a whole in the door for a air intake. Thanks again for the video and wishing you all the best!!! Art
great video! gets me excited to get mine! (still saving up for a 40ft) at the end when you showed the other container i thought you painted it! also PLEEEASEEE make an update video once your Wife gets everything setup in there!!!!
40s are the best deal for space, but I strongly suggest getting the 9'6" High Cube style for much more cubic footage, ventilation and room for shelves etc. Three of my four containers are High Cubes. Also study container grades! Cheap isn't always good. Cargo ready or better is best. WWT can be beat to shit so I recommend you visit the seller's storage yard if possible and chose a container. My local supplier will sandblast and paint for an extra 300 bucks with is dirt cheap and a far better deal than doing it yourself.
The things I would do are 1. to add a raised double roof at least one foot over the top of the container. This raised roof would absorb the heat and less than calf would get to the container since the breeze would carry the hot air away from it. 2. Add the means to keep not just rodents but mosquitoes out. 3. Like others have mentioned insulation, can't work in one of these without it.
If you store flammable gas or liquid in shipping containers, do NOT use electric fans to vent it! Sparks from the fan motor or electrics can ignite the gas.
Cost depends on location, I get good used 40 ft. containers delivered for $2800, one trips for $5200, I have 4 40 footers and a 20 foot for my man cave......love em!!
Where's your air intake though? Can't leave the door open all the time, you should cut a grate or something on the opposite corner to allow fresh air to enter
If you really want to cool and save $ install a long 6" pipe under ground 20' long come up to container and it will be cool air. All you would need is a small fan for exhaust to 'move the air'... "EarthShip" technology
FireOrWater1 ... 6ft underground would give up 50 to 60 degree air but lots of humidity. There are numerous skeems to get natural ventilation drawing in cool too but I'm thinking mini split.
glad i found your channel! we recently bought property in florida and want to get a 20' container on our property but are worried about how wed keep it cooler in the summer months
You might be interested in an insulated refrigerated shipping container. I have a couple of them and they really hold in the heat or the cool. Engineer 775 has a direct drive solar set up for out buildings or shipping containers. Check him out.
I put a similar 6" x 6" blower in my shop roof with a tumble-drier vent outlet with flaps to keep the bugs out. The roof-void got hot, the plastic flaps went curly, the blue-tits nested there in spring. Plastic flaps replaced with new ones cut from empty Budweiser cans.
I would think that installing a window AC would be about the same amount of effort in a shipping container as you spent installing the fan. But without some insulation, that's going to be more difficult to cool. Time to plant some trees and get that thing in the shade. :)
Hi Grumpy, I'm guessing that right now he doesn't have enough amperage to support an a/c unit. He mentioned to having the capacity to run his plasma cutter. Interesting to see how the final product evolves.
If you insulate it and reduce the heat input by putting it in the shade, an 8000 BTU unit should work. You don't need a very high amperage outlet for it. Maybe plant some kudzu around it and let it form a green barrier to the sun?
Shipping containers are great for anything I was going to get one and turn it into a storm shelter I wish I had it now since they're forecasting the eye of Irma to come right over Land O Lakes
Nice boiler. May I suggest, jack it up about a foot, lay coarse gravel at both ends, place 6x6, or 8x8 pressure treated timber at each end, unjack on to the timbers. Air conditioner??? You gonna need a big one I think.
Small units work fine. My bro has one in his High Cube machine shop and no problems even in horrible SC humidity. I'll eventually install mine but my machine shop/welding shop setup has multiple fans to forcefully move air so no immediate need.
Try to score a Cordless grinder and use cut off wheels. Way easier and faster and safer. I prefer Ridgid because they have Lifetime battery replacement and lifetime guarantee on the tools to non commercial users.
Corded grinders run much longer for that use. My go-to is a SIX (not nine, not 4 1/2) corded Metabo with thin kerf cutting discs. The cordless Dewalt 60 volt looks decent but it's still mostly for cutoff work.
Great idea for cooling down container. I'm getting ready to do the same. One other question, I've got to move a few containers on my ranch and saw your bogey trailer videos, my question is, was it 96"wide x 120" long or was it longer? Also how did the move go, that is one stout trailer. Thank You and keep up the great Videos.
Plasma works great, but so do thin kerf cutting discs, recip saws etc. With ear plugs the noise is irrelevant. If too far from shore power a 00 tip on an acetylene torch works nicely too.
Hello, Homestead Prepper! Is there any reason you chose to install the blower fan in the side, rather than at the end of the container? Just a preference to the direction it blows out!? Thanks!
I found a small blower fan at a yard sale that wound not turn. I pulled it apart and re-shimmed the bearings and shaft and still have it. I use it for everything. Venting, camping, construction. Now in California, if I go into an HVAC supplier, they kick me out because I am not licensed. I am a nurse and don't care about that stuff. I just want another fan.
The next time you see a HVAC truck, just ask the crew if they will give you an old one. I know some installers that are very motivated by a case of beer! Also, sometimes a/c companies scrap old air handles, it never hurts to ask.
Hopefully the noise is tolerable when inside the container. I guess if you weren't going to install A/C you could have tried running a duct channel away from the container to move the air but with no noise because the blower would be away from the container.
The noise is not that really disturbing for me or my wife because, we did not have a/c back in the day and are used to fans. That is a good idea about relocating the blower for the noise sensitive.
But do NOT use elastomeric roof coating unless you want moisture underneath. I found that out the hard way, then used industrial coating designed to resist "ponding". Check out contractor (not DIY) forums for why competent. roof contractors scorn cheap coatings.
I was told that you want to only open the hole about 50%. Wide open hole will run the fan too fast at 100% and cause it overheat and burn up the bearings. Any comments welcome. thanks greg
This is a blower fan out of a residential air handler that has run literally for 1000's of hours and it will continue to run for sometime. These fans are commonly used free standing as blowers in shops with no restrictor plates used and they perform for long periods of time. If the 10-20 year old motor does indeed blow up it can easily and cheaply be replaced.
Thanks for this video I'll subscribe. Why didn't you mount the exhaust fan outside (if the container won't be moved)? How did the summer go? I was going to say if it's in direct Florida sun A/C isn't going to work. Not to criticize I read all the comments before posting. Thanks again.
The fan was not mounted outside because It would have had to be encased in something to protect it from the rain. It was easier just to mount it as shown. Air conditioning will work in direct sun if it is large enough to over come heat loads. A Manual J calculation could tell us what size air conditoner to use.
When you repurpose a shipping container it's very important that you epoxy the floor the reason for that is because there's insecticide in the wood on the floor and the only way to do that and make it not harmful is to epoxy the floor
Jr Gt I agree man. I'm just saying a bunch of people seem to be over concerned about off gassing or pesticides etc. I've moved a lot of containers and spent maybe too much time inside also. It is easier to epoxy the floor than demo it out but imho if it's not going to be an iron igloo(? lol) insulation on the roof and walls are better. Those things are made in China and India so YMMV. Cheers
RM Barnes you just answered your own question you stated that this item comes from China or India like I said I wouldn't allow my family to be using one of these containers with out as being encapsulate. The chemicals that they use are extremely toxic and can cause all kinds of illness. I wouldn't allow my children to play with a loaded gun so why would I allow my children to be using a container that has insecticide on the floor? For me it's easy
IF you don't restrict the air flow on the intake side of the fan the motor will run too fast get hot and not last long . Restrict half of the hole on 1 side should do the job . Squrille cage fans are not made to run while not inside a furnace box . Thank You.
Container suppliers nationwide advertise on Craigslist. Get more than one quote and know your container GRADES beforehand. A few hours of study pays off.
They work but I strongly suggest bolts and flat washers sealed with 3M 5200 for longest life if it rains in your location. Stainless hardware is dirt cheap by the bag via Ebay for the same parts you'd overpay for locally.
The noise is really not that bad. It sounds worse on camera than in person. The blower that is installed in my other container is very quiet but, it does not move the air that this one does. Foam or air filters probably would tone it down a little.
For a few extra bucks i think you should of gotten a 40 ft, you know how we like to collect things some times, the job was very well done, fantastic, if we get one i might call you ??? advise from some one that has done things like this project is always helpful right??? take care god bless,,,, great video,,,::)))))
I am trying to learn as much as I can, I placed 20 foot side doors at end, and two 40 foot containers parallel to make an alcove to park in between with some wind protection, northern Illinois, would like a roof someday, but might need a permit for that...
Glad the comment section is open so I can nitpick everything apart how I would do it different so I can feel like a hero inside my own head. Umm, nice job.
Recip saws don't pierce container walls well because the blade deflects easily. Once you slice with a cutting disk then you can poke the blade through (SHORT blades preferred for stiffness/less whip) to finish the cut. Been there, done that.
menards had rebate on new rustoleum turbo spray cans, twice as big as usual cans, so cool, I bought 6 to try and in 15 minutes i had a first coat in almost the entire 40 feet of one of my containers.....it has a wide spray focus....
Do ot know what section of planet you are at but. Homedepot sold a floor water proofing called Mapelastic 315 made by Mapei. it is a two part system one bag of powder and a jug of liquid. You will need to mix it abit wetter than the instructions say for over the wood flooring in container. You trowel it on with a 1/8 notch trowel then immediately turn trowel over and trowel it with flat side knocking off ridges.( trade secret there duke) That will eliminate any chemical issues. You can walk on it within 15 min so if u paint yourself into corner you are good to go. any type of floor covering you want to install next goes right over top. Tile will take chunks out of plywood if you change flooring later. just scrape off any ridges before gluing vinyl down to it. Also will work for small roof leak if need be just remove rust first. There is hundreds of houses around Kissime Florida with this for underlayment under the tile. And that is a fact, I know of personally.
I live in two cities. I have some land. I want to get two 40 ft and make a small home. But I want installation and plumbing and air. Will this be affordable. I will be hiring a contractor to do the work. I just don't want it to be too hot
Just a suggestion but, I would look into getting some refrigerated containers. The insulation on them is very good. You could probably install a "hang on" a/c unit yourself. If the container comes with a reefer unit you could sell it and put it towards the remodeling. I bought some 40 ft refrigerated containers a couple of years ago for $ 1,375 each. Find a good plumber with good recommendations and you will be $$ ahead.
What you are getting is a box. Making it into a home is not cheap. If you are on a tight budget, get a structurally sound, but ratty mobile home: It already has windows, doors, plumbing, wiring. A couple decades ago, I was at an auction for RV's. The going rate was $100/foot. Trailer type RV. 26 foot trailer is much more livable than a shipping container, and it has a lot of optimizations for living in small spaces.
Thanks. The shipping container is not what I want. I was trying to build a luxury home for less. It's too much trouble. With shipping of the containers. Because I will need about 15 high cube containers and the codes where I'm located. Plus I'm in the hot south. So I've decided to go with a custom home it's going to cost me a lot of money. That's what I was trying to avoid. Now I'm doing research on custom 1 floor homes with courtyard in the middle
My point was that a well used mobile home is cheaper than a shipping container to make livable, on a per each basis, and about 1/4 the cost on a square foot basis. I'm not convinced that shipping containers make for cheaper construction for anything. Sure the box is cheap. A shipping container is about the same price as a shed of the same area. But you still have to insulate, wire, plumb, insert windows, doors. And you have the issue that you have a vapour proof barrier on the outside of your building, which makes for condensation and mold issues. The 8 foot width is awkward. Yes you can join them side by side, take out the wall between. Now you have a flat roof with a crack running down the middle. What can possibly go wrong? A trailer now comes in widths up to 16 feet, and lengths up to 70 feet. Roughly 1000 sq. ft. Even that width is narrow. (I lived in one for 3 years) Double wides can be put on a standard foundation. Basement too if you wish (and in a southern climate, having a cool basement to retreat to in August is a blessing) As the size gets larger, they avoid the 'T' word. They are modular homes. Here, the build quality is better for a modular home than for a site built one. You can get them with multiple stories, dormer windows etc. They bring 4 or more modules, lift them into place with a crane, seal up the joints, and insert the missing bits of siding. Usually at about 2/3 of the price of the same stick built house.
American wiring standards scare the hell out of me. You just bolted all your switches and outlets straight onto the container side. If you EVER get a wiring fault, your whole container will be live.. scary shit!
You obviously don't know too much about how we ground things do you? If ever there is a short, the fault current will go to ground not the metal enclosure. All circuits are GFIC protected as well.
Oh OK. Very different to Australian wiring standards that's all. Our standards would dictate double insulation wiring running in PVC conduit and a separate plastic fuse box with a mandatory RCD detector. (I think he has that and you call them GFIC or something.). I haven't seen metal conduit or metal fitting in about 40years. Everything we use is plastic so the fittings can never becomes a conductor.
