Are you sure these steel tube pyramids are cheaper than cement? cant be quicker. Usually people on the east coast will get some soner tubes at the blue bucket store or make some cement forms out of wood then just fill with cement rocks and rebar, cement mixer optional.
Container Weld Shop build -
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BukitCase
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Terry, they would't be wrong; my wife says I have HAIR like a god(dang dog) 
"Are you sure these steel tube pyramids are cheaper than cement?"
Not cheaper, just less painful under the circumstances - first off, to support at least 6 tons per corner on my soil, it'll take 6 square feet per corner - that'd be almost a 3' diameter sonotube - second, without doing more excavating than my stuff is up to at the moment, each of the 6 support points is a DIFFERENT HEIGHT from the ground, so that'd make cutting sonotubes more interesting; Then there's the fact that I HATE doing concrete, period - and the ONE contractor that even bothered to call me back won't even LOOK at a job that's less than $5 grand.
Add to that the likelihood that I'll need to get the containers IN PLACE before the supports go in (or else the truck would have to run one tire over an 8" block of concrete while trying to place the containers with any accuracy...
If I were to use concrete, I wouldn't want less than 6" thick at any corner - that'd make the doors 3" higher than they'll be now, which would make for longer ramps to get heavy things in/out -
Given all the push/pull/drag/lift stuff I have available, the way I'm going actually seems the LEAST PAINFUL of 'em all, PLUS - if/when I'm able to afford the REST of this pipe dream, those PORTABLE supports can come out without a jackhammer if I decide to pour the big slab to INCLUDE where the containers sit - my container guy will move 'em both for a couple hundred $, so (when/if the time comes) I'm not ruling out just moving 'em aside, pouring the whole 48x60 slab and moving 'em back. (by then, I SHOULD have the tilt hydraulics on the Gannon scraper)
'Sides, it's a LOT more fun for me to weld stuff I can move WITH a crane or a loader instead of using my back :thumbsup:
That's my story; it might only make sense in MY world, but that's the one I'm LIVIN' in
Here's the pyramid parts, ready to weld and in the order they'll go - the front set will support the door ends of the containers - plus each stack will sit on (and be tacked to) a 27"x32" piece of 3/4" plate, which will give me the 6 tons of support at each corner I need (calculated for my soil type)
Oh, and I don't need yellowjackets to protect me from the aliens - they ARE the evil aliens ...Steve
"Are you sure these steel tube pyramids are cheaper than cement?"
Not cheaper, just less painful under the circumstances - first off, to support at least 6 tons per corner on my soil, it'll take 6 square feet per corner - that'd be almost a 3' diameter sonotube - second, without doing more excavating than my stuff is up to at the moment, each of the 6 support points is a DIFFERENT HEIGHT from the ground, so that'd make cutting sonotubes more interesting; Then there's the fact that I HATE doing concrete, period - and the ONE contractor that even bothered to call me back won't even LOOK at a job that's less than $5 grand.
Add to that the likelihood that I'll need to get the containers IN PLACE before the supports go in (or else the truck would have to run one tire over an 8" block of concrete while trying to place the containers with any accuracy...
If I were to use concrete, I wouldn't want less than 6" thick at any corner - that'd make the doors 3" higher than they'll be now, which would make for longer ramps to get heavy things in/out -
Given all the push/pull/drag/lift stuff I have available, the way I'm going actually seems the LEAST PAINFUL of 'em all, PLUS - if/when I'm able to afford the REST of this pipe dream, those PORTABLE supports can come out without a jackhammer if I decide to pour the big slab to INCLUDE where the containers sit - my container guy will move 'em both for a couple hundred $, so (when/if the time comes) I'm not ruling out just moving 'em aside, pouring the whole 48x60 slab and moving 'em back. (by then, I SHOULD have the tilt hydraulics on the Gannon scraper
)'Sides, it's a LOT more fun for me to weld stuff I can move WITH a crane or a loader instead of using my back :thumbsup:
That's my story; it might only make sense in MY world, but that's the one I'm LIVIN' in
Here's the pyramid parts, ready to weld and in the order they'll go - the front set will support the door ends of the containers - plus each stack will sit on (and be tacked to) a 27"x32" piece of 3/4" plate, which will give me the 6 tons of support at each corner I need (calculated for my soil type)
Oh, and I don't need yellowjackets to protect me from the aliens - they ARE the evil aliens
...Steve
Big Barn
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Dang. I was getting ready to float this section of sono tube down to you but it’s only 24”D. 
... left over from a project in the late 70’s. (No one can accuse ME of being a hoarder)
... left over from a project in the late 70’s. (No one can accuse ME of being a hoarder)
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BukitCase
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Jeez Terry; too bad that tube isn't 3' diameter, I could trade ya for the Craftsman commercial 12" table saw I bought in 1973 that's been moved twice and STILL hasn't been out of its original box (when I finally got a little more room I found a REAL Powermatic PM66 cabinet saw for not too much, so put THAT where the Craftsman woulda gone - the Craftsman's still (AFAIK) in its box in the back corner of the garage - at least that's where I THINK I put it when we moved here in 1978 :ashamed:
"Hoarder"? No way, I just believe in having "adequate inventory" - :laughing:
Got most of the welds done on one of the MIDDLE pyramids so far, I capped the joints between the 3 smaller tubes not for strength, but I don't want standing water if/when some rain gets blown in there -
- Still using my old standby, .035" L56 wire - 
it should be cool in a bit, then I'll grind those top welds down flush. Think I'll do all 6 of the pyramids before I cut/weld the 1/4 plate over all the holes.
Didn't get much (if any) movement with everything hard clamped to the 1" thick table; doubt if I'll EVER want a weld table any thinner than that... Steve
"Hoarder"? No way, I just believe in having "adequate inventory" - :laughing:
Got most of the welds done on one of the MIDDLE pyramids so far, I capped the joints between the 3 smaller tubes not for strength, but I don't want standing water if/when some rain gets blown in there -
- Still using my old standby, .035" L56 wire - it should be cool in a bit, then I'll grind those top welds down flush. Think I'll do all 6 of the pyramids before I cut/weld the 1/4 plate over all the holes.
Didn't get much (if any) movement with everything hard clamped to the 1" thick table; doubt if I'll EVER want a weld table any thinner than that... Steve
(''Sides, it's a LOT more fun for me to weld stuff I can move WITH a crane or a loader instead of using my back")<<<<<<<Must of suffered to many years from the addictive smell of welding smoke, turned into a welding smoke addict and your favorite flavor must be 70s blended slightly with the sweet aroma of 75/25, but if you feel the need for a more full robust flavor you can get from more smoke you can try some 7014 and or 7024 jet rod for an even more smoother faster flat rate need for speed. Careful with Big Barn I heard he's a hoarder.
Got my Tweco connectors today and what a coincident I got the right ones, I'll get them on this weekend, be good to have a little more reach around the shop.
Got my Tweco connectors today and what a coincident I got the right ones, I'll get them on this weekend, be good to have a little more reach around the shop.
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BukitCase
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Good call on the 7014, pretty sure I got quite a bit of that - this heavy walled tube has quite a curve on the corners, makes a pretty deep canyon to fill up. I bet one pass of 7014 and I could just run a couple light stringers with wire down the sides of the bead and be pretty close to flat :thumbsup:
Glad you got the right connectors, you're definitely gonna like havin' a longer leash. The way I set my leads up to mix-n-match, I can do anything from a 10' stinger and 90' of ground, to 50/50, to 90' of stinger (or any multiple of about 20' and a 10' ground. If I need more than that, I can move the welder itself - I built 3 different 240 volt extension cords, a 10', 25' and 85'. If I get any weaker I'll need a trailer to move that 85' one, might whip up a "hand-truckable" rack for one of the big wire spools I been maintaining in my "adequate inventory" stash (NOT a hoarder :ashamed and just keep that long/fat cord on that...
Well, done fer the night; dunno how much I'll get done this next week, couple days near 100, several in the 90's - 'nuther reason to break out the stick welder, wouldn't hafta shut off the 20" fan to weld ...Steve
Glad you got the right connectors, you're definitely gonna like havin' a longer leash. The way I set my leads up to mix-n-match, I can do anything from a 10' stinger and 90' of ground, to 50/50, to 90' of stinger (or any multiple of about 20' and a 10' ground. If I need more than that, I can move the welder itself - I built 3 different 240 volt extension cords, a 10', 25' and 85'. If I get any weaker I'll need a trailer to move that 85' one, might whip up a "hand-truckable" rack for one of the big wire spools I been maintaining in my "adequate inventory" stash (NOT a hoarder :ashamed
and just keep that long/fat cord on that...Well, done fer the night; dunno how much I'll get done this next week, couple days near 100, several in the 90's - 'nuther reason to break out the stick welder, wouldn't hafta shut off the 20" fan to weld
...SteveAnything going on this week, must still be to hot out there? We've had a couple hot days in the 90s here but also had some nice days 70s and 80s with low humidity, but not today or yesterday, but tomorrow and this coming weekend is sounding good again. I know when it's not much fun to work in my shop when I have to keep the fan on and the doors closed so's not let the heat in, and yes the wind is your friend when welding with stick......................
Big Barn
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My guess is Steve has got the project DONE and is too embarrassed to admit that the job wasn't nearly as time consuming and complicated as he first envisioned.
Either that or his extended naps started interfering with his crossword puzzle or crime show time.....
Either that or his extended naps started interfering with his crossword puzzle or crime show time.....
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BukitCase
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"must still be to hot out there?"
Last 3 days were 97,98,91 (today) - forecast is mid to upper 80's next 3, then high 90's again, 99 one of 'em - been gettin' an early start most days (I'm retired, so fer me that's about 9am) - then it gets too hot and the sweat gets my helmet fogged up about 12-1pm.
"his extended naps started interfering with his crossword puzzle or crime show time" - That's the one Terry, you should KNOW my projects are almost ALWAYS more complicated than they need to be :laughing:
So far I got about 70% of the tubes welded up (not including the "critter keeper-outers") - one of the "pyramids" is just two of the 3x8x 12" long tubes stacked; it seemed to me like it might be a little "squishy" with no smaller sized tubes bridging 'em, so I took a couple 4" cutoffs of the 2.5" tube, beveled one end a bit, ground a little groove down the middle (to clear the seam welds), and pressed 'em into the centers of those two 3x8 tubes with the hydraulic press - that should solve that "squishy center" thang :thumbsup:
Haven't been bothering with pics much, I'll try to get a few manana before I start - I actually fired up that Everlast Tig/stick welder for the first time since I bought it a couple YEARS ago (lightning quick compared to some table saws) -
I'd read the manual a couple times when I first got it, and found out my short-term memory's still reasonably OK; I actually was able to program it for a couple stick settings the first time I tried - it's this one
Power i-TIG 2T - TIG Welders | Everlast Generators
BTW, my "green machine" was a star before I ever got it; Mark used it for 3 utube vids, so I got a better deal on a Proven machine - works fer me -
Everlast Power i-TIG 2t Part 1: Introduction to the 2 amp DC Pulse Inverter Welder - YouTube
Everlast Power i-TIG 2t Part 2: TIG Welding Demonstration - YouTube
Everlast Power i TIG 2 Part 3: Stick Welding Demonstration - YouTube
Haven't dug around to see if I still have any 7014 left tho, so I just kept using the mm252 so far.
Need these supports DONE so I can get those 2 Hi-cubes moved and start transferring stuff from the "almost was" weld shop container into the "hopefully soon gonna be" one, so I can move more "not bad enough to throw away" household stuff into one of the standard height 40's before "mrs. Bukit" decides I've been spoofin' her about doin' HER part of this shuffle
Better hit the sack, alarm's goin' off in about 7 hours... Steve
Last 3 days were 97,98,91 (today) - forecast is mid to upper 80's next 3, then high 90's again, 99 one of 'em - been gettin' an early start most days (I'm retired, so fer me that's about 9am
) - then it gets too hot and the sweat gets my helmet fogged up about 12-1pm. "his extended naps started interfering with his crossword puzzle or crime show time" - That's the one Terry, you should KNOW my projects are almost ALWAYS more complicated than they need to be :laughing:
So far I got about 70% of the tubes welded up (not including the "critter keeper-outers") - one of the "pyramids" is just two of the 3x8x 12" long tubes stacked; it seemed to me like it might be a little "squishy" with no smaller sized tubes bridging 'em, so I took a couple 4" cutoffs of the 2.5" tube, beveled one end a bit, ground a little groove down the middle (to clear the seam welds), and pressed 'em into the centers of those two 3x8 tubes with the hydraulic press - that should solve that "squishy center" thang :thumbsup:
Haven't been bothering with pics much, I'll try to get a few manana before I start - I actually fired up that Everlast Tig/stick welder for the first time since I bought it a couple YEARS ago (lightning quick compared to some table saws
) - I'd read the manual a couple times when I first got it, and found out my short-term memory's still reasonably OK; I actually was able to program it for a couple stick settings the first time I tried - it's this one
Power i-TIG 2T - TIG Welders | Everlast Generators
BTW, my "green machine" was a star before I ever got it; Mark used it for 3 utube vids, so I got a better deal on a Proven machine - works fer me -
Everlast Power i-TIG 2t Part 1: Introduction to the 2 amp DC Pulse Inverter Welder - YouTube
Everlast Power i-TIG 2t Part 2: TIG Welding Demonstration - YouTube
Everlast Power i TIG 2 Part 3: Stick Welding Demonstration - YouTube
Haven't dug around to see if I still have any 7014 left tho, so I just kept using the mm252 so far.
Need these supports DONE so I can get those 2 Hi-cubes moved and start transferring stuff from the "almost was" weld shop container into the "hopefully soon gonna be" one, so I can move more "not bad enough to throw away" household stuff into one of the standard height 40's before "mrs. Bukit" decides I've been spoofin' her about doin' HER part of this shuffle
Better hit the sack, alarm's goin' off in about 7 hours... Steve
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BukitCase
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OK, as promised (or at least insinuated )
Just in case anybody thought I just grabbed a link and LIED about it :laughing:
I got that cart @ Amazon, turns out it was basically IDENTICAL to the HF cheapie, but with the added BONE-US of getting to pay about $15 MORE (yay) - crappy little 6" wheels, crappy little no-lock casters; both got replaced - 10" solid rubber wheels, 4" (sorta) locking casters. the hole for the rear axle seems to be made of tungsten carbide, wiped out 2 drill bits enlarging it to 5/8" - but it's a LOT smoother even on concrete...
Progress - (note the pressed-in 2.5" tube supports in the one that will NOT have cross-tubes to stiffen it)
- That last one weighs right at 99 pounds; That and the other two pyramids that have TWO stacked 3x8 tubes, will sit on one of these - 
- got 3 of 'em off CL last year for $60, finally found a use for 'em besides tryin' to get 'em NOT to drag the ground on my itty bitty 45 horse tractors
Here's the LAST stack of "glu-ables", they're now actually "glued" except for the second row of 2.5" tubes -
- After this I'll do some touch-ups on welds, grind the holes flat where necessary, cut some 1/4 plate, "de-critter-ize", etc...
Last one - here's my short(ish) term survival setup, actually makes it semi-comfy to be in those dark reddish brown containers clear to the back end when the sun's out -
- that roll-around rack was a GIFT from a buddy - frame is 2" .120 wall tube, 3/4" black iron pipes are 12" long, came from a parts house "purge" where a friend of his worked - that 3' fan sits on the top row with just over 1 INCH of clearance to the ceiling :thumbsup: - just did that this morning, REALLY helps the two smaller fans get the heat out.
Got a line on some "greenhouse kits" that include a shutter fan, louver inlets and controller - gonna order ONE of 'em to start, if it (and my skills) are up to the job I'll get 3 MORE for the other containers - then (hopefully) no more "morning and evening rounds" opening up, fans on, then reverse at night... Steve
)Just in case anybody thought I just grabbed a link and LIED about it :laughing:
I got that cart @ Amazon, turns out it was basically IDENTICAL to the HF cheapie, but with the added BONE-US of getting to pay about $15 MORE (yay) - crappy little 6" wheels, crappy little no-lock casters; both got replaced - 10" solid rubber wheels, 4" (sorta) locking casters. the hole for the rear axle seems to be made of tungsten carbide, wiped out 2 drill bits enlarging it to 5/8"
- but it's a LOT smoother even on concrete...Progress - (note the pressed-in 2.5" tube supports in the one that will NOT have cross-tubes to stiffen it)
- That last one weighs right at 99 pounds; That and the other two pyramids that have TWO stacked 3x8 tubes, will sit on one of these - - got 3 of 'em off CL last year for $60, finally found a use for 'em besides tryin' to get 'em NOT to drag the ground on my itty bitty 45 horse tractors Here's the LAST stack of "glu-ables", they're now actually "glued" except for the second row of 2.5" tubes -
- After this I'll do some touch-ups on welds, grind the holes flat where necessary, cut some 1/4 plate, "de-critter-ize", etc...Last one - here's my short(ish) term survival setup, actually makes it semi-comfy to be in those dark reddish brown containers clear to the back end when the sun's out -
- that roll-around rack was a GIFT from a buddy - frame is 2" .120 wall tube, 3/4" black iron pipes are 12" long, came from a parts house "purge" where a friend of his worked - that 3' fan sits on the top row with just over 1 INCH of clearance to the ceiling :thumbsup: - just did that this morning, REALLY helps the two smaller fans get the heat out. Got a line on some "greenhouse kits" that include a shutter fan, louver inlets and controller - gonna order ONE of 'em to start, if it (and my skills) are up to the job I'll get 3 MORE for the other containers - then (hopefully) no more "morning and evening rounds" opening up, fans on, then reverse at night... Steve
