Scott Schnell

[Scott Schnell]

Hello all I live in Point Arena, CA, my first experience on a wood lathe was standing on a milk crate at the age of 5 years old with my father behind me guiding me as we made spindles for a bed he was building. I’m 67 years old now and just was able to get a small shop setup in a 40’ shipping container, all my tool have been stored it for the past 7 years. I have a Nova Comet mini lathe presently but I’m in the market for a much bigger machine.

 

[Chris Fairbanks]

Welcome to the forums Scott! Looking forward to seeing whats on your lathe.

 

[John K Jordan]

and just was able to get a small shop setup in a 40’ shipping container

Congratulations on getting set up! Have photos? Might inspire someone.

Those containers are great! (If you have space) I have a couple here on the farm, one I use for hay storage. I can usually fit about 250 bales stacked 6 high with a few inches of ventilation space around the stacks, enough hay for the winter for the horses and llamas.


I added vents to avoid moisture buildup which can ruin hay.


The floors on these are so strong, strong enough to drive a heavy fork lift inside. I load up 12 bales of hay at a time on a pallet and drive with forks on my tractor to the far end to unload and stack. Been using this for over 20 years now, 25 years for the other one, both still in perfect condition. An occasional pressure washing does wonders but this one is a long way from a water source. I can see this was painted to cover the original name on the side: Datsun!

I level the ground, put down and compact a thick layer of gravel, and set the containers on four pressure-treated 6x6 beams.
Both of mine are made from aluminum.

One caution: if the container is made from steel or has a steel top: If set where leaves can fall on the top, be sure to remove them regularly to keep wet leaves from causing rust! A local container sales guy warned me about that I bought aluminum.
I know a couple of people who had steel containers. One friend had one under trees and never cleaned the leaves off the top and didn't look in it for years. The "roof" had rusted through in places, letting water in and ruining everything stored inside. I've seen people put slanted or gabled roofs on top, made from wood and covered with galvanized metal roofing.

I also saw a pair of containers once set with a space between them big enough to drive/park a vehicle. The person used trusses to put a roof over both with some overhang, cut doors and windows in the sides.
I've read of people burying most of the container in the side of a hill to for natural temperature control. I have no idea how they protected it from contact with dirt and prevent rust... (and what they do for ventilation.)

The guys who deliver and set theses are good! I offered one a tip if he could set in within an inch of the 4 corners I marked with flags. No problem for him!

JKJ

 

[Gregory Hickman]

Welcome aboard. Hope you get a lot of of the group, it's a great collection of knowledge, artistry and people.

Gregory

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Welcome to the forum. By the way we like pictures