A New Shop in Louisiana

[ConductorX]

Finally some shop work to show. I have been wanting to build a furnace to melt aluminum. I decided to start with a charcoal furnace. Since I have never melted anything other than lead or pot metal this was a new experience for me.

I used a brake drum from a big truck and set it up on a 3" pipe sunk into the ground. Hopefully this will keep me from having to bend over the furnace. So many of these things I see sitting flat on the ground and the operator has to bend over it all day while working. I may be wrong of course.

My crucible is a cast iron pot I plan to use for casting ingots and first time melts.

I placed a grill in the bottom to allow charcoal to get under the crucible. It is 3/16" expanded metal.

I managed to make a very small pour on my first pass.

I know there is a lot missing, no lid, no insulation, it needs an air manifold in the bottom to better distribute the air and several other improvements are planned. It did work and I managed to melt quite a charge of metal and only pour a small amount.

"G"

 

[ConductorX]

This past weekend I started the conduit run to get power to my shop. I bought the material:

I started the trenching for the conduit. 2.5" rated for a 200 amp service

The trench got stuck in the mud pretty quick so I had to drag it with a "Come Along".

I used my truck as the anchor to pull from.

I am finished at the pole, Entergy the power company will pull the wire and complete the hook up.

At the shop I have to mount the meter pan and a disconnect box.

"G"

 

[kevin45]

Conductor.....Have you gave any thought to roofing the shipping containers? If possible, level both of them up and square them to each other, add some trusses over both, then concrete in between, and close the area in between the two containers. If you have a way of moving them around, put about 10' between both of them, then cut a door into the side of each to be able to go from one to the other. If they were more readily available around here and have a decent price tag on them, I'd have a few and have everything enclosed.

 

[ConductorX]

Kevin,

That is a future plan. My 20 x 20 garage will be insulated and air conditioned for machining work and power tools. The containers will be moved around and situated as additional work space and perhaps even a third or fourth container added as needed.

Thanks for the post,
"G"

 

[EnduroRdr]

5K - I assume that is the price for the building assembled (not including the slab)? I am north of Baton Rouge so I will be interested in the company you purchased from and the details - once you get comfortable with endorsing.

 

[ConductorX]

The slab is extra. My slab is 20 x 20. The website gives dimensions of the building as 21 x 21, they are counting the over hang of the roof.

The building has been up for a year. My only complaint is the roof panels run side to side instead of up and down. Leaves and debris collects on the edges. That will be cured once I get rid of the trees. I am happy with the building over all for the price I paid it is fast and cheap. I think once I insulate the building and put up all of the interior plywood it will feel more substantial.

Would a regular commercial steel building be better? Of course. You can find them on the web site Carolina Car Ports.. the web site can direct you to a local dealer. I am not getting anything for endorsing them, I am really happy with my building.

"G"

 

[EnduroRdr]

I know them - I purchased one of the popular 20x20 car ports from Carolina Car Ports in 2003 - paid an additional 100 bucks to get 1 foot taller frame, a year later I purchased some color matched panels from metal depot in Albany to close in the sides all the way to the ground and the back wall basically leaving the front open to house my tractor.
I too was happy with the product for the price. And the roof panels on carport also ran side to side and hold debris.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[ConductorX]

At last. I think running the ditch witch gave me a detached retina. Now that I am all healed up back to work. I hired a crew to come out and pour some more concrete for the shop. I added a sidewalk, a slab for the air compressor and another 20 x 20 slab in front for a driveway.

Sidewalk Forms

Compressor Skid

Driveway

Of course in Louisiana it rained right after the concrete was poured so the finish is rougher than I like.

Sidewalk

Driveway

Thanks for looking
"G"