Best method to cut openings in conex style container.

[Lilly001]

I have one of those metal shipping containers (40') that I want to cut openings for a door and window in the side of.
What is the best method?
I have a torch, a sawsall, and an angle grinder with cutoff wheels.
My son, who is a fair welder, will weld in the frame work, but he isn't available right now and I'd like to begin the prep work.

 

[Milkman]

Torch

 

[4HAND]

Just curious, what you gonna make out of it?

 

[Lilly001]

Just curious, what you gonna make out of it?

Utility/laundry/reloading/sewing room.
It's behind my cabin.
It was cheaper than adding a utility room.

 

[Lilly001]

It's about 15' from the cabin.
I plan to overroof it and extend the roof to the cabin over pavers.

 

[calibob1]

Lay it out where you can make a lap weld with angle iron for the sides and channel iron for the top

 

[4HAND]

That'll be cool.

 

[Lilly001]

Lay it out where you can make a lap weld with angle iron for the sides and channel iron for the top

I was thinking angle for all of it. What would be the advantage of channel on top?
It will be supported by the window or door frame also. And it's not load bearing.
Please educate me. I'm out of my element on this stuff.
Thanks.

 

[beretta]

Plasma cutter would be the way to go. Using a torch you will warp the metal. Sawzall and cut off wheels will work too, just REALLY noisy

 

[turkeykirk]

You could rent something like this at a local tool rental store. Would make quick work of cutting the opening.

 

[calibob1]

I was thinking angle for all of it. What would be the advantage of channel on top?
It will be supported by the window or door frame also. And it's not load bearing.
Please educate me. I'm out of my element on this stuff.
Thanks.

If it's like mine the walls are sorta corrugated and the channel will cover the corrugations

 

[Jim Baker]

Depending on the thickness of the material you can get toothed metal cutting blades for circular saw.

 

[greg_n_clayton]

Plasma cutter would be the way to go. Using a torch you will warp the metal. Sawzall and cut off wheels will work too, just REALLY noisy

Yep. The plasma cutin is the way to go !! Alot neater too compared to a cutting torch !

 

[j_seph]

Depending on the thickness of the material you can get toothed metal cutting blades for circular saw.

Tried this on some roofing tin with blade turned backward. It would work in a pinch but need good earplugs.

 

[Jim Baker]

Tried this on some roofing tin with blade turned backward. It would work in a pinch but need good earplugs.

They make a blade just for metal. I have used one cutting corregated roofing metal.
I could cut 3 sheets at a time.

The backwards blade will work on one sheet at a time.

If he knows someone with a plasma cutter, that would be the trick.

 

[Big7]

Utility/laundry/reloading/sewing room.
It's behind my cabin.
It was cheaper than adding a utility room.

I was just getting ready to start a thread on how to find and buy one. How much does one cost?

Back to your question. A good way to cut openings is with a touch. If you run 4-5 psi acetylene with 40 psi oxygen, you can make some really nice cuts. Another, probably faster way is to rent a small plasma. They are really easy to learn and make really nice cuts. You can make a door face with some 2X2X1/4 angle iron. It's easy to do and like I said, I'm looking for one too. Let me know if you find another one. Thanks!

 

[Lilly001]

Upstate containers out of Savanna is where I got mine.
2550.00 delivered.
They have gone up from my last one, but they are still the cheapest I found.
They can modify if you wish, but it's cheaper to due it yourself.

 

[Capt Quirk]

Utility/laundry/reloading/sewing room.
It's behind my cabin.
It was cheaper than adding a utility room.

If I might ask, where did you get it, and how much?

 

[Capt Quirk]

Oh, nevermind ?