Credit where credit is due…
Posted by admin | Filed under Uncategorized
Hi, folks. I understand that this might be the wittiest architectue site you’ve seen, but please - if you’d like to reuse my content, please ask first and link back to my site. This is in reference to the following URL that was brought to my attention:
http://sites.google.com/site/isotecturism/
Which in addition to cribbing my ultra-cool name, (copyrighted and registered years ago) copy-pasted my content from my post “What is an Isotainer? Why Should I care?”, including the CSS.
I’m flattered, but really - stop it. This info is for you to use, but not to lift. Thanks!
EDIT: there is a credit on the site now, although two claims the author added to my paraphrased “Seismically Resistant’ section aren’t really accurate. One, containers are not hurricane proof. A shipping container, especially modified for use in housing, will fare no better underwater than other buildings. On point two, there is little data to show how a tornado would affect them. On the surface the claim isn’t likely too far off, but I’m more interested in evidenced facts.
If you’re interested in good, solid info on container housing, I suggest you stick with the original Isotecture.com © !
Please ignore the following link - it’s got nothing to do with Isotecture, and is only there so Google will index a test site. Thanks!
Playing with blocks
Posted by admin | Filed under Resources, Techniqes & Tools
For those who use SketchUp (and if you don’t you owe it to yourself to learn) I’ve made a series of building blocks that you can use to visualize different container arrangements. Sketchup is an incredible tool, bringing the world of 3-d modeling to the stupid masses (like me). If you can use MS paint, you can learn SketchUp.
I’ll be updating this post later with some other concepting ideas for the computer challenged.
How to look into a container without driving to the docks.
Posted by admin | Filed under Resources
So, you want to see what a container is built like, but you can’t afford to fill up your Heckimer Battle Jitney with enough gas to make it to the waterfront. How then, to see one?
Well, the answer is often (if you live in the US) as close as the closest Home Depot. Many of them have containers on display in the parking lots being advertised as “for rent”.
Another good source is large construction sites. Increasingly, these sites are using containers to protect valuable equipment and materials. Just make sure that if you take this route, that you stay safe and legal - no fence jumping endorsed by me here.
Guide to Selecting Plasma Cutters
Posted by admin | Filed under Techniqes & Tools
My good buddy Dave-ode sent me a link to Miller Welds. They have a wealth of great information on selecting a Plasma Cutter, which has become the de-facto replacement for older Oxy-Acetylene cutting and manual methods like saws and grinders.
Plasma, for the science challenged, is the fourth state of matter. It is a material that has been ionized and conducts electricity. It is, for instance, the predominant state of matter in a star. The more energy added to the plasma, the hotter it becomes.
Those who have seen Star Wars will get the applicability of the plasma state readily. Those who haven’t seen it might consider if they have been alive since 1977. Although called a “laser sword” in the script, the venerable lightsaber was essentially a really big plasma cutter. In the movie, it readily cut through….well, anything really.
Guess what? In real life, plasma does the same thing. It is so hot (20,000 degrees or more) that it will readily burn through metal, flesh, and bone. The first is applicable to us, the latter two are not recommended. A plasma cutter is an essential bit of kit for anyone building a container home. It produces precise cuts with limited heat-affection of surrounding metals, and looks cool to boot.
Textplanation:
http://millerwelds.com/education/articles/articles55.html
Great Videos:
http://millerwelds.com/education/video_library/
Intermodal Shipping Containers for use as Steel Buildings - Book Review
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I purchased this book from Paul Sawyer about a year ago, and figured that I’d give it a brief review.
It used to be available on eBay, however it no longer is since they disallowed downloadable sales. I have since located it here:
http://www.lulu.com/content/114565
Paul’s book is a good resource if you are looking for technical information about building structures with shipping containers. It covers many of the topics that are fairly unknown to the newcomer, and provides a decent overview on techniques that can be used to modify these containers. Unfortunately, I found that the focus was a bit too much on temporary or supplemental structures, like cabins, storage sheds, and the like. It doesn’t really discuss any techniques or specifics that might be used to construct something that you would like to live in full time.
My copy was delivered with some extra PDF’s that were the ISO spec documents that provided excellent engineering specifications, and a military guide for using the containers as improvised structures. These were very (and unexpectedly) useful.
What is an Isotainer? Why Should I care?
Posted by admin | Filed under Uncategorized
An Isotainer, AKA an ISO Container, AKA a shipping container, is one of those big metal boxes that you might see Danny Glover hiding behind on the set of Lethal Weapon, or as they stream past you on a train track in the morning, late for work and wondering if the “train excuse” will work yet again.
More usefully, isotainers are steel containers used to ship goods internationally. They come in several sizes, although the hands-down favorite is the 40′ Hi-top model, followed by the 20′. Several things make them ideal for re-purposing for housing:
- They are accurately sized, down to millimeter tolerances
- They are immensely strong, designed to withstand years of abuse while filled with thousands of pounds of cargo. They can, with sides intact, be stacked 9 high fully laden with a good safety factor - 10 can be achieved if you want to push it.
- They are seismically resistant as well. Everything in your container house might break during a quake, but the structure isn’t going to do much at all.
- They are weatherproof, designed to protect valuable equipment and goods like food and cars from weeks of seaborne and rail transit.
- They are easily modified. Want a window? Light up a plasma cutter and just cut a hole!
- They all have VERY solid subfloors, many made with Teak wood (which is actually becoming rare). Think about it - these things are made to hold cars aloft without damaging them. Nothing you can do will hurt them.
- Most important - they are cheap. In cities like LA, Seattle, Houston, and New York containers are stacked by the tens of thousands. It costs overseas companies more to ship them back to the originating country empty (because of the US trade imbalances) so they are just left to sit. A decent 40′ can be had for as little as $1500 in some areas.