Five Must Have Tools For A Container Home Building Project

5 Must Have Tools When Building A Shipping Container Home Blog Cover

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Updated On: February 5, 2024

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Table of Contents

There are a few unique characteristics to shipping container home construction when compared to more traditional construction techniques.

One area where this is most apparent is the distinctive set of tools required to modify them.  We receive a lot of questions about which tools, both power and hand operated, are needed when building your own shipping container home or building.  When it comes to selecting your tools, making the right choice is as important as selecting the correct shipping containers.  Without the right tool, you will end up wasting time and money and result in an inferior product.

The five tools discussed below are specifically applicable for shipping container homes. We aren’t discussing generic tools (such as handsaws and drills) in this article as there is already a wealth of information published online about such tools.

Tool 1: Welder

Welding Shipping ContainerAt the heart of every shipping container build is a trusty welder.

You will use a welder at several key stages of the build:

  • To weld the containers to your foundation pads
  • To weld your shipping containers together
  • To weld your window and door frames into place
  • To weld any structural supports in place

Among enthusiasts, there is a lot of discussion around the best types of welders to use for container home construction.  Below is a description of the most common options:

  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
    • Stick Welder – Uses consumable electrodes
    • Wire-feed Welder – Uses a spool of flux-core wire serving as a continuous electrode
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
    • Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welder – Uses a spool of wire as a continuous electrode along with externally supplied shielding gas
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
    • Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welder – Uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode, an externally supplied shielding gas, and a consumable filler rod

In practical terms what does it matter?

A stick welder is fairly simple and but requires frequent replacement of electrodes that may prove tiring if you have a lot of welds to make.  However, it’s great for thicker welds and on metal that is not as clean.  Beginners often have trouble and get frustrated with the electrode “sticking” to the workpiece, so you may need some practice!

MIG and wire-feed welders are fast and easy to use, but sometimes produce splatter metal that you have to grind off to get a smooth finish near the weld.  They do much better when the welded area is clear of paint, dirt, and other debris.  Unless you get a very expensive machine, they have trouble welding thicker metal.

A TIG welder is most difficult to use but typically creates the best welds.  It requires using both hands and one foot at the same time, so if you already play a drum set, you may be a step ahead with your hand-eye coordination!  A TIG welder also needs good, clean metal to make good welds.

For most DIYers, a MIG welder is the best choice.

If you’re looking for a 110 volt MIG welder, this Hobart model is a great choice:

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Note that 110 volt welders typically have trouble welding metal more than 3/16 inch thick.  If you have access to 220 volt electric service, a 220 volt welder is recommended.  Or, you can get a MIG welder that is dual voltage and handles both, like this one:

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If you’re thinking of welding thicker metal (such as the corner castings on your container) and want good weld penetration without spending a fortune on a high-end MIG machine, a stick welder such as this one is a great choice.

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If you’re planning to hire a contractor to do the welding, it doesn’t really matter what type of welder they use.  Just be clear about your expectations for surface finish post-weld and the amount of welding you’ll need, and they can select the most appropriate equipment.

Tool 2: Spray Foam Insulation Kit

Spray Foam Insulation Shipping ContainerThe type of insulation you are using will drive the decision of whether or not you need to consider a spray foam insulation kit. In most cases, we recommend spray foam insulation for a container build, but you still need to decide if you want a contractor or DIY solution.

If you’re planning for a small home or cabin with one container, the DIY solution may be plausible.

You can purchase pre-mixed solutions which come in cylinders ready to spray.  These kits normally include everything you need to install your insulation, including spray nozzles, hose, and cylinders of foam creating chemicals.

Here’s one of the best-rated kits, and depending on your design such as the number of doors/windows, this might be enough to insulate a single 40 f00t container.

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Still, it’s best to call around to local contractors and get an estimate, then compare that to what the DIY option would cost.  The more insulating you have to do (and thus the more containers that your project has), the less economical the DIY option becomes compared to hiring a professional.

Tool 3: Metal Cutting Tool

One of the most common tools you will use throughout your build is something to cut metal. You will need this to cut the openings for your doors and windows and also to remove any container walls which aren’t needed.

As for which type of tool to use, you have a few main choices: an angle grinder, cutting torch, reciprocating saw, circular saw, or a plasma cutter.

If you’re looking for the cheapest and most DIY-friendly, the angle grinder is the most popular choice. It’s simple to use and replacement cutting discs are available for only a couple of dollars. Even if you have no previous experience, you can get up to speed with it very quickly.

Grinding Shipping Container Door

Note that the tool can be somewhat heavy and generates a lot of gyroscopic force, which will quickly wear out your forearms if you have a lot of cutting to do.  It’s also very loud and generates a lot of sparks, so ear and eye protection are a must.

A high amperage grinder such as this DeWalt model has the power to cut through container walls with ease.

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Note the cutting discs are much thinner than grinding discs, so ensure you have the right type installed!

Even better, try out these diamond-impregnated steel cutting discs, which will last much longer than the traditional discs and save you from changing out discs as often.  Some owners have talked about using up well over 100 traditional cuttings disks on a single build with multiple containers, so a longer-lasting blade like this could be a life-saver!

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Of course, angle grinders aren’t the only option. If you already have the equipment, a cutting torch or even a plasma cutting can cut through the toughest steel. However, they have drawbacks of their own, including price and cut quality.

An increasingly popular option is using a saw to cut through your container. Thanks to newer technology with superhard cutting edges, saws are able to eat through the corrugated metal of a cargo box pretty easily. And they give you a high-quality cut without all the heat and sparks as well.

To learn more about all the options, consider checking out our article dedicated to cutting a shipping container. We got over all the tool options, as well as useful safety, measuring, and setup information to ensure you have a successful cutting experience.

Tool 4: Drawing Software

One of our favorite tools isn’t actually a physical tool at all.

It’s a drawing program called ‘SketchUp’ which lets us design and model different ideas for shipping container homes.

While you don’t need a piece of computer software to draw and design your container home, we find it much easier.

SketchUp is available for free for home use as a program that runs in your web browser.  You’ll need a pretty fast computer or you might get frustrated with the speed of the program.

It’s available here: https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-free

Alternatively, older versions of SketchUp that run natively on your computer and don’t require a web browser are available here (2014 Make version): https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-make-2014-download-links-provided-here/11472

And here (Version 8): http://www.oldversion.com/windows/google-sketchup/

If you don’t want to use SketchUp, there are plenty of other programs out there for free, with differing levels of user-friendliness. You can also get design apps for your iPad or Android tablet as well.

However, if you don’t want to use a computer you can always just do it the old-fashioned way and get out a piece of paper and start sketching.

Once you’ve finished drawing you can then scan them and store them on your computer to keep them safe and share.Planning Container Home

Tool 5: Crane/Lifting Equipment

When your shipping containers are delivered to your land, you will likely need something to lift and place the containers on your foundation, depending on how you’ve designed your build.

You have several options depending on the foundation type you’re using and the access to your land.

If you’re using a slab foundation, and there is good access to your site, when the containers are being delivered you can ask the driver to back right up to the foundation slab and simply slide them right off.

However, in many cases, you’ll need to have a machine physically lift your container and place it.

Options for this are plentiful and include cranes, forklifts, and other options.  What’s important is ensuring that you don’t exceed the maximums on the load chart, which is a function of both weight and the distance from the lifting apparatus that the crane sits.  An experienced operator will handle this for you, but YouTube is full of crane disaster videos, so make sure you triple check all your planning and be extremely careful during the lifts.

Almost any of these options will cost you several hundred dollars a day to rent, and potentially more if there is not one close by to your location.

Summary

Knowing which tools are needed is crucial when planning and sticking to your budget.

While you don’t need to own all of the tools mentioned, you will certainly need access to them (or to hire someone with access to them) at some point during your build.

Are there any crucial tools you think we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments section below.

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12 Responses

  1. Downside of plasma is that you need to prep cutting surface. It needs to be a paint free surface. Paint could be lightly ground off to prep surface.

  2. you dont need a crane. you can always use cribbing and use house rollers to move and stack 40′ cntnrs.as long as you can lift one end at a time (jcb 4×4 forklift) i did this with my barn 2 40′ standard cntnrs on top of 2 40′ high cubes no problem you have to have a bunch of cribbing though.another favorite tool small makita circular saw with metal cutting blades for clean lines and clean welds.and dont forget you miller suitcase mig welder totally portable.good luck

      1. yes I do. Do you want to check them out i am in process of permitting/engineering my barn and trying to finish it. i have many really cool pics you would enjoy

        1. That sounds great Zelig. Please, can you email them to us? Our email address is on the Contact Us page.

        2. Hi zelig, do you mind sending me a copy of the pics that you have from your build? I am just finishing my foundation for my build and I am interested to see how yours came out. Would reciprocate when mine reaches an exciting enough stage in the build.

  3. I would like to know more about the reason for sand blasting a container, and should it be done at the container yard. repaint the underside after? spray foam the bottom? reason?
    thanks Dave

    1. Hi Dave,

      You would generally sandblast the containers to remove any rust. As you mentioned, you can then repaint the areas.

      Spray foaming underneath the container helps to improve it’s insulation capabilities. You generally spray foam under the container so you don’t need to spray foam underneath your floors- this helps save height within the containers.

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