Build Steel Home Storage
Datetime:2014-09-10 Hits:
Metal braking, a technique used to make metal boxes out of metal sheeting, is an easy and good way to make extra storage units or any kind of metal container. The process involves folding sheeting into a box, much like you would with a cardboard box and, although it requires some specialized equipment, is not too much more complicated. With a few simple steps and parts, you can make sturdy and safe steel containers.
Instructions
Storage box
1
Place your steel sheeting flat on the ground and draw the base of your box with a marker and a straight edge. Be sure that you are making all lines and angles straight and that you leave enough room for the side panels in the rest of your sheet.
2
Draw side panels to your base. The side panels will be the sides of your storage unit, so draw one panel on each side of the rectangle you just drew. These side panels will determine the height of your box.
3
Draw side flaps on the sides of your side panels. These flaps will be used to attach the panels when you fold your box together and should be about one inch long on both sides of each side panel.
4
Cut out the form you drew with a jigsaw or cutting torch. Be sure you are only cutting along the outside of the lines you drew so that you will have one piece of sheeting with the base, side panels and flaps attached.
5
Fold your sheeting into a box by bending and creasing the metal manually. If your sheeting does not bend easily, place a rectangular bar along each line you want to fold and press against the form of the rectangle.
6
Join each corner of your box and drill a hole every four inches (moving up from the base along the line of the corner) where the flaps meet with the side panel. Repeat this process on both sides of every side panel, making eight lines of holes that include the side panel and the flaps. Drill a hole at the base and at the top of every side, even if the final hole is less than four inches from the previous hole.
7
Rivet the sides together. Load your rivet gun with rivets and place one rivet in every hole you made along the sides of your side panels.
8
Place another piece of sheeting on the ground and measure out a rectangle similar to your base, but 1/4 inch longer on every side.
9
Draw out side panels like you did before, but limiting the height to two inches. Add the same side flaps to your drawing.
10
Cut out and fold your box shape. Test your shape to make sure if fits securely over your existing box.
11
Drill two holes in the sides of each side panels where the panel meets the flaps.
12
Place a rivet through each of the holes you just made to hold your box together, just as you did before.
