Shed Built From Recycled Fuel Tanks

Shed Built From Recycled Fuel Tanks BUILDINGS Miscellaneous 26-3-18 Lloyd Koos used a plasma cutter, welder, and a lot of ingenuity to transform several 6 by 30-ft. underground fuel tanks into the framework for a 60 by 60-ft. steel shed. "It took a number of years to come up with a design. I ended up with a good, solid building, and it was cheap," says Koos, LaMotte, Iowa. Koos cut strips of steel lengthwise from the tanks. He then welded the curved strips together in pairs - with the concave side of each piece facing inward - to create strong yet relatively lightweight oval-shaped steel "beams". Larger strips were cut for columns, and smaller strips were cut for duty as cross beams and rafters. "The columns are tapered, so they're larger at the bottom than at the top," explains Koos. "The rafters have a wood 2 by 8 sandwiched between the curved steel strips with one edge open for attaching roofing." Koos invested in a plasma cutter to cut out the steel strips. To ensure an accurate cut, he attached a set of wheels to the cutter. Once a chalk line had been laid, he simply rolled the wheels down the line and made the cut. Open ended columns were set on concrete footings with 3 ft. of rebar extending out of them. The open ends set over the rebar. Beams were laid across the columns and welded in place. Rafters were then welded onto the beams. Once everything was squared up and welded in place, Koos cut holes in each of the columns and pumped cement inside them. When he finished, the holes were patched shut. "The toughest part was welding the beams and rafters into place," says Koos. While the beams, rafters and columns were fabricated in his shop, the rest of the job took him up in the air. Eaves of the building are 22 ft. at their highest and 9 ft. at their lowest. "Most buildings are bird roosts," says Koos. "This one is pretty much bird proof. There aren't many places for them to sit." Contact: FARM SHOW Follow-up: Lloyd Koos, 36000 252 Avenue, LaMotte, Iowa 53054 (ph 563 773-8858).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.