That time a welding shop in Phoenix saved my container build

I was framing out my first container window cut at a site near Phoenix and my angle grinder seized up halfway through. The local welding shop, Arizona Ironworks, let me borrow their plasma cutter for free after I explained what I was doing. The cut came out way cleaner than my grinder job and it took maybe 20 minutes instead of 2 hours of grinding. Their guy showed me how to tack a steel frame around the opening first to keep the container from warping. Has anyone else gotten unexpected help from a local shop that totally changed your build timeline?

2 comments

2 Comments

pipergonzalez4d ago

Did that guy show you how to tack the frame while the plasma cutter was still in your hand? I had a similar thing happen with a machine shop in Tucson. My tiny MIG welder couldn't handle the thicker steel on my base frame. The old guy there let me use his big Miller welder and even walked me through setting the voltage right. Saved me a whole weekend of fighting with bad welds and burnt wire. Those little shop owners just get excited when someone is actually building something instead of just buying it.

the_taylor3d ago

Did you end up welding half the project right there in his shop like I did?