quanset hut question

[doing it in NM]

Does anyone have a link to surplus quanset huts or simular building. I would like one as a barn and hoping to find a source. Thanks!

[rambler]

There are dozens of sellers of these across the country. I'd be warry of the 'surplus for sale cheap' ads because they are trying to pull a fast one, but maybe you can find a deal? Do a goggle search for 'metal arch building' and you will find a list. Quanset actually is back in business, but think they make only metal square wall buildings now?

--->Paul

[farminghandyman]

in our area many a farmer in the 1950's or so built there own,

basically the idea was like this,

you figured out how wide you wanted the building, and then drew a arch on the ground, in the shape of the arch, then along that line you put in posts (these are the template you will use to build the rafters), spaced about 4' apart, with a little peak at the top, can be added or built into the arch "rafter"

one can do halves or a full arch, the halves will need to have a splice plate on them and bolted together,

Once one has the posts in the ground and solid one starts with 1X stock, (I have seen it done with 2" wide all the way up to 1x4's being used, I would probly rip 1x6" in half) then start out by tack with small nail the first strip onto the posts in an arch shape, and then another and another until you have about 6" thick laminated arch weather resistant glue would be beneficial but not necessary) build one for ever 2' to 4' some will depend on the width of the building,

set a good sill plate, trim the bottoms to match the same angle, and the top to join, together if that is the plan,

then use 1x4 to 2x4 spaced about Evey 4' harizontal up the rafters (this is what you attach the tin to, or thin ply wood for a shingle roof , two layers)

any way you set up the rafters, the purloins, and then tin it, let it set for a few weeks (the building will squat a little) and then build in the ends,

for tin use the small rib (like strong barn so it can follow the curve), if you use a tall rib or a very stiff rib the tin will buckle,

I know of a number of this type of building around my area,

Also have seen one built using two 3/4" re bar with small flat iron spacers to build the arch out of and small pieces of flat iron welded to the top of the arch re bar to fasten the purloins to. the bottom ends had a plate that had holes to fit over bolts, the spacing on the bars were about 6" to 8".

[farminghandyman]

if your jsut wanting a small unit, using some of the "green house type plans and beefing up the "rafter" a few sizes of pipe such in this plan,

http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...Plans/6217.pdf

insted of the 1/2 conduit beefing it up to 1 1/4 conduit, would probly work.

one could even use square tubing, the roller would be simular but with a square cuts insted of rounded, (one could have a fabercation shop roll out your "rafters")

but then again a small building like this would easer to build, and sheet,
http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...Plans/6029.pdf

http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...PlanList97.htm
http://www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/frameindex.htm

[farminghandyman]

if your jsut wanting a small unit, using some of the "green house type plans and beefing up the "rafter" a few sizes of pipe such in this plan,

http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...Plans/6217.pdf

insted of the 1/2 conduit beefing it up to 1 1/4 conduit, would probly work.

one could even use square tubing, the roller would be simular but with a square cuts insted of rounded, (one could have a fabercation shop roll out your "rafters")

but then again a small building like this would easer to build, and sheet,
http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...Plans/6029.pdf

http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/...PlanList97.htm
http://www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/frameindex.htm

[doing it in NM]

What I was looking for was gov surplus buildings, where the cost wasn't much and I pay shipping. maybe a 50'X100'. Years ago you could buy the ones the military took down, that is what I was trying to find.

[Quint]

The days of government surplus quonset huts are long gone. The military doesn't even use them anymore as far as I know. They use everything from revamped intermodal containers, pre-fab trailers to inflatable shelters. That and many or those types of functions such as building and outfitting of temporary or expeditionary bases and base infrastructure isn't even done by the military but from private contractors like KBR and Dyncorp.

[wogglebug]

If you want info, try Google. Make sure you spell it with an "Ohhh!" though - quonset.

However, if you're interested in that-size buildings, look at commercial classified ads. If you've got more time than money, you can often wait until you find an old portal-frame factory building available for little-to-nothing, provided you dismantle and take away. Also, while it's rare, if redevelopment of an airfield is going on, you might get the same deal on an old hangar.

[farminghandyman]

finally found a set of plans on how to build one,

I know you said you were not interested in plans but I found some any way, may be some one else will find them of use,

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/5344.pdf

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/5653.pdf

another style

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/5221.pdf

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/5687.pdf