Repair rust holes in metal shipping container?

Gayle
by Gayle

I have 2 rust holes aprox 20 cm x 15 cm.... in the lower wall of my shipping container that I'm using for a storage area beside a work shed. Wondering if I could use cloth dipped in concrete & cover inside & outside to help stop the rust?




  14 answers
  • Janice Janice on Aug 05, 2021

    Hi Gayle, your idea might work but another idea in this video might work well and be less messy to do.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-519w5f9zU

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Aug 05, 2021

    Hello. I might suggest to try patching with epoxy putty and a piece of patch metal due to the size of your defect. Epoxy putty is meant for plumbing repairs and will work on multi surfaces


    It's a two-part epoxy sticky-found at big box hardware stores in the plumbing department near the pvc purple glue. In a clear plastic red capped tube. I get mine at Lowes $6. Home Depots its version and JB Weld is another but more $ and smaller. Other smaller 2 part epoxy sticks options can also be found in the boat marine and wood repair shopping sections.


    You mix -press -then you can use scrape off excess (I use depleted gift card) and/or sand and paint. Cured putty is strong enough to drill through.


    Putty safely seals/waterproofs for plumbing boat repairs.... Ive used it for exterior entry door frame wood rot repair, elliptical pedal repair, multiple arts and crafts repair of damaged pottery- wood -ceramics, plug up holes in planters, repair cracks in planters or make a new lip on the pottery planter. Ive repaired holes in a utility garage sink ( thanks previous HO) repaired a break in the top rim border of an elliptical peddle, repaired damages in a concrete statue, fixed a split wood disk on a wind chime, its a great defect filler, those ornately detailed gold plaster frames and be repaired with this putty.


    It’s my all around DIY patching and crafting repair product….I can’t be without it. I hope this helps

  • Seth Seth on Aug 05, 2021

    Gayle,

    I have never tried cloth dipped in concrete and can't give you a recommendation on that one. I'm not sure what tools you have available and am assuming welding is not an option for you. You need to treat the rust before repairing the holes. Wire brush or sand the rust as best as you can. You can treat the area with vinegar and paint with a metal rust inhibiting paint. Then I would consider buying a panel of aluminum or diamond plate at one of the big box stores to cover the holes and surrounding area. You can attach it with screws (if possible for you) and an adhesive designed for metal to metal applications like Permabond, which can be used without screws.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 05, 2021

    Hope this helps you:


    Deep rust and holes will actually need to be cut out. Generally, a new piece of steel is welded into the container to patch the hole. Another method of patching is using a fibreglass reinforced polyester patch. After exposure to UV light, the patch hardens like metal.

    To ensure a rust-free shipping container, regular inspection and touching up of the paintwork will help.


    ref:https://www.tigercontainers.com/blog/common-repairs-to-shipping-containers/

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Aug 05, 2021

    found a couple of ideas for you

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-519w5f9zU


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtRchDhWjdk


    Also there are products out there that will cover the holes like Gorilla products, flex tape has a couple products too you can find these at HOme Depot etc

  • William William on Aug 05, 2021

    Cut out as much of the rusted area. I would use roof patching mesh and liquid roofing cement.

  • Dee Dee on Aug 05, 2021

    TRy spraying it with several light coats of Flex Steel.


  • Deb K Deb K on Aug 05, 2021

    Hi Gayle, you could do a fiberglass patch on them, this video shows you how, it will just be the same as your container

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6jEkz3_-po


  • You may weld a new piece of steel into the container to patch the hole. On way of patching is using a fibreglass reinforced polyester patch. After exposure to UV light, the patch hardens like metal. To ensure a rust-free shipping container, regular inspection

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Aug 06, 2021

    Screw metal plate over the hole

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 07, 2021

    Hi, Think you ought to get a metal panel welded over it by a professional!

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 08, 2021

    I would sand off as much rust as possible using a drill and wire brush bit, treat with Rustoleum Rust Dissolver, and then I would cut a patch from either stainless steel flashing or some corrogated metal and epoxy it in place, then give it a good protective paint job.