So i have been working on this in short increments for months. it is not done but it is useable so i am happy.
the idea came from necessity and ambition. I like ice plunges but at 6'4" i cannot really submerge myself fully in a tiny little tub. Also, myself and the missus always want to have a hot tub but they are a money pit, require outdoor electric and are expensive.
So i research scandanavian tubs and various concepts of thermosyphoning and ended up with a half baked idea. Convert my largest rain catch (350gallons) into a plunge pool
so here is how it went/ is going
i dissasembled and cleaned the tote- that meant cutting the top of the inner container and then removing two aluminum crossmemebrs on the top. then i had to drill the top rail to accomodate some screws to attach the top rail.
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
the top rail is the backbone of the build as most of the structure is the tote itself. I used the top frame to attach these 2x4s and that is where the rest is attached
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
all the other wood is reclaimed fence pickets from various people posting on craigslist (i get them whenever i see them along with a lot of other scrap wood) I cut out the top first so i could use that to align and square the vertical pieces
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
there is also a 2x4 secured to the frame on the bottom for mounting the side pieces too
Here it is fully clad and the part where the drainage goes is still exposed- not sure how to handle that yet....maybe some plants, maybe a light plastic panel, maybe leave it for redneck credibility
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
and from this side you can see where i fell, swung my arm for balance and broke a picket lol
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
still to do is make the top smoother. the angled edge is intentional as it directs splashes back into the tub, the gap is also intentional as overflow is part of the experience and it keeps the edge dry
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
interior is nice...wooden bench on cinderblocks lol
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
for the heat- took an old propane tank and emptied it (new skill) removed the fittings (new skill), cut it (new skill) and then added ventilation to make it a fire box.
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
it works
Untitled by
J Solo, on Flickr
then i bought a coil of copper tubing ( the only purchase of this project) and bent a large coil. I plumbed it from the tote drain to an inline pump ( i have an extension cord
) and then into the copper and back to the tub.
I'll get pics of that tonight. it works but it needs tweaking. the volume of the water is way too much for the amount of heat produced BUT if i add hot water (boil some in my turkey pot on the outdoor grill) and get the temp up to about 80, then the fire gets it up to 100-105 no problem.
well i still need to finish that, i want to insulate between the wood and the tote (sprayfoam and some 1" sheeting ) and some other stuff.
thoughts? suggestions?
ongoing project- nice DIY plunge pool, cold and hot, from IBC tote and recycled stuff
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