Making A Bathtub

IHI

Got to thinking spur of the moment after the swimming pool thread about an idea of mine to build a pool since unless I special order one they're too small for the 1-2 times a year I want to soak a weary body. I know a hot tub is an easy fix, but the idea of custom making my own bathtub to spec has always been at the back of my head.

So with no research and just being lazy right now...how tough would it be??

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ApgarNJ

Make a japanese soaking tub. all wood. i bet you can find plans for them online.

Tscarborough

Depends upon what you want. The Japanese soaking tub is a good answer, and I have seen some sweet monolithic concrete ones as well.

IHI

What do they coat the inside with to seal it and put a layer between the concrete and yer butt so it is'nt soo rough..even with a smooth finish. I would have no problem going this route, but the homies after me would freak when demo time came If nothing else it sounds like a fun project levering on the smoothness scale on the body. I keep envisoning a custom sculpted unit that is long and deep and wide enough for 2.

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Tscarborough

I have put a couple of designs to paper. I envison it similar to you, wide enough for 2, sculpted on each side as a recliner with a deeper steped entry/sump area in between. Say 6.5'x4.5' with the deepest point about 32". I have it half into the slab, so it is surrounded by a 16" high by 8" wide shelf.

In my plan, the horizontal reclining areas are tiled, while the entry and walls are left hard trowled concrete. The concrete is composed of portland/marble fines/sand gunite for a watertight shell. I don't want jets, per se, I want the water to move from foot to head at a fairly rapid rate, with rainmakers over the tub.

Sigh, someday....

Mike Finley

I saw Gilligan make one once, the professor boiled up some sort of glue made from plants on the island. Just becareful, that tub ended up creating quite some hilarious hijinks between the other cast-aways. Don't say I didn't warn you!

IHI

LOL, so at least I have another dreamer on the same page I'm not one to sit in a tub, I like to shower and go, but we all have those days getting worked to death where sitting in a big tub of hot water would be great to kick back for a few and soak the weary bones. Sucks since I'm only averaged sized and the standard tub leaves more out of the water than in the water

Probably cheaper and easier to just spring for a medium sized hot tub, but I think this would be a fun project that could prove some worth to any that would use it.

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Bone Saw

http://www.cedartubs.com/index.html mabey get some ideas

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Tscarborough

This is the model for my bathtub. It is the Blanco river at Wimberly, and there are nice little holes worn into the limestone, from which we direct the flow with stones. It is shoulder to foot, but I prefer the opposite.

http://72.41.69.75/rivpan.jpg

This one is the Frio river, same deal:

http://72.41.69.75/frioapan.jpg

theworx

Hell man, you work hard enough for other people. Pick up the medium sized hot tub and install it yourself. That's enough extra work already!!!

Spend a couple of weekends getting it installed and finished and you could be soothing your tired bones before you know it... Like you said, would be cheaper and faster... Not to mention big enough for your wife to join you!!!

IHI

Theworx: I hear ya, could be installed and usable within 3 days going hot tub, but I need a "pet project" to fill my down time since I'm not racing...going friggin nuts since I have no purpose this summer LOL!!!

TScar: LOL, is that your own panoramic photo? I was like why the heck are all the pictures different shades and seen it's all the same picture...either way I would love to be in either loc-cal right now I think modeling either area would be a great break from reality.

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joasis

My pump went down in my 16 year old hot tub a few weeks ago...I miss it bad....IHI, a hot tub is the way to go..I am waiting on the new pump for mine...least it doesn't cost like a pool.

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theworx

IHI, tis the season to be busy. I thought you had a lot of work coming up???

IHI

Smokin busy right now Unbelievably slow winter/spring and once the flood gates opened it got nuts in a hurry and has'nt stopped, I've been really being pickey about jobs I'm looking at now since I'm tied up for the next 3 months trying to weed out the tire kickers and open up profits a bit too.

Now if I could just get paid what's owed to date I'd be sitting pretty Seems the longer I'm in business the slower I get paid?? WTF's up with that Had a new guy start today to do alot of the HD bullsheeot since it's coming in faster than I want it to and really screwing up my personal job schedule. Then they told me the other day they were opening upto installing fences, decks, siding and roofing-would I be interested. I just laughed and asked who was going to carry the money since I dont see any for 3-5 weeks from job completion as it is thanks to the middle men. I'll be damned if I'm gonna carry multiple thousands every month in payroll/fuel unless their pay scale is off the charts, then we'll see what happens.

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Pearce Services

You could look into Laticrete, they have membranes that will allow for this if you are going to tile it, I wonder if radiant heat in the tile will keep the water hot for a longer time?

wackman

Hey, I got a 500 gallon fish tank that I'm thinking about selling for CHEAP!! It's as big as a hot tub!

I just bought a new house and I don't want to move the damn thing again. Without water it still weighs about a thousand pounds...

Teetorbilt

IHI, you got me thinking about custom wood tubs. I see them in some of the mags and they're high buck. HMMMMM!

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theworx

I know a guy who lives out of the city (near cottage country). He buys holding tanks (the round ones for septic systems), cuts them in half, adds the jets, drains, etc... He builds benches for inside and a nice deck around them when he installs. He's done many and is half the price of buying a manufactured hot tub. He even has a couple mounted on trailers (with outriggers for the weight) that he rents for weekends and makes a few hundred off each of them. Not a suggestion but a neat idea!!!

ron schenker

Worx...I hope these septic holding tanks that he buys are not used

theworx

The used ones are 1/4 the price compared to buying one from a manufacturerer. He even throws in a free bottle of bleach to pour in for your first use of the tub for safety. Although no garantee on what colour your bathing suit (not to mention your skin) will be after the first use of your new home made hot tub !!!