DIY - How to build a hillbilly / redneck hot tub

How to build a hilly billy hot tub for under £50. The IBC container cost me £40, gas cylinder and pallets were free scrap, the only other thing I bought was a can of black spray paint and a couple of plumbing connectors. The copper pipe I had laying in the garage. All done in a massive rush for a garden party as one of my friends said it couldn't be done. Proved them wrong. :)

[BlackLittleHorse]

I just finished a similar one today

For the sake of the coil and to avoid being steam cooked, I added a pool pump to the stuf.

Now on Brittany is going to the summer, so I ned cooling rather than warming so I did not use the heater which is partly copied on yours, but this autumn and winter, I will put it to the job.

Cheers!

[Lisaj]

Im going to build one for my dog, I will put anchoring straps on side. She is only two, but has mild hip dysplasia and now she can swim in the winter. This will keep her going while I save for surgery which is as much as a conventional hot tub. Thanks so much for all you do.

[MrButterbean]

This is a brilliant idea. Im a plumber by trade a d regularly come across copper cylinders. Might be able to rig something from that to transfer the heat quickly.

[SigmundQFreud]

We are brothers cut from the same cloth. Well done sir.

[TheRioNidoidian]

Fecking brilliant mate. Our hillbilly hot tub is a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tub heated with a portable propane water heater. Takes about 20 minutes to fill half way with 110 degree water. Not sure how many fills we will get out of a 20 gallon tank of propane, but it only costs $10 to fill right now.

I am hoping to figure out a way someday to use coiled copper pipe inside a rocket stove to heat the water. Out here in the redwoods we have tons of free fuel. Just not sure I have the patience to wait for it to heat up.

Your getup is very nice looking, so nice it might not qualify as "hillbilly" now. LOL!

[petesmith]

Just finished mine got bubbles now really powerful goes over top on full speed and can be done for around £29 with a £17 suction hose which comes with connections from b and q and a £12 lazy spa spare blower off eBay, dimmer switch and a tiny bit of playin. And ya don’t have to take it to bits if you already built it.
managed to join and fit 2x3m 22mm copper pipe in a tight coil round a Ron seal fence paint tin cast with cement and it firsts perfect in the top of those gas bottles,
I cut the bottle in half ya can empty and service it easier
heating around 3c per hour in an ibc 3/4 full with just wood not fan assisted but may do that to increase it speed in winter.
Loses 1-2 degrees in 24 hours used 100 mm base kingsman and 50 mm sides and flask lid.
I use a lazy spa pump on the circuit too the filter helps and pumps keeps the water a safe low temp coming out the pipe.
I love it!

[Seahorse.]

That was really clever!!! I have those same chemical totes at work, like all around!! Gonna totally try this!! Thanks for saving us thousands of bucks!!! Genius!!!

[djmorgan]

rgb led rope lighting between the tank and pallet wood would look ace, i picked up a 10mtr roll with remote and has 30 colours for £20

[ScottAtwater]

Thanks for the idea, could not stop thinking about it, just got mine from work, I going to use firewood to heat it and then use a propane tankless heater with a pump hook up I can set the temp I want. I will get a Spa Circulation Pump for bubbles.

[IVIUIVDOG]

the project turned out very nice, better than I expected it to look. Great build.

[Vadmagyarpanda]

Finally the perfect tutorial for this Project! Thanks Dude!

[oliviergautreau]

Bien gone make one for my hilly billy farm in the deep country ;)

[mickydola]

This is a good idea and am seriously thinking abar doing it good stuff

[garyt]

great idea video and song :-) many tanx!..

[dennisentermille]

I built one using an un cut hot tub shell. Yes it should circulate but your fire is small. It takes me 4 hours or more with large fire with natural convection. added small pool pump and that speeds up heating time and adds filtration.

[hughrblackwell]

I like the idea of cutting a small steel container in half and lighting a fire underneath it.

[scottytaylor]

Damn Good  Smart  Not a Builder, but you give me Plans 

[hihoney]

Looks really nice, great now another project to put on my gigantic list LOL

[andycolley]

Great build, nice to see you putting my favourite free resource to good use. I recently went to a sales evening for these tubs (they're just starting to become popular in our corner of France), helluva price!!
Happy tubbing, cheers, Andy aka Organikmechanic.

[bunnywarren]

When you get the IBC, check what was it previously held. Some are used for nasty chemicals and you'll be hard pressed to clean it out well enough to sit in the water you fill it with.