Master Spa steel frame

[fatman]

A few weeks ago I was talking with a Master Spa dealer and during his sales pitch to me, he made a big deal about Master Spa being the only hot tub on the market built with a steel frame.  I haven't heard of anyone on this forum experiencing hot tub collapse or major shell cracking so is a steel frame that important?

[huh?]

Please don't assume all of the Master Spas Dealers are this way.  This topic has been debated before.  Master is not the only one doing it.  There are benefits IMO.  And others will say there are no benefits.

[BIG_PAPA]

Ask the dealer if there is any chance of the frame rusting.

[stuart]

A few weeks ago I was talking with a Master Spa dealer and during his sales pitch to me, he made a big deal about Master Spa being the only hot tub on the market built with a steel frame.  I haven't heard of anyone on this forum experiencing hot tub collapse or major shell cracking so is a steel frame that important?

Master spa uses an automotive grade steel that will eventually rust.

No they are not the only ones that do it....MAAX industries uses a "Gavalume" steel product with a lifetime warranty on the Coleman and the Elite lines.

I have seen shell cracking from poor frames in a spa and infact have seen a master spa 1050 crack because the had no middle "cross supports" on the long side.

Most of the frame failures I have seen were on 2 x 2 stapled frames that many manufactures do to try and save money!

[windsurfdog]

Since I live right on the Gulf coast and have salt water canals on 2 sides of my house with my spa located on an exterior deck 8' off the ground, I would think this environment to be rather detrimental to any metal spa frame.  My LSX has been in place for 6 months.  The last time I had a panel off was about 1.5 months ago.  A careful inspection of the framing at that time showed the beginnings of oxidation (rust) only on the cut edges of the framing members--no other signs of oxidation were evident anywhere else including the faces of the framing material.  I wish I could get a piece of the same material that Coleman uses for their tubs and place it inside the spa (hey--another advantage for the TP design!) in order to have a comparison of the two.  Any Coleman dealers game?  Otherwise, I'm pleased with the results thus far--only time will tell.

[wmccall]

.  A careful inspection of the framing at that time showed the beginnings of oxidation (rust) only on the cut edges of the framing members--

Would it be worth cleaning that up now and perhaps spraying it with something like a clear Krylon?

[windsurfdog]

Would it be worth cleaning that up now and perhaps spraying it with something like a clear Krylon?

I don't know, Bill.  It is such a small edge....just the thickness of the metal itself though it is as long as the metal pieces themselves and it is isolated to the edge alone.  Right now, from what I'm seeing, I'm not concerned.  Certainly I'll be monitoring it every couple-3 months.  Otherwise, under the covers, it looks like day 1.....

[HotTubMan]

I haven't heard of anyone on this forum experiencing hot tub collapse  

I hadn't until yesterday. My service crew moved a spa. Or should I say tried to. The frame did collapse. The spa is less than two years old. I won't say what brand but I can tel you it was framed with 1*2"'s and 2*2"'s. The brand is rated 4* on poolandspa.com and has been critisized for their marketing/pricing strategies.

I doubt a well built spa with 2*3 or 2*4 construction would hve the same issue, especially if the bottom is sealed with ABS.

[stabone]

 Wood is not as strong, and it rots. Steel,even stainless will rust.  So what is a better alternative to bracing supports under tubs?  Are we talking about cabinet, shell,or both?  Do any manufactures use a better material ?  Why not a hard plastic, polymer or something.  
   Wouldn't a better alternative be, building cabinets,shells, and floors that are strong enough that they don't need extra support? Or would a manufacture that did take the extra time and  spend the money to build tubs this way, be persicuted by the industry and those in it, for not staying with the industry standards?
 

[nicker]

I couldn't imagine building a spa with 2x2's .  But I also would take that review list from Poolandspa.com too seriously either.   Looking at the "Delux Class Recommended" I see Cal Spa there.  Perhaps it was a printing mistake.  

[HotTubMan]

Wood is not as strong, and it rots. Steel,even stainless will rust.  So what is a better alternative to bracing supports under tubs?  Are we talking about cabinet, shell,or both?  Do any manufactures use a better material ?  Why not a hard plastic, polymer or something.  
    Wouldn't a better alternative be, building cabinets,shells, and floors that are strong enough that they don't need extra support? Or would a manufacture that did take the extra time and  spend the money to build tubs this way, be persicuted by the industry and those in it, for not staying with the industry standards?
  

Get off the soap box. You are no marter.

A claim of superiority is just that, even if you dont say what brand you sell in the post.

[HotTubMan]

I couldn't imagine building a spa with 2x2's .  But I also would take that review list from Poolandspa.com too seriously either.   Looking at the "Delux Class Recommended" I see Cal Spa there.  Perhaps it was a printing mistake.  

I know the star system is bogus. I was trying to give hints without bashing a competitor while also showing the star sytem means squat.

I can think of a manufacturer that until this year was unrated and made light of the poolandspa site ratings in the stores that I shopped. This year that manufacturer ponied up the dough and are now 4-star. I wonder if anyone can guess who that is? Stabone? JP?

[spahappy]

I know the star system is bogus. I was trying to give hints without bashing a competitor while also showing the star sytem means squat.

I can think of a manufacturer that until this year was unrated and made light of the poolandspa site ratings in the stores that I shopped. This year that manufacturer ponied up the dough and are now 4-star. I wonder if anyone can guess who that is? Stabone? JP?

Hmm, it's on the tip of my tounge giving me a bad taste right now for some reason....lol

[cflrules]

   I guess it would have nothing to do with the actual quality of the product itself would it......

You guys are relentless.

[tony]

Steel is not necessarily stronger than wood and does not necessarily have a longer life.