Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Tman122 on March 02, 2006, 06:11:20 pm

Title: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tman122 on March 02, 2006, 06:11:20 pm
Got around to taking a few photos. After I cleaned all the snow off of it.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Tman122/MVC-681S.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Tman122/MVC-680S.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Tman122/MVC-682S.jpg)
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: spiman on March 02, 2006, 06:31:33 pm
I see that you prefer TP to FF :-X
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on March 02, 2006, 07:10:48 pm
Cool beans, Tman.....how's it working for ya?
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Markus on March 02, 2006, 07:53:57 pm
That is quite the design...it looks like it took some time to assemble.

"stupid question" what does tp and ff stand for?
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: NJDave on March 02, 2006, 08:07:04 pm
If it was FF, the towels would stay cozy and warm, it would not need heat genearated by the light bulbs, just like TP needs the heat generated from the motors, to stay ahead of the cold air rushing in. I love the design and the timer was a smart move. The thermometer was a nice touch too. How about  red heat bulbs, screwed into a fixture pointing up to the towel rack. Great Job! Dave.
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: galen on March 02, 2006, 08:21:02 pm
How hot does it get with both lights on?
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: NJDave on March 02, 2006, 08:40:53 pm
One bulb in a closed envirement like that can produce sufficient heat to keep the towels warm. Tman was not taking any chances, on getting anything less than warm towels, when he jumps out of the tub into the cold.
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: jim97219 on March 02, 2006, 09:23:26 pm
Please tell us you've got those trouble lights on GFCI's.
:o :o :o
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: GoBlue on March 02, 2006, 10:41:31 pm
Thanks for the idea.
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tman122 on March 03, 2006, 04:48:07 am
Absolutly GFCI protected. Any outlet outside in Duluth Minnesota has to be a GFCI outlet, specialy one by the hot tub. Fully sealed and insulated electrical box and wiring on the side. The connection between the bulb and the light body is rubber sealed. And the cord is double insulated 12-3, overkill.

I can get it to around 80-110 with both lights on and the temps outside are above say 20-30. I have reduced the bulbs to 75 watt as the 200 watt ones got a bit to hot (the thing was burning a bit of insulation) Below 0 it will only get to about 60-70 but it beats ice cold towels.

Took me a few hours on a saturday I had a bunch of tongue and groove ash left from my den and computer room. Just made big panels out of the 100 inch long pieces and cut them to the proper lenght after the boards were put together to the proper width. Then used left over cedar 2x2 deck spindles for the corners, hinge supports and a couple runners on the bottom. I'm going to get some better hinges and a digital thermometer I can mount on the outside and run a probe inside whenever I get around to it.
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Snowbird on March 03, 2006, 06:53:39 am
Good job Tman.  You are way ahead of me.  I would've used charcoal.

Years ago, when we lived in the sticks, we used to put a light bulb in our dog's house in the winter to keep him from freezing.  This worked fine except his sleep patterns got all nozzled up so he wore sun glasses to bed.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/VeroSnowbird/635tigger.jpg)

It was the 1st dog that showed us charcoal wouldn't work.
We remember him fondly every time we fire up the grill.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/VeroSnowbird/BirdDog.jpg)
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: drewstar on March 03, 2006, 08:40:24 am
Quote
That is quite the design...it looks like it took some time to assemble.

"stupid question" what does tp and ff stand for?




Markus


FF= Full Foam
TP-= Thermal Pane.

These are the 2 leading technolgies/mehtods in Hot tub insulation.

FF encases the entire structure complety in closed cell foam as insulation.

TP employs a dead air space around the tub. Heat generated by the pumps is reclaimed to heat the air, creating a theraml balance to prevent heat lose between the shell and outside.

They are  both are hotly debated.


Small nit: The towel warmer above is technically more a Full Foam application than TP.  The area to be insulated (the box) is heated and uses foam insulation to reduce heat lose.  A TP desing would have a box within a box. The air space would be heated, not insulated with foam.

8)
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Chas on March 03, 2006, 10:18:07 am
Here in Paradise we tend to put the towells in the 'fridge for an hour before use...

;)
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tman122 on March 03, 2006, 12:28:04 pm
Shut up Chas!!
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on March 03, 2006, 09:38:41 pm
Quote
Here in Paradise we tend to put the towells in the 'fridge for an hour before use...

 ;)

That's funny, since it seems so many on here consider "paradise" to be watching the snow gently falling while they're sitting, toasty warm in their tubs with loved ones.....but hey, whatever floats your boat!!
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Chas on March 03, 2006, 11:21:17 pm
Quote
That's funny, since it seems so many on here consider "paradise" to be watching the snow gently falling while they're sitting, toasty warm in their tubs with loved ones.
Yeah, I've heard about people like that... I'm sure they'll come up with a pill for it soon.


;)
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: anne on March 03, 2006, 11:27:24 pm
Quote
Yeah, I've heard about people like that... I'm sure they'll come up with a pill for it soon.


 ;)



hehehehehe, 73 and sunny all year is the way to go. 'Course, wouldn't want your So Cal traffic. Its bad enough here in No Cal. And I can drive to the snow in 1.5 hrs!
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on March 04, 2006, 10:00:36 am
psssssssst.....our property taxes were just over $2k for the year....what about in California?
;D
Title: Re: Homemade Towel Warmer
Post by: Bonibelle on March 04, 2006, 10:36:19 am
Guess that's the price of Paradise  ;D. I personally love the change of seasons and you are right, T Lady,  there is definately something special about sitting in that tub when the air temp is in the teens! And for my husband who hates the cold..He even admits that he is enjoying the winter sitting in the tub every night. Usually I would be counting the days until I open the pool, but now I am
watching the weather and hoping for one more nice snow (For you Spiman!).  ;)