Comments on: Ofuro Design

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:04:38 +0000

Japanesebath.com is a US ofuro builder. They use hinoki or cedar.

By: John Ryan

John Ryan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:41:25 +0000

I have sold over 100 military surplus snorkel stoves on ebay under jrjohnryanjr These were designed to heat water in clean garbage cans so that soldiers could wash their mess kits after eating in a company sized field kitchen They are non electric and burn pretty much any flammable liquid giving 30,000 btu some people put them in 150 gal rubbermaid stock tanks that cost about 100 dollars I expect to begin selling them again soon the winning bids on the heaters are usually 80-100 dollars They are usually used outdoors just in the woods my email is jrjohnryanjr@yahoo.com

By: creede

creede — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:08:43 +0000

I have, they are gorgeous. The price really isn’t too bad considering what you get. The only thing that turns me off about the traditional hinoki is that you have to stay up on the maintenance. If you don’t use them a lot they can dry and crack etc.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:46:16 +0000

Yeah. Roberts Hot Tubs makes a traditional ofuro out of hinoki.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:42:28 +0000

Have you seen the ofuros at rhtubs.com ?

By: ebskye

ebskye — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:01:46 +0000

We inherited an acrylic over fiberglass furo (about 40 gallons) which we turned into a continuous hottub using a water tank heater and a hot tub pump ($125 and we’ve gone through 2 so far). The tub and mechanics are inside a super insullated cedar box frame and lid, so it is economical to run (110v). However, one caveat, after five or more years or use the finish has blistered and popped and needs refinishing. So, your choice of stainless seems the best to us. That said, the entire set up was around $800 not including labor, repair and maintenance. We used bromine and baking soda and changed the water often rather than super chlorinate it. You could put an ozonator on it and reduce the need to treat it. I consider furos an essential part of life now.

By: coyote

coyote — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:55:07 +0000

Thanks for the spark! The wheels are turning..Soaking is a life style..Go green..

By: Rina

Rina — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:13:42 +0000

Found the Tagaki kobune free-standing ofuro –

It is http://www.at-house.com — hope this helps!!

By: sue

sue — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:00:10 +0000

Tagaki Kobune free-standing ofuro from at-home.com.
I cannot seem to get this site to see this tub Lesley is talking about.

I have been dreaming of an ofuro for so long, Has anyone actually
used anything more green to generate the heat?

Thanks so much for your reply!

By: Lesley

Lesley — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:54:19 +0000

Hi,

If you want to trial an ofuro or just want a cheap occasional experience, might I suggest using a large Rubbermaid-type storage container. I found one with the right dimensions (about 35″L by 25″ deep by 24″W) and bought it for $12 and put it in my bathtub for my ofuro. I fill it with my hand-shower and bail it to empty it (after the warm water has heated up the bathroom and bedroom and I mop my floors with it too and then water the plants).It’s been a great way to experience the neck-deep soak. Plastic is much kinder to water temperature and your bum than steel! I have used mine for a year and many friends have borrowed it and soaked in mine. When you are finished, you can use the container for storage or pass it on to another ofuro experimentor as I’m doing. I’m now looking at purchasing a Tagaki Kobune free-standing ofuro from at-home.com. They retail for about $800 and are much cheaper than installing a soaking tub. I was giving a beautiful Kohler one-person soaking tub, but to install it will be about $4,000 and I like to soak, but not THAT much!