Wood-Fired "Hillbilly" Hot Tub

The ins & outs of our very rewarding wood-fired hot tub project.
** Update - In 2022, we replaced the small vent on the lid of the bullet smoker with a 4" diameter smokestack. It took a little cutting and welding but the results were very good. We no long need to have the lid skewed to get a good draft. And now it looks great too!

[@justinlyle7831]

Thermal siphoning is amazing

[@Stonefoxxloxxz]

Love this I might do this !!!! ❤

[@patriciabarlowirick]

Thank you for providing so many details.

[@darrylfisher2649]

This is our original design back in 2020. We have since added a 4" diameter, 24" tall smoke stack welded to the lid and no longer need to offset the lid while burning.

[@GregariousAntithesis]

I use a stock tank like this mounted in a carrier on my truck camper off my receiver hitch. I heat it with a cajun cooker with propane up until i get to around 100 degrees then i use a camping shower to recirculate and keep the water around 104. I need to put all my little video clips of the colorado mountains with my portable hot tub.

[@yokoono5528]

Love it!!!! Thanks for the video!!!

[@samuelberry4311]

Digging your great work

[@TLBF]

Link to the submersible pump you used? Thanks for posting!

[@justinlyle7831]

Awesome little set up you built.. I've never seen one with a pump installed, I'm sure it helps a lot.

[@darrylfisher2649]

It works very well. In my setup, the pump is required. If I forget to power up the pump, the water in the pipe boils and causes loud pops of very hot water out of the upper port. If I were more careful to keep an upward slope to the coil of copper tubing within the burn chamber, I might get thermal siphoning without the need for a pump. As it is, there are dips in my plumbing which impede the natural low-to-high flow.

[@manxology]

Very nice. Thank you.

[@darrylfisher2649]

Most welcome

[@oldfarmer9004]

I like your setup. I’m curious if you use it very much. We have a good spot for one. I think I will try an external pump though. Looks like it might be in the way inside of the tank. We happen to have a wood stove that has a water jacket on it too. Thanks for sharing.

[@darrylfisher2649]

We don’t use it at all in the winter - although we could. Because it can take up to 3 hours to get the water up to a comfortable temperature, it takes a little planning if we wish to use it. We had a busy year last year, so only ended up using it roughly a dozen times. I too would like an external pump, but haven’t yet found one that has the right flow rate with the correct fittings.

[@alwaysdowned581]

Could you post a link to the pump you have i have a hard time finding a pump that is slower then 800-1200 gph

[@darrylfisher2649]

Sure! FREESEA Submersible Pond Water Pump: 400 GPH 25W Ultra Quiet Adjustable Outdoor Fountain Pump www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078M6HNC2?th=1

[@Icewonder34]

What white piece did you use coming out of the tub and what 90 degree piece is that? Was there any adhesive or waterproofing on the holes in the tub?

[@darrylfisher2649]

The pass-thru piece is a Green Leaf TF34NB BG1 (Tank Fitting, 3/4" w/Buna Gasket), and the 90 degree adapter is a 3/4" PEX to 3/4" MIP adapter. I bought all of the fittings at Menards. And the gasket around the pass-thru seals nicely - I do not have any leaks.