Letter 35074

What is the best way to heat a galvanized steel "hot tub" without causing any damage to it? [Florida] 

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I have recently purchased a galvanized steel tub of the sort used for watering livestock. It is an atractive addition to my garden that I use as an outdoor bathtub. I want to use it as a hot tub by elevating it with bricks and heating it from bellow with a propane camp stove. What I want to know is, will the heat caused by the stove be so hot that it will burn off the zinc surface on the bottom of the tub? I'm not so concerned about the toxic fumes as this should not be an issue if the flames are not hot enough to burn off the zinc, and if the zinc does burn off in the area above the flames, fumes should be of no concern after the initial burning. My main concern is that the tub might rust and eventually spring leaks in the absence of the protective zinc coating. If this is likely, what other ways might I heat this tub without causing any damage?
Thanks,

Christopher Sullivan
U.S. Army - North Miami, FL, U.S.A.

Someone sell this guy a tank heater!! :-)

Peter Van de Luecht
- Melbourne, Vic. Australia

How can anyone resist the potatoes, onions, etc.. My first thought would be where to sit in the tub. The stove probably would not create enough heat to burn the zinc, but that's really a guess. Propane burns above 3,000 deg. F., but the amount of heat will be rather low. Zinc burns at a lessor temp., but as long as there is water (or your butt)on the inner surface of the tank, you will probably be fine. Myself, I would look at other options.


If you give it a try, please let us know how it goes.

David Jaye
Houston, TX, USA

I was told that the problem is not the temperature but some chemical reaction to open flame, and that something to keep the flame off would be sufficient. Better check with a real expert tho. Good luck.

Tom Sawyer
- Hannibal, MO, CSA

I want to purchase a galvanized trough like those used on farms for animals and hoped a reader could provide a source.

Thank you

Shirley Brinkley
- Durham, NC, USA

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