Building a DIY Cold Tub (Ice Bath) for £115 / $140! | Wim Hof Method Cold Exposure
This cheap and easy DIY project is fairly beginner friendly with minimal tools and materials. The total cost of this DIY Ice Bath/ Plunge Pool was £115. For the container and the timber. Perfect if you want an ice bath without spending a fortune!
Materials Used in this Project:
1x 1000 litre / 220 gallon IBC tank
7x Redwood 12mm x 100mm Tongue and Groove Cladding 4.8m
2x C24 Joists 6x2 (145mm x 47mm) - 3m
5x Roofing Battens - Treated (25 x 38mm)
Wood Treatment/Oil
Waterproof Cover: amzn.to/3qrOi7E
Tools Used to Complete this Project
Angle Grinder: amzn.to/3DRccMX
Drill: amzn.to/45hKhSB
Impact Driver (optional): amzn.to/3QuG3SZ
Hammer: amzn.to/3KBI8sx
Caulking Gun: amzn.to/45rqSyd
Mitre Saw: amzn.to/3QzaDuO
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Random Orbital Sander: amzn.to/444t6Ct
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If you have any questions, leave them below and I'll get back to you ASAP!
great video. the only advice if you'll have it is this: insulation, wrap the plastic tub in insulating bubble wrap sheets before you reinstall it, surprisingly cheep and effective. you can also use polystyrene pieces between the frame or both like i do. lastly, use treated or sealed timber for that inner lip and seal the inside of that tub/lip with silicon so no water gets in between the tub and timber. just makes it last longer.
Def need to try this method
Brother, that is an awesome build, and I absolutely love the way you did it. Very straight forward.
Thank you 🙌🏼
Thanks man! I'll be doing it as soon as my two Ibc's arrive.
Awesome, one hot one cold? Or both cold tubs? I was thinking about doing a second one as a wood fired hot tub.
Brilliant mate!
I think i would spray paint the outside of the plastic blue or such, so you would not see the metal framing. But LOVE this build. Great Job!!
Nice one !!!
I love it! Great build and really well explained 👍. I’m looking forward to more of your projects 👍 Sauna next? 😂👍
Thank you. Funnily enough I was thinking about a sauna recently so it might have to be a future project!
Well done mate love it
Thank you
Very good job Dan. I would add some insulation between wood and tank, like Styrofoam, pu foam or rock wool, to have longer lasting cold water on warm weather when you will be putting ice. I think I will try to do something similar. Thank you for inspiration!
Thank you, good luck with your build 😃
Man the anxiety I had when you were holding the angle grinder without a security cap, one slip and you're in a world of pain. I used a recipro saw to cut those, it went smooth and fast. Great video man!
Good work
Thank you 🙌🏼
Great vid. I added a small pool filter to mine and treat the water with a small pool kit. Stops algae etc.
Perfect 👍🏼 should keep the water fresh for a good while, nice work.
Hi where did you get your filter and small pond kit from .
Great job son I'm copying it ..thanx Mike Scotland
Cheers Mike, much appreciated
Wim would be proud
Absolutely brilliant, do you have a full list of materials you used that you could post please
Thank you. I’ll write up a list and add it to the description tomorrow.
I’ve added a list of materials to the description
I could be wrong, but i think you watched my video about a similar project en implemented some pf my ideas. And im proud of that:) go get them brother
I’m not sure, I watched a few videos a while ago before making this one :) thanks 🙌🏼
I could be wrong @lieuwe89 but I think you watched my video first.
Haha wtf who gives a shit
Looks great! Did you consider putting spray foam between the wood and plastic to help keep it colder in the warmer months? could do the same with a lid to hold that cold in.
I did consider it but I don’t think it would have made much difference with such a small amount of foam. If you brought the timber out further and had a decent thickness of foam it would work. I am thinking about making an insulated lid for it to hopefully stop the sun heating it too much
@@Renovation-Dan or maybe adding a bit more room for the foam sheet installation and then adding the wood siding over it?
@@aryeha I think if I was building it somehwere with hotter summers, I would have either used thicker construction timber and PIR insulated inbetween, or counter battened it to give more space for insulation.
Awesome job dan. Exactly what i have been looking for. Did you have any thoughts on popping some insulation between the tank and the cladding to keep it cool in summer?
Thank you. I did consider it but decided against it. If we lived in a hotter climate I definitely would have but even in the summer it doesn’t get too hot and the position in the garden means it doesn’t get very much direct sun light. If I was to add insulation I would probably have used thicker battens to allow for more insulation though.
Totally agree. Good decision. Do you have a link to where you purchased your tank ? Thanks a million.
I got mine off of Facebook market place
Thanks Dan. Did you have a link to it in case they had more or was this a one off? I much prefer your method to one of the dodgy cheap looking inflatable plastic baths for £85 that look like they will disappear in a season if not before. @@Renovation-Dan
@@mattwilmshurst8456 it was a one off. I was going to buy one of the inflatable ones but decided to build this instead. I’d been planning on starting a KZhead channel for a while, so used this project to start it.
How do you drain it? Did tou add tap or do you just use pipe in water technique? Im looking at a v cheap tank to buy so thinking to do this set up. Cheers
The IBC tank has a valve/tap on it to drain. Since making it I have also fitted a standard hose tap adapter, so I can fit a hose pipe to it allowing me to drain and fill it through a hose pipe
Just the design I am looking for! Thank you. Have you put any thought into a lid?
I haven’t made one yet but I need to! It’s just got a cover meant for an outside table on it but the rain water gathers on top. I’m thinking of making a really basic lid out of some PIR insulation boards. 2 pieces glued together, one the size of the opening and the top one to fit the top ledge. Then I’ll probably just have that and the cover on. When I make the lid I’ll do another video of it.
@@Renovation-Dan how do you keep it clean? Chlorine for a hot tub? I am planning building mine this weekend!
@@donaldfamilyadventures2795 it depends how clean you want to keep it. I just use a pool net to remove any dirt etc then change the water every couple of months. I didn’t really want to use chemicals but a lot of people use chlorine to keep it clean longer. You can also get filters and pumps to circulate the water which helps keep it clean
@@Renovation-Danevery couple of months!? I have got an cold pod and change water every two weeks. Don’t like fact can’t see bottom of it so guessing it’s grimy at that point. Lid on it keeps leaves/dirt out. Tip for your cover if you poke small holes in the top if it rains it will just help fill the pool rather than sagging the cover in. Love your design tho! Where did you get the ibc from?
Hi , nice job. What size IBC did you use
Thank you. It was a 1000 litre IBC when cut down its roughly 700 litres I believe
Any good affordable places to source the cladding ? And can you remember ish how many metres you bought
I got mine from a local family run timber merchants. It’s worth looking around for smaller ones as they can often be cheaper. I got 7 lengths of 4.8m B grade cladding. I found the company through Facebook marketplace as they list those products on there. They were £4 per length.
What about some spray foam in between the planks and tank? Or even some Styrofoam? London is probably a much cooler climate but in South Texas I need something to keep it cold!
I haven't found the need for insulation but living in the midlands in the UK, we don't get particularly hot summers. If I was building it in a hotter climate I would definitely add insulation. I would either add thicker battens to leave space for PIR insulation or counter batten to leave more space for insulation. I would definitely recommend a insulated lid if its in direct sunlight. I dont currently have a lid on our because it doesn't get direct sunlight all day, but the issue I have is the waterproof cover filling with rain (we've had the wettest summer I can ever remember!). I plan on making a lid out of PIR insulation board and glueing the inside of the waterproof cover to this to make the cover have a solid top within it.
Could you maybe guide to some place that would explain best insulation practices, because Im in Spain and in summer it is too hot here, so wondering if there is any way to keep the water a bit colder before filling it up with ice everytime before use
@@suren1987 so the horizontal boards he used could be thicker which would make a deeper cavity for foam or batt insulation. Then you put the insulation between the container and the vertical planks.
How do you keep water clean or how often do you replace with fresh water?
I use a pool net to get any dirt etc out. Then change the water every couple of months. I actually added a tap connector to the Ibc tap, so that I can refill it by connecting a hose to that.
Hey man great video, can I ask how tall you are?
Thanks, I’m 6 foot
Are you in a cold climate? If so, what do you do in the winter so the water doesn't continually freeze? This is a great idea, but I'm curious about the freezing part, as we are Northeast U.S. and would need some way to keep it from freezing regularly. Thanks for any input!
It doesn’t get particularly cold here, usually only a couple of degrees below freezing. I’ve seen people in cold climates using metal stock tanks and just breaking the ice each time they use it. As long as you don’t leave it for too long, it shouldn’t freeze too much, so you should be able to break up the ice each usage.
@@Renovation-Dan Thanks. That's my one big hangup about putting a lot of work into one. The winters are so cold here I feel the work associated with keeping it from freezing would be quite labor intensive. I didn't know if people perhaps use some sort of small heater or something. I'll do some moe research. What you have made is beautiful.
@@secondchancecomposting you could look into pond pumps, because I believe if you can keep the water moving, it is less likely to freeze as much.
@@Renovation-Dan great point, thanks.
Do you have to refill it everytime? I'm considering making one, but I'd like to use the same water for a month at least.
No, you can easily get a month from the water without changing it. You can also add chlorine like a hot tub or swimming pool to keep it cleaner for longer but I prefer to have it chemical free. You can also add a pond pump to keep the water moving which helps prevent bacteria growth.
How do you keep the water clean without using chemicals?
I’ve noticed in the background of another video that you’ve lined the tub. Is there a video to explain why you had to do this and how do you drain it if it’s sealed now ?
The only change I’ve made since the video is to add a hose pipe connector onto the drain valve. I’m not sure which video it was you spotted it, I can only think it was when the tub was empty and the waterproof cover had dropped down inside, making it look like it was lined.
That’s exactly what it is buddy I’ve just had another look. Thanks for the reply. Great videos pal 👍🏼👍🏼
@@marksankey3872 thanks, appreciate it
Imagine leds behind the translucent plastic 😍😍😍😍😍😍
That would be pretty cool, probably not too hard either!
That’s awesome, great job. How is it working out for you? Whilst sat watching you build I’m researching IBC tanks (will one fit in the back of the van) and then thinking about how to keep the water clean?? It’ll be naturally cold in winter being the UK and a daily block of ice out the freezer, which is always on anyway so no additional cost will no doubt help keep it cooler in summer. I do believe I will be copying this idea, I’ve been thinking about an ice bath for a while and this is brilliant. The only real challenge is keeping the water clean 🧐
I put mine in the back of my pickup, so you should get one in a van. It really depends on how clean you want to keep it, I’ve got a pool cleaning net for picking out anything that finds it’s way in there but I’m not worried about it being pool level of clean. Some people put chlorine in but I didn’t really want to use chemicals in it. I find it lasts about 2 months before the water needs changing. You start to get a slight build up on the bottom of the tub and the water is less clear. I’ve heard of people using pond pumps to keep the water circulating as that really helps any build up from happening and you can also get filters to filter the water. Mine isn’t ideally placed for electrics to go to it, so I’ve left it as is.
Did you block the drain valve?
I added a tap fitting to it after I’d finished, so I can fill and empty it using a hose pipe
How often do you have to change the water?
It depends on a few things. Usually it lasts around per month but it depends how fussy you are in terms of how clean the water is. You can also add chlorine to keep the water cleaner for longer. I’ve added a hose adapter to the valve on the IBC so I can drain it using a hose pipe and also fill it using a hose pipe.
Love your projects. I just picked one up for $70 Canadian on FB Marketplace and plan to build my cladding from old fence boards and pressure treated 2x4 beams to really keep the cost down.. The guy who sold it to me was using it for the last 5 years to collect rainwater from his gutter to feed his vegitable garden. When I got home, I noticed a very faint sticker on the side denoting that it once contained BASF Gardoclean s 5192. I am wondering if anyone out there knows IF after 5 years of containing water and a very good cleaning / bleaching by me, would this be dangerous to use as an Ice Bath. Or am I pretty much in the clear buy now?
I’m not sure because I’m not familiar with the chemical, but after 5 years of use collecting rain water, I would have thought it would be safe to use.
Thank@@Renovation-Dan, I went ahead and built it. My Kids loved the idea, so I got them to help. Did it all in 3 hours and we couldn't wait to use it. Added a small pool filter and even took the water from my trailer trash pool as we dismantled it for the winter. The ice bath has just become a house staple with 5 of us competing for time to use it. Just need to wait for that good old Ontario winter and I'll save a fortune in Ice and freezer bills :-)
@@allyg8or amazing. I love that the kids helped out. Enjoy it!
How du you keep the water vold throughout the year?
The water stays cold a lot of the year here in the uk. If it gets too warm I use ice packs to cool it (frozen water bottles that can get frozen again for reuse). I did look into chiller systems but they seem to be very expensive!
How do you keep the water clean ?
I don’t add anything, just leave it covered and change the water once every month or so when it needs it. You can add chlorine tablets to keep it cleaner for longer or add a pond or pool filter to clean it, but I didn’t have suitable access to power for these options.
Did you treat the wood at all to protect from mold from the water?
No specific treatment, only the oil, which has held up well so far. There’s not been any mould issues up to now
@@Renovation-Dan thanks for the reply, I got my tank yesterday, so I’m just getting started. Going to make it very similar to this
@@Mmmmmk247 awesome, hope it goes well
Hi, Could you not just of used T&G floorboards & yacht varnish?
You could use any cladding really, it’s only cosmetic. I used the boards in the video because they were a really good price so kept the cost nice and low.
@@Renovation-Dan apologies. I meant that using that would negate the need for the plastic/metal bit. After all boats are just wood & varnish. Sorry for not being clear.
@@ivanbeacon5883 I’m not sure to be honest. I’ve seen people make similar things and have needed metal bands around them to stop the water pressure splitting the joins. The IBC tank just makes it a cheap and easy tub and has the added benefit of already having a tap built in.
Have you felt any of the health benefits from using it?
I definitely feel amazing after I get out, you can tell straight away, almost like an adrenaline rush. It's hard to tell in terms of the longer term health benefits for me personally though. The main things are sleep and immune system benefits, which is a tough one for me to say, because I sleep really well already and very rarely get ill. What I did notice more long term though is a lot of small ache and pains went away within a week or two and your muscles feel less tight. One other thing I noticed which isn't particularly something I was wanting to get out of it, is it seems to be very good for your skin!
No filters or plumbing? So you empty and fill every time? Maybe some filtering and pipe filling/emptying capabilities will improve it.
There’s no filter, it stays clean for a good few weeks before needing fresh water. I did add a pipe adapter to the Ibc valve, so it can be drained through a hose pipe and then refilled by attaching the hose to the outside tap and ibc valve.
I made one if them tanks this week.. delighted with it. Filled it with hose.. water temperature is 15 degrees currently. A friend suggested I need to be careful of Legionnaires disease? Now im freaking out? Is that a real risk, any think that could help?
It’s not something I’ve heard before. From a quick google search, I wouldn’t be worried. Sounds like it’s more of a risk in warmer water such as hot tubs. I’ve never known a single person catch it and I’d say the majority of people have been in a hot tub at some point in time.
So for legionnaires disease, The bacteria multiply where temperatures are between 20-45°C and nutrients are available. The bacteria are dormant below 20°C. A refrigeration expert told me that the disease only thrives in water vapour ie spray and steam at those critical temperatures
nice 5 degrees. :-)
Coldest I’ve had it is 2 degrees. That was seriously cold!
How many litres was this tank initially
I believe it was around 1000L
Hey - What are the measurements of your inside tank? :-)😊
It’s 1m x 1.2m and I think it’s 0.7m deep
how many people can it fit at one time?
We haven’t tried. You’d definitely fit 2 people easily. You could get more but it would be pretty cosy in there!
Have you got a tap 🚰 to drain it?
The IBC has a valve and large tap on it as standard but I’ve fitted a hose pipe adapter to it to make emptying it a bit more controlled. You can also fill it through the adapter which is handy.