: Perhaps I can tap this brain trust for inspiration.

: Before the crash, I was planning on installing a jacuzzi
: style tub with jets for our bathroom makeover. The old
: claw foot iron tub was nice but cooled off the hot water
: so badly we would have to install a larger water heater to use it.

: Since I now have more time than money, plan B is to build a single
: person wooden hot/soaking tub for the bathroom.

: Now my wife says she always hated those jacuzzi tubs but went along
: with me because I said that's what I wanted.

: She said she always wanted a japanese style deep soaking tub.

: The traditional Japanese "Ofuro" soaking tub is rectangular and on
: the surface
: seems an easier build, but since there can be no gluing, the jointery is
: critical.
: I have not been able to find any information on how they go together but I
: would
: reconsider a ofuro if I could.

: So, I'm planning on building a northern white cedar barrel, traditional
: hot/soaking tub.
: Simple tub, without water jets, just a drain hole. I can figure out the
: woodworking and
: water tight problems and I like the round shape.

: The bands that hold the barrel stays together are the problem to solve.

: Understandably, the commercial companies don't offer parts or I haven't found
: one that did
: so buying the stainless bands they use is not easy, and if I can come up with
: an elegant
: less expensive alternative, that would be a plus.

: I will use windlass or ratcheting straps to assemble the tub but I would not
: want to
: leave them in place as a permanent solution.

: I have a few ideas but would welcome yours.

: All the best,
: Rob

I'll bet someone already said this, but for bands- just stop by a sheetmetal shop. Tell them to leave the burr on the same side when they shear them (just flip the sheet after each cut) and put the burr towards the wood. You'll have a nice rolled edge without any messing around. Here in Miami, all schools and gov buildings use S.S. architectural metal so every gutter shop in town has it in stock up to about 20 gauge; maybe the same in your neck of the woods. If you want a grain pattern on it use a hand held belt sander with a coarse grit, or use scotchbrite preferably. This same shop is almost guaranteed to have a spot welder. Wrap the bands around the tub and make a mark for alignment and bring it back to spotweld, or make a template of the tub to take with you.

As far as epoxy goes, I don't know the name of the brand- but there is a brand all bowyers use to build laminated limbs and it is cured in a hot box. I cant remember were to find it, but search for bowyer supplies and you'll find high temp epoxy that can be ordered in small quantities.