looking for a big big bowl for foot soaks

[peace.love25941]

Hi all,

I am in the market for a big *ss bowl for foot soaks. I looked all over the internet to no avail. So, I contacted a potter in Wisconsin. I will have to check out more than one. I found her email on line and told her what I was looking for and she quoted me a price.

If you can imagine soaking your feet in a large bowl, both feet fitting comfortably in the bottom, water coming up about half way up your calf or so. This is a link to a picture of a place in Portland Oregon that uses this type of bowl. http://www.soakportland.com/Couchpic1.html I estimate these bowls are about 2 feet in diameter at the top, 1.5 feet in diameter at the bottom, and about 1 feet deep.

She said it would cost about $275. She is quite a ways away from me, so I doubt if a trade would work to cut back on the price. I will have to find a local potter somehow and see if they are about the same or less.

I really want to get into speciallty foot soaks and dump my little inexpensive portable foot bath. A piece like this would set me apart from everyone else in the area.

Is anyone familiar with pottery prices?? Is $275 a good price for a piece this large??

Thanks much,

Christine

 

[Fashionislove]

Have I seen planters at Menards like that? Hmmmmmmm maybe....I don't usually pay much attention, but you might check the box stores, home depot, menards, lowes (if you have lowes). OR florists.

 

[leons1701]

i was on another board, and saw this posting:

"I purchased a HUGE silver bowl at IKEA for around $10. Works great for foot soaks and would be perfect for pedicures."

and also this posting:

"Universal companies has pedicure bowls on page 277 of their new caeforum.xxxloe
They look really nice, I have been considering them.
http://www.universalcompanies.com "

and

"This is the pedicure tub w/liner. It is a plastic tub for $24.50 and the disposable liner refills are $64.00 for 100. Page 199 of the 2006 catalog. " (universal)

good luck

 

[Glorio]

IMO, yes, 275 is a fair price. she is a potter. that's what she does. if you want an artist to make this piece, that's what you'll pay.

that being said... i have one of these. it's this big, it's beautiful. and it is heavy. i can't begin to tell you how much it weighs with water in it. i couldn't handle the weight of it several times a day, so i turned it into my backporch water fountain. (and yes it cost that much too, but i was able to trade it out)

maybe a planter would be more economical like mick suggested. but then it would look like a planter.. have you thought about something like this?

http://www.universalcompanies.com/catalogs/CatViewer2006/viewer.asp?offset=277

i think that will still be in the $200 range, for the copper, but the weight will be more easier to manage.

just something to think about - good luck!
amanda

 

[artan]

Yes, I know it would be heavy. I was planing on having it on a rolling stand. I would be able to roll it out of my room, up the elevator and dump it in the shower upstairs.

I was shying away from a metal or plastic pan because the pottery would hold the heat in better. As for using a planter, the ones I have seen all have a big hole in the bottom. Plus, they usually are not glazed on the inside.

I will look at the links provided.

Thanks much,

Christine

 

[Joris D]

Have you looked at the garden centers?
Our local Home Depot, and Canadian Tire have a lot of import pottery. Most for less than $50.00. Some are even rectangular with an oriental look.

If it isn't sealed on the inside, you could use liquid acrylic or epoxy to seal (marine grade epoxy eg West System). This can also be tinted white or black.

My concern would also be weight, and dumping safety... even in the shower stall. A plumbing shop might be able to drill and install a drain tap (they have fittings for glass etc.)

It's a neat idea, and the more I think about it the more I like the idea. I'll have to stick with plastic tubs for the outcalls though :wink:

 

[Paige A.]

Hmmmm....

Wow, I never thought of sealing the inside myself!! And my man's dad owns a paint and decorating shop.

And to have someone install a drain on it!! Wow!! Great idea. I will have to look into that!!

Off to the big stores I am!!

Christine

 

[My Bastard Son Has AIDS]

Hmmmm....

Wow, I never thought of sealing the inside myself!! And my man's dad owns a paint and decorating shop.

And to have someone install a drain on it!! Wow!! Great idea. I will have to look into that!!

Christine

Since it might already have a hole in the bottom and you'll be putting it on wheels, the drain will be easy. Some pipe fittings, a valve, some gasketing, short hose. Fun stuff!

Another thought, is to find a pottery class, and ask them to make one for you, or to glaze the inside of a piece that you buy. I'd think that a rectangle or square with a flat bottom will be much nicer than a bowl. Tipping wobbling, etc.

 

[Selma L]

how'd it work out for you? did you find something suitable?

 

[xjuskk]

Christine, yesterday my Target store had a large "embossed" looking copper basin in the "patio clearance" section... one of those "ethnic" looking pieces imported from India (not suitable for food I guess... so not sure if it would work for feet or not). But you might check your local Target to see if you have something similar there. It was only $12. *Shrug*

 

[Torigirl]

Well, I do not have anything yet. I have been in contact with a local shop keeper who sells local artists things. She said they are having an artist's meeting soon and she will discuss it there and get back to me. I will give her until the end of the month and stop in by her shop again.

If that falls through, I will probably contact the potter from the Madison area who quoted me a price of $275.

I want to change my rates and there for my price brochure in November, so I would like to find something suitable by October.

Christine

 

[Pompal 09.]

Ok, I also thought it'd make a rather awesome fountain for a treatment room. There are so many ways that water can enhance a massage or spa service aren't there? :

 

[mJc]

Christine, yesterday my Target store had a large "embossed" looking copper basin in the "patio clearance" section... one of those "ethnic" looking pieces imported from India (not suitable for food I guess... so not sure if it would work for feet or not). But you might check your local Target to see if you have something similar there. It was only $12. *Shrug*

I saw the same thing at my Target and immediately thought of this thread. I thought they would work well for foot soaks.

Angie

 

[Jordan]

The nearest Target is a 50 mile drive for me.

How deep and wide is this pot? Does it have a hole in the bottom??


Christine

 

[whay????]

Ok, I also thought it'd make a rather awesome fountain for a treatment room. There are so many ways that water can enhance a massage or spa service aren't there? :

gotta be careful with the sound of bubbling water in a treatment room - seems to remind people to go to the toilet too much. Plus I think it is not good feng shui - water and movement are good at the entrance or an area you want activity, but shouldn't be in a treatment room itself where you're after relaxation. Or at least that's what someone said on here, and it made sense to me, particularly when you add the bladder issue

 

[Mr McGoo]

gotta be careful with the sound of bubbling water in a treatment room - seems to remind people to go to the toilet too much. Plus I think it is not good feng shui

I don't know anything about feng shui but the toliet thing is a myth. I've had a fountain in my treatment room for quite a while now and I've never had even one person need to interrupt their massage to go to the bathroom or had anyone running through the hallway afterwards to get there quick.

Angie

 

[Pierina]

Just because people don't need to interrupt their massage to go to the toilet, does not mean they haven't started thinking about going to the toilet. I think anything that distracts them from their massage response is not a good thing. Just because people don't complain or scramble to the toilet does not mean they have not been affected by it. It won't affect everyone.

It's obviously more of an issue with pregnant clients. They'll use the bathroom before the massage and they will still be scrambling to use the bathroom after the massage if I've done a lot of lymphatic work on their legs, a few have even interrupted their massage so they can go to the bathroom - and most of those have been when I've run the tap in the sink. Maybe they just decided they wanted to use the bathroom because I left them alone for a minute to get fresh water, but it seems to be the running water that sets them off. Empirical evidence seems to support the fact some people are affected and it is not a myth.

 

[badkitty1969]

Maybe you should find a pottery class and make it learn to make it yourself... I bet you could do it for under $275... but just make sure it is specific to what your needs are, not just making a mug or something...

 

[Jamie]

The nearest Target is a 50 mile drive for me.

How deep and wide is this pot? Does it have a hole in the bottom??


Christine

Well it might not be as deep as you want. It was probably about 16 inches across and probably 10-12 inches deep, that is just off the top of my head though. *Sigh*
It might be what you had in mind. But I thought it was a neat bowl for a foot soak... and would have looked awesome with some colorful petals floating about with the client's bare feet. Pretty as a picture! :wnk:
No it didn't have a drain in the bottom, it was literally a copper bowl or basin with a design "embossed" into it. I might go out to Target again tomorrow, I'll take a tape measure and see if I can get more exact measurements for you if it's still there.

I saw the same thing at my Target and immediately thought of this thread. I thought they would work well for foot soaks.

Well, glad it wasn't just me that saw them and they'd be awesome for a foot soak Angie! I sure thought it was a good buy for the size! (BTW, they had some twin percale sheets in summery stripes and florals on clearance too...)

 

[gwhizcat]

I use a huge stainless steel bowl I got from a commercial kitchen place, they have all kinds of wonderful things, but it's only about 8 inches deep. No where near up to the knee like the bowls used at Soak (you can see how full the bowls are and how much of the leg is included in the soak in the video on this page http://www.soakportland.com/Media.html where you can also see them filling and wheeling the bowls around)