IDEA! Kotatsu

[fohfoh]

Ok, for the generally misinformed. In a nutshell, Kotatsu = table with blankey with heater = warm = snuggable.

Now, when I was younger, I would drape blankets over heat vents (in a house with a heating system for those who live in warm areas) and just capture all the warm air that way. Similar to a kotatsu... sorta. Minus the fact, no table.

When I study, I generally wrap myself in a blanket. Recently, I've been draping my blanket somewhat over a chair and using a portable heater to blow warm air into the area under the chair. Warms the air nicely, but often quickly overheats.


So... after doing a bit of googling and finding people dismantling and reworking "Lack" tables from ikea, modding it to deal with a kotatsu warmer, adding change in voltage system etc, etc. I've discovered it's super... complicated, and supposedly pricey.

IDEA: "Lazy Kotatsu System".

1. Need table (Coffee table likely)
2. Need "board" for table (Goes on top of the blanket. May need heavier board depending on thickness of blanket)
3. Need blanket. Bedsheet for 'cheap', proper blanket if available.
4. Portable heater OR, if you don't mind being close to a wall that has a heating vent, you can use the vent.

Step 1: Place table in area
Step 2: Place blanket on table
Step 3: Place board over blanket and on top of table
Step 4: Use portable heater or heat vent to warm area under blanket.
Step 5: Profit
Repeat step 4 if necessary to increase temperature under blanket. (In my experience, an area 2ft by 2ft by 1.5 ft (under the chair) would need reheating maybe once every 2-3 hours but also depending if it became too warm and I'd open it to release all the warm air.


What do you think?

Any suggestions for improvement?

Any suggestions for "cheap" items that can be used as "parts"? Garage sale cruising isn't the most "consistent" of methods.

I mean, hell, if I could find it, I'd love to have a slab of marble to put on top of the table. But LIKE HELL that would happen, right?

[TMRNetShark]

I can make it easier for you.

1 Table
1 electric blanket
1 board about the size and shape of the table.
8-16 nails

Shape the electric blanket on the bottom side of the table. Use a board to keep in place and nail it down (be sure to avoid the cables in the electric blanket).

You have yourself a Kotatsu!

[fohfoh]

Sounds more complicated than than mine.

Electric blanket more complicated than regular blanket.
Nails more complicated than relying on weight of board.
Portable heaters are like $25 bucks (ordering one on newegg atm. I bought one, then my bro stole it. it's a great portable heater regardless of kotatsu idea) Not sure how much an electric blanket will put me back, but the idea of putting nails into an electric blanket sounds semi suicidal.

[TMRNetShark]

Sounds more complicated than than mine.

Electric blanket more complicated than regular blanket.
Nails more complicated than relying on weight of board.
Portable heaters are like $25 bucks (ordering one on newegg atm. I bought one, then my bro stole it. it's a great portable heater regardless of kotatsu idea) Not sure how much an electric blanket will put me back, but the idea of putting nails into an electric blanket sounds semi suicidal.

Not much more than your average portable heater... but they give a uniform warmth versus warmth coming from one direction. Just a thought though.

[fohfoh]

Sounds more complicated than than mine.

Electric blanket more complicated than regular blanket.
Nails more complicated than relying on weight of board.
Portable heaters are like $25 bucks (ordering one on newegg atm. I bought one, then my bro stole it. it's a great portable heater regardless of kotatsu idea) Not sure how much an electric blanket will put me back, but the idea of putting nails into an electric blanket sounds semi suicidal.

Not much more than your average portable heater... but they give a uniform warmth versus warmth coming from one direction. Just a thought though.

True, but the heater will be turned off and removed once the area under the kotatsu is warmed up. Lasts about 2-3 hours at least with no additional warming. Those portable heaters blowing hot air on your legs... isn't a good idea. It's like getting sunburned within moments of turning it on. (At least the one I'm purchasing anyways)

[Meomix]

1. buy a water blanket
2. put over table
3. ???
4. profit

[fohfoh]

1. buy a water blanket
2. put over table
3.
4. profit

3 = woman?

I have no idea what else you would try to achieve by putting a foamy thing on a table.

[kitamesume]

...

wear a jacket and a thick long pants. no tables needed, no blanket, no nails, no heater.

all in all, its cheap.

ok on a serious note, close all your windows, turn your PC on and start folding, the PC will warm up the whole room.
Edit: if you want, put the PC under a kotatsu and use the PC as the heater.

[kurandoinu]

What's a water blanket? It sounds messy.

[Meomix]

What's a water blanket? It sounds messy.

A blanket you fill water into, it comes with a generator to make it warm.

[Airhawk]

I actually read the thread asif the IKEA was selling Kotatsu's ...

[tomoya-kun]

Post a pic if you ever desire to making/.

[fohfoh]

...

wear a jacket and a thick long pants. no tables needed, no blanket, no nails, no heater.

all in all, its cheap.

ok on a serious note, close all your windows, turn your PC on and start folding, the PC will warm up the whole room.
Edit: if you want, put the PC under a kotatsu and use the PC as the heater.

I haven't used a desktop in a while. I've only ever owned personal laptops. But blankets are comfyier than clothing.

I actually read the thread asif the IKEA was selling Kotatsu's ...

One can only wish it becomes true one day...

What's a water blanket? It sounds messy.

A blanket you fill water into, it comes with a generator to make it warm.

Totally found something different when I googled it lol.

Post a pic if you ever desire to making/.

There's websites out there already about other people who succeeded. However, I need to find some good "materials" to work with. (Mainly board and table.) But if I put it together, I'll make record of it here. 

[kitamesume]

^ i suggest you start making one by using plywood, its cheap, easy to work with and pretty much decent.

[fohfoh]

^ i suggest you start making one by using plywood, its cheap, easy to work with and pretty much decent.

I can easily build a table with plywood (would only use high grade) and 2x4. But after scoping out the hardware providers, raw materials alone would probably ring me up around 50-60 bucks for wood, sandpaper and nails. So looking for a prebuilt coffee table is much more cost efficient.

[Ozzaharwood]

I actually read the thread asif the IKEA was selling Kotatsu's ...

Wow, that's creepy. I thought the same thing.

TBH instead of going through the whole hassle of making one, I'd suggest ordering one over the internet. It may cost a few extra bucks (The average that I found were $200-$300) but it saves a lot of time and is genuine; So you don't have to worry about it not working.

[Bob2004]

I actually read the thread asif the IKEA was selling Kotatsu's ...

Wow, that's creepy. I thought the same thing.

TBH instead of going through the whole hassle of making one, I'd suggest ordering one over the internet. It may cost a few extra bucks (The average that I found were $200-$300) but it saves a lot of time and is genuine; So you don't have to worry about it not working.

All the ones I saw on ebay and the likes did go for around $200-300, it's true - but shipping from Japan was another $250 or so on top of that, so it's probably not a viable option at all unless there's some American company which imports them in bulk and can therefore sell them cheaper (which I think is unlikely - they're not exactly in high demand outside of Japan, after all).

[datora]

.

1. buy a water blanket
2. put over table
3.
4. profit

3 = woman?

Nah.  You said you were on a budget.  Definitely avoid women ...


Depending on your location, check Goodwill.  In my area there are five within ~10 miles.  Takes about 2 hours to drive to all of them and actually walk in for a few minutes.  They have all sorts of miscellaneous furniture real cheap.  Should be able to get a table for ~$15-$25.  Look for one that is solid but don't care about looks much as your base, and second one that's broken a bit but real cheap and a decent looking top.  Use the top from the second one for your surface.

Blankets should be very abundant and cheap.  I recently got a solid wool, queen-sized blanket for $10, and there were 30 or 40 others to choose from between all the shops.  All kinds of various quilts and patterns and such.

Apart from Goodwill, there's also Salvation Army, and various churches often have thrift shops with similar, dirt-cheap options.  Look around and you can probably save a bit of money on other things you need (clothes, cookware, etc.), maybe even find a heater, and you can invest a few of those $$$'s back into table/blanket.

[fohfoh]

I was considering the same thing... but Goodwill and Salvation armies have been shutting down for the last few years, so I have no idea whether there's any left. Which is why I've been scouting garage sales (been looking for a shelf too). Worst case scenario, IKEA is about 1:30 drive away. A bit Lengthy, but not impossible.

But I probably should google a location or something. lol.

Though I probably should begin checking out what height of a table would work best.

There's Kijiji (sorta like craigslist) but I've gotten sick and tired of the thing disappearing well before you're able to go check it out. Would avoid if possible.

But yeah, taking apart a second table to use as the top is an idea that I've considered as well. Except I was thinking desks and not coffee tables.

[kitamesume]

^50cm +/- 10cm works good as a small table, you`ll be sitting on the floor though.

70cm +/- 10cm with a low chair.

Edit: the +/- 10cm depends on how tall you are.