Woodworker gives new life for old hot tubs

It all started with a cradle. Pat Murphy, owner of Home Environments in north Spokane, had drawn his niece’s name for Christmas. She was expecting her first baby. As he pondered gift ideas, he spied an old teak hot tub a customer had brought in when he purchased a new tub.

An avid woodworker, Murphy took the teak home to his workshop and crafted a beautiful cradle for his niece’s baby. Then he began wondering what else he could make out of the wood from old hot tubs.

A better question might be what can’t he make? Murphy has crafted outdoor planters, a wine rack, and patio furniture from wooden hot tubs. “Some folks actually cut up the old wood and burn it,” he said, shaking his head.

Years ago, hot tubs were often made of teak and redwood. In Murphy’s showroom at Home Environments, one can see that much has changed in the industry. Nowadays, most tubs are made from thermal plastics. “Wood tubs are extremely expensive and difficult to maintain,” he said.

After creating the cradle for his niece, Murphy drew additional inspiration from his family. He pointed to a redwood patio loveseat. The seat features wooden wheels and rope netting to support the cushions. “My grandparents had one just like this at their lake place,” he said. “This is the fourth one I’ve made.”

Since Murphy has been in business for 32 years, he enjoys longstanding relationships with his customers. Hot tubs eventually wear out, and when folks come into the store looking for replacements Murphy encourages them to bring him the wood from their old tubs.

His latest work has been his most ambitious project to date. Last fall, longtime customer Tom Martin visited the store. The redwood tub he’d purchased from Murphy 30 years ago had finally outlived its usefulness. Murphy told Martin that if he brought in his redwood tub, he would make a patio table for him.

Last week, Martin arrived at Home Environments to pick up the finished product. What he saw amazed him. His old hot tub had been transformed into a gleaming, 50-inch oval table.

Murphy explained the process. “I let the wood dry really well in my shop. Then I put each board through my planer.”

At first Murphy wasn’t sure what shape the table should take. But as he gestured to his workmanship, he said, “As you can see, I conquered the oval.”

From beneath a clear coat of outdoor marine-grade varnish, defects in the wood like water stains and nail holes add character and interest to the table. The metal nameplate of the tub’s maker, California Cooperage, became the perfect cover for the floor drain.

Surveying his work, Murphy said, “Tom got 30 years of life out of his hot tub – he should get 30 years of life out of this table.”

Martin ran his hands across his new piece of furniture and admired Murphy’s craftsmanship. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “I’m going to put it in my covered deck.”

For Murphy’s part, he’s just glad the beautiful pieces of redwood have found new life. “It’s kind of nice,” he said. “It’s satisfying.”