Has anyone made a DIY solarium? Am I silly to try?!

Vickijay

Vickijay

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Hi,

Now I have a super hairy, mostly white horse I constantly seem to be clipping and she looks like a hobo as she's mostly filthy because I can't wash her for fear of her freezing.

It got me thinking about making a cheap version of a solarium so I could dry filthy hobo pony off after washing.

I was wondering about things like these....

http://www.primrose.co.uk/firefly-2kw-free-standing-patio-heater-power-settings-p-22882.html?src=cat_promoted_product

Or

http://www.primrose.co.uk/12kw-electric-halogen-marquee-heater-single-heater-p-9305.html?cPath=1299_1300_3190&src=list_img

Has anyone done anything like this? Am I silly to even try?

If you have made one any pictures would be amazing!

Thanks :D
 
Hubby made one using 2 of the Red Infra red chicken lamps. They are in the spare stable hanging from chains from the rafters. Works really well.
 
TarrSteps said:
A couple people on here have homemade units. Doesn't PS? Might be worth a search back.

Oh, and it's NEVER silly to try! ;)
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What are you doing here?! I thought you were on holiday!

I quite like the free standing ones as they seem pretty easy. Get them out when needed and put away after!

I messaged PS earlier, am awaiting reply. Great minds and all that :)
 
I wouldn't go for free-standing ones, I'd be worried about them being knocked over.
I've known people fix 4 of the other ones in a stable, worked really well.
 
heat lamps for chickens are easily available from most farm supply shops, very useful for when you have pups too. you can also use wall mounted fan heaters for diy drying as with all things electrical should be fitted up by knowledgeable electrical person i also recomend circuit breakers (available from local garden centre) ( it is also best to use cb when clipping.)
 
My stable roof is pretty low and I'm worried if I have something attached to the roof that my naughty ponies would chew them. Unless it was on something that meant I could remove it easily.

Part of me thinks as I wouldn't use it that much that a big amount of DIY hecticness wouldn't be worth it...
 
I also immediately thought of heat lamps for kennels. You just plug em in and hang em from the roof. Don't know why I didn't think of this myself!
 
such great ideas here - i had resigned myself to the fact that unless i moved somewhere i'd have to have a dirty pony all winter! but i now am filled with ideas *wanders off to have a chat with yo* . . .
 
I have bars in my stables so am even more tempted my the stand up one as I could attach it to the bars on the sides of my stable whilst in use to prevent knocking over...

I just asked my boyfriend "where would I be able to buy some scaffolding bars from?" He said he's fed up with me being so girlie all the time!!!
 
TarrSteps said:
A couple people on here have homemade units. Doesn't PS? Might be worth a search back.

Oh, and it's NEVER silly to try! ;)
Click to expand...

Correctamundo :)

We have 2 patio heaters (total big standard ones!) installed, courtesy of Pappy PS/NMT.

They are fab and are a great alternative to spending oodles of money!
 
We have some special panels in the main foaling boxes that throw out some unreal heat! They are on chains high up and have one of those electric hook up type socket so you can take them down. They are either on or off but when you have a sick foal in January/February or washing sales horses this time of year they are really useful. I shall ask where they came from. I know they are expensive (the bulbs) but they really do give off good heat. If you had two in a normal stable it would be amazing as a solarium.
 
I'm getting some patio heaters for the livery yard, which will replace the Kylix solarium that we have which is now going in the new competition yard that we're building, and then I'm also going to get some for my own personal wash room :) They work just as well. If I knew before I would never have bought the solarium (although it does also have fans, which are quite handy), which cost £1,800!!!
 
MillionDollar said:
I'm getting some patio heaters for the livery yard, which will replace the Kylix solarium that we have which is now going in the new competition yard that we're building, and then I'm also going to get some for my own personal wash room :) They work just as well. If I knew before I would never have bought the solarium (although it does also have fans, which are quite handy), which cost £1,800!!!
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Would you really not have bought the solarium?
I am to get a solarium for Christmas but I could put those lights round the shower area and in two of the boxes for far less than the solariums we have been looking at .
 
meardsall_millie said:
I know a couple of people who have used something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproo...4?pt=UK_BOI_Restaurant_RL&hash=item25773c4540

Four of them fastened to 2 scaffolding poles and suspended from the ceiling. Works a treat :)
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Brilliant thanks, I have ordered ones similar to these ones :) :)

MillionDollar said:
I'm getting some patio heaters for the livery yard, which will replace the Kylix solarium that we have which is now going in the new competition yard that we're building, and then I'm also going to get some for my own personal wash room :) They work just as well. If I knew before I would never have bought the solarium (although it does also have fans, which are quite handy), which cost £1,800!!!
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That's good to know, I thought I was being a cheapskate only wanting a homemade DIY version but you saying that has made me feel better!!!
 
My new one. Working brilliantly with my cold backed horse. 2 poultry heaters on a bar on the ceiling of the stable. I'm about to upgrade to 4. He loves it!!!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBiI5ItbAp4/UJpQ2hNJguI/AAAAAAAAA6w/6zy3cHzB3es/s400/PICT0146.JPG


By the way, the lights are 250 watts. I simply would not have been able to mount the 1.2 kw lights suggested above high enough and he would have roasted! Total solution cost £50 not including the fitter's time as I have a tame one :)


ps he's 17 hands and 6ft 9 rug. A smaller horse would not need 2 for the back alone
 
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Vickijay just wanted to say a masive thanks for putting this thread up. Thanks to you I'm getting a DIY solarium. The thought hadn't crossed my mind before :rolleyes: but I was getting increasingly frustrated at having soggy horses from washing off after riding. Especially as mine live out and I'm riding at 6.30am or 8.30pm either side of work. Thankies!! :D
 
Goldenstar said:
Would you really not have bought the solarium?
I am to get a solarium for Christmas but I could put those lights round the shower area and in two of the boxes for far less than the solariums we have been looking at .
Click to expand...

If I could go back in time, there's no way I would buy the solarium again.....would save my money and just buy some patio heaters.
 
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