Having completed soldering all the seams of my custom copper bathtub, I was now faced with the most dreaded part of the project: fitting the newly made copper bathtub into place.
I had build both portions separately – independently of each other relying solely on the figures and calculations that I had scribbled across numerous sheets of paper and committed to memory.
Now however, was the time of truth. I paced around the copper bathtub several times trying to envision how I was going to lift this heavy behemoth by myself and gingerly maneuver it into place so that I could work it down into the awaiting form.
After a few cups of coffee I was ready.
I hoisted the tub flipping it up over my head much like preparing to portage my canoe. It seemed to be the most logical way to leverage the weight. This proved to be a great way to get it across the workspace and to the door but not the best way to get through the door.
Balancing the weight on one shoulder while maintaining my grip with the other hand I reached for a 2×4 or adequate length. Using the 2×4 as support along one inside edge I managed to flip the bathtub inverted and at waist level began to squeeze through the doorway.
I side stepped through the door struggling to carry the copper bathtub without denting it.
Properly aligned next to the tub I managed to set my leading edge just inside the lip of the form and then flipping the tub away it sank down halfway into the form. My heart skipped a beat. It was not dropping into the form as planned.
After a bit of maneuvering it slowly sank down fitting snugly at all sides and resting firmly on the bottom. The plan had worked. As I worked my way around the bathtub tapping the side I could feel that there was absolutely no room for play the fit was perfect.
I began to hammer down all of the flashing along the foot and length along the wall and the cap I had created for the outer edge was dead on firm. It could not have gone better. What a relief.
I added the pecky cypress to the exposed side to complete the outside of the tub and began to secure the copper flashing for the wet wall and shower decking at the head of the tub.
Next I would hang the antique elk antler lighting that I had rewired in the center of the bath and then turn my attention to hammering out the custom copper wash basin sink and begin making my custom copper faucets for both the exposed shower system and sink.
In the next installment of the small bathroom remodeling I hang the elk antler lighting.
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