Yesterday I was at Target and noticed a whole row of humidifiers and space heaters. There was an amazing variety of space heaters: ceramic, fan-style, ones for houses, ones for rooms. There also was a wide range of prices, from rather affordable to not-so affordable.Some people have written to me that they have used space heater for small spaces as a substitute for a traditional kotatsu heater, turning it off manually when it becomes to warm underneath the table. I strongly DO NOT RECOMMEND this.
I went through several boxes of space heaters that looked like potential kotatsu heaters, opening the box to read the user manual. Even for the tiny ceramic heater, which is just eclipsed by a box of Kleenex in size, is inappropriate for kotatsu usage. Minimum space clearance - the space you should have free round these types of heaters - is three feet front and back. Unless you happen to be using a dining table as a kotatsu, please avoid these types of space heaters. The smallest space they will safely heat is a room.
Alternatively, you could use no heater at all. Since the comforter creates an enclosed space, it will already trap heat generated by your body. This is also a good way to save on electricity.
12/12/07 Update: From discussions with readers, it seems that the best alternative so far is the Cozy Legs Radiant Heat Panel from Indus-Tools.
Dimensions: 22.5″ x 16″ x 1″
Weight: 8 pounds
Why it would be ideal: “Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that directly warms the objects in front of the heaters (rather than the surrounding air). If you only need heat by a desk or in a small section of a room, a radiant heater is quiet and will use very little power.” (pulled from site description)
Using triangular and elbow corner brackets, you could build a support for it by attaching these brackets into the table legs. Using triangular corner brackets would give it the most support, but having two elbow corner brackets would allow you to slide the panel in and out, according to the season.
Want to read more?
Project Kotatsu Post #1 - Introduction
Project Kotatsu Post #2 - Construction speculations
Project Kotatsu Post #3 - About heating alternatives
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Comments (5)
Hi! I’ve been interested in building my own kotatsu table for a while now. I may pick up a table from GoodWill, but I’d have to take a look at the frames (and then find someone who would bring it back for me, or if I could dismantle it and then carry it back myself)
The biggest problem for me is also your problem as well-finding a proper space heater.
I’ve been looking at this model:
http://www.amazon.com/Cozy-Legs-Radiant-Panel-CL-R/dp/B0009HMFPM/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1195591231&sr=8-1
It says it’s safe for floor and wall setups, but I’m not sure if that holds true to it being placed upside-down-if so, I would have to build a platform for it to rest on underneath the table.
If you think this would be safe for mounting under a table, I think I’ll go for it and get back to you with the results.
Also, just for reference, my roommate has agreed to let me modify our current table if I go ahead with the project-here are some photos of it. It’s pretty small, but since only 1-2 people would really be using it and the heater is only 100w, it should actually work quite well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/shoangore/P1010269.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/shoangore/P1010270.jpg
The lower ‘magazine rack’ is easily removable, just a little bit of unscrewing and it’ll pop off the top, and it can act as the weight to go on top of the futon.
Hi, I just came across this project while searching online for how I might also be able to build a kotatsu. Have you had any luck finding a suitable heating element?
I haven’t gotten my hands on the heater from Amazon that I’d originally spied. I did however receive sharper image’s tiny portable heater for Christmas. [ http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__VX351BLK ]
Like most other heaters, the product manual says not to put it within close proximity of places. However, with its fan, I’m able to blow the hot air across the distance and into the bubble area of the desk. All I do is prop up one side with some textbooks and the hot air is pumped in from the heater unit from outside.
It heats up fairly well, and once I’ve gotten warm, I just switch the heater to it’s low heat setting to maintain the level of heat.
(Also, the unit doesn’t get THAT hot, so I’ve moved it within 1-2 feet, but you MUST take care to make sure nothing will fall on it that’s easily flammable.)
The unit, while you first start using it, will smell a little, but that disappears after a bit of breaking in. Also, it doesn’t dry out your skin like other heaters are wont to do.
Hope this helps! Some day I’ll try out that panel heater…
Home about just using a low watt light bulb ? They produce heat. But thats just a hack I guess.
Well either way I feel like cutting a table today, cause my back hurts sitting to low at my computer on top of a basket atm