Humble Origins
The intended use for stock tanks is to fill them with water on farms and ranches for livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Some stock tankers say their parents or grandparents used them as makeshift pools since they were lying around the farm anyway. People used smaller versions of those galvanized receptacles in the early 20th century as the “Saturday night bath,” a weekly ritual for rural residents who lacked plumbing, hot running water (or just running water), and/or a sewer system. To properly clean and shampoo for church the next day, pots of water were heated on the stove and then poured into a washtub for a cramped but warm bath. Enjoy a look at 32 of our favorite stock tank pool designs—along with tips and how-tos—and get inspired. The DIY duo reveals instructions for building the bench, along with topics like camping, travel, friendship–and of course, all things stock tanks—in their popular blog.
