DIY sauna?

OP-
Got a yard? Build a sweatlodge. Cost? Zero to whatever.

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Originally Posted by mmmm...pow!

Got one from this company, though bought it on Amazon. Delivered right to the driveway, put it together solo, took maybe a week or so just knocking out a bit each day. Got the Harvia wood stove. What do you want to know? Our model seats 4, takes maybe a half hour to heat during the winter, a single piece of oak at a time once it's going gets it roasting in there.
I was never much of a sauna guy, but the lady wanted it, now I'm in there 2-3 times a week all winter. Pretty sweet to get in there with some tunes while it's dumping outside.
[URL="https://allwoodoutlet.com/SAUNA-KITS-AND-SAUNA-ACCESSORIES./ALLWOOD-BARREL-SAUNAS"]]

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The barrel saunas really look nice. When I finish my landscaping/deck building in the backyard, I'm dropping in an octagonal wood-fired hot tub with a copper bottom I built with 22 inch by 2-3/4 inch clear heart redwood that was harvested around 1890. The wood was rough cut joists but I ran the inside of each panel through a giant planer. Fire is built under the copper bottom Ofuro style. Can't wait to put it in place.

https://allwoodoutlet.com/image/cach...2K-470x403.jpg

How long do the outdoor ones last? In Seattle? I like those the best but don't want to have to rebuild it every 2 years.

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Originally Posted by samthaman

Anyone build their own sauna? What type of work is involved? rough cost?

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3x6m, pre-profiled timber frame, wood stove+ chimney, windows, roof, basework, self built= 6000$
Straight forward, 3-4 days from ground up if you have drawings and you are not constructing it into some challenging terrain.

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Originally Posted by samthaman

My new place is going to have a garage and I was brainstorming my dream uses for the space and sauna came to mind. Would putting it inside a larger garage be stupid for any reason?

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Electric stove (Harvia, Narvi) would be the choice in that case. And yes, with saunas prover ventilation (replacement air) is the absolute key. You need fresh air in and moisture out. Building inside a structure is more challenging as you have to vapour proof the construction and maybe have a electric ventilation that you flip on for 15-30mins after a session. Otherwise, it is quite straightforward.

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Originally Posted by Supermoon

You can buy an infrared sauna from Costco for $1500 delivered to your door.

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You can get a tug-job from a hobo and it classifies as sex.
I rather have an all-night schmutz session with gymnastically talented brazilian au-pair.

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Originally Posted by shirk

Real sauna's are wood fired, no electric or infrared bull shit.
Also should be beside a lake or pond or suitable body of water for dunking.

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Shirk gets it.

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Originally Posted by MTT

That's what I was gonna say. Nice tile shower with bench that is a steam room. It's the shit and will get lots of use.

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MTT does not get it and goes the hobo way.

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Originally Posted by Cruiser

I wanna add a small 2-4 person wood fired unit off the back porch of my cabin. Anyone got experience with these type of structures or the Harvia wood burning heaters?

https://almostheaven.com/product/allegheny-sauna/

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Absolutely ridiculous price for that contraption. If you can get hands on that kind of pre-profiled stuff (32mm/58mm/90mm) you just buy it in lenght, build up to a size and then make the door/window openings, benches and install the stove etc.
A no brainer. If you need some plans/ideas let me know.

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Originally Posted by Wrecked

I guess my point was that I’d just get bored sitting there staring at shiny walls and light bulbs. Having a wood burner and nice cedar walls is more interesting to me. I’d get bored without a fire to tend to. But I’m a freak.

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No you are not, you are a man of good taste.

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Originally Posted by Garbowski

How long do the outdoor ones last? In Seattle? I like those the best but don't want to have to rebuild it every 2 years.

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Seatle seems a bit rainier than most parts of scandihoovia, but if the sauna is properly taken care of, decades.

The key is proper construction (ventilation, built off the ground, not insulating the floor etc..) and to dry it properly after use, ia, throw in couple of logs in the stove after a session.

In my old house I had an original sauna from 1938 that hadn't been renovated since its construction. Best sauna, ever.
At grandfathers place there is a timber frame sauna that has been built in the start of 20th still running strong.

Some of your guys are worst than a dreaded tele skier, “hurr durr real wood only real sauna, hurr durr bendy knee wood straight ski only way down hill...”

Infrared is a better option for day to day home use.

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Originally Posted by mud

I can break mine down in about ten minutes. Unplug the cords on the top then take the top off and the walls are held together by grooves in the floorboard and buckles in the back, there are no nails or screws that hold it together. It's not as light as a tent but it breaks down and is easy to move.
Attachment 349581

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Make/model? Is that a Golden Designs?

I’ve looked into an IR and with winter coming and covid raging feel like I’d really enjoy one. Used to go to rec center and use the sauna and steam room a bunch.

Dynamic saunas 2 person Venice model, they are based in Ontario, CA but I got it off Amazon. I think they changed the name but it looks like all their models have clasp together walls. I wouldnt put it on carpet since it can leak a little, title or concrete only.

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Smashing at 190 degree temp is an advanced manoeuvre

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The only time it's acceptable to leave the door open.

Thanks mud!

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Originally Posted by mud

Some of your guys are worst than a dreaded tele skier, “hurr durr real wood only real sauna, hurr durr bendy knee wood straight ski only way down hill...”

Infrared is a better option for day to day home use.

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Seriously.

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Originally Posted by mud

Some of your guys are worst than a dreaded tele skier, “hurr durr real wood only real sauna, hurr durr bendy knee wood straight ski only way down hill...”

Infrared is a better option for day to day home use.

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Infrared is not sauna.

Rax is not a ski

Ymmv

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Originally Posted by mud

Some of your guys are worst than a dreaded tele skier, “hurr durr real wood only real sauna, hurr durr bendy knee wood straight ski only way down hill...”

Infrared is a better option for day to day home use.

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Your right for opinions have been revoked for two weeks.
Please leave the premises.

When I was in college our house was a slightly tamer version of animal house. We weren't a frat because we were hippie dirtbags on drugs. We built a sweat lodge in the front yard out of anything bendable and covered it with plastic, rugs and whatever else we found to hold heat in. It was dope. Had a pit in the middle and we heated rocks in the fireplace in the house and carried them out to the lodge and dropped them in the pit.

Our house was across the street from the women's field hockey area and we'd walk out of the house naked while the girls were playing and think nothing of it and nobody ever said shit. We had that house for three years. It was a dump with the cheapest rent near campus and we loved it, We comprised our own bluegrass band and would have sweat lodge parties and play music all night. The house on Taylor Street rocked.

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Originally Posted by splat

We weren't a frat because we were hippie dirtbags on drugs. We comprised our own bluegrass band and would have sweat lodge parties and play music all night.

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I'll bet the smell was incredible.

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Originally Posted by Meathelmet

Your right for opinions have been revoked for two weeks.
Please leave the premises.

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Attachment 349745

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

I'll bet the smell was incredible.

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lmao. fer sher. mang.

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Infrared is not sauna.

Rax is not a ski

Ymmv

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If it's hot enough that you're sweating your ass off and more than 20-30 minutes would cause hyperthermia, it's a sauna.

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Originally Posted by Dantheman

If it's hot enough that you're sweating your ass off and more than 20-30 minutes would cause hyperthermia, it's a sauna.

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NO

Sauna is hot air
Really hot air
Wood fired, electric, unicorn farts, we can argue about the heat source

But infrared is different.
I’m not saying you can’t enjoy it.
But you cannot call it sauna

I’m really tempted to get one from allwood.com. They’ve got a 3 person barrel sauna with electric heater for $3k. Anyone else have good experience with these?

i cleared some brush today to make way for a future sauna

would you guys step it up and build something so i don’t look like a fool next spring?

this sears catalogue theme is bullshit


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I would have thought my college days reminiscence would inspire you, shroom.

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Originally Posted by MTT

That's what I was gonna say. Nice tile shower with bench that is a steam room. It's the shit and will get lots of use.

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If you are in the PNW...I could see a sauna. Here in CO, I can’t imagine going into a sauna in the winter and drying out even more.

Our master shower has a bench and a “Mr. Steam” branded steamer...I love it in the winter when I am congested.


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Originally Posted by gretch6364

If you are in the PNW...I could see a sauna. Here in CO, I can’t imagine going into a sauna in the winter and drying out even more.

Our master shower has a bench and a “Mr. Steam” branded steamer...I love it in the winter when I am congested.


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You know that you are supposed to pour water over the coals right?

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Originally Posted by Garbowski

How long do the outdoor ones last? In Seattle? I like those the best but don't want to have to rebuild it every 2 years.

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Mine is only a few years old, but no reason it won't last a while if you do it right. Definitely get a shingled roof, and put some sort of sealant on the wood. Since I'm inside it sweating in high temps, I went natural with beeswax, linseed might be easier (or a blend of the two). Usually leave the door open when I'm done to dry it out.

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Originally Posted by splat

When I was in college our house was a slightly tamer version of animal house. We weren't a frat because we were hippie dirtbags on drugs. We built a sweat lodge in the front yard out of anything bendable and covered it with plastic, rugs and whatever else we found to hold heat in. It was dope. Had a pit in the middle and we heated rocks in the fireplace in the house and carried them out to the lodge and dropped them in the pit..

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ditto, ibid, op cit.
The Stinky House. It's in one of the older Ski Journals:

The Stinky House

Creaking open the door, the militant mildew laid it's lock on your nose.

The dingy, northern light seeped through window, green with molds. Large indiscriminant insects hovered next to the bathtub, rubbing their squeaky viola legs together, reminiscent of used car salesmen.

The bathroom was layered with legions of dirty towels that had to be beaten into submission.

The toilet was textured Jackson Pollack taupe and avocado green.

More than one phonecall to Ralph talking to God about Buicks had been made on that telephone.

The crown jewel of the installation were the mushrooms: several clusters of 4 inch long mucilaginous mycological monsters clinging to the bathtub tiles that truly defined the funkiest loo ever.

The living room was jumbled with an assortment of ripped couches, plastic milk crates, dilapidated chairs, reeking beer bottles and cigarette butts.

The couches were consistently strewn with one dirtbag chrysalis or another, exuding a transluscent, sweaty glow, wrapped in some once glorious 800 fill portawomb, a bag of partly smoked funkweed within reach.

It was fair game to attempt to lob a butt into the yawning maw of the unsuspecting snoozer.

The ceiling sported an intricate celtic knot, better entertainment than the battered TV with the coat hanger antenna where we watched Letterman and the Flying Circus, not to omit Benny Hill.

Chunks of plaster randomly bombarded the unaware.

Socks of the indigent littered the scene and were burnt in secretive piles in the back yard.

The dining room had a formica table. We had no utensils. Any "meal" involved beating each other with chunks of whatever beast was available and wrestling for the carcass.

An old Macintosh stereo inhabited the built-in china cabinet and stacks of LPs and singles from bands like the Residents or Bush Tetras slumped in the corners.

The kitchen was beyond dirty. Hazmat suits should have been required for the layers of festering cold cuts, rotted eggs, moldy bagels and creamcheeses.

It could've asphixiated a Frenchman.

It squelched any appetite, was rarely used and never cleaned except when Dean the Weirdo had a glass smashing tantrum and then only the shards of foot gashing glass were sought.

The cabinet doors had been victims of late night doodle fests and were wrought with intricately meaningless cuniform, curlicues, cartoons and porn.

Coupled with globs of wax, p-tex, and art projects: pickled dolls parts, hacked and reglommed plastic army men and circuit boards that had "YouAre Here-->" stenciled into them, it was home, a rainforest of new undocumented species.

We'd continue the theme at our first house, an old fishing shack on an ice cold Cascades river. The worst part was when the occasional rock would explode from moisture trapped inside.

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Originally Posted by altacoup

I’m really tempted to get one from allwood.com. They’ve got a 3 person barrel sauna with electric heater for $3k. Anyone else have good experience with these?

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I've been happy with mine. I'm not a pro handyman, but I've got basic skills and basic tools and figured it out pretty easy with a couple trips to the hardware store and renting a saw to cut the doorway. The thing is solid, I can't really give you a comparison but it's quality. You might want to consider the 4 person, unless you want to sit upright all the time. With the 4 person you have two benches, so 2 people can put legs up on the benches and lay down if you want. I went with the wood stove, it would easily heat something 2-3 times that size, but can't speak for the electric.

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Originally Posted by splat

I would have thought my college days reminiscence would inspire you, shroom.

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i read this forum in reverse to have a chance at keeping up with you speed demons

edit: i ate a lot of edibles in the yard today

i did read that post and have some thoughts my wife reacted poorly to. i’ve got a few good convexities but need to rewatch the hobbit to form a strong goal

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Originally Posted by mmmm...pow!

I've been happy with mine. I'm not a pro handyman, but I've got basic skills and basic tools and figured it out pretty easy with a couple trips to the hardware store and renting a saw to cut the doorway. The thing is solid, I can't really give you a comparison but it's quality. You might want to consider the 4 person, unless you want to sit upright all the time. With the 4 person you have two benches, so 2 people can put legs up on the benches and lay down if you want. I went with the wood stove, it would easily heat something 2-3 times that size, but can't speak for the electric.

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Living in SLC, wood fired would be unethical due to the inversions we suffer. I am surprised at the relatively low wattage of the electric heaters. But they’re from Finland, so I assume my brethren know something about making sauna heaters. It’s just me and my lady, but I would like to be able to stretch in the sauna so maybe upsizing is worth it. I’ve got all the tools and skills necessary but these package tubular saunas seem very efficient and time saving compared to building one from scratch.


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Looking at the website now, that's a really good deal on the smaller model. $1700 to upgrade in size. That model also actually has a longer bench, so if you're in there solo there's plenty of stretch room.

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Originally Posted by Dantheman

If it's hot enough that you're sweating your ass off and more than 20-30 minutes would cause hyperthermia, it's a sauna.

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Or a car in the parking lot in July.

Now that we’ve agreed that infrared is a bastardization.

Can we also agree that it’s pronounced SOW-na?
And not SAW-na

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Now that we’ve agreed that infrared is a bastardization.

Can we also agree that it’s pronounced SOW-na?
And not SAW-na

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No.

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Originally Posted by mud

No.

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I’m assuming you say pearisssss
Paaaari is too continental

Texas or France?

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Originally Posted by mmmm...pow!

Looking at the website now, that's a really good deal on the smaller model. $1700 to upgrade in size. That model also actually has a longer bench, so if you're in there solo there's plenty of stretch room.

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Yeah seems like a great deal. But the damn boss keeps telling me it’s not essential, comparatively to other needs. I keep hyping the health benefits and connecting with my Finnish roots. But it’s really hard arguing with a Sicilian


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Originally Posted by altacoup

Yeah seems like a great deal. But the damn boss keeps telling me it’s not essential, comparatively to other needs. I keep hyping the health benefits and connecting with my Finnish roots. But it’s really hard arguing with a Sicilian ]

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Especially when death is on the line!

I did the same thing this year. I didn't even think it was stupid

I like the idea of building it yourself. As for putting the sauna in a garage, it's possible as long as you have the space and ventilation needed to make it safe and comfortable.

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Originally Posted by NoelGallagher

I did the same thing this year. I didn't even think it was stupid

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Originally Posted by mb5797

I like the idea of building it yourself. As for putting the sauna in a garage, it's possible as long as you have the space and ventilation needed to make it safe and comfortable.

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What are the odds that two first posts are the same day (same hour) in the sauna thread.

Bots like sauna. Me too. Lol