Sauna Stones

[ValeTudoGuy]

I hope this is in the right section.

Today I approximated a pretty good sauna in a cheap pop up tent. I have Identified a couple improvements, first and foremost is the stones.

I am of the understanding that I should be looking for certain Ignious rocks, whats likely the best I will find in the UK and where should I be looking? Or should I just buy some Finnish rocks?

Oh and it works pretty well, just had a lovely sage scented sauna in the back garden.

 

[Janne]

Absolutely, a sauna is a great way to bathe!
Granite, diorite is what is used in the Nordic countries.
Not sure if you can get them locally?

In worst case you can ask a stone mason ( doing kitchen tops) for offcuts, have them in the bottom and cover with prettier naturally shaped stones.

How does the heating source look like?

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

I had to heat in a pit and transport the stones which was not ideal. I plan to make a more perminent solution.

Im thinking long term it would be nice to have a stove that both heats the stones/sauna and an adjacent hot tub via a copper coil.

 

[Janne]

If you make a stove make the it so it is quite wide on top, maybe 1.5 to 2 foot. You want a wide layer of stones and msybe 1 .5 foot deep.
I am recalling the wood fired saunas I have been in.
I built my own sauna back in Sweden, I used a thick steel firebox and layered Tulikivii stone bricks on top. It is a Finnish stone, Magnesit Talcum mineral.

I think it is called soapstone?

 

[SGL70]

As I understand it, the stones are to store heat. The type of stone doesn't really matter. Go for what is close to you (and use a lot - my sauna holds 30 x 30 x 60 cm of stones. It is a smallish sauna)

Greger

 

[Janne]

Some stones crack and break up when you pour water on them. Lime stone for example.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Some stones crack and break up when you pour water on them. Lime stone for example.

Confirmed, i got one to shatter into about 4 pieces. Not sure what kind it was.... But what I would have called a "ducker stone" back in Stoke....... Quartzite if I had to guess.

When it cracked it also let off a slight sulphur odour which is when I stopped and started thinking about improvements.

 

[SGL70]

Yes, but for a pop-up tent I'd go with whatever. The Tullikivi set-up would be above and beyond

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Yes, but for a pop-up tent I'd go with whatever. The Tullikivi set-up would be above and beyond

Thats true. I had never heard of a Tulikivi before but they look great!

Perhaps one day it would be possible for me to build a wooden sauna and go to such luxuries, but not any time soon.

I think for now I need to concentrate on improving an improvised one. I need to insulate better, so my initial thought's other than better stones is:

1 a slab under the heat source to stop the ground stealing too much heat.

2: Thicker tent material, some heavy weight cotton tarp lined with mylar?

3: an improvised small frontier stove of some sort, perhaps an ammo can or a small propane bottle?

 

[Toddy]

If you insulate well you might need to take a lot more care over carbon monoxide.

Look up sweat lodges, uk, and you'll come across all sorts of bender type things with assorted heating/stones, etc.,

Fun

M

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Thank you for the pointer, I will investigate.

 

[Janne]

Tent, I missed that!

Now I am overusing my brain: could you not use an old cleaned cast iron engine block?

 

[Janne]

I would be even more cautious about exploding stones in a tent. Maybe test burn them first outside.
A bursting stone is no fun!

 

[Toddy]

A link to a really old thread on the forum

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3829

M

 

[Leshy]

I would be even more cautious about exploding stones in a tent. Maybe test burn them first outside.
A bursting stone is no fun!

Yes! Especially the cryptocrystalline and quartzite type such as flint and/or chert.

They can explode , and if so , those little fragments are like shards of glass .

Those are mostly sedimentary , but i think even the igneous rocks such as obsidian can be "explosive" under extreme temperatures...

So best do a bit of homework before!👍

 

[Janne]

I used to make a fire area safe when leaving a site by peeing on it. Sometimes a stone cracked. Kind of violent process.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

It looks like im on the search for Peridotite and Basalt

 

[Janne]

Garden centers?

When I moved to UK I got shocked that I had to buy rocks in a gardencentre.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

I didn't really want to reort to buying. Though I will if it's the only/best way. I would prefer to find and somehow ethically acquire some.

 

[Leshy]

The DEFRA magic site , posted here a few days ago by toddy , has an option on the interactive map to the geology composition of the UK .

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144910


Research and then collect on a nice walk 😀
I'm sure basalt is pretty common.

I think slate is also adequate for extreme heat exposure as you can use it to cook on 👍