I wonder if my 6x6 woodstove area can double as a sauna?

[WonderingWoman]

I've been using my woodstove happily now. You may recall that I expanded my living room into 6'x6' of my porch to accomodate my stove.

Once it gets fired up it really gets hot by the stove! I was thinking, if I get some sort drapes or shade to close off that 6x6 space it could become a sauna. Then, when I'm done I could open it up and have it go back to its usual function. What do you think? Take a look, I just snapped this photo this morning.

 

[Jags]

I would have to add a drain for the sweat (composed mostly of bacon grease and beer) that would drip off of me.

I would be cautious about limiting the air to the appliance. This could be dangerous to both the user and the stove.

 

[fossil]

A sauna's a whole different animal...high heat and very high humidity, typically a bed of hot rocks you sprinkle water on to form steam. Purpose-built with materials that are chosen specifically for the environment. I highly recommend against sprinkling water on your woodstove. Kettle of water placed on top, OK. Try that and see if it produces the effect you're looking for, but I bet you open the doors up pretty quickly. Rick

 

[EatenByLimestone]

You're libel to get a sauna that dries out your skin.

Matt

 

[WonderingWoman]

There are dry saunas. They sell those little cedar saunas, I saw one at the fair. You just plug it in 110, it has a little electric heater that heats it up.

 

[fossil]

You're absolutely right, they are generally a very dry heat. So dry, in fact, that the "water on the hot rocks" thing is used occasionally to introduce some moisture into the otherwise very dry environment. I misspoke. Rick

 

[d.n.f.]

Sauna is very dry. No need for floor drain. By putting the water on the rocks you are only raising the humidity for a very short time and the dryness will be back in no time. Temps of 160 to 220 F are common.
You don't need outside air as long as you have proper ventilation. A sauna should have space under the door for cold air intake and a vent near the ceiling (on the wall) for hot air exit. A sauna should not be stuffy and needs this ventilation. An OAK would be perfect but you still need to move the air for the comfort of the people.

I have been in tons of back country huts ski touring that have had saunas and they usually are just a woodstove. No rocks. We just usually throw snow on the stove to make steam. When you get too hot jump out into a snowbank. Pot of water on top for washing up after the sauna.

 

[WonderingWoman]

I was thinking of putting some sort of blind that would roll down from the opening you see there. When I want a sauna sweat I would just close it and hold all the woodstove heat in that small space, then when I'm done open it up again. I think it would work.

I had been considering buying one of those indoor, small saunas like they had at the fair, but this will save me money.