A simple heater for a camp sauna
In order to make a simple stove for a camp sauna with your own hands from metal, no drawings are required. The work is carried out according to a certain scheme:
- brought stones must be sorted by size;
- we lay out the hearth, in the bottom row we lay a layer of large stones;
- With each subsequent layer we use smaller stones and gradually reduce the size of the hearth. To do this, we move the parts inside the structure.
- we should have a stone hearth with an internal cavity. We leave a small hole at the top for better traction.
- All that remains is to fill the internal cavity with firewood and wait until it burns out. The stones should warm up well; you may need to add additional fuel.
- After heating the stones, remove the remaining coals and ash from the fireplace and cover the fireplace with a canopy or set up a tent.
- The simplest heater is ready.
The heat from the stones will quickly warm up the steam room, and by throwing out a few ladlefuls of herbal or pine needle decoction, you will provide yourself with a pleasant steam.
Modifications
1 option
You can easily make a stove for a camp sauna with your own hands by slightly modifying the design of a simple black-style heater. There are several ways to carry out work and structures. In the first option, you will need to carry with you pieces of steel, preferably titanium, rods and, if necessary, make a strong lattice from the parts:
- we lay out the prepared large stones in the first row, taking into account the length of the rods;
- we make a lattice from sections of steel profile or titanium round timber;
- Place stones on the grate. The thickness of the layer of stones should take into account the strength of the grate and the volume of the steam room.
Now you can load the heater with firewood and start heating the stones. Subsequent work is carried out similarly to the previous ones.
Option 2
The second option for an improved camp heater will require preparing a piece of steel mesh, which can be found in any hardware store:
- cut off the blank for the heater. Consider the dimensions of the backpack; the blank can be made according to the dimensions of the back of the backpack. Such a part does not take up much space and weighs a little;
- It is easy to build a heater, as well as to dismantle it. We roll the mesh into a roll, connecting the ends with a slight overlap;
- twist the edges with wire at a distance of up to 100 mm.
The improved heater is ready. We fill the mesh with stones, line it with firewood and after strong heating we roll the mesh into the bathhouse and you can prepare for the bath procedure.
How to make a mobile sauna stove with your own hands
It's not always possible to take a real stove with you. This may be due to weight restrictions on a long trip, or a spontaneous desire arises to put a bathhouse on the bank of a river in a beautiful place. Building a simple stove is not a problem in this case.
You will need a minimum of tools - an ax, a shovel and large stones in sufficient quantities. The structure of this stove will resemble a black bath.
The simplest stove-heater
The procedure for making it yourself is as follows:
Important! It is best to take stones for the stove that are smooth and without cracks. They will have to be heated red-hot, because they will be the only source of heat in the bathhouse.
Dig a homemade stove with a small moat to drain water during washing.
Advanced design using metal parts
For construction you will need a pre-prepared lattice made of thick rods or a welded structure in the form of a taganka. Building a stove with their help is even simpler: lay a base of flat stones with a place for the firebox, then a grate or steel rods, and pebbles on top.
Suitable materials for construction are an old iron box, a piece of masonry mesh, or a piece of pipe . Any metal frame is filled with stones of suitable size and placed on the fire.
After burning and heating the heater to the desired temperature, it can be transferred to our camp sauna.
The advantages of this design:
Homemade sauna stove made from profiled pipe
Drawing of a camp bath made from a 200×200 mm profile pipe:
A stove for a mobile bath of complex design and greater weight will require knowledge and skills to perform welding work and perform simple plumbing operations:
- Using a grinder, we cut from a profile with a shelf size of 200 mm, a part 450 mm long;
- From a sheet of metal we cut 2 blanks for the back part and the door. Size 200/200 mm;
- lay out the sheet metal part on a flat surface, install and grab the profile pipe;
- We weld 2 hinges onto the door, install and attach the hinges to the body so that the door opens from the side;
- on the back wall we cut out a hole for the chimney pipe and weld an outlet with a slide damper, at the end of which there should be a socket for connection to the chimney;
- cut off the chimney pipe. We make a blank for a water tank from a larger diameter pipe, install it on the chimney and weld the joints. It is important that the tank and the connection are completely sealed. We install a water tap at the bottom of the tank;
- We weld 4 legs from a corner or profile pipe to the bottom, bringing the height of the stove to 140 mm from the floor level;
- We weld 2 handles on the sides of the stove for carrying the heater;
- If desired, a metal screen can be made.
The camp stove for the bath is ready. Now, if necessary, we install the stove in the camp bathhouse. We cover it with stones; there is no need to put a large layer of stone on top, this design will not allow the heater to heat up quickly. We place the first load of firewood in the firebox and “start” our heater into operation.
Using a stove, you can provide a comfortable level of humidity in a mobile sauna up to 60%, maintaining a comfortable air temperature. Such a stove weighs a lot and is bulky, but if you are going on a long trip by car, you won’t find a better inexpensive design.
Advantages and features of wood-burning stoves for Bereg tents:
Before you buy a stove for your tent, make sure you have the most important elements!
- The design of all Bereg stoves includes a spark arrester located in the upper part of the firebox. Its presence increases the operational safety of the product and also allows for greater efficiency of its operation. An afterburning chamber is formed in the firebox, which does not allow heat to escape directly into the chimney. Thus, the stove operates longer on one stack of wood and heats the room more intensely than analogues without a spark arrester;
- Removable legs allow you to reduce transportation dimensions, which makes transportation and storage of the product more convenient. There are special holes in the legs to protect against overheating. The bottom of each leg is equipped with a plastic plug that prevents damage to the floor;
- The presence of stationary screens on the end and bottom parts of the firebox allows you to protect the floor and awning from heat;
- The range includes highly specialized models. For example, Bath or Army stoves, the design of which is designed for maximum efficiency in the given conditions;
- For the Housekeeper series, it is possible to choose the most suitable option for the buyer’s purposes of protective screens: removable or stationary ;
- Depending on the conditions and purposes of use, you can choose the appropriate size of the model. From the most compact (Economy Mini) to the largest (Army).
Camping sauna stoves from the store
Here are the Top 3 best models indicating their characteristics, prices and advantages.
Model | Characteristics and dimensions (height, width, depth and size of the chimney pipe in mm). | Advantages | Average price in rubles |
Mobile sauna stove from | Dimensions – 700/280/415/80. The number of chimney pipes, with a length of each segment of 500 mm – 5 pcs. The case is made of heat-resistant steel, 0.8 mm thick, and the protective screens are 0.5 mm. Firebox dimensions – 520/195/180. Weight without stones – 13 kg. | The design has a large margin of safety, which is important for laying a sufficient number of stones. Additionally, it can be used for heating a tent and cooking. A special cavity was made for laying stones. To protect the thin metal of the furnace parts from deformation, stiffening ribs were made. | From 10000 |
Heater for mobile sauna "Yarilo" | The operation of the stove can reliably heat a room with a volume of up to 20 m3. Dimensions – 350/350/400. Weight – 9.5 kg | The multifunctional heater allows you to use it for drying things, heating a tent, cooking and for installation in a camp bathhouse. Made of heat-resistant steel, stiffening ribs prevent deformation of parts at high temperatures and allow the use of thin steel. The weight of the structure is reduced. This stove can be installed on the floor of the bathhouse. If the steam room is very small, you can take the stove outside and heat the bathhouse using a separate air duct. Can be used far from civilization in the absence of gas and electricity supply. | From 13000 |
Mobile oven, model "Sonita". Company | Dimensions – 650/470/300/90. Weight – 19 kg. The material of the walls and combustion chamber is heat-resistant steel. The kit includes chimney pipes. | The stove is equipped with a slide valve; closing it increases the combustion time of 1 load of firewood. Can be installed in homemade and industrial mobile baths. High level of fire safety. The multifunctional design can be used to heat rooms, tents and dry clothes. | From 14000 |
Recommendations for additional equipment for a camp stove:
— a water tank (7, 12 or 17 liters depending on the model) will ensure the constant availability of hot water and will also allow you to organize bath procedures;
— the deflector will protect the awning from accidental sparks, and will also prevent precipitation and wind from entering the chimney pipe, so that the combustion intensity will not decrease;
— the insulated segment is placed first in the chimney to protect against accidental contact with the hot pipe by hand, or can be useful for those who want to install the stove in a tent without specialized cutting of the chimney;
— a 45° swivel elbow allows you to remove the chimney pipe at an angle, reducing the impact of wind;
— fuel briquettes , allowing you to achieve a longer working time on one stack.
All accessories for stoves can be purchased via this link.
Features of operation
Fire safety rules and features of use are the same as for large stationary stoves. But in a mobile bath there is no need to protect surfaces from high temperatures.
The main thing is not to install heating devices close to flammable surfaces. Industrial designs are equipped with protective screens.
You can simply install a wooden or metal shield. It is not recommended to install the heater on loose soil with a layer of dry grass. The soil must be cleared of flammable materials. You can place a steel screen under the bottom of the stove.
When equipping a camp sauna with simple heaters, these characteristics are not paid attention to. In such designs, open fire is not used when swimming. Firewood is burned to heat the stones; only after the coals have been removed is a tent erected over the heater.
Hiking tips
The process of preparing for work is simple. Key points to consider:
- it is prohibited to lay out or store wood fuel directly in front of the firebox opening to avoid a fire;
- Coals from the combustion chamber must be removed carefully (not in a tent), they should not burn or smolder.
The oven in working condition must be:
- away from flammable materials, the recommended distance is at least 0.5 meters;
- There should be free space above the stove.
If large models are used, then it must be taken into account that there should be a distance of 1.5 meters in front of the door. Some models have special hooks. They will be needed when you need to open the lid/door.
Are used:
- dry/natural moisture firewood (chopped/small logs);
- branches;
- cones (dry);
- compressed wood waste;
- wood chips
Some heating systems are designed to use small buds.
Attention! In the event of a sudden fire in the stove, the space next to it can be used to extinguish not only water, but also sand and earth. The ideal option is a fire extinguisher (available if traveling by car)
Advantages and disadvantages of a stove manufactured locally and imported
A stove made on site could be considered the best option for a hiking trip, if its participants are normal about the preparatory work that precedes the bathing procedures.
Because to heat the stones you need to collect a fairly large amount of firewood - this is at least two hours of active collection , and only dead wood is suitable, the firewood should not be too thin, because thin ones burn quickly and do not give the necessary heat, but not too thick - not more than 15 cm in diameter.
In the absence of what was brought, it will take time to make a frame from poles .
And the fire itself with stones should be maintained for up to 6 hours.
So we can come to the conclusion that the main advantage of making a camping bathhouse on site is that it does not weigh down the load that is taken on a hike. But at the same time, its main drawback is the need to invest enough work and time in its preparation.
At the same time, the stove you brought with you is also not without its drawbacks. We have already said that only the lightest models can be taken on a hiking trip . But they are the ones with the least power .
On the other hand, purchased stoves are indispensable in the cold season , when they not only warm the tent, but also allow you to cook in it. And this is in addition to the steam room in the coldest weather!
They cost not to say that they are very cheap , given the service life of such thin steel, but this is the price to pay for stainless steel.
In our opinion, buying a stove is cost-effective only for avid tourists traveling at different times of the year.