Design of a round metal stove for a bath. Sauna stove - device, materials, drawings, making a homemade one

Metal stoves have always been serious competition for brick stoves - both in private homes and in bathhouses. They heat up quickly and are easy to install, which is what attracts today those who build their treasured steam room with their own hands. On the one hand, a metal sauna stove is distinguished by its aesthetics and good thermal conductivity. But if you use it technically incorrectly, a fire cannot be avoided. That’s why it’s so important to take into account all the nuances – which is what this article will be about.

What are modern metal stoves like?

The simplest homemade metal stoves for a bath are the so-called “potbelly stoves”. They consist of a box with a pipe and a door; they provide little heat, but require a lot of firewood. One might say that such stoves are simply a relic of the past.

Modern metal sauna stoves are much safer. They are made mainly from sheet iron 4-5 mm thick, with a well-thought-out special thermal chamber for stone backfill. Often their design also includes a water tank - even up to 70 liters in volume. But the most important thing is that a metal stove must be lined with refractory bricks. After all, this is the only way to avoid burns and allow the air to heat up evenly.

In total, the drawings of metal stoves for baths have three types: closed design, open and combined. The first is especially convenient in small family baths due to its compactness - inside and outside it is built with red brick for the sake of heat capacity. The bricks themselves are secured with wire clamps, and a grate for stones is installed in the middle of the oven.

Open design stoves have a tank with a smaller volume, and the heater is open. The steam room with such a stove warms up much faster, and to increase the heat capacity, the stones are covered with a galvanized screen cover. But combined metal stoves are made of steel sheets with a thickness of 3-5 mm and consist of a firebox with two valves, a blower and a grate, and two pipes 10 and 14 cm in diameter, with four holes for a pipe and a bypass elbow.
There are iron sauna stoves of different types depending on the type of fuel:

• Electric

The design of electric metal furnaces consists of a body with heating elements and heat-insulating materials.

• Gas

These are iron sauna stoves with a thermostat to regulate power. The safety of the unit is ensured by a safety device that instantly shuts off the gas supply if the fire goes out.

• Wood-burning

Such stoves heat up more slowly, but they delight you with the warmth of a real fire and a pleasant smell. But they require a lot of fuel, as well as constant care.

An example of installing a heat-resistant screen on a stove and lining it with soapstone - soapstone

An example of a homemade metal stove

No matter how much homemade iron sauna stoves are criticized for the “hardness” of heat, they have much more advantages than disadvantages:

• The steam room warms up completely in literally 1.5 hours - after all, metal has much greater heat transfer than brick or stone.
• It is almost impossible to get poisoned by carbon monoxide: when wood burns, all harmful substances go into the chimney and do not penetrate through invisible cracks.
• Even if the firewood is wet, the room will not smoke.

But you need to install iron stoves in a bathhouse correctly: no closer than a meter from the walls, only next to the chimney and on a good, solid base made of refractory materials.

A good homemade iron stove for a bath can be made with your own hands - in fact, it is not as difficult as it seems. And the fact that in appearance it will be inferior to the spectacular store-bought one is a trifle, because you will still need a brick screen that will cover everything. The main thing is that the metal thickness is at least 10 mm.

Installation of an iron stove in the wall of a log bathhouse

There are two main parts in the stove: one for the firebox, the second for the water tank. At the bottom of the pipe you will need to make a cutout up to 20 cm wide - this will be the blower, and above it - mount a round steel plate. After which a niche for the firebox is cut out, and a door is made from a piece of metal. Now a heater is welded over the firebox - so that there is no less than 10 cm from its top to the bottom. And, finally, a hot water tank - there will be a hole in it for the chimney. It is important for everyone to carefully monitor the tightness of all seams.

Why is the shape of the stove so important?

Both its performance and ease of use depend on the shape of the furnace. So, the most common metal stoves are: cylindrical, shaped, horizontal and the most practical - rectangular. The latter are good because their angular zones never become red-hot, and therefore it is precisely this frame that literally “holds” the shape of the stove. Although even with this design, stiffening ribs will not be superfluous - they can be equipped with welded corners.

In general, the shape of the firebox completely determines which elements will heat up more and which ones will heat up less. And heating one element (for example, the bottom) leads to a decrease in the degree of heating of the wall from the combustion zone, which helps the steam room heat up more evenly and establishes a balance of heat flows. Secondly, proper heating determines the mechanical stability of the structure. And cylindrical and round stoves are less stable in this regard - that’s why its walls are always very thick and reinforced. In a rectangular one, thin walls are held together by cold corners, but warping over time cannot be avoided - this is a fact.

The installation of a metal furnace must follow all the rules - heat-resistant screens and a foundation, if necessary

But choosing the right metal stove based on shape and material alone is not so easy - there are a lot of important points. And the most important thing is to prevent possible warping of the stove walls, i.e. flattening of the oven due to overheating. This is extremely dangerous in terms of fire: overheating of metal walls leads to the formation of cracks in the so-called “warping folds,” which expand over time and lead to the ignition of the bathhouse.

About this process in more detail: hot sheets of metal naturally increase in linear dimensions, swell strongly - and therefore bend the neighboring, colder parts of the furnace. And when they cool down, they can no longer return to their previous shape. Therefore, when choosing a metal stove for a bathhouse or making one yourself, it is important to conduct a thorough inspection of all its walls for burns or cracks.

If everything turns out to be in order, the new metal stove will delight you with warmth and durability for many years to come!

Many people, when arranging a suburban area, build a bathhouse along with the house. To ensure that it warms up quickly and the steam is of high quality, you cannot do without a stove. Special stoves are installed in these structures, different from those placed in houses. Many people choose metal stoves. They provide fairly quick heating of the room and are easy to install.

If you are building a sauna and have chosen a metal stove, then you do not have to buy it. You can easily build it yourself. The technology for creating a stove with your own hands is quite simple, and the materials used in its construction are available to everyone.

Metal stoves for baths: design

Many owners install metal sauna stoves with their own hands. The simplest ones are potbelly stoves. If we talk about the design of such stoves, they are a box equipped with a door and having a pipe. Such designs have certain disadvantages. One of them is low thermal output. In addition, when using them, high fuel costs arise. Therefore, in modern baths such stoves can be found extremely rarely.

If we talk about modern models of metal stoves for baths, then they are products related to to a high safety class. In manufacturing, sheet iron is used as the main material. Typically, metal with a thickness of at least 4 mm is used. These furnaces are equipped with a heat chamber, which is used for stone backfilling. Most models have the ability to install an additional water tank. Its volume can reach up to 70 liters.

When installing a metal sauna stove with their own hands, owners often line the structure with refractory bricks. This is necessary to ensure uniform heating of the air in the room and safe operation of the product.

Sauna stoves can have different designs, which must initially be determined by the drawing. Based on this sign there are several types of them.

• Sauna stoves of a closed design. The dimensions of stoves for baths of this type are very compact, so most often they are installed in family-type baths. In order to increase the heat capacity, when installing such furnaces, they are lined with red refractory bricks outside and inside. Metal clamps are used to secure bricks. The stone grate is installed in the middle part of the oven.
• Open design sauna stoves. Their main feature is the presence of a small tank. The heater of such stoves is open. In this regard, when installing such a stove in a steam room, it is possible to quickly warm up the room. To increase the heat capacity of the furnace, it is necessary to cover the stones with a galvanized lid.
• Sauna stoves of combined design. Their main feature is the presence of a firebox, which is equipped with two valves. The design also includes a grille, a blower and two pipes. The latter differ from each other in their diameter. For the first, its size is 10 cm, and for the other, 14 cm. There are four holes in them intended for supplying a pipe and a bypass elbow. For the manufacture of stoves of this design, steel sheets 5 mm thick are used as the main material.

DIY sauna stove: instructions

In order to properly make sauna stoves with your own hands, which will provide sufficient heat transfer and rapid heating of the sauna premises, you must follow the instructions. During work, you should use high-quality materials and use the necessary tools.

Materials:

Stages of work on the manufacture of an iron stove for a bath

It all starts by taking a piece of pipe in which to cut out a blower. The hole must have size 50 x 200 mm. Next, above the hole on the inside of the pipe, you need to weld the mount for the grate. To make it, you need to take a metal plate with eyes. The grate can be purchased at any hardware store.

After this, you can proceed to making the firebox. To do this, make a hole measuring 250 x 200 cm. Welding is performed on top, through which the heater rods will be secured. Instead, you can use grates used in round stoves. You can also purchase them without any problems at any store.

When this work is completed, make a hole on the opposite side of the heater. Water will be poured into it during operation of the stove. After this, the heater is filled with stones. Diabase or soapstone can be used as a material. Granite and other mica-containing stones should not be used to fill the heater.

After this, you need to make a hole in the lid intended for the stove. It will be used to install the chimney pipe. When the hole is made, the pipe is installed. Although the installation of a sauna stove with your own hands can be considered complete, nevertheless, experts recommend water tank installation.

It is necessary to weld the remaining piece of pipe to the heater. A water tap is welded onto its lower part. When using a stove, smoke passing through the pipe will gradually heat it, while boiling water will be prevented.

To complete the work, it is necessary to make a lid that will cover the heating tank. It must be made in accordance with the diameter used in the design of the pipe stove. The finished lid is cut in half. Next, in the first half you need to cut a hole for the chimney. After this, you need to weld it to the tank. The second half must be equipped with a handle and hinges. Thanks to this, when using the stove, it will be removable and can be easily opened.

Shape of iron stove for bath

Many may think that the shape of the stove is an unimportant parameter. However, it is not. After all, the performance of the stove depends on it. Besides correctly selected form provides ease of use of the design. If we talk about the most common forms of stoves, we highlight the following:

• cylindrical;
• horizontal;
• curly;
• rectangular.

Rectangular-shaped units provide the greatest ease of use. Comfort is ensured by the presence of corners in the design of such stoves. They never become red hot when operating the stove. Related to this is the widespread belief that it is this kind of frame that retains its shape for a long time. In addition, the shape of the stove affects the uniformity of heating, since maximum heating of one element leads to a decrease in heating of the wall located next to the stove. And this has a positive effect on uniform heating of the entire room and ensuring the balance of heat flows.

If heated correctly, the structure can last a long time, since in this case it will have high mechanical stability. Paying attention to the existing shapes of stoves, this is easy to notice. Sauna stoves are less resistant to heat round and cylindrical. For this reason, during manufacturing, their walls are made dense and reinforced. But a rectangular stove is more resistant to heat because its corners are always cold. However, you should know that during long-term operation such stoves cannot be avoided losing their shape.

Installing a stove in a bathhouse: important points

It is optimal if the owner took care of installing the sauna stove already at the construction stage of the structure. In this case, the process of installing the structure will become a simpler task. A shallow foundation is laid at the location of the stove. After this, a double row of bricks is laid on it, and then a stove is installed on them. To make the structure fireproof, it is necessary during installation adhere to certain rules. They boil down to the following:

Conclusion

The stove is the main element of any bathhouse. If the stove is selected correctly, the structure will quickly warm up, and the steam generated will be of high quality.

It is not necessary to buy a stove in a store, because you can make it yourself. The materials used for its manufacture are quite affordable, so there will be no difficulties in making a metal sauna stove. The tools required are also very simple. With some effort, you will have a full-fledged sauna stove, which will make taking steam bath procedures a pleasant experience.

Once upon a time there was a bathhouse in every yard, especially in villages, but now it is very rare. It is quite difficult to find a stove laying specialist, and not everyone can afford to pay for his work. But for bathhouse lovers there is a way out of this situation - a metal stove.

Features: pros and cons

A true connoisseur of the Russian bathhouse will, of course, prefer a brick stove; it retains heat for a long time, and with its help the air in the bathhouse is created more humid. These characteristics have a beneficial effect on human health, which is undoubtedly an advantage of the Russian bathhouse. Heating such a stove with wood to the desired temperature is a troublesome task and will take from 3 hours to a day. It requires serious, regular care, it must be cleaned every year, sorted out, lubricated at least once every 2-3 years, this also requires a specialist and a lot of money. A substantial supply of firewood is also necessary.

A metal stove quickly heats up until red and quickly cools down, emits hard infrared radiation, and dries out the air greatly.

It is available for purchase at a price from 10,000 to 100,000 rubles. But cheap options are short-lived, and not everyone can afford expensive ones, and it’s not a fact that they will satisfy all your requirements. You can make a metal stove for a bathhouse with your own hands, the main thing is to know how to handle a welding machine or have a professional welder as a friend. Purchasing material for its manufacture is not a problem; you can even do this at places where scrap metal is purchased.

Homemade stoves are varied in their design and depend on the size of the bathhouse, imagination, capabilities and, most importantly, on the preferences of the owner. In a Finnish sauna, the air temperature reaches 85 degrees, and the air humidity is low - from 5 to 15%. In a Russian traditional bath, the air temperature should be kept at 55-65 degrees, and the air humidity should be up to 60%. The design features of these bath products will depend on this.

In a Russian bathhouse, on the contrary, the stove should produce a kind of fog with a temperature of 150 degrees. This effect can be achieved using stones heated to at least 500 degrees, preferably in a large closed heater placed on top of the firebox.

What result should you get from a metal stove:

• speed of heating of the steam room;
• Maintain heat in the stove and sauna longer - this will help to increase the size of the firebox and (or) create a heater located inside or outside the stove;
• saving space in the steam room;
• safety.

Types of construction

The fuel unit itself, due to high temperature loads, is made of heat-resistant raw materials with good heat transfer: thick-walled steel, heat-resistant (fireclay) bricks, stone.

Homemade iron stoves for baths can be divided according to design features.

• The combustion body is located vertically or horizontally to the floor;

The stove is two-chamber with vertical loading of firewood, the heater is located in the stove body. A stove with three compartments and horizontal loading of wood, a heater and a water tank are located above the firebox next to each other:

• metal stoves with a firebox door located in the dressing room or located in the steam room;
• with a heater located inside or on top of the stove;
• a stove with or without a water tank.

A stove with a vertical firebox takes up less space in the steam room, but the wood also burns out faster, since the flame engulfs the entire volume of the firebox. To maintain a constant air temperature in the steam room, you will have to add firewood more often, which, of course, does not provide comfort at all. In a firebox located horizontally, it will take longer to burn the fuel; however, such a stove takes up more space in the steam room, so it is better to move the firebox to the dressing room. Stoves heated from the dressing room take up less space in the steam room, the firebox can be made longer, which will allow the wood to burn longer and the steam room will be cleaner. A stove placed in this way will heat both the steam room and the dressing room, but in order to add firewood, you will have to leave the steam room.

To understand what a stove with an internal or external heater is, you need to understand what a heater is. This is a compartment made of metal or large mesh into which stones are loaded. Heaters can be open or closed. The volume of the compartment is determined by the owner himself based on the size of the room, the stove and his desire - the larger the volume of stones, the more steam is produced. It is important that the stove can heat the stones to the required temperature, for a steam room of 14 square meters. m, a heater measuring 30x40x30 cm is enough. To service a closed heater, you need to provide a hatch in the upper part of the compartment for stones, through which you could reach its bottom.

Let's look at the most affordable options for sauna stoves made of metal:

• with a horizontal firebox, heated in a steam room (made from an old gas cylinder);
• with a heater and a firebox door located in the dressing room (made of 530 mm pipe);
• with a boiler located vertically and three compartments;
• a stove lined with fireclay bricks inside the firebox or red bricks outside;
• in the shape of a boot, made of sheet iron with a heater located in the chimney and a stainless steel water tank.

To transform an unnecessary cylinder with a diameter of 500 mm into a small mobile sauna stove with a horizontal firebox, you will also need scraps of rolled metal. The design of the second stove differs from the first only in the presence of an open heater and a wood-burning combustion compartment opening into the adjacent room. The third stove is a boiler with three compartments: a firebox for wood, a heater located inside, and a tank for heating water made of stainless steel.

Great connoisseurs of the Russian bath understand that it is difficult to heat the heater until light steam is created and maintain the room temperature no more than 70 degrees. You can achieve the desired effect, eliminating temperature overheating of the steam room, by lining a metal stove with heat-resistant material. The walls in such a stove do not heat up much, the main heat goes to heating the heater filler, but this design carries an increased fire hazard due to the high temperature in the chimney. This danger can be reduced by installing a heater and/or water tank around the chimney. It’s easier to line the outside of the stove, but then the metal walls quickly burn out. You can slow down this process by using thicker metal or leaving a gap between the lining and the metal stove.

The design of the boot-shaped stove also has three sections, but the firebox is horizontal, the heater is located in the chimney itself, which eliminates the temperature loss of the chimney and thereby allows heating up to 24 square meters. In this design, the smoke exit is delayed by the heater, as if enveloping it, this warms the stones and does not allow the heat to immediately evaporate. This reduces the time it takes to heat the room to maximum temperature, allowing you to retain heat for a long time, and, accordingly, saves firewood.

If the design of the stove in the bathhouse does not provide a water tank and there is no possibility of installing an electric water heater, make a steel heat exchanger, install it on the chimney, connect it with pipes to the water tank, which is located in the washing area, and the thermal energy released by the chimney will be beneficial .

Heat exchanger made of stainless steel with embedded inserts for connecting hoses or tubes using clamps: The interior of the bath usually consists of wooden elements, and the stove is heated to high temperatures. To ensure the safety of people in the steam room from burns and to prevent fire, the stove must be covered.

Ways to protect wooden elements and people:

• make brickwork on three sides, separating the stove from the wooden elements;
• cover the stove with a frame made of thin stainless steel with holes that improve air exchange.

Schemes and sizes

Purchasing ready-made grates and doors will speed up and simplify the process of making the stove, but then the holes in it must correspond to their size. Hand-made parts will be the size you need. The simplest method of making a stove is to use a gas cylinder.

A drawing for making such a stove from an old cylinder

Making a stove using a pipe as a body is also not difficult, since the air flow flowing around the walls of the body improves heat transfer. A body with virtually no seams is more reliable, will last much longer, and a round firebox is more convenient to clean. To calculate the length of the remote firebox, you need to know the thickness of the adjacent wall.

Drawings of a metal stove with a body made of 530 mm pipe, the firebox door is located in the adjacent room:

A three-in-one furnace with a vertically located boiler is also made from 530 mm pipe. The difference between this stove and previous versions is not only in its location relative to the floor. It contains three sections: a firebox, a heater and a water tank, located vertically, one above the other. The firebox heats the stones, and from them the water is heated. The heating of stones and water uses the temperature of the chimney, it is located inside the heater and water tank. The volumes of the chambers can be changed at your discretion, but you must understand that as you increase the size of the firebox, you will need to add firewood less often, since they will burn longer. A large heater will take longer to warm up and maintain its temperature for longer.

Drawing with dimensions of a vertical oven with three chambers

For the stoves of the first two options, you can install a water tank and a heater on top, only next to each other, and not on top of each other. So the number and size of the chambers in your stove will depend on how much and at what temperature you like to steam and how much water you need at the desired temperature.

The body of a stove of almost any design and size can be lined with brick on the outside, but it is easier if it has a simple configuration. The main thing is that it is made of structural or heat-resistant steel of great thickness. The inside of any firebox can be lined with bricks, but this is much more difficult. Immediately provide a larger firebox, taking into account the brickwork, and eliminate the increased fire hazard in the manner described above.

A boot-shaped sauna stove can also, at your discretion, have the dimensions you need of both the stove itself and its sections. The design of this stove is carried out by welding parts cut from sheet iron (5 to 10 mm thick), a stainless steel water tank and a heater located inside the chimney.

Manufacturing stages

Instructions for making a simple stove from an old cylinder:

• unscrew the valve from the cylinder with a regular wrench of the required size;
• fill the cylinder with water to displace the remaining gas and avoid an explosion;
• Using a grinder, we cut off the upper part of the cylinder along the seam;
• we make holes in the cut-off part to install doors and in the housing for the chimney pipe;
• We weld grates from metal rods, install them on the corners welded in advance in the cylinder;
• We weld the previously cut off upper part of the cylinder into place;

• we attach door hinges and latches to the doors;
• we cut the legs to the required size, use a 40 mm pipe for this and attach them to the bottom of the body;
• install the chimney pipe;
• We melt the manufactured stove in the open air to burn out the remnants of the previous paint;
• degrease, coat with heat-resistant enamel, dry;
• We install the furnace in a permanent location.

The manufacture of a metal stove with a firebox door located in the adjacent room begins with cutting metal elements according to the previously presented drawing:

• cut out a place in the upper part of the pipe for the chimney pipe, weld it;
• We weld the legs at the bottom of the pipe;
• we insert grate bars made according to the same principle as in a gas cylinder;
• we make the front section according to the dimensions, weld it to the firebox;
• We close the opposite end of the pipe by welding with a piece of metal of the required size;
• We make doors, insulate them with basalt wool, weld them and install handles in the designated place.

Assembling a furnace with a vertically located “three in one” boiler from a 530 mm metal pipe:

• cut out the bottom, lid, compartment partitions from metal 5 mm thick;
• prepare the edges of the pipe;
• We weld the grates according to the diameter of the pipe;
• we cut out three holes where the hatch for loading stones, doors for the firebox and ash pan will be located;
• we make round holes in the already prepared partitions, fix them in the pipe to divide the oven into sections;

• We attach one part of the loop to the upper part of the pipe, which will serve as a container for water, by welding, attach the second part to the lid, and attach a faucet to the lower part of the container;
• we make canopies for the doors, weld them to the prepared holes;
• we make the doors from semicircular pieces of pipe, cut to size, and attach them to the awnings;
• insert the chimney pipe.

We line the outside of the metal stove with bricks:

• We build a brick screen (sarcophagus) from red ceramic bricks. Don't forget about the gap for air circulation between the walls.
• To access the doors, leave windows or, better yet, make doors; they will regulate the temperature in the steam room.
• We line the firebox with fireclay (heat-resistant) bricks on a mortar of fireclay cement, and place the brick on its edge. The thickness of the masonry depends on the size of the brick (available with an edge of 3-6 cm).

The finished stove in the form of a “boot” turns out to be heavy, so it is better to weld the main parts separately and carry out the installation on site, like a designer. Let us warn you right away that it is difficult to cut metal parts of such thickness using a cutter, grinder, and especially a hacksaw without defects. It is better to contact an organization that has a guillotine (as a rule, these are metal collection points), this will save you time and nerves, but will increase the cost of the product. The design of the furnace includes four sections in the form of metal boxes of the correct shape. The first section (firebox) is connected to the second (chimney) using a fastening mechanism, the third (stove) will be installed in the second section, and the fourth (water tank), made of stainless steel, is placed in front of the second box.

Let's start production:

• marking blanks on metal;
• cutting blanks of the required sizes (four boxes) using a guillotine;
• we fold the walls of the boxes, number them so as not to confuse them;
• we assemble and lightly weld the parts of the section with the bottom wall;
• using a grinder, cut a hole in one wall to allow steam to escape freely;
• another small one is made above this hole, bolts are attached to it on all sides, we install a door on them and tighten brass nuts (brass does not oxidize);

• we first wrap the door with asbestos thread for tightness, soot and soot are periodically removed through it;
• at the bottom of the second box, 5-6 cm away from the edge, 2 to 4 holes are made, pipes are inserted into them;
• in the first section from the end we cut out a place for the fire door and ash pan. We make a hole on top for installing the second section, along its edge to strengthen the hole we weld a corner on one side, and on the other three pre-prepared plates about four centimeters wide;
• the plates are welded to the inner and outer surfaces with a slight indentation from the edge and a gap for installing the second section;
• to strengthen the places prepared for the doors, in the first and third sections we weld one plate on each side;

• between the firebox and the ash pan we place a grate made of steel rods;
• We weld the grate bars for better combustion of wood parallel to the ash pit;
• to strengthen the third box (stove), we weld small metal gussets to it;
• attach a cover with a pre-cut space for the chimney pipe;
• We weld the so-called “skirt” to the place where the chimney pipe will be installed;
• install the heater (third box) in the second section on the tubes previously inserted into it;
• Having assembled and once again checked all sections of the stove, we perform the final welding of our structure. The seams must be welded very well to prevent the bathhouse from becoming smoked by carbon monoxide.

Decorative finishing

A stove in a bathhouse is not only a source of heat, steam, and increased danger, it can also be a decoration for the room.

If you only care about the safety of the stove, then it is enough to paint it with modern paint to protect the metal from corrosion. The use of heat-resistant enamel based on silicone paints is no different from conventional enamels, but protects metal at temperatures up to +800 degrees. The metal is degreased and then paint is applied. After the first layer has dried, the next layer is applied. It is recommended to paint those metal elements that will be covered with brick and insulation.

The decoration of the stove in the bathhouse can perform a purely decorative function in the form of forged decorations and additional decorative elements of the stove itself. You can use heat-resistant paints of various colors with an antique effect. Decoration can also be used to eliminate the increased danger of a sauna stove.

The stove can be lined with red brick masonry (we have already considered this method), but the masonry on the sides can be decorative, in the form of a grid. On the firebox side, the stove can be covered with a screen made of forged elements or simply with a beautiful mesh fixed in the frame.

It can be covered with a beautiful casing, also covered with heat-resistant paint, in the color you like.

A stove lined with heat-resistant stone will look impressive; this will not only give a noble look to your product, but will also improve the quality of the stove itself.

The decorative decoration of your bathhouse stove depends only on your desire, taste and wallet size.

Installation

To install a metal stove in a bathhouse, you need to start by preparing a site for it. Such a stove weighs less than a brick stove; it does not require a foundation, but it has a greater fire hazard due to the high temperatures reached due to prolonged burning of wood.

The site for installing the furnace is prepared at least twice as large as the area occupied by the furnace itself, and consists of several layers located from bottom to top:

• asbestos coating;
• stainless steel;
• six-centimeter heat-resistant brick;

There is another option:

• we dig a shallow pit, maintaining the same proportion in terms of area;
• pour sand, crushed stone, compact it;
• fill it with cement mortar and wait for it to harden;
• We spread roofing felt as thermal insulation;
• We check the plane with a level, it is better to make a slight slope towards the drain;
• lay out two rows of red bricks.

To prevent fire, the stove should be placed no closer than one meter from walls and easily flammable objects. The walls around the stove are plastered, lined with bricks, sheathed with sheets of iron or mineralite, and a firewood storage area is separated. If the firebox is removed from the steam room, the opening is also protected from fire by non-combustible materials.

The location for creating the hole for installing the chimney must be provided during the construction of the bathhouse. Creating elbows in the chimney will cause soot to be deposited in such parts of the chimney, which will worsen the draft in the stove. If it is impossible to eliminate such places in the chimney, consider dismantling this area to clean it.

The chimney channel should be made of a double wall sandwich filled with basalt wool. As insulation, you can use a square water tank, which is installed in the ceiling.

Having installed the stove in place, we fill the heater with stones of basalt, river or sea pebbles, gabbro-diabase, soapstone, porphyriate, dunite, white quartz, crimson quartzite. It is better to choose flat stones and place them on the edge in the heater. Do not use stones with red veins or inclusions (this is iron), it is harmful to health when oxidized.

If you start heating a stove in a sauna and it smokes, a possible reason for this is poor draft. To test it, take a piece of paper, set it on fire and bring it to the firebox. If the flame does not reach the stove, prepare for repairs. Cleaning the chimney is not difficult - disassemble it and use a metal brush, dustpan and broom to remove debris and soot. It is advisable to clean the chimney every year in the summer so that an unpleasant problem does not catch you at the most unexpected moment - in 30-degree frost or when friends come to take a steam bath. If the chimney pipe is burnt out or rusted, this section that has become unusable should be replaced.

Another reason for poor operation of the stove and chimney (if it smokes) may be the insufficient diameter and height of the chimney pipe. The required pipe diameter is at least 110 mm, and the chimney height is three meters.

An iron stove in a bathhouse will last longer without major repairs if it is regularly monitored: cleaned of soot, periodically coated with heat-resistant enamel.

Have fun!

To learn how to make a metal sauna stove with your own hands, see the following video.

Ergonomic metal stoves are an excellent alternative to bulky brick heaters, which are suitable for heating a private bath.

The devices are characterized by fast heating, high thermal conductivity, ease of installation, minimal maintenance and durability. And if desired, a simple metal stove that would fully meet all the owner’s needs can be constructed independently from available materials.

Basic requirements for metal furnaces

Modern designs of metal sauna stoves are subject to high technical and operational requirements, which include the following:

1. Wide functionality. Possibility to select different temperature modes to quickly heat the air and maintain an optimal microclimate in the premises.
2. High efficiency. Efficient use of fuel material with the possibility of long-term heat accumulation. At the same time, increasing the volume of the firebox ensures complete combustion of fuel and increases efficiency.
3. Ergonomics. Iron heaters should remain compact to occupy a small area of ​​the room. In small steam rooms, it is more rational to install a vertical type of structure with a firebox located in the technical room.
4. Fire safety. Heating equipment must be safe for visitors and the premises. To avoid burns and injuries, the body of the device is covered with a metal convection casing, and the surfaces near the oven are lined with heat-resistant material.
5. Equipment . More advanced models of devices can be equipped with water heaters that provide hot water supply in the bathhouse.
6. Aesthetics. Metal heaters can have various designs with forged and glass decorative elements.

Advantages and disadvantages of metal structures

We can highlight the main positive characteristics that a metal sauna stove is endowed with:

• Rapid heating of the body - you can begin basic procedures within 2-3 hours after the oven starts heating up.
• Ergonomic body - compact dimensions allow you to install the stove even in small rooms.
• Lack of foundation - the equipment does not require the construction of a solid foundation; it is enough to limit yourself to a lightweight foundation.
• Maintaining a constant combustion process - the design allows you to maintain optimal temperature conditions throughout the entire duration of health procedures.
• Generation of soft and clean steam and heat accumulation indoors.
• Affordable cost of materials for self-production of the structure.
• Long service life of the finished device, which can range from 6 to 26 years.
• Reliable operation if the basic fire safety requirements were met during the assembly and installation of the structure.

Along with the positive aspects, a metal sauna stove has significant disadvantages:

• Rapid cooling of the metal after completion of the combustion process.
• Not suitable for heating large areas.
• It is necessary to ensure fire protection of the structure and adjacent surfaces.

Selecting a finished metal stove

To choose the right stove for a metal sauna, it is recommended to take into account a number of important parameters, such as:

• Operating temperature range.
• Room heating speed.
• General dimensions of the equipment and volume of the combustion chamber.
• Material for making the case.
• Type of arrangement of structural elements.
• Type of fuel used.
• Features of operation and maintenance.

The modern market is represented by metal heating stoves for baths of the following sizes:

• Mini-devices for heating rooms with an area of ​​10 to 12 square meters. m.
• Standard stoves for rooms ranging from 12 to 25 square meters. m.
• Large units for heating air in rooms with an area of ​​25 square meters. m.

Many stove models are equipped with a water heater installed on the rear panel of the structure.

Heat-resistant and durable materials are used as decorative finishing for the metal body - ceramic tiles, bricks, tiles and stone.

Having studied all the operational parameters of sauna stoves, you can easily select the appropriate device model, taking into account the design features of the structure, technical requirements for heating equipment and the financial capabilities of the owner.

Types of metal sauna stoves

In accordance with the design features, the following types of metal furnaces are distinguished:

• Closed type. The units are compact in size and light weight, designed for small family baths. To increase heat output, the metal body of the stove is lined with heat-resistant bricks on the inside and outside. Iron staples are used to secure the bricks. The middle part of the structure is equipped with a grate for stones.
• Open type. The devices are represented by large structures equipped with an open heater and a water heating tank. They are able to provide rapid heating of rooms in a short period of time. To increase the thermal capacity, such stoves are equipped with a galvanized protective plate for the heater.
• Combined type. Such stoves are equipped with a firebox with sliding mechanisms, a heater, a blower and pipes (diameter from 11 to 14 cm). For the manufacture of structures, sheet steel up to 5 mm thick is used.

Types of fuel material

Universal heating equipment for a bathhouse can operate on various types of fuel material. The following categories of furnaces are distinguished:

• Wood-burning. The most practical and reliable devices. They are easy to operate and maintain, operate on available types of fuel - firewood, pellets, sawdust. Stoves help to quickly heat rooms, but at the same time they require a large amount of fuel for each load and the installation of chimneys to remove combustion products.
• . More reliable and durable heating units equipped with a thermostat and built-in protection that is triggered in the event of an emergency. Heating stoves are quite economical and can operate on natural gas and liquefied gas mixtures.
• . Another type of sauna stove, which consists of an iron body, inside of which there is a heating element and a built-in thermal protection system. Additionally, they can be equipped with a touch panel for selecting temperature modes and a remote control. They require a constant power supply, so for uninterrupted operation it is recommended to additionally install an autonomous generator.
• Combined. Such units can operate on alternative types of fuel - fuel oil, diesel fuel, distilled composition. They are safe, reliable and economical. Many device models are equipped with a special switch for selecting the desired type of fuel.

Do-it-yourself iron sauna stove assembly technology

In a small-sized bathhouse, you can use a homemade version of an iron heater, the dimensions of which would fully correspond to the heated area. As an example, the technology for assembling a heater with a diameter of 70 cm and a height of 150 cm is considered. Such a heating device is characterized by ease of manufacture, ease of operation, and requires a small amount of fuel material to quickly warm up the bath.

Furnace materials

For self-assembly of the stove, ferrous metal is suitable, the thickness of which is 0.5 cm. The service life of such material is from 6 to 10 years. To make a firebox, you can use a centimeter sheet of iron.

For work you need to prepare the following materials:

• Sheet metal 1 cm thick.
• A metal pipe with a wall thickness of 1 cm and a length of 160 cm.
• A chimney pipe with a wall thickness of 0.5 cm and a diameter of 10 cm.
• Metal rod 1 cm thick.
• Grate for the grate.
• Door hinges.
• Door latches.
• Water tap with shut-off valve.

Tools

To work with a metal structure you will need the appropriate set of tools:

• Equipment for hot welding.
• Hacksaw for metal.
• Bulgarian.
• Roulette.

You will also need personal protective equipment when carrying out welding work:

• Mask.
• Uniforms and shoes.
• Gloves made of dielectric material.
• Glasses.

Step-by-step instructions for assembling a sauna stove

To independently make a compact metal stove for a private bath, you must follow the following sequence of actions:

1. The pipe is cut into two parts - 70 and 90 cm.
2. The blower chamber should be located at the bottom of the pipe for easy cleaning of ash. A hole measuring 22x6 cm is made in the pipe. The metal piece can be used to make a door for the ash chamber. Another hole is made above for adding fuel.
3. Door hinges and latches are welded on the outside of the pipe, and the latches themselves are mounted on the doors. Next, doors for the blower chamber and loading compartment are installed.
4. A circle with a diameter of 70 cm and a corresponding hole in the center for the grate are cut out of metal. The workpiece is welded inside the furnace structure above the ash chamber.
5. On the back side of the pipe, a hole is prepared for watering the heater and a protective door is installed.
6. A lattice for laying out stones is made from reinforcement. The dimensions of the grate should be determined taking into account the size of the stones that will be used for the stove.
7. Another round blank with a diameter of 70 cm is cut out of metal, a hole is made in it for the chimney pipe so that it is offset to the rear wall of the stove. Next, the chimney and the circle underneath it are welded on top of the structure.
8. A water tank is made from a smaller piece of pipe, which is welded to the stove. A hole is made in the container to fix the tap by welding.
9. Another round piece of metal is prepared and cut into two parts - large and smaller. A hole is made in the larger element for the chimney pipe. After this, it is placed on top of the chimney and welded around the hole.
10. A smaller semi-circular element is used as a lid for the water tank. Fixation to the pipe using door hinges.

Important! The size of a homemade metal stove for a bath depends on the total volume of the steam room. Such a unit can provide heating for a room with a volume of up to 25 cubic meters. m.

Features of stove installation according to fire safety rules

In order for an iron sauna stove to work properly for many years, you must follow the basic installation rules:

1. Heating equipment is installed on a pre-prepared platform with a diameter of 70 cm and a height of 18 cm. Additionally, a 30-centimeter foundation base made of heat-resistant bricks is installed. The distance from the stove body to the wall should be 100 cm. It is recommended to insulate the walls with heat-reflecting foil to prevent the surfaces from catching fire.
2. The minimum distance from the top of the device body to the ceiling surface is 120 cm, and from the firebox door to the opposite wall - 135 cm.
3. The chimney pipe is also insulated. For this purpose, installation of an internal and external protective casing with a layer of heat-insulating material is provided.
4. When the chimney pipe is routed through the roof, at the junction with the ceiling, a protective galvanized steel box filled with basalt insulation is installed.
5. The doors to the combustion chamber should be directed towards the entrance door, and the heaters should be directed towards the near corner.
6. The shelves in the steam room are fixed along the wall opposite the one where the heating equipment is installed. The best option is a multi-tiered design.
7. Lamps in the steam room are mounted above the front door or along the perimeter of the room, with the exception of the wall behind the stove. To avoid possible short circuits, it is not recommended to install lighting equipment on the ceiling.
8. If a metal sauna stove is used in a wooden building, the body will need to be lined with heat-resistant brick. The optimal height of the structure is 125 cm and the length is 85 cm.
9. A test run of the equipment is carried out before the start of operation of the steam room to identify possible design defects or errors in its installation.

When creating a bathhouse, the question of heating it always arises. When choosing from ready-made options, it is better to give preference to the one that will not only be of high quality, but also economical. If you don’t have the funds to build a stone heating source, you can make a sauna stove with your own hands.

Requirements for metal heat sources

When making a stove yourself, it is important to keep on hand the necessary tools, a set of drawings for the construction of homemade sauna stoves, and have experience as a welder. When working with steel sheets, keep in mind that at a temperature of +150 degrees, a change in the properties of iron occurs, at +250 its endurance under constant loads disappears, and at +550 the steel becomes dark brown, which indicates a change in linear properties.

You need to work especially carefully when heating the metal to +900 degrees! At this temperature, unwanted deformation of the future furnace is possible.

Taking these nuances into account will ensure:

• long-term accumulation of thermal masses;
• warming up the bath and raising its temperature in a short time;
• high level of safety for people washing themselves.

In addition, these ovens do not require much space due to their small size.

Pros and cons of metal stoves

The bathhouse must maintain a temperature of +50 degrees. For this purpose, it is recommended to install homemade metal sauna stoves. Their use has the following advantages:

• small-sized structures, which is important for small rooms;
• you cannot suffocate, since such an iron “homemade product” removes combustion products through the chimney pipe;

• Due to the high heat transfer coefficient, the steam room quickly warms up. On average about 1.5 hours;
• shelf life, which directly depends on the quality of the work performed and materials;
• absence of smoke when lighting a bath with raw wood;
• low cost.

Such homemade metal stoves also have some disadvantages:

• small dimensions of the structure exclude use in spacious bath rooms;
• rapid cooling period. In order for the stove to heat, the heat must be constantly maintained;
• high probability of ignition of objects located near the walls of the structure.

Types of metal furnaces

There are 3 options:

1. Open – with a small volume water tank and an open heater. To enhance the heat capacity coefficient of such a sauna stove, you will need to cover the stones with a galvanized lid.
2. Closed. To increase the heat capacity, the outside and inside are laid out with refractory bricks using metal fasteners, and a special grate is placed.
3. Combined. With this option, a complete set is formed: 2 valves, a firebox, a grate, 2 pipes (10 cm and 14 cm in diameter), a blower and 4 holes are provided for a pipe and a bypass elbow. For this, steel sheets about 0.5 cm thick are used.

Sauna stoves also come in cold and hot types. The first is suitable for heated rooms. It is impossible to get burned on its walls, since they only warm up to +50 degrees. The second option does not allow you to control the temperature in the bathhouse and is used when using the steam room irregularly.

Types of stoves depending on the type of fuel:

• electrical - housing with heating element and special elements for heat insulation;
• wood-burning A lot of wood is needed as fuel, a long time to warm up the room and constant monitoring;
• gas. They are convenient and reliable thanks to the presence of a safety device that reacts when the gas supply level decreases or when it is completely turned off.

Features of heating sources for baths and saunas

In a traditional Russian bathhouse, it has long been customary to provide a lot of steam and less heat. For this purpose, a closed heater is used, located above the firebox. It is lined with heat-resistant brick on the inside while maintaining a small air gap. For such a bath you need to heat the stones up to +500 degrees.

The Finnish sauna requires a low level of humidity - 5-15% and a temperature range of up to +85 degrees. The heater is used open, with slightly heated stones. To supply steam, just pour water on it.

Main components of metal furnaces

Their presence is provided in all bath structures.

Firebox

This is a two-chamber device. The upper part (furnace) is necessary for burning fuel, and the lower part (ash pan) is necessary for accumulating and collecting ash. These two compartments are separated by a grille, and each of them has a door. Often the lower compartment is left open for air flow, using it as an ash chamber. You can also make holes in the firebox door (dimensions 20x25 cm) with a damper to regulate the air supply.

Kamenka

Above the firebox door, located opposite the entrance, rods measuring 1 cm or more are fixed. The door of the heater itself should “look” at the steam room. Next, stones without mica content are placed in it. It is undesirable to use granite. The more cobblestones, the larger the hot surface.
Firebox

It is better to mount a hatch in the upper part of a sauna stove made of metal with your own hands to create access to the bottom of the compartment and ensure maintenance of the heater. A chimney cover is installed above it. The last stage is the installation of a water tank.

Chimney

This is a pipe for removing the resulting smoke and heating the water supplied to the stones. The chimney must be insulated, as due to its high temperature it is easy to get burned.

Its dimensions must correspond to the dimensions of the iron stove. The thickness of the passages should be equal to half a brick.

It is better to purchase a chimney already assembled with an outer pipe, an internal chimney, and a deflector.

Tank

It is mounted above the firebox. A tap is built into its lower part to gradually supply liquid to the hot stones. On the chimney side, the tank is covered with a steel semicircle with a hole for the chimney pipe. A lid with a handle is mounted on the part of the container that will be filled with water. Just like the chimney, it is better to buy a ready-made tank.

Additional items

These include doors and grilles. To save time, they are purchased ready-made.

Making metal stoves with your own hands

There are many drawings and options, but the set of constituent elements is approximately the same.

Tools

To get started you will need to prepare:

Grate for the furnace

Important nuances

You first need to determine the location for the future structure. If necessary, a foundation and two rows of bricks are laid. A pit 70 cm deep is made under it. Its bottom is sprinkled with sand and broken bricks on top. Next, the frame and formwork are installed, after which the surface is filled with concrete.

Important to remember:

• the gap between the stove and the wall is at least 1 m;
• Foil must be attached to the wall near the structure;
• it is better to make a chimney from a sandwich pipe with a heat-insulating layer;
• at the junction of the roof and the chimney it is necessary to form a passage unit;
• It is better to surround the structure with bricks to prevent burns.

Stove-heater

This simple variety has several ways to create it.

Option 1

Using an iron barrel without a bottom or top. The resulting container is half filled with bricks placed on edge and a grate laid on top. Stones are placed in the remaining 2/3 of the space and a chimney is installed. At the end, such a homemade stove in the bathhouse is covered with a lid made of sheets of steel.

Option 2

Bricks are not used for the construction of the stove. Sequence of work:

1. Prepare diagrams and necessary tools.
2. In a long pipe, cut a hole for the blower with dimensions of 5x20 cm. Inside the pipe above it, fix the mount for the grate.
3. For the firebox, make a hole 25x20 cm. Above it, mount fastenings for rods, the size of which is about 1 cm.
4. On the other side of the oven, create a hole into which the liquid will flow. Place stones in the heater.
5. Make a slot for the chimney. Install a tap at the bottom of the pipe.
6. Form a lid on the heating tank with a slot for the chimney, a hinge and a handle.

Option 3

This stove has 2 heaters. It is made by analogy with the previous ones. The difference is that 4 plates are used to connect two heaters.

Other possible varieties

In addition to stoves, the following are relevant:
Potbelly stove

• a conventional horizontal oven. A propane cylinder and scrap metal scraps are used. Openings for the doors and chimney are cut, a grid of grates is fixed to the corners, and the lid is installed in its original place. Legs and doors are installed;
• vertical boiler for a bath. It consists of a firebox, a water tank and a closed heater. It will be necessary to pre-form blanks for the bottom of the lid and partitions, and carry out the process of welding round grates. The constituent elements are made according to the scheme described above.

Many drawings of sauna stoves made of metal provide for horizontal and vertical design options with the firebox opening into a separate room, with a closed and open heater. A homemade potbelly stove is also common. This is an ordinary metal box with a door and a pipe. It requires a lot of fuel with a low heat transfer rate.

Final finishing

Regardless of the type and size of the sauna stove, the structure must be treated with heat-resistant enamel. To do this, the surface is degreased, and then the organic composition is applied in several layers.
Application of heat-resistant enamel

Finished furnaces cannot be put into operation immediately. First of all, force or naturally dry the bathhouse.

By following these tips and having experience in welding, you will get a stove that will bring you joy for many years. Choose an option that will optimally fit into the bath room and will not “eat up” additional space.