Outdoor wood-burning saunas operate by bringing a warm, comforting flame to logs to produce heat. To build and maintain a fire with the appropriate temperature for your sauna, you have to be sure that you are using the right logs. You may be unsure of what type of wood to use for your sauna stove and wish to know more about the best type of wood. Possibly, you are also curious about how to use your stove efficiently, as well as unsure of how to feed it properly or which stones to use. Here is more about the different types of logs you can use for your sauna heater.
The best part about the fact that your sauna stove operates by using a wood flame is that you have a variety of options for fuel. Ultimately, any kind of wood can be used for your sauna heater. While both softwoods and hardwoods can be used as fuel, here is where they differ:
Furniture
Roofing
Framing
Flooring
Outdoor furniture
Roofing
Exterior building
Decks
Patio furniture
Home exteriors
Garden fences
High-quality projects (i.e.: pieces of art or a church organ)
Buildings
Christmas trees
Projects that require painting
Plywood
OSB
Musical instruments (i.e.: violins, guitars)
Fences
Boards
Paper
If you do decide to use softwood, the best options are cedar, spruce, and pine. In short, softwood is better when used for the construction of the sauna itself instead of being used for fuel.
Furniture
Flooring
Cabinets
Doors
Trim
Furniture
Flooring
Countertops
Butcher blocks
Trim
Places requiring light-colored wood
Furniture
Veneered pieces
Features deep, dark-chocolate brown tone
Sometimes lighter hue of dark brown
Furniture
Veneered pieces
Trim
Furniture
Millwork
Upholstered furniture frames
Veneered pieces
Due to their long, slow burn, hardwoods are often seen as better suited for the sauna stove. Here are a few key points to remember:
Using the correct sauna stones for your sauna heater is just as important as using the best type of firewood. Special stones are required for operation, meaning typical stones found by the river or embedded in the dirt will simply not work. The stones must be the correct weight for heat retention.
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If you happen to be building your own sauna outside the home, you may be wondering if you should opt for an inside feed or an outside feed. It is recommended that you should settle on an inside feed, and here are three reasons why:
While any type of wood can be used for your outdoor wood-burning sauna, certain wood types are better than others for the job. Softwoods are better for building the exterior of your sauna due to slower heating time, faster burn, and heat absorption. A few examples of popular softwood types are pine, cedar, redwood, fir, and spruce. Although more expensive, hardwoods are better for your sauna stove because of their long, slow burn and ability to withstand drastic changes in temperature. Popular hardwood examples consist of oak, maple, walnut, cherry, birch, and poplar.
Try to stock wood, if possible, and only use clean seasoned wood. Avoid wood containing sap, as well as painted, stained, or green woods. Be sure to use the correct sauna stones for your sauna heater and remember that an inside feed is best for the ideal sauna experience.
If you have any other questions or concerns about your sauna stove or any other sauna-related inquiries, be sure to always use My Sauna World as your trusted resource.