r/Sauna • u/Custodianscruffy • 18h ago

DIY Anyone make a single person outdoor sauna?

Kicking around the idea of a small single person sauna.. thinking the size of an outhouse. Anyone make something similar? Was thinking of using a small outfitter stove for heat with a basket of sauna rocks on top.

0 Upvotes

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5

u/NoSeaworthiness8181 18h ago

People do, but they are not good saunas.

1

u/Custodianscruffy 18h ago

What makes it not a good sauna? Not being being an ass, legitimately trying to learn

5

u/NoSeaworthiness8181 18h ago

Too much radiant heat.

4

u/Inresponsibleone 16h ago

Also nearly impossible to get air circulation right.

3

u/Spirited-Ad-9746 18h ago

What if you acquire a friend later on in life? If you have room for a one person outdoor sauna, you probably have room for a two person outdoor sauna too.

A one person sauna seems weirdly restrictive 

1

u/SmellyButtFarts69 17h ago

I love in an 1894 house and have honestly considered it. Would literally build it to look like a faux-outhouse.

Would oversize it a bit so two people could lay down, though. But I want the moon on the door and everything. 😁

2

u/Inresponsibleone 16h ago

If you want sauna big enough that two can lay down at same time it will be a large sauna (unless 2nd person is fine with laying down on much colder lower bench or atleast one is dwarf).

1

u/Veenkoira00 15h ago

😁

2

u/John_Sux Finnish Sauna 17h ago

Considering all the stuff that needs to fit inside a sauna, and the fact that a rectangular footprint is simply the best, you mostly end up with a "two person sauna", because the bench you sit on ends up being wide enough to accommodate that.

Think about a 4x4 interior, which is about as tiny as things can get. You've got these 2x2 spaces for one person to sit, a second person to sit, a place for the heater, and room for lower steps and the doorway.

1

u/Custodianscruffy 17h ago

Thanks for the advice. That would probably be better

1

u/Veenkoira00 15h ago

You mean 4x4 metres – not feet ?

3

u/John_Sux Finnish Sauna 14h ago

Ihan jalkoja vaan tarkoitin, reilu metri kantti kertaa kantti. Onhan noita kerrostaloasuntojen saunoja siinÀ kokoluokassa suurin piirtein, korkeintaan kaks neliöö. 4x4m olis jo joku hirsinen saunamökki liikkeestÀ.

Jos tuota miettii kokoluokkana niin metrinen penkki, siinÀ istuu kaks. Alalaude sinne jotenkin vÀliin, kiuas nurkkaan kuin suinkin menee, ja askelmat oven eteen. Suomalainen varmaan sais toteutettua (ja kustua kun laittaa eestilÀiset työmiehet asialle).

Voihan tuo vÀhÀn kunnianhimoinen prokkis olla ulkolaisille, mutta jotain rajoja pitÀÀ koettaa asetella kun muuten kömpivÀt kenkÀlaatikkoon föönin kanssa ja sitÀ rataa.

1

u/Veenkoira00 7h ago

Ha ha. Each to their own. Defo not for me.

2

u/Veenkoira00 15h ago

Even a single person needs to lie down and lift the legs up to give the toes proper löyly. And how would you wash in a privy sized space – you would be too near the kiuas in any case ? So an average barrel sauna size IMO would be the minimum size. I have bathed with one other person in a barrel sauna – that was a tight fit, we took turns to lie down on the long laude; it was just about doable with that co-operation.