Firing up the Off Grid Sauna Finally! (How Hot Can it Get?) - Part 4

We work on the benches in the off grid sauna, the battens, the lighting, and fire up the stove to see just how hot we can get the sauna with the help of the wood burning stove.
Jay's channel (the rock guy): / @wildernessquestoutdoors
Part 1: • Building a Log Sauna i...
Part 2: • Building Off Grid Log ...
Part 3: • Building $1.00 'Steam ...
Part 4: • Firing up the Off Grid...
The sauna is covered with dead harvested cedar with the frame formed by a metal culvert. The ends are sided with ash wood harvested from a tree nearby cut to 1/2 inch thickness on a portable sawmill. Insulation is off cast, so bought for cheap, and the studs are from discarded pallet wood. Subscribe for part 2 where we work on the inside of the sauna.
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"Self-Reliance" is an 1841 essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas. This channel will approach self reliance from a modern perspective. and will focus on various build projects using modern amenities, and tools to build a completely self reliant lifestyle.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

*If you enjoyed the video, consider sharing it!* *Part 1:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWHIi3qwaayHo5Y *Part 2:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnbKg5iQnct9qbs *Part 3:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3i8eqt4YqaentE *Part 4:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpvMfKSCltZ8odU

[@cynthiacrawford1573]

I always share your stuff

[@laurenciachew2561]

After watching it the second time, Kelvin you are very S M A R T; as with your construction background (correct me if i m wrong), which you have and that gives you plenty of ideas to the effect of that DOOR-HANDLE!!! It's a clever way of making use of material without burning a small hole in your pocket! That door-handle looks PERFECT!!! 👍👍👍Enjoy your working.❤❤❤ 💋💋💋. I m from Singapore 🇸🇬 and we DON'T GET WINTER here! That's why i ENJOY all you have done in the snow. GOOD WORK.

[@marioesquivel2962]

@Modern self Reliance after the wood dries up are you going to put cylinder all over the wood that way with the moisture is not going to get remoist the wood are you going to put some cylinder on it Kevin

[@marksolstafir]

I've moved to odysee, catch you there.

[@amandafrancis133]

U need lava rocks pi. Go sweat in 100 degreees man when u think your gonna go in n heat. Exposure, but in fact makes u cool rhe rest of the really hot day

[@o_ra1572]

Few points from the wiew of a Finn. 1. Don't storage your firewood in the sauna bench (above the stove surface) when taking a bath, all the wood will suck moisture from the air and splashes from the stove. 2. I think you should take those fins off from the furnace, they make your stove less efficient. That amount of stones should get heated up in 1 or 2 hours. Now most of your heat from the fire will go to the chimney and not to the rocks. 3. Those rocks can explode or crack and crumble easily because of your hammering. If you want hard and durable stones you should look them from places like river or lake/sea shores where they are rounded and hardened by the ages and water movements. They are solid stuff. Also warm/hot water will help the stones not to crack so easily. 4. Some kind of a carpet or wooden grid would be nice for your feet when taking bath. That tiled floor will be freaking cold atleast in wintertimes for your feet. All in all very nice job from you! Hope these few things can help you by any ways so you can enjoy your sauna even more. Greetings from Finland! :)

[@decolonizeyourlife141]

I was just about to comment this. My grandpa worked hard to find his stones in the UP of Michigan for his sauna that he made in my grandparent's house basement. He would inspect every stone for no cracks beforehand. I miss the sauna so much

[@gietienzo9633]

yeah!!! !

[@kotinorsu6987]

Kyl

[@quanganhpham812]

I am fully impressed! It’s just a complete kzbin.infoUgkxGqOCINHE0Z0E5gxzSdNi9NWGugRY5Hm2 plan with the best resources and step by step instructions . These shed plans are so satisfying as if the sheds build themselves on their own. Worthy work Ryan!

[@bryanr.3241]

Now ya need some sweet grass , cedar and sage to sweep over the rocks as we have done in a sweat lodge. It makes it smell great too 👍

[@24CiViC]

Thank you, for mentioning the importance of getting outside in winter - it’s good for the body, mind and soul. The sauna is a beaut! 👏🏻❤️

[@kevintulak9987]

I am going to have to stop letting my wife watch this with me, I can't keep up with all of the new things she wants. Thanks for sharing, I think.

[@markbergquist4439]

You can say that again brother...lol 😆

[@Dewkeeper]

A sauna is worth the trouble.

[@RiDankulous]

Congratulations on not setting it on fire like you did your smoker. :)

[@johnr1350]

Yet

[@BlueBaeChai]

Lol

[@j.a.therollingman9216]

Forest, ice hockey & sauna. You are like us Finns. Seriously this has became my favorite youtube channel. Kevin's the man. Greetings from Finland once again

[@donniev8181]

How hot do you guys usually like your saunas to be??

[@motocrossmaza]

@@donniev8181 Between 80-120 celcius. 120 is pretty dam Hot 😁 too Hot for me. But i know a guy that do like it. 80c is ok and you can still throw a lot of water on the stove without calling an ambulance👍. Regards from 🇫🇮🇫🇮

[@ArhPos]

@@donniev8181 I prefer 60 to 80 degrees celsius, but there is a sweet spot for every sauna. Some are better with higher temps and some in lower temps, also the humidity matters a lot.

[@j.a.therollingman9216]

@@donniev8181 It depends on size of the sauna and if the kiuas (stove?) is heated by wood or electricity. My kiuas is heated by electricity and my sauna is small in size and I like it to be around 80-85 celsius, that is 180 fahrenheit. Electric stoves makes your sauna pretty dry feeling, so it feels a bit hotter than saunas with wood stoves which feel more humid

[@tomy913]

@@donniev8181 For wood heated Saunas 80-90'C is normally perfect. For electric Saunas a bit lower like 70-80'C is better because they usually are a bit drier.

[@eianschrag]

I really like this guy. He's completely real. Nothing fake here, which is quite refreshing in regards to KZbin shills. Keep being you man!

[@rilyb15]

Fair warning to your battery pack. Electronics don’t like humidity

[@joewamsley8004]

Plus lithium cells freeze and don't work so well.

[@leonmilner9994]

Yeah candles on the floor where it's dry are best in the sauna!

[@rilyb15]

@@leonmilner9994 am I the only one who calls it a SOW-NA?

[@pirkkojohnes8675]

@@rilyb15 A true Finn will say it that way, it is phonetic. American pronunciation would be spelled SOONA in Finland.

[@rilyb15]

@@pirkkojohnes8675 Good thing I’m Scandinavian. I was beginning to think I was the cra-sy one. 😁

[@benmelander5004]

it would be a good idea to have a floor drain in ur sauna, it gets very humid in there and you get sweaty so there is gonna be water on the floor. In Finland it's very common to wash yourself in the warm sauna if it's a cabin sauna like that. In or houses the shower is not in the sauna, but in a cabin were you don't have running water it's best to do the washing in the sauna. Plus it's so easy to just wash off the benches with water after you are done sweating on them :)

[@oddis188]

Yeah and to have a sauna cauldron outside the sauna would be good source for hot water. Just mix the warm with cold water and have some bowls and a scoop so you can wash yourself easily like we do at our cabin saunas

[@frederickmoller]

Thanks Kevin, you are a master craftsman and a damn genius, your projects are always out of the box and that is what make your Channel so interesting to watch!!!

[@mikeyjames]

It’s a Sauna for Kevin but another date night camping spot for Chris and Courtney 😂

[@lifewithus42]

Challenge accepted !!!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

You predicting the future??

[@jtucci5711]

Beautiful work from start to finish, applause, applause, applause. Thank you.

[@Drew______]

Excited to see what you build next! Maybe a Sugar Shack for a maple sap evaporator?

[@TheStephencraig01]

Kevin I really love your the sauna build. Fantastic job! I'm an American expat living in Hamburg, Germany and a big fan of the sauna culture here in northern Europe. Just today, after a long snowy walk outdoors, my wife and I had a sweat in the home sauna I built in our basement. My tip would be to look into the sauna oils/scents you can buy online and mix into your bucket of water. For example, mint or eucalyptus oils. They will really take your sauna experience to the next level. Enjoy the sauna and thanks again for the positive content you provide.

[@Dewkeeper]

Just gonna point out that since sauna construction is alive and well here in Finland, if you ever need reference literature on the construction of these bad boys you can find the Finnish stuff, at least some of it will be available in English, and the rest you can have a helpful Finn translate (as you have noticed we cannot resist sticking our noses into this sort of thing) for you. Between the traditional all-wood-construction sauna designs and the modern designs you should be able to cover any type of project you want. Saunas are great for multiple reasons, not least of which because they're self-sterilizing and can be used as an emergency clean room for injuries or even childbirth.

[@joewamsley8004]

Kevin: let's build a sauna! Finns: generational knowledge of people suffocating frothing up, "let's keep him from killing himself. Rest of World: that sounds fun.

[@cynthiacrawford1573]

Lol!

[@richardsolomon8076]

Pretty much Joe 👍Finns seem to be a happy and helpful breed of good people 👍

[@jcwhite4761]

Man the things you come up with to repurpose used products or materials are crazy. Keep up the great work 👍 you guys.

[@chrisbocker2255]

Absolutely fantastic I think you were a little more surprised about the amount of steam you got great job

[@cmosphoto1]

It was fantastic!

[@marthaneuhauser1019]

Now you need a wood box! And a contraption for water! Just love it!!!

[@9realitycheck9]

Really turned out to be a beauty. Congrats.....

[@lisacamp1964]

12:50 "We're checking stuff off the list boys" BOYS??!! I'm here, I've watched and enjoyed everything you've made, I am not a boy!!!

[@hardworker7598]

I am glad to see someone that does not waste wood 🪵

[@YahshuaLovesMe]

I love watching fire burn... and warmth therefrom, especially in neat little hideaways like your's !

[@glg3945]

That looks beautiful inside 😍❤. Glad the rocks didn't explode. So glad you put in vent. You might want to cover it with hardware mesh on the outside of the vent to keep out bugs in the warmer months. Love the benches. In all honesty, I could have done without the rabbit segment. You really are a wonderful builder and creator. Thank you for sharing all this with us. Peace and good fortune and good health to you and your family.

[@yamuson08]

Everytime I watch one of these videos, or in tonight's case, 4 videos, I live vicariously through this guy

[@ltkell2028]

Beautiful! The only thing that I'd do differently only because of a bit of OCD is building in a box at the end of the bench on the rt to hold wood & kindling in order to keep it tidy. It wouldn't have to be large since wood being added to stove aren't big, having a divider inside box would keep both separate for easy storage & use, breaking up kindling outside before putting in box would also cut down on floor cleanup. Or, use the entire box for wood storage & add a small shelf on back wall above box to store kindling in a metal bucket. Hang lanterns from ceiling in front of windows, high humidity & electronics don't mix well. They have solar one's that you can utilize from all the light during the day.

[@sdk8555]

You have made a super bug out site that would be more than adequate for longer stretches of time in comfort.And with a good sense of humor.

[@henrikstenlund5385]

Great work Kevin. We are watching excited how you are progressing. The sauna is beautiful. We would add higher shelves for sitting but you will certainly develop this in the future. It is common to place some sausages in an Aluminum foil on the rocks getting ready after having bathed. They usually taste good with beer. Cheers.

[@Punanuppi]

You just say it! It's called SAUNAMAKKARA!

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

The windows’ location determined the location of the benches. I would put a decorative, translucent film covering on the windows so when taking a bath at night would not show my lady bits to the camp.

[@mrpetef]

I don't care what anyone says about you...You're awesome bro! My kids and I love everything you've built... Even the burned up smoker!

[@jerryhetland2682]

I love your approach to projects and humor!

[@allenenabnit7078]

You really have way more energy then most people breaking rocks with a sledgehammer is not easy but it was entertaining yes you have a granite type of rock from what I can see. How are you going to recharge your battery pack? Some kind of solar maybe? Loving the way your filling my world with ideas and entertainment

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

I would say the sauna is a huge success 👍 Very good

[@BigHands64]

Love the videos! As a former schluter rep, I fell in love with the content after you put schluter on the exterior of the treehouse! Keep up the good work

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@travisnugent8302]

I really enjoy watching all your buildings

[@ArielleViking]

Sauna is looking great. Cedar benches should be nice. 👍❤

[@sharonhunter337]

All your projects are beautiful and amazing.

[@adaleoneal]

I loved this entire project. It's beautiful, too. Thanks muchly for the laughs.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marylott3076]

Awesome! You are a joy to watch. Waiting for the next project.

[@antti-jussikemppainen305]

Awesome build! The culvert as the frame gives it nice roundness. I'd add wooden pieces to the floor where one can walk without freezing their toes. The floor does not get as warm as the other parts and specially close to the door the draft will cool it down. Some kind of wooden grill or similar about an half an inch of the floor. Just enough to have an insulating air gap. We usually have another bench lower down for this purpose and for kids to sit on, but as you are height limited the floor will do just fine. If you want you could continue the bench style to the floor. And no, those are not attached in any way, just floating on some small stubbs, branches perhaps. As long as you make them manageable size, it's easy to lift them up and clean the floor.

[@jenbock1066]

I’m obsessed with this channel! Give us more!!!!

[@mainsqueeeze]

I watch your videos at least three times each not because they’re boring but because it is so relaxing and helps with my anxiety that I’m able to fall asleep so then I’ll rewatch it in the morning so I can Learn thank you for your videos

[@michellehertzberg8045]

I wish I had had your mill when I lived in West Virginia....very cool mill. I love great tools.- Mama Bea in AZ.

[@gregunplugged]

I love your videos so much! My grandfather was a carpenter his whole life and grew up in the Great Depression so he taught me everything he knew about repurposing old scrap and whatever is lying around. That to say these videos feel so familiar and homey to me, so thank you so very much for posting and staying true to who you are!

[@kristyksiazek817]

My friends Dad made a Sauna out of a Old Fish House when we were in High School. It worked well! :)

[@MangledGuitars]

I honestly love all your projects! I don't have one bad thing to say. Like I've said in the past, you're like the backwoods Bob Villa

[@vivianwilliams2216]

I used to love saunas, but due to health reasons can't anymore, so watching you build this one and have so much fun, and kidding around 💗! ,You have made my COVID-19 time so nice 👌! Thanks for sharing some good clean Fun ! 😊👍💕💕💕

[@jasonsummit1885]

It is granite, more specifically, small grained pegmatite granite. So you got the right rock.😁👍

[@cmosphoto1]

That's great news!

[@kellyekadesignswelly1608]

It worked, what a great build Kevin. Wow 150 F crazy hot add that water , now you just need a bucket and scoop for your steam. Like it like it !

[@mattivirta]

normal sauna have temperature 176-194 F not too hot because steam have warm and good u body,

[@johntraynor8777]

Great job Kevin love the way you use what's available to hand

[@canoelew2288]

Excellent build! Great design! Enjoyed watching. Looking forward to the next video.......

[@robertvezina3669]

Beautiful Sauna. Very Well Done.

[@ynech]

Great video.

[@trevormerivale6882]

Just like all of your projects this one turned out amazing. Keep up the awesome work!!!

[@davecurda2350]

Absolutely love it. The best thing you have built.

[@elderepyper]

The sauna surely working

[@almath9987]

Looks amazing 👍🏻 just need a boardwalk down to the pond and a jetty or pontoon then you have a plunge pool to cool off. Thanks for the video 👍🏻👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@lightseeker1981]

Kevin I really admire your creativity. You are also super entertaining. Great job!

[@rayleeeastlick3989]

Klamath falls Oregon is listening and watching

[@aarond4821]

Looks awesome. If it works, it works.

[@zoingovung394]

I like Chris cameo..😄

[@Nym1a]

Looks really cozy and it sure is gonna be nice in the cold winters! Love the design, nice twist on the bastutunna. Here are just some tips I came up with from my experience using the sauna in north of Sweden for all my life. - Usually there are higher and lower levels of benches in a sauna. That way you can climb up to get intense with the heat, and go down a step to relax a little bit. Most people I know go for a couple of really hot sessions with some pauses outside in between! - You want the water to drain through the stones, so it wont pool up if you throw a lot of water (Thats probably why a lot of people are commenting about a drain in the floor too!). If it starts to pool up it would just simmer slowly, where as it's supposed to instantly steam away! - I think the chimney has too good of a flow, so most of the heat is escaping out. If you want, you could add some sort of valve to the chimney or to the air inlet through the stove. We usually go in the sauna when the air temp range from 160 to 200 degrees Farenheit (70 to 90 degrees Celcuis) and the stones completely off limits to touch!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

The stove has a "water jacket" so the water would pool at the bottom if too much is put on... I was thinking of installing a damper on the chimney to slow it down slighty. Good info here!

[@robertnorman2333]

Sauna looks great, seems fully functional, looking forward to your next project, until then, peace my brother.

[@ellenandwillhernandez4298]

I love The Wooded Beardsman, I do but, your channel is soooooo much more entertaining and informative 👍. Beardsman... Love you bro

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

Comments are like family, some are ok, few are great, most of them you could do without.

[@csmi14]

Yay, I saw this upload at work and am excited to watch this one! Heat time!!

[@mallickeye]

I never mind working outside, Minnesota construction worker for 20 years. However I would love to see an episode of swearing in the woods with Kevin LOL

[@virginiarocks]

Quite enjoyed this project. 👍

[@pamelacarter9885]

For cooking: You might add a narrow grill plate (grill top with 4 legs own to the floor) OVER the door of the "wood stove" and put it there and leave the door open, if you want to cook on it. It should be sufficient. Or, you might clear the front part of the stones and create a flat, metal plate insert to use as a skillet panel.

[@mattfemea1073]

Love seeing all these awesome builds, thanks for sharing wish I had your talent

[@420BLUNTLEY]

You’re great!

[@briancaldwell9549]

That sauna is dope absolutely beautiful hello from Melville Saskatchewan Kevin your skills are amazing wow

[@dylan818]

Amazing build again, can’t wait to see what you create next

[@cozyflannel]

Such a massive project this time around. Happy to see it come together. Keep up the great work and stay safe... ish!

[@dogleg6669]

Looks great Kevin.

[@KhanhNguyen-gq2px]

Another awesome video. You continue amaze me how creative you are in stuff you do. Very fun. Thanks for sharing!

[@GAR85120514]

The videos remain interesting and fun. Thanks

[@totallyoffgrid3008]

I love this channel and all the buildings. It’s really turning into a little village. I am still waiting on the Viking Pit House to start.

[@1stontario]

love the multiple uses. great job.

[@tech4054]

“I’m not in the mood to buy” that made me LOL. Also, I’m going to start using that phrase, thanks man!

[@huntercynthia1]

love that woodsy sauna

[@benoitleblanc6971]

Great build from start to finnish ;) . To get up to those few extra degrees (up to 80 or 90C), there are a couple things that are possible to do, but perhaps the biggest improvement you could do is use the front to make a 'vestibule', kind of like an entryway, so that you dont have windows and the front door exposed directly to the outside, since those two are major heat sinks right now. The vestibule would help prevent a ton of cold air rushing in when you open/close the sauna door. (for ease of use, you may also want to switch the hinges on the sauna door to open inwards too) . Another suggestion is that for the sauna door itself, you use a solid wood door instead of a door with windows, and you could clad it with ash like you do the rest to match. The last suggestion is maybe get a bigger stove haha. I love your work and keep us posted !

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Fun build, thanks for sharing.

[@p3anut469]

Love the content! The builds are so educational! Great stuff! Can’t wait to see the next projects!

[@KerriGilpin]

Gorgeous design! The granite looks a lot like the sauna rocks my parents had back in the day, glad you got advice from a flintknapper! I was just about to show my husband who knaps rock to help ID it for ya, but you did well! 👍🏻

[@DeterminedDIYer]

You should look into some kind of water proof rug or mat or something so you don't slip and crack your head open. :) It's a fantastic build dude. :)

[@lolcatsravenight]

No funky wood? Disco wood it is!!

[@UkatzGaming]

Small tip for the sauna. Heat up the water before throwing it on the rocks for steam. The rocks will last longer that way.

[@marioesquivel2962]

From Houston Texas 😇

[@paulschmac8098]

What a great way to start a Saturday. The way you made this all natural from your surroundings is just amazing 👏 I learn so much from your videos. Thanks for doing what you love to do.

[@sugarmagnolia1475]

Love the fast fast fast.

[@jamestang2479]

Love the sauna build. Would be awesome to see an updated video on how the sauna is working now.

[@mattivirta]

finnish peoples all say not real and good sauna, not build right, need before start build learn how good sauna need build, stove place, rail around stove safety, air ventilation under stove or near stove on floor, rocks top stove, bench level up to stove , not store wood in sauna moisture lot, floor need be drain hole all water go out or mold all sauna, many fails him do.

[@lindsayalisonstevens3592]

This is a gorgeous sauna 😍

[@reinkarnatsioon]

just a side note, its usually common to have a wash room and a front room for a sauna for relaxing and chilling as well

[@greeneyedflower2408]

Cookin in the Sauna with Kevin! Lol While wearing sunglasses. You're the best!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

safety eventually.

[@hazrdrosenyc9385]

I absolutely love your sauna! Great job.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Thank you so much!

[@EnsignLovell]

Loved that video, your sauna looks beautiful and comfy, I am truly jealous.

[@doxdoomsday4948]

That was great work, keep having fun and thanks for show!

[@maryfrederickson9400]

That is soooo wonderful!