Sauna

Everyone of Finnish ancestry is going to have a sauna or know someone that has one. As far back as I can remember my parents and grandparents had one where everyone took a bath on Saturday night. Everyone would brag about how much steam and heat they could stand and more than one sauna burned down from fires being too hot. We would stay in the sauna as long as we could and then make a mad dash to jump into the lake or in the winter roll in the snow. Some would chop a hole in the ice for that sauna swim.

The early saunas I remember were usually made from logs with rocks piled in the corner and a fire pit underneath. They had no chimney and the fire would heat the rocks. You didn't go in to bathe until the fire was out and the smoke cleared. Water had to be carried in and heated on the rocks. This system doubled as a smoke house. These evolved to wood stoves, chimneys, and a water jacket system to heat the water. Rocks placed on top of the stove were heated and would produce steam when cold water was applied. This is my favorite type of sauna and come Saturday evening you might find me at the Rintalas taking on the steam.

Our sauna is built in the back of the garage next to the shop and is a modern day version with an electric stove, hot and cold running water, shower, and a rest room within the changing room. It is lined with clear white cedar and has cedar plank benches direct from the swamps of Misery Bay, Michigan. It is less work, more convenient, and in the summer we use it almost every day. It’s great for the grand children to wash off a hard days play.

Click Picture for Enlargement and Slide Show

Electric Sauna

Edwin (Bill) Raisanen (owner, designer, builder)