I hve been asked to add a bench to a sauna.
The sauna appears to be built in place. Used a commercial heater and it looks like a purchased WRC door.
However, the interior looks like a knotty pine, it is alight color, but the light was bad. LOTS and LOTS of knots.
The same material is used on the bench. While I have heard that knots cause hot spots they said that there is no problem with it.
The want the upper bench extended because so that they can layout on it.
I did a search and found that cedar is commonly used. But many referece to white and yellow cedar.
The only think available in the area is WRC and most of it has small knots.
Any problem with the knots?
Any problems with oder from the WRC when heated?
Replies
When I was working in Finland all of the saunas I saw and used were made of cedar. I was told that knots would get hot.
I was on a ski trip last week and spent time in the resort sauna. The sauna was clear cedar except for the one knot on the bench I sat on.
Didn't sit there long. The knots do get hotter.
Well Bill, No self respecting Finlander would build a sauna bench out of WRC. I don't think your customers get their sauna very hot if a big WRC knot wouldn't toast their behinder!
NWC is the wood of choice. How about clear redwood? I have seen more than a few benches built out of that.
If you can locate some genuine NWC, don't forget to order the complimentary switch so they can flog one another.
You should also have a pond or lake available to dive into after the temp reaches about 200.
Contact (Riverman) , he can fix you up with just the right materials, and also tell you the proper way to take a sauna! (and what brand of beer to drink)
I built a couple of these. The important thing is to avoid bare metal in skin contact areas. I think I attached the slats from the underside with screws. Galvanized steel rusts out. Next time I used brass and resorcinol glue.
As for material, I used wood. I don't know about using acrononyms like WRC.
~Peter, the Comics Page Editor for the NY Times
WRC is western red cedar.I am guessing that NWC is northern white cedar.But I have never heard of that. (PS, a google confirmed that NWC is northern white cedar).One supplier did have some rough "inland cedar", but from what I was able to gather inland cedar is just a poor quality western red.Yes, I had planned on doing pocket scews from the botton. There might be a few screws in the "rim joist" but I would just recess them.The existing walls and bench where just power nailed, but way over driven to sink them.
"I don't think your customers get their sauna very hot if a big WRC knot wouldn't toast their behinder!"That is part of the problem.I think that it was build too big. 9 ft ceilings and it goes all the way to the top.There is a full bench on the lower level. But it does not get hot enough for the wife so she uses the 2nd level. But it is only a partial bench. Wants something that she can lay out on.
We always closed the ceilings down to 7'. It's best to keep the suanas small and cozy.
blue
Basswood and Cottonwood are appropriate species, if you have a source -
"there's enough for everyone"
I've built quite a few saunas in my earlier contracting days. We used clear white cedar as reccomended to prevent the possibility of those hot knots.
Obviously your clients are already used to being in a sauna with knots. They probably always sit on towels so it probably doesn't affect them.
I'd just go ahead and put in the cedar with the small knots and warn them again about them.
blue