This is a GREAT review. You hit all the things I wanted to know with zero fluff or BS. Plus, learned Costco carries these from you. Major win! Thank you.
What fasteners did you use to screw in the corrugated metal? That’s exactly what I’m planning to do with my sauna. I live a couple hours north of Seattle.
I used metal-to-wood screws.They have an o-ring at the top which helps prevent water from leaking through the hole they make in the metal. Make sure you buy the right length, so the screws don't pierce all the way through the wood into the sauna. :)
We finished and started using the sauna in December of 2021. I think two of the staves warped the following summer and we got some .25" gaps which dripped in rain water pretty bad. But it was easy to replace the warped saves with some extra staves which come with the sauna. It's been fine since and hasn't warped further. There have always been some very small gaps in it (I mention how it's not perfectly air tight in the video) but they don't bother us except that we can't get it to 190 F. :)
@@JamesSimas Thanks for the thorough response! I think I'll pull the trigger on one. 190F is PLENTY hot. I read the benefits start at around 170F anyway ;)
Thanks for the review. I’m planning to use this inside an insulated shed. It would resolve the problems with water. I’m wondering if all your gaps were sealed could this get hotter? Thanks
Yes, smaller gaps would leak less air and I think it would thus get hotter. But I'd be careful with what you seal it with. If you use a synthetic material, it could off-gas nasty stuff when heated by the sauna.
I have an old 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe that was sitting in my driveway going nowhere. I realized it was an ideal sauna. I just make sure the sunroof cover is slid back a couple hours before noon and it's easy to get the temp up to 105-115 (and I live in Ohio). I know. I know. That's not as high of a temp as Sauna's but the humidity usually ranges from 40-60% as opposed to 10% in a sauna. My sessions are also 60 minutes. The extra humidity makes the perspiration process less effective and, in turn, enhances the autophagic response created from the heat-exposure hormesis. You don't need a sunroof for this but it's nice. When the heat index gets too much (for me it's approaching 115) you can cool it off by opening the sunroof and/or cracking the windows. Technically, it's the humidity that drops more than the temperature when you crack the windows. I always have a big mug of electrolyte powder infused water with me as well as a couple of microfiber towels for my elbows and a Bluetooth speaker with a 60-minute upbeat music playlist for a timer. I wear a headband to keep sweat out of my eyes. Red flags for immediate evacuation are dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness and nausea. If I feel any of those, which has only happened once, I get out of the car immediately. I'm not a doctor and, officially, I suggest you consult with one before implementing this technique.
Hi! I estimate it costs roughly $2 to run the sauna per session. In the winter, we typically use it around 3 nights per week. So that's about $6 per week to use it. It's hard to give an exact number because we use a lot of electricity for other things as well. (We run a business out of our garage and have a 6 Kwh heater for that and we also have an electric car.
We did notice a an uptick, but it's hard to attribute it to just the sauna. We also have an electric space heater in an on-premise business which is 6 KwH (also large) and runs for many hours a week. And we have also have an electric car which we charge here. So it's hard to say how much of an increase it's responsible for. When I calculated it out, it came to around $2.00 per usage based on our electricity rates here in Washington.
It sticks a bit which makes means you have to use some force to close and open it. But that is kind a plus in my book because it gets windy here and I don't want it blowing open in the wind. And prevents my toddler from opening it by himself.
Local hardware store. Most hardware stores will just have it. I had to cut it to length with a grinder, but that was easy. And you might be able to find the proper length and avoid cutting it if you're lucky.
This is a GREAT review. You hit all the things I wanted to know with zero fluff or BS. Plus, learned Costco carries these from you. Major win! Thank you.
You're very welcome!
I actually build these and almost heaven is one of our customers, wild that I happen to see this video lol
Thanks for watching!
What fasteners did you use to screw in the corrugated metal? That’s exactly what I’m planning to do with my sauna. I live a couple hours north of Seattle.
I used metal-to-wood screws.They have an o-ring at the top which helps prevent water from leaking through the hole they make in the metal.
Make sure you buy the right length, so the screws don't pierce all the way through the wood into the sauna. :)
Thanks for the info... good to know.
Thanks for the review. You don’t happen to have a video on how to do the electrical yourself, do you? 😊
How long have you had the sauna? How's the wood expansion and contraction? Do you see gaps in between the wood? thanks for the video!
We finished and started using the sauna in December of 2021.
I think two of the staves warped the following summer and we got some .25" gaps which dripped in rain water pretty bad. But it was easy to replace the warped saves with some extra staves which come with the sauna. It's been fine since and hasn't warped further.
There have always been some very small gaps in it (I mention how it's not perfectly air tight in the video) but they don't bother us except that we can't get it to 190 F. :)
@@JamesSimas Thanks for the thorough response! I think I'll pull the trigger on one. 190F is PLENTY hot.
I read the benefits start at around 170F anyway ;)
Thanks for the review. I’m planning to use this inside an insulated shed. It would resolve the problems with water. I’m wondering if all your gaps were sealed could this get hotter? Thanks
Yes, smaller gaps would leak less air and I think it would thus get hotter. But I'd be careful with what you seal it with. If you use a synthetic material, it could off-gas nasty stuff when heated by the sauna.
Understood and thanks for your input! How has the heater been holding up?
@@on4acres Heater is going great! It's literally heating the sauna up as I type this. :)
I have an old 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe that was sitting in my driveway going nowhere. I realized it was an ideal sauna. I just make sure the sunroof cover is slid back a couple hours before noon and it's easy to get the temp up to 105-115 (and I live in Ohio). I know. I know. That's not as high of a temp as Sauna's but the humidity usually ranges from 40-60% as opposed to 10% in a sauna. My sessions are also 60 minutes. The extra humidity makes the perspiration process less effective and, in turn, enhances the autophagic response created from the heat-exposure hormesis. You don't need a sunroof for this but it's nice. When the heat index gets too much (for me it's approaching 115) you can cool it off by opening the sunroof and/or cracking the windows. Technically, it's the humidity that drops more than the temperature when you crack the windows. I always have a big mug of electrolyte powder infused water with me as well as a couple of microfiber towels for my elbows and a Bluetooth speaker with a 60-minute upbeat music playlist for a timer. I wear a headband to keep sweat out of my eyes. Red flags for immediate evacuation are dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness and nausea. If I feel any of those, which has only happened once, I get out of the car immediately. I'm not a doctor and, officially, I suggest you consult with one before implementing this technique.
That's awesome. Never been in a car sauna before! 🧖♂️
Hi James thanks for the video. I’m 6 feet tall and was wondering if you feel hunched over when sitting in it due to the round design?
Hello! I'm just under 6' tall (5' 11") and I don't have to hunch to use it at all. I'm very comfortable in it.
Hi! How much did your electric bill go up from using this sauna? Approximately
Hi!
I estimate it costs roughly $2 to run the sauna per session.
In the winter, we typically use it around 3 nights per week. So that's about $6 per week to use it.
It's hard to give an exact number because we use a lot of electricity for other things as well. (We run a business out of our garage and have a 6 Kwh heater for that and we also have an electric car.
Did you notice a considerable spike in your electric bill from the use of the sauna?
We did notice a an uptick, but it's hard to attribute it to just the sauna.
We also have an electric space heater in an on-premise business which is 6 KwH (also large) and runs for many hours a week. And we have also have an electric car which we charge here.
So it's hard to say how much of an increase it's responsible for.
When I calculated it out, it came to around $2.00 per usage based on our electricity rates here in Washington.
@@JamesSimas appreciate it!
Have you had any issues with the door?
It sticks a bit which makes means you have to use some force to close and open it. But that is kind a plus in my book because it gets windy here and I don't want it blowing open in the wind.
And prevents my toddler from opening it by himself.
Where did you buy the corrugated steel? Was that offered through heavenly sauna?
Local hardware store. Most hardware stores will just have it.
I had to cut it to length with a grinder, but that was easy. And you might be able to find the proper length and avoid cutting it if you're lucky.