To create the atmosphere of a Russian steam room, a stove of a special design is required: the stones must not only be heated, but heated. Only then will it be possible to get light steam. The second task is to make sure that while the stones are heating up, the air does not overheat. After all, for a Russian steam room the temperatures should be low: 50-75°C (but the humidity is 50-60%).
To do this, it is necessary to somehow neutralize the high heat transfer of the metal. This is best realized in brick kilns. In them, heat is accumulated in the mass of the brick. That's where the idea came from - to line metal stoves with bricks. It absorbs most of the radiation from the body. After it warms up, it begins to radiate heat, but this time it is soft and pleasant for us. It turns out to be something like a brick oven, which, with the right approach, allows you to get a bathhouse very similar to a Russian one.
By covering a cast iron stove with a brick screen, we get soft heat, like from a stone stove
But not everyone wants to put down the screen. And there is another method to reduce heat radiation - cladding with slabs of “bath” stones. These stones are soapstone and serpentine, marble and some others. They have a very high heat capacity, so they also absorb radiation quite well. At the same time, they are also beautiful. But roads.
Features of cast iron stoves
In this article we will talk about manufacturers of cast iron stoves with a closed heater, which can be installed in bathhouses to achieve Russian steam room conditions. Since cast iron stoves are made with thicker walls, the heat capacity of the units is greater. And if the design of the stove is well thought out and a lot of stones are placed, then the atmosphere in the steam room is very, very soft and pleasant.
There are only a few nuances when using these units. Sauna stoves made of cast iron have a considerable mass - at least 200 kg without all the “makeweights”. Since you can’t just put a stove in a Russian bathhouse, but you will need a lining (about 200-250 kg) or a brick screen (at least 600-800 kg), you can’t do without a foundation for the stove.
A cast iron stove with a brick screen or cladding requires a foundation
Second point. Cast iron does not tolerate sudden temperature changes. And to get steam you have to pour water. Even if it is boiling water, the difference with the surface of the oven is very large. If this “cold” water gets on a hot surface, it can burst. That’s why manufacturers make special glasses into which this water needs to be poured. And some also make containers for stones from steel (Sudarushka and Svarozhich Elite) - this way there is less chance of getting a crack.
The nice thing is that cast iron stoves consist of individual elements that are connected to each other using locks. That is, if something bursts, then it is not the entire oven that needs to be replaced, but only some part of it. But still, be careful when using it.
Read more about the features of cast iron stoves in the article “Sauna stoves made of stainless steel or cast iron? What's better?"
Stoves for baths Svarozhich
This company produces cast iron sauna stoves, with a closed heater. They are cast using German equipment from gray heat-resistant cast iron SCH 15-30. Production is located in Russia and Belarus.
There are two lines of cast iron sauna stoves produced by Svarozhich: Firebird and Slavyanka Premium. Both models can be supplied with cladding or under a self-clad brick screen. The cladding is made from bath stones of four types: coil, soapstone, soapstone, soapstone, soapstone. The thickness of the slabs is up to 40 mm. This type of cladding does not require a brick screen - all cladding material has a high heat capacity.
The Fire Bird and Slavyanka stoves are equipped with two types of doors:
- Regular cast iron. This is a standard inexpensive door decorated with glass. It closes with a bolt, pressing it to the portal. This method of closing is not airtight, so air leaks are possible even when the door is closed.
- Fireplace door with large glass. If you need tight temperature control, choose a fireplace door. In addition to the large panoramic glass, it ensures tightness.
So each version of cast iron sauna stoves can have two doors. Another feature is that the door has movable blinds that can be used to regulate convection, and therefore the intensity of combustion.
Another point - since the stoves are made of cast iron, they come from the factory disassembled and you assemble them yourself according to the instructions that come with the kit.
Cast iron sauna stove Firebird
In this stove, the heater, although closed, is ventilated. This is not the best option for creating Russian bath modes, but you can still use it. The main thing is to choose the right fire mode and not overheat the steam room.
The structure of the Fire Bird stove from Svarozhich
At the moment there are three modifications: Lux, Russian steam and combi. Here are brief differences:
- Cast iron stove Fire Bird Lux. The front front wall is slightly higher, due to which the top is sloping back. Moreover, the top of the stove is also the lid of the heater. It opens upward, making it easier to access the stones and easier to pour water. At the same time, the heater is made of cast iron and is covered in flames on 5 sides, which guarantees good heating of the stones.
- Firebird Russian steam. The heater is made of cast iron, covered with a 2 mm thick heat-resistant stainless steel box on top. The box has only two holes, so the stones are not cooled by convection. In addition, the movement of air in the stove does not depend on the degree of heating of the heater. A steam gun is installed to supply steam (additional option).
- The modifications of the combi differ in that the cladding consists of two types of bath stone.
All stoves have a remote firebox: the stove can be heated from an adjacent room. The dimensions of the firebox allow the use of firewood up to 40 cm long. Since its weight is significant (without stones, lining and firewood from 270 kg), the stove must be installed on a separate foundation.
This is what the cast iron stoves Svarozhich Zhar Ptitsa look like in different versions
All of these stoves are designed for steam stoves of 12-30 m3, the chimney diameter of the first three modifications is 115 mm, and for “Elite” - 130 mm. To make it more convenient to select and navigate the technical parameters of the Firebird stove, they were compiled into a table.
Technical characteristics of Svarozhich Zhar Ptitsa stoves (to increase the size of the table, right-click on the picture)
Svarozhich stoves are distinguished by a very wide door. In the photo below, the firebox is shielded from the inside with fireclay bricks. This slows down the heating of the steam room, but the temperature remains longer after heating. You see, the door is so wide that all the “insides” are clearly visible.
Shielding the firebox with fireclay bricks
Sauna stove Svarozhich Slavyanka Elite
This line is extended even further upward. Its width, even when faced with stone slabs, does not exceed 500 mm. The weight of this line is also slightly less. And this despite the fact that the combustion portal is cast from cast iron. The weight reduction occurred due to a decrease in the thickness of the firebox walls (6 mm instead of 10 for the “Fire Bird”) and also due to the fact that the container for stones is welded from stainless steel. Only the lower part of the heater is made of cast iron, which provides more uniform heating of the stones. The thickness of the walls of the heater is 3 mm, which is more than enough to withstand thermal loads and the weight of stones.
The structure of the Slavyanka stove from Svarozhich
The Svarozhich-Slavyanka stove has two heaters - a closed one with stones placed on the side and a small open one. The mass of stones in the closed heater is 40 kg, in the upper one - 20 kg. The chimney diameter for all modifications is 115 mm. The modifications are the same:
- Economy - under brick lining;
- Standard - in a stainless steel casing (for use in Russian steam room mode, a brick screen is still required);
- Classic - lined with soapstone;
- Luxury - in a lining with a system for regulating convective flows.
This is what cast iron stoves Svarozhich Slavyanka look like in different versions
The technical characteristics of these furnaces are presented in the table (see photo).
Technical characteristics of Svarozhich Slavyanka stoves (to increase the size of the table, right-click on the picture)
Reviews of Svarozhich stoves
I have Slavyanka Elite. I took it under a brick screen. I’m happy with everything, it heats up my 15 cubic meter steam room in an hour and a half, but this is at +6-7° outside. At first I didn't put the top of the screen down, but it was hot. That’s why I blocked half of it, and on the other I have a grid with stones for decoration. Now, at 60°C in the steam room, the stones heat up very well and I can get as much steam as I want. The only annoying thing is that the doors don't fit snugly. Therefore, even with the dampers closed, there is traction. I tried to adjust the damper on the chimney, but smoke poured into the room. Then he adapted to drown her. But something needs to be done about the doors.
Mikhail, Astrakhan
I have Svarozhich-Lux. The oven is excellent, if not for one flaw. There were many cracks in the door, which made it almost impossible to regulate the combustion. I glued thin strips of asbestos around the perimeter where the doors fit. I placed them on heat-resistant sealant until they dried, pressed them down with the door and cut off the excess . It turned out very accurately. Now, with the door closed, the draft is adjusted as necessary: using the blinds on the door.
Stepan, St. Petersburg
Review of popular models of cast iron sauna stoves
To satisfy the demand from connoisseurs of bath art, modern manufacturers offer a variety of stove design options and their modifications:
Cast iron stoves Kalita
The model line of Kalita stoves is represented by 4 different modifications: “Kalita”, “Kalita Arched”, “Prince Kalita” and “Kalita Extreme” and is produced.
The products have different capacities and overall dimensions and are suitable for steam rooms with a volume of 15 to 35 m3. The design of the stove is collapsible, the firebox body is made of cast iron 10 mm thick. All Kalita models are equipped with a closed type of heater, made in various variations, have good controlled ventilation and an elongated combustion tunnel in 2 types of design (cast iron or stainless steel). Several variations of the design of the firebox door are offered, as well as options with lining made of natural coil stone or soapstone: “Optima”, “Russian Steam” and “President”.
Important! Soapstone and coils, used in the external decoration of stoves, have a beneficial effect on the human body, healing it with its healing properties - they normalize blood pressure, the respiratory system, activate the body’s immune cells, relieve headaches, and also protect from the infrared radiation of a hot stove.
In some modifications, the closed heater is made of stainless steel with a translational-rotational movement of the door (for example, Prince-Kalita), and in others, with vertical loading, it is built directly into the firebox (Kalita-Extreme).
Important! A closed heater is more correct from a technological point of view. In it, stones are heated from different sides and it is capable of producing steam that is several times better, finely dispersed, light and beneficial to human health.
The arched wicket door stands out for its original design, made of stone cladding, in which a closed arched heater with graceful doors decorated with decorative forged overlays is installed.
Along with its advantages, some experienced bath attendants highlight a number of disadvantages , including: insufficient height of the firebox, impractical narrowing at the junction of the fuel channel and the body of the stove, rapid failure of the grates and the problem of replacing them, as well as long-term heating in the winter.
Cast iron stoves Hephaestus
The model range is represented by furnaces of the PB series from 01 to 04 with a power of 8 - 18 kW for steam room sizes from 15 to 45 m3 and the PB-00 and PB-000 series with increased productivity for huge rooms from 80 to 120 m3.
The advantages of this oven are its compact size. The firebox is made of cast iron with a thickness of 10 to 60 mm depending on the model and is equipped with a combustion tunnel with an external portal. A special feature of the stove is the unique functions of burning out gases and extinguishing the flame, thanks to which the combustion process becomes even more comfortable.
Traditionally, the manufacturer offers various design options for the firebox doors (artistic casting or heat-resistant glass). It is possible to supply the stove in an economical version with a forged mesh or in an elite stone lining made of coils and soapstone in three versions: “Optima”, “Russian Steam” and “President”, as well as different variations of the heater: open (“Optima”) and closed (“Russian Steam” and “President”).
Bath stoves Kalita
These stoves are positioned as bath stoves: for Russian steam rooms. They are produced by the Russian enterprise Inzhkomtsentr VVD. They are made of gray heat-resistant cast iron. They have been on the market for many years and have a fairly strong reputation - they are reliable and quite economical (as for cast iron).
There are many models. Almost everything is covered with a brick screen, there is soap chloride and a coil. In any case, with normal thermal insulation of steam rooms and correctly selected power, in summer the steam room warms up in 1.5-2 hours, in winter - 2.5-3 hours. Only for normal convection, the screen (sarcophagus) needs two holes at the bottom and at the top (with doors) for more efficient heating.
Range of stoves with closed heater Kalita
There are many options, so we will briefly list the main characteristics and features of all.
Technical characteristics of cast iron stoves for Kalita baths (to increase the size of the table, right-click on the picture)
Now about the features of these stoves. The furnace depth is indicated for modifications without an external combustion tunnel. If you are going to heat the stove from another room, then you need to take it out. Then the oven depth increases by 200 mm. The stem in some models is made of stainless steel, resistant to scale formation (can be used up to 900°C). In others, the remote firebox is also made of cast iron. So please check when ordering.
The structure of cast iron stoves for Kalita baths
Most of the container for stones is made of stainless steel: the bottom is cast iron, 10 mm thick, the walls are made of 3 mm alloy steel. In general, some stove models have open top stoves. This is not very good for a Russian bath. But if you wish, you can order a thermal casing-steam accumulator, which completely covers the heater and, as a result, the stones heat up faster and to higher temperatures. Water for steam is poured into a special glass, from which it is distributed throughout the entire stack.
What distinguishes all these models is the absence of small nuts in the design. This way the door fits tightly, the glass on the door does not turn black, and the system for regulating the air supply to the firebox works effectively.
Reviews of Kalita stoves
I have Kalita TM for 3 tiers. I loaded a lot of stones into it. Now that's it. Although it takes a long time to heat (two or three hours), then the even heat lasts for a very long time. Even the next day it is still very warm. So everything dries out perfectly after the bath. No problems with dampness or fungi.
Boris, Volgograd
I gave myself a gift for the New Year - Prince bought a Kalita. The cladding was captivating. Beautiful. The quality of workmanship and pairing were excellent. We drown for a long time, but then it’s such a thrill! Steam for me never gives me a headache, and after the bath my body feels so good and light. Expensive, of course, but I don’t regret it. The oven is excellent.
Vitaly, Moscow
I bought Kalita President in soap chloride. During the first heating, smoke poured into the steam room. It turned out that there were large gaps and the cast iron did not fit tightly. I had to seal everything with sealant. I bought this headache for 129 thousand.
Nikolay, Tula
We bought an arched one with a cast iron tunnel. Many thanks to the employees of Inzhkomcenter VVD. We asked a lot of questions, the answers were always accurate and complete. We advised on the choice of stove and power. Very useful recommendations on installation and chimney. As a result, we are very pleased. The service is excellent, the oven is beyond praise. The steam is wonderful. Our bathhouse is now top class.
Ivan Semenovich, Moscow
Discussion of the Kalita stove on the forum >>Furnaces produced by Magnum LLC are constantly being improved, we are pleased to present you with another new product - Kalita President. The Kalita President stove has a fascinating appearance and impeccable technical characteristics. A more coherent design and rounded edges not only improve the appearance of the Kalita President stove, but also increase the “working” surface of the stone. The beveled top wall allowed the SVT 450 cast iron door to be positioned on top. This arrangement of the door prevents hot steam from reaching the person giving. The stove is installed in a steam room more conveniently and efficiently. The base of the Kalita stove is GRAY CAST IRON. The thick cast iron walls of the furnace firebox, 10 mm thick, first energetically accumulate heat, then just as energetically transfer it to the furnace stones and into the steam room. The high graphite content in cast iron does not cause scale; cast iron is not subject to internal corrosion, making the stove reliable and durable. Improved box for stones made of stainless steel 4 mm thick . Boxes with a metal thickness of less than 3 mm under the influence of high temperatures and pressure from the stone stretch and lose their shape, the convection of hot air inside the furnace is disrupted, local overheating and destruction of cast iron occurs. A metal box with the wrong thickness, stretched, touches the stone lining of the furnace, which, as a rule, gives a crack at the point of contact with the hot metal. Only we offer you a box that perfectly holds a large number of stones and can withstand extreme temperatures. The oven heats the stones in a closed stainless steel box to 400°C. Lining of the Kalita stove: soft natural stone – soapstone 50 mm thick. Soapstone has unique medicinal properties: it lowers blood pressure, increases the body's immunity, and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. One hundred kilograms of soapstone stone replaces in its heat capacity a brick stove weighing half a ton, and just like a brick stove, it gives only soft, well-warming, velvety heat to the steam room, which will persist for many hours, allowing the stove to dry the steam room even after dousing. Special soapstone plugs will allow you not to overheat the steam room and get those bath conditions that are most pleasant for you. By opening convection currents during the initial firing of the furnace, you quickly warm up the steam room, raising the temperature to the value you need. By blocking the hot air flow, your steam room will heat up only from the soft and comfortable warmth of the soapstone with which the cast-iron stove is lined. You no longer have to pour cold water on the walls and shelves to “precipitate” the temperature or raise the humidity. You simply heat the steam room to a comfortable temperature, warm up, and by adding water to the hot heater, you get a cloud of superheated, finely dispersed “light” steam under the ceiling. After which the steam will “settle” and fall out as condensation on the skin, walls, floors, the residual sauna exhaust will be removed by ventilation, you will again get a comfortable temperature in the steam room and well-heated stones in the stove. Three options for installing the combustion door on the Kalita President stove: 1. The classic tunnel with door and glass is made of mirror stainless steel. This is the standard equipment of the oven. 2. “Kalita” stove with a cast-iron tunnel and a cast-iron door. This model is cast in China. Now the Kalita combustion unit has become completely cast iron. The stove is heated from the adjacent room or from the steam room. Large glass in the furnace tunnels allows you to enjoy the play of fire. The handle is made of sheet stainless steel. The unpainted door has a gray cast iron color. 3. Since April 2010, we have been offering a new cast iron door 500x500 mm for the Kalita President stove. The door is coated with heat-resistant powder matte black paint. The stove is heated from the adjacent room or from the steam room. The cast iron fireplace door of the stove has a large arched glass that allows you to enjoy the fire. The door closes hermetically, eliminating smoke in the rest room. With a reliable locking system, accidental opening of the door is excluded. Due to the fact that the furnace combustion unit is entirely made of cast iron, the furnace can be operated at maximum power for a long time. We strongly recommend the German ceramic chimney Schiedel Uni for Kalita President, Russian Steam and Kalita TM stoves. The guaranteed service life of the Shidel chimney is 30 years. The Kalita stove is a powerful combustion unit that can overheat a stainless chimney, which will lead to unnecessary overheating in the steam room, as well as an increased fire hazard if the assembly and operating conditions are not followed. The Schiedel Uni chimney does not heat up above 5000C on the outer wall, guaranteeing the safety of you and your bathhouse. Cladding with tiles and soapstone corners is a beautiful and safe finishing of the furnace portal on the combustion side, finishing of adjacent walls to the furnace in the steam room and lining of the Shidel chimney. To cover wooden walls with soapstone tiles, you need to install a profile wall made of fire-resistant materials: basalt cardboard or basalt wool, glass-magnesium sheet (magnesite - fire resistance up to 1200°C). Only after this, specialists lay the tiles on the magnesite sheets using a special heat-resistant “Fixator” adhesive. The combination of these components during installation leads to compliance with fire safety standards and SNIP requirements. By purchasing a wood-burning stove “Kalita President” you get the highest quality steam combined with 100% reliability of the unit.
Specifications:
| 1250 | ||
| Height | 1110 mm | 1250 mm |
| Width | 650 mm | 650 mm |
| Length/with tunnel | 800/1000 mm | 800/1000 mm |
| Volume of the steam room | 15-35 m3 | 15-35 m3 |
| Type of fuel | firewood | firewood |
| Log length, up to | 50 cm | 50 cm |
| Weight of the furnace with lining | 630 kg | 680 kg |
| Mass of stones | 120-140 kg | 160-180 kg |
| Chimney outlet (as agreed) | top left/right | top left/right |
| Chimney diameter | 130 mm | 130 mm |
Certificates and conclusions:
Where can I buy
Stove with cast iron firebox Sudarushka
These stoves are also produced by the Inzhkomtsentr VVD enterprise and, like Kalita, have a good reputation.
These stoves were designed for small steam rooms. Since there is little space in them, they tried to make the models elongated upward. The result is the following structure: a massive cast-iron firebox sits underneath. On it is a heater made of steel (heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant or heat-resistant). To ensure high-quality heating of the stones, a double gas circulation was made, and to strengthen the structure, a corner was welded to the bottom, which also acts as a flame divider (it does not allow the fire to jump into the chimney).
The structure of stoves with cast iron fireboxes Sudarushka
The issue of steam release is also resolved in an unusual way - it comes out from the side. Here, when purchasing, specify which direction is more convenient for you (better - against the wall, and not towards the door or on the steamers).
If it is necessary to heat water from above, a water tank is also placed on the heater. The oven gets even higher. Some models (Sudarushka family RK and Sudarushka family combustion unit) can be equipped with a heat gun. This is a device with which water falls on the hottest stones that are located at the bottom of the heater.
If there is no water tank on top, the top of the heater remains open. This is bad for obtaining light steam: the stones are constantly exposed to air currents, which is why their temperature will be insufficient. To ensure that the heater is closed, there are cast iron doors (optional) that are mounted on top.
These are different options for stoves for Sudarushka baths
Assortment and technical characteristics
There are seven modifications of the Sudarushka stove today. There is a combustion unit for a brick screen, and different cladding options. The technical characteristics of stoves with cast iron fireboxes are summarized in the table.
Technical characteristics of Sudarushka sauna stoves with a cast iron firebox (to increase the size of the table, right-click on the picture)
Separately, it is necessary to explain the design of the Sudarushka Rusa stove. This is a mesh oven, but its design is non-standard. There are two heaters - internal and external. You are unlikely to achieve very light steam, but something similar in terms of conditions may be possible: the firebox array can add additional temperature and you will get a certain amount of steam.
The Sudarushka MK and Rusa models have open and closed heaters
If you look at the parameters, the most suitable modification for the Russian steam room is the Sudarushka Family and Sudarushka MK combustion unit. In the rest, the laying of stones is too small. But everything depends more on whether the heater is closed with a lid.
Reviews of the stove with cast iron firebox Sudarushka
I have Sudarushka in stone. It's a bit harsh for a Russian steam room. We need to bring it to mind (screen it). There is another problem when supplying steam. To avoid getting burned, I cover myself with a broom. I get burned differently. But it works well, although it heats up harshly for me.
Stepan, Vologda
I struggled with the choice for a long time, then I bought myself a Sudarushka M and did not regret it. Cast iron is cast iron. And he took the heater not from black, but from stainless steel. So I think it will last a long time. I like the steam, but I removed the heat with a screen.
Leonid, Moscow
I covered the basic Sudarushka with a brick screen, and instead of the tank I installed a second heater (it is heated by the pipe and the lower heater). I built a steam cannon into the top heater and covered it all with stone. Now it takes longer to heat, so when guests come in they say it’s cold, but after a few servings the steam flies out screaming into the snow. This way it suits me, but as it was, it’s not a Russian bathhouse. But this is my opinion. The unit itself is excellent, but improvements are needed.
Semenych, Peter
