Cast iron or steel stove for a bath. Criteria for the selection of the optimal oven model

“The larger the choice, the harder it is to make it,” psychologists say. But a person who chooses a sauna stove will not have to suffer much.

Not everyone can afford the brick version, but if the metal model, then either steel or cast iron.

Moreover, any seller or Internet resource will say that cast-iron stoves for a bath are the best solution. Why is this so, how to choose a cast iron unit, an overview of models and manufacturers, as well as the experience of buyers - all this is further in the article.

Cast iron and steel alloys are not that far apart. They have in their composition carbon and iron, but the difference in properties gives a different percentage of both.

In steel, carbon is less than 2%, this composition gives hardness and strength.

Cast iron contains more than 2% carbon and many impurities such as silicon, sulfur, manganese, etc.

What properties does this mixture have:

1. Cast iron is very hard but brittle. The product may be split in transit. The case can also crack due to a sharp temperature drop. For example, if a lot of cold water is poured onto a hot body.
2. The thermal conductivity of the metal is less, and the heat capacity is higher. In practice, this means that the stove will take longer to warm up, but when it warms up, it will remain hot for a while after fading.
3. An additional plus arising from the previous one - it is possible to clad or erect a screen, but not necessarily. Steel ovens are fried so that without the construction of brickwork, it is very uncomfortable to be near them.
4. Cast iron is not weldable; it can only be cast. That is, it will not work to make a cast-iron stove with your own hands, and it cannot be repaired. On the other hand, if not welds - there is no marriage, no weak point that fails in the first place.
5. Cast iron weighs less than steel. This may sound strange, because these ovens are considered to be bulky, but only because they are cast thick-walled (10 mm or more). If we compare a layer of steel and cast iron of the same thickness, then due to the porous structure, the latter will be easier.
6. Cast iron burns out longer, has a longer service life. This is partly due to his "thick skin", but not only. The graphite in the composition protects the molecular structure from corrosion.
7. Heat resistance over time reveals another advantage - much less dross is formed on cast iron than on steel. This simplifies the maintenance process of the device.
8. It has become much easier to process and shape, therefore these products often have an exquisite appearance, while cast iron boilers, as a rule, are conservative and do not differ in pretentious design. But the device does not need finishing, plastering or painting.

And further. Cast iron stoves cannot be found among economy-class goods, at prices they always belong to the middle and high categories.

Cast iron is a better heat conductor than brick. With a relatively low weight, the unit can work on one tab for up to 7 hours. Their efficiency is about 82%.

Small dimensions, with high efficiency, will allow installing the boiler even in a small room, while the base for it is much easier to make than for the stone version.

Cast iron sauna stove manufacturers

Popular brands that you can meet in the oven equipment market:

• Inzhkomtsentr VVD, Klimovsk. Models Kalita and Sudarushka.
• Magnum (previously collaborated with the Inzhkomtsentr, but later modernized production, opened their own stone processing workshops and now produce President and Russian steam ovens).
• Vesuvius - several models that use both cast iron and steel parts.
• Hephaestus, PetrazovodskMash.
• Dobrostal produces small folk units Heat. The appearance is unsightly, but the characteristics are good.
• Svarozhich (models Slavyanka and Zhar Bird). Gray cast iron.

Sauna stoves Hephaestus

Finnish sauna stoves are leading among foreign manufacturers:

• Harvia (Harvia);
• Narvi (Narvi);
• Kastor (Castor);
• Helo (Helo).

The last two brands merged in 2009 and produce a wide range of cast iron boilers.

Furnace construction is a complex process. not every amateur dares to build. The tips in the article will help you understand the intricacies of stove craftsmanship.

You will learn what a muffle furnace is and how to make it yourself.

Cast iron stoves used not only in baths. There are also options for home stoves. Following the link, we will consider the design options and installation rules.

Is the quality of cast iron the same for different manufacturers?

Even outwardly identical stoves can show themselves from different sides during use.

It's all about the composition and quality of materials.

The cast iron alloy does not have a clearly defined "recipe"; components in different proportions and additional additives can be added to it.

Compliance with production technology (hardening, tempering) also affects the quality.

Most of the sauna stoves are made from gray cast iron (MF) (the name "gray" was obtained because of the characteristic dark color at the fracture, which gives graphite in the composition). It differs in grades SCH-10, SCH-15, SCH-20, etc. These differences relate to tensile strength and tensile strength, but have nothing to do with heat resistance. Thermal conductivity depends more on the structure than on the constituent components.

Real alloyed heat-resistant cast iron contains graphite and reacts better to temperatures. Nickel (up to 19%) and chromium (up to 3%) are two more important components of a good alloy.

What to look for when choosing?

Most manufacturers produce similar products, with approximately the same wall thickness. The differences may be in the details, some of which are worth considering.

The units are sold disassembled. They are collected on the spot, usually by the owners themselves.

In order not to put additional effort on surface treatment and fitting grooves, pay attention to their quality.

• Grate. The distance between its rods should not be too large (so that unburned coals and embers do not fall into the blower), but not too small, otherwise, being clogged with ash, they will let little air pass through.
• Is it a fully cast iron unit? The fact is that some manufacturers reduce the cost of their products by making some elements of steel. These places reduce the life of the device, which negates the point of overpaying for a cast-iron base.
• Chimney with a coil. It allows you to significantly save fuel, since the heated flue gases do not immediately fly out into the pipe, but pass along the coil and give off heat to the metal.
• Glass doorstoday at the peak of popularity. But so that the beauty of the flame is always visible through it, check for a blown door or a self-cleaning system.
• Removable grate.This is convenient, because grates often burn out. If the grill is removed, it can be easily replaced.
• Stiffening rib.The strips protruding on the boiler drum have several purposes. First, they add strength, because cast iron can "break" from uneven heating. Secondly, the surface area increases, which means that the efficiency of heat transfer increases.
• There should be no subtle elements.Whether it is handles, door hinges, etc. Metal is brittle, so such parts can break when pressed.

Well, of course, you need to decide in advance whether the stove will stand in the same room, or be located in the wall, leaving the firebox in the dressing room. In this case, you need to purchase a device with an extended firebox.

Take a closer look at bath kettles lined with soapstone. This gray natural material it is often used for sauna stoves, because it is as if designed for stoves! In terms of heat capacity, a 100-kilogram mass is equal to 500 kg of brickwork.

Cast iron stoves with thermal power up to 10-12 kW are attractive primarily economically: the purchase, delivery and installation of a cast iron stove together with the device for it will cost at least 15-20 times less than building in an existing house. The reason is the ratio of weight and heat engineering parameters of both. A 5 kW cast iron stove weighs approx. 100 kg; equivalent to her brick - 800-1000 kg. With a power of 7 kW, the weights of both will be approx. 150 kg and 1.5 tons. The difference is fundamental: normal load bearing capacity floor in a residential building - 250 kg / sq. m. That is, a cast-iron stove can simply be put on a fire-prevention blind area, but for a brick one, in any case, a foundation is needed. But, if a furnace power of more than 15 kW is required, in terms of heating technology, a cast iron furnace begins to catastrophically lag behind a brick one. and there is a need for capital construction works to install it. This is the first limitation that determines the scope of use of cast iron stoves.

Cast iron stoves for the home are also good because they are made in a wide variety of designs, see fig. - there is no need to spend labor and money on finishing the furnace. However, a cast iron stove is only capable of heating one room: it is impossible to build it into the wall according to safety rules. In close contact with foreign materials, the likelihood of cracks in brittle cast iron increases many times, and then it remains either to stop the furnace, or to burn and burn out. The cast iron stove must be operated in an open space - this is the second important limitation of its scope. And third, for the same reason - a cast iron stove cannot be a vital long-term and / or continuous heating device. Including heating stove with water circuit and boiler long burning... A crack in them can cause an accident with serious and even tragic consequences.

In total, there are cases where the issue of installing a cast iron stove should be considered first:

Why cast iron?

The ability of a cast iron stove to compete with a brick stove in terms of heat engineering and technological culinary qualities is primarily determined by the properties of the cast iron itself:

1. Chemical resistance;
2. Heat resistance and heat resistance;
3. high heat capacity.

Cast iron does not respond well to chemically aggressive substances; especially acids. When acid hits the cast iron, the so-called. passivation of its surface. Concentrated sulfuric acid is transported in passivated cast iron vessels up to railway tank cars. Therefore, the likelihood of damage to the cast iron stove by acid condensate from low-quality fuel and / or improper combustion is negligible. The wood-burning cast iron stove is truly omnivorous: it runs on anything from waste wood fuel to anthracite, only the heat output changes.

Passivation of the cast iron surface occurs not only under the action of acids. As a result, cast iron is rather poorly wetted by any liquids and soot adheres weakly to it. In metallurgy, foundry ladles are made from cast iron, and in everyday life, a cast-iron stove is easier to clean than others.

The coefficient of thermal expansion (TCR) of cast iron is less than that of steel. To some extent, this is due to its special thermal properties (see below). Expanding, cast iron parts to a certain temperature threshold (see below) retain their configuration and do not give residual thermal deformations. Also, up to the same temperature threshold, the mechanical properties of cast iron are slightly reduced.

Of particular importance in the furnace business is the heat capacity of cast iron - it is not only higher than that of steel, but also nonlinearly depends on temperature. This is explained by the fact that reversible phase changes occur in cast iron during heating, which consume the energy of the burning fuel. The same factor reduces the TCR of cast iron - part of the incoming heat is spent not on expanding the material, but on changing its structure. When the furnace cools down, the heat absorbed "per phase" is released back quite similarly to latent heat in other physicochemical processes, which increases the time of its heat transfer. Without too much error against the truth, we can say that cast iron has a latent heat capacity.

In practice, this means a lot. At the beginning of the furnace, a cast iron stove heats up almost as quickly as a steel one. When the temperature of the walls of the furnace reaches 430-450 degrees, the "reversible phase" begins and the temperature of the outer surface of the furnace rises much more slowly than that of steel. A cast iron stove becomes a source of intense convection, which quickly warms up the room, but does not burn with thermal (infrared, IR) radiation. But reversible phase changes in furnace iron (see below) have a limit. Therefore, if necessary, a heating cast-iron stove can occasionally be reheated to red heat, which will increase its heat output 1.5-2 times. If you force the furnace of a cast-iron stove twice once or twice a week, then the service life of the stove declared by its manufacturer is reduced by the same amount, but, suddenly, during your stay at the dacha, unexpected cold hits, no other stove can withstand such a "overheating".

What is cast iron

"Chuguniy" from an anecdote about Chapaev and cast iron as a structural material are very different things. White pig iron (item 2 in the figure below), in which carbon is in the form of cementite Fe3C, is not used in the furnace business: its phase changes upon heating are irreversible. But also gray structural cast iron (item 1, graphite; carbon in the form of graphite) is produced in a large number of grades for various purposes. In order to choose the right cast-iron stove according to its purpose and / or determine the suitability for the one you like, you will have to digress into the initial information about cast iron as cast iron.

From hypereutectic to hypereutectic

Steel and cast iron are eutectic alloys of iron Fe and carbon C, because on a fracture or a thin section under a small magnification of the microscope or just under a magnifying glass, the granules of the components are clearly visible. The properties of eutectic alloys always differ significantly from those of the components of the eutectic. But the Fe-C eutectic is very different from metallic eutectic alloys.

In metallic eutectics, the ratio of the content of the components, as a rule, can be arbitrary, up to i.e. to pure metal. The properties of metal eutectics, depending on the proportion of components in the alloy, change quite smoothly from 100% of one to 100% of the other (for 2-component alloys). For example, the melting point of a lead-tin alloy has a fairly flat minimum with a content of the latter of 61%, which makes it possible to obtain solders for soldering at different temperatures. Gold of jewelry 585-carat (58.5% Au; the rest is Cu + additives) is almost as brilliant as gold of purity 9999, but it resists abrasion much better than copper and gold.

The carbon content in an alloy with iron cannot be arbitrary: if the C in the alloy is more than 6.67%, then the casting may fall into pieces while solidifying in the chill mold (casting mold), and ready product will be extremely fragile. Since the ingress of water on any cast iron stove is not excluded, the limiting C content in cast iron is up to 3.8% for a summer cottage or fireplace and not more than 3.0% for a sauna stove.

If the carbon content in the alloy is less than 2.14%, then this is already steel. The special heat engineering properties of cast iron can be traced "down" to 2% carbon, but they are well manifested with its content from 2.6%. At the same time, with an increase in the proportion of C in the alloy, its brittleness also increases. Therefore, for a summer cottage, cast iron with a carbon content of 3.0-3.2% is better, for a stove in a sauna, which must heat a large stove to 400-450 degrees - with a carbon content of 2.8-3.0%, and for stoves in a Russian bath, where water or kvass is necessarily added to the stove - with a carbon content of 2.5-2.8%. In a decorative cast iron fireplace stove, the carbon content in it can be any. If heating is also required from the fireplace, cast iron is needed for it with a carbon fraction of up to 3.8-3.9%, see below.

Cast iron with a C content of up to 4.3% is called hypoeutectic in metallurgy, because its properties in this range of carbon content vary smoothly and not very strongly. Cast iron with 4.3% C is eutectic, because differences in its properties from those of iron at 4.3 +/– 0.05% C (eg melting point) give a sharp peak or dip. In the furnace business, eutectic cast iron is not used, because there is practically no "latent heat capacity" in it, and the melting temperature drops to 1100 degrees, while in the furnace firebox it can be 1200. Hypereutectic cast iron with more than 4.3% C has the highest heat capacity, the most heat-resistant and hard, but also very fragile. It is used to a limited extent in furnace designs, for example. for grates.

Note: in metallurgy and mechanical engineering, cast irons also differ in the modification of the metal base - austenite, perlite, ferrite, perlitoferrite cast iron. This is irrelevant for oven parts.

Cast iron grades

In the specification for the furnace, you most likely will not find the percentage of carbon in its cast iron. There (or in the detailed description on the company's website) the grades of cast iron from which the furnace or its individual parts are made may be indicated. First of all, if you see P (conversion) or PF (phosphorous) with a number, do not take it unambiguously. The stove made of cast iron PVK (high-quality conversion) is suitable as a cooking stove for occasional use, for example, for a weekend cottage. Further, in ascending order of quality and price of the oven:

• Midrange (gray with lamellar graphite) is a budget country house stove, mainly a cooking stove.
• HF (high-strength with spheroidal graphite) is a regularly heated summer cottage stove, an inexpensive home fireplace stove.
• KCh (malleable) - sauna, home Russian bath with steam room up to 12 cubic meters. m.
• H (special alloyed) - for any furnace with a certain ratio of parameters (see below).

Note: antifriction cast irons with the first letter A in the brand designation are not intended for furnaces. But a stove made of such cast iron (suddenly comes across) will not be worse, only more expensive.

After the letters in the designation of cast irons there are 2 numbers separated by a dash. If both of them are 2-digit, this is the designation of the tensile and bending strength in kgf / sq. mm. For the furnace, it is not their absolute values \u200b\u200bthat are important, but the ratio of bending strength to that of tensile strength. If it is higher than 2.2 or 2.0 for a sauna stove, then this cast iron is too fragile. For example, a stove made of SCh15-32 is quite suitable as a country house, and many times harder cast iron SCH60-150 is generally unsuitable for stoves.

If the second number is one digit, then the first denotes the temporary tensile strength (ultimate tensile strength), and the second denotes the relative (in%) elongation at break (plastic limit). For cooking ovens occasional use and decorative fireplace stoves, let us have a plasticity limit of 2%, for heating and cooking stoves 3-4%, for a sauna stove at least 4%, but in a Russian bath it is better to put a cast iron stove with a material plasticity limit of 5-6% The ultimate tensile strength of cast iron for a bath stove must be at least 30 kgf / mm; for others, it is irrelevant.

Note: for a decorative heating cast-iron fireplace, cast iron with a plasticity limit of up to 3% or with a ratio of bending strength to it in tensile strength of 2.5 and higher is optimal. Why - see below.

About alloy cast irons

Take a look at fig. The stove-fireplace on the left is painted with a blacksmith's patina, and on the right - with heat-resistant enamel.

The latter allows you to direct halftones and create artistic images; patina - no. The difference in cost? Hold on, 5 (!) Times. Black stove - approx. 50 thousand rubles; color - approx. 250 thousand of them. Give to the bourgeoisie? 4/5 the price "per star"?

No, the prices are fair. Let's remember: cast iron is poorly wetted. Painting with a patina is fixed by firing, and cast iron under enamel needs expensive sandblasting of parts, harmful to the environment and for personnel, and then surface alloying with a powerful industrial laser. Keep in mind. AND do not try to paint the cast iron stove yourself: if the paint does not curl into flakes following the brush, it will peel off at the first fire.

Choosing a stove

Cast iron stoves for various purposes in the Russian Federation are produced by many manufacturers. The hosts are well known:

• Balezinsky Foundry and Mechanical Plant
• Breneran
• GC Meta
• Teplodar
• Eco fireplace

Note: cast iron stoves of famous foreign manufacturers - ABX, Edilkamin, EFEL, Harvia, Guca, Kastor, La-Nordica, Tulikivi, etc. - of the same quality category as the leading Russian ones. But the prices for them are of a completely different category - customs clearance, sanctions, albeit indirectly.

However, firstly, reputation often hinders the whales of the industry. Everyone, for example, knows that Vesuvius is a sauna stove. Meanwhile, there is a relatively inexpensive but good cast-iron Vesuvius stove for summer cottages on sale. For example, Vesuvius T180 (original design) or Vesuvius Triumph, see video:

Video: a review of the Vesuvius Triumph cast iron furnace

Secondly, in their diocese, the leaders have small but worthy competitors. Especially in the area of \u200b\u200bthe most popular cast iron sauna stoves, see below.

For a bath

How to build, heat a bathhouse, how to steam in it are separate topics. Moreover, there are as many preferences regarding the design of a sauna stove with a heater as there are bath attendants. So far, only two circumstances are indisputable. First: a flowing heater through which flue gases pass - a relic from the times of black baths. People in saunas with flowing stoves burn out systematically, and when added to such water, a cloud of soot flies out.

The second is a huge basket-stove that encloses the entire stove, except furnace door and a blower, suitable only for a public sauna with a stoker with a powerful stove. Moreover, in this case, it should be filled with special types of stone: talcochlorite (steatite, talcomagnesite, adipose, soapstone, stove stone, potting stone - synonyms) or serpentine (apothecary stone). The reason is that the sauna basket stove must be heated up to half a day or more, until all the stones are warmed up to the desired temperature. But then the steaming shifts can change continuously and often, without knocking down the steam, if only the stove is heated.

We will further deal with the technical issues of choosing a cast-iron sauna stove, which are fair when choosing a stove for a Russian and Finnish sauna, with an open and closed heater. A properly selected cast iron sauna stove will last at least 7-10 years and will allow you to get both soft and vigorous steam. You can watch another video below about the general criteria for choosing a bath stove and reviews about them:

Video: overview of cast iron stoves for a bath

The duration of heat transfer after the firebox is not critical for a sauna stove, because most of the required heat is stored in the heater. Much more important is the temporary resistance of the material to rupture - it is this that saves the furnace from cracking when water gets on it. It is important to know here that the temporary tensile strength drops sharply when the furnace overheats, i.e. when forcing the firebox.

The designs of bath stoves have developed completely and there is nothing fundamentally new in them for last years not included. The Vulcan furnaces of the cast-iron Legend series (pos. 1-4 in the figure) and Hephaestus (pos. 5 and 6) cannot be distinguished by a layman from each other. It is difficult to find the brands of cast iron from which they are made - the know-how of the company. But their creators adhere to the basic principle of designing cast iron sauna stoves: do not pursue the durability of cast iron. The less carbon it contains, the better the cast iron allows the IR to pass through, which are necessary for heating the heater. An exception is a ventilated heater, but in a sauna it needs to be heated for a very long time, and in a Russian bath you will not get vigorous steam from it. And at the same time, low-carbon cast iron is more heat-resistant. Therefore, if you choose a sauna stove according to the cast iron brand, look. So that the first number in its designation is closer to the lower limits indicated above.

Second - select the stove according to the lower limit of the steam room volumes indicated in its description. For example, your steam room is 13 cubic meters. Acceptable at the price of 3 ovens: for a steam room for 10-15 cubic meters and for 12-20. Take the second one. Why? Cast iron phase changes are not ideally reversible. The oven, which never burns out, is not yet and is not expected. The more intensively the stove is heated, the faster it will fail. The first of these will have to be drowned almost at the maximum, and the second closer to the minimum. Therefore, it will serve many times longer. An illustrative example: the Hephaestus PB-04M oven is almost unanimously praised, but the reviews about Hephaestus PB-03 are contradictory. But this is constructively practically the same oven, only the sizes are different! To figure it out plainly - a less powerful PB-03 is taken for the sake of economy and put in a steam room extremely, or even prohibitively, for her. In general, see if you are rich enough to afford to buy cheap things.

And third - do not lose sight of the producers of the second and third echelons (Sudarushka, Surya, etc.) ovens. Trying to stay afloat in front of the market leaders, they pay due attention to the quality of their products. And often in the specifications they give the grades of cast iron in the furnace in detail, which allows you to choose a furnace with full knowledge of the matter. Thanks to this approach, some of the representatives of the sauna and stove underground are actively catching up with the leaders, see, for example. review of Tver bath stoves made of cast iron Berezka:

Video: a review of a cast-iron stove for a bath Berezka

Fireplace

The undisputed market leaders of decorative cast-iron fireplace stoves today are Italian firms Edilkamin, La-Nordica, Belgian FEEL and Serbian Guca. But, say, domestic Teplodar is no worse. It all depends not so much on your financial capabilities, but, so to speak, on the direction of piety. In terms of the quality and artistic merit of cast decorative parts, Russian cast-iron fireplaces are in no way inferior to foreign ones. Kaslinskoe casting is Russia. In addition, almost all cast iron fireplace stoves, except for Scandinavian and Czech ones (see below), are made of ... Chinese cast iron, which the Celestial Empire smelts almost more than all other manufacturers in the world put together. Chinese cast iron is not bad at all, but the casting quality of Russian is still better.

If you need a cast-iron stove for a fireplace both for relaxation by the fire and for heating, then from foreign countries, pay attention to Finnish Harvia, Helo, Kastor, Czech ABX and German Schmidt. From domestic ones - to Vulkan, Ermak, Termofor. But in any case, make sure, firstly, that the glass of the firebox is thermally transparent (IR transparent).

The second is that the furnace is made of high-carbon cast iron; perhaps even from the hypereutectic. The more carbon there is in cast iron, the better it will reflect the IR into the room. If you photograph furnace soot or graphite brick through an infrared filter, they appear light gray, almost white. Not everything in nature is the color we see. The high fragility of carburized cast iron is not a hindrance in this case, because the firebox is protected from water ingress by other parts of the furnace. But the high "latent heat capacity" of high-carbon cast iron allows you to get phenomenal for a furnace of the "bourgeois" type of thermal efficiency up to 80% (!).

And third: in order to use the heat of the flame as fully as possible for heating, a decorative heating cast-iron fireplace stove should be equipped with an air heating circuit. Its inlet and outlet windows can be visible (pos. 1 in the figure), from the side (pos. 2) in front and above (pos. 3), partially (pos. 4) or completely (pos. 5) masked with decorative details. But be sure - especially if you take a used oven without specification - make sure that there are exit air windows. Then the input ones are exactly heating ones, and not just the supply ones.

For giving

A country house with a plot of land owned by a simple worker or a small employee is a typical Russian phenomenon (more precisely, still Soviet), unknown in the West. Therefore, the products of the Balezinsky Foundry and Mechanical Plant have been firmly held on the market of summer cottage cast-iron stoves since those times. At the dachas, you can see cast-iron stoves - "balezinki" with a branded brand (stylized BZ, see the figure on the right), which have exceeded 50. And nothing - they cook, soar, even warm in winter. Withstand work with a hog (horizontal section of the chimney) from steel pipe length up to 3-3.5 m, providing a furnace efficiency of more than 65%.

In Balezino, summer cottage cast-iron stoves PCh-1 and PCh-2 are produced. In Rubtsovsk, there are PChM (A), PChM-1, PChM-2 very similar to them. Those and others - for a power of 7-12 kW. Furnaces PCh-1 and PChM (A) are collapsible: they can be disassembled to be transported in the trunk, and individually transported in parts from room to room. The heaviest of the Balezin and Scar ovens weighs approx. 150 kg.

The secret of Balezin and Rubtsov furnaces lies in the well-chosen cast iron grade SCH15-32. It is quite heat-resistant, plastic (withstands multiple spills of liquid on a hot stove), passes infrared well, which makes it very difficult to burn a Balezin or Rubtsov stove: these stoves can withstand repeated forcing of the furnace for approx. 2.5 times in power (up to the light red heat of the stove) without visible damage to oneself. Recently, however, the "ballezins" and "scars" have strong competitors in the form of the same Tver birches, but not bath birches, but summer cottages. Country cast-iron stoves Beryozka are already made using modern materials and technologies. Therefore, firstly, one person transfers the whole birch oven. Further, the residents of Tver supplied their stoves with a firebox with a glass door, turning them into mini fireplace stoves. Thanks to the well-designed configuration of the body and cooling fins, the Tver summer cottage cast-iron stoves. being very compact, they heat the room well by convection and do not burn with IR. Finally, the resistance of the Beryozka cast-iron stoves in thermal shocks is impressive: a red-hot stove can be covered with snow, and at least something to it, see the video:

Video: durability test of a cast iron furnace

So - good luck choosing a cast iron stove. Let's hope that the materials of the article will help you with this.

The main element of any bath is a steam room. To get the maximum benefit and pleasure from staying in it, it is important that the optimal temperature and softness of the steam are provided. This can be achieved with quality. For small and medium-sized baths, cast-iron are perfect wood stoves... We will tell you how to choose a manufacturer of cast iron stoves (Hephaestus, Vesuvius) and present to your attention a rating of the best of them according to consumer reviews.

The principle of operation of a wood-burning cast iron stove for a bath

Cast iron stoves are not the first year that have been particularly popular among experienced bath attendants. And this is not surprising. Despite the well-known fragility of this metal, it has established itself as an excellent conductor of heat, not afraid of exposure to high temperatures and corrosive processes.

Schematically, the work of a cast iron stove is as follows. It is put into the furnace solid fuel (firewood). When burned, they generate heat, which is absorbed either by the stove body or by the built-in heater. Some models have a special hole on the back of the structure. Thanks to him, it is possible to lay firewood not only in the steam room, but also in the next room.

In the most advanced designs, a water tank is provided that heats the water used during and after taking bath procedures. The water is heated by the heat given off by the body / chimney to the tank. All combustion products are removed with an ash pan (under the firebox). It can also function as a furnace oxygen regulator.

Advantages of a cast iron stove

Cast iron stoves have a number of obvious (and not only) advantages:

• High thermal conductivity. Cast iron has a very high thermal conductivity and is significantly ahead of many materials, such as brick or stone.
• The simplicity of the design of a cast-iron stove allows you to mount it yourself, without having special knowledge in the field of construction.

Cast iron stove keeps heat for a long time

• Durability. Cast iron is a heat-resistant metal that is immune to mechanical stress.
• Mobility. Despite the apparent bulkiness of the structure, the cast iron stove can be quickly and easily dismantled.
• High power. Even a small cast-iron stove can heat the air in a large steam room to a high temperature.
• Low susceptibility to corrosion.
• Versatility. The design of the cast-iron stove allows the use of almost any solid fuel for the furnace. But, nevertheless, the best option would be firewood of natural origin.
• Fire safety. A cast iron stove is more fireproof than a brick analogue. In the latter case, the risk of an accidental spark through microscopic cracks in the masonry is rather high.
• "Keeper" of heat. Having heated up to a significant temperature, cast iron cools very slowly and can keep warm in the steam room for several hours.

Criteria for the selection of the optimal oven model

The predominant part of the cast-iron sauna stoves on the market of modern stove designs are models with a special lattice capacity that accumulates heat and a considerable number of special devices. When choosing a suitable oven model, in addition to the indicated points, the following criteria should be followed:

Remember that cast iron can also vary in quality.

1. The location of the firebox. At the moment, cast iron stoves can have 2 types of fireboxes: regular and elongated. The elongated one is mounted in a wall opening, which allows the stove to be heated both from the steam room and from an adjacent room (more often a dressing room). It is very convenient and practical.
2. Material. It should be borne in mind that cast iron is not the same. Metal can vary in thickness and quality. The service life of the furnace will largely depend on these factors.
3. Performance. In most cases, manufacturers indicate the volume of a room that a certain model is capable of fully heating.
4. Water tank. If you opt for a stove design with a water tank, then consider the specifics of your bath. Tanks can be built-in, as well as hinged. Their mount is either on the side or behind.

Council. Modern cast iron stoves have one important quality: they are versatile in use, which means that they are perfect not only for baths, but also for saunas.

Top 3 best manufacturers of cast iron sauna stoves according to consumer reviews

We introduced you to information about the advantages of cast iron stoves for a bath, as well as their manufacturers, which have proven themselves in the best way in the eyes of most bath attendants. We wish you a happy shopping!

How does a cast-iron stove for a bath work: video

Cast iron sauna stove: photo

The popularity of cast iron stoves for a bath is due to a number of advantages, among which are: durability of stainless cast iron, small dimensions of the stove, high efficiency (the stove heats up 15 minutes after the start of the furnace and keeps heat for a long time).

The location of the device for burning fuel, popularly called the firebox, is a key criterion for choosing a stove. On this basis, they are divided into three groups, discussed below.

Built-in

This is a stove with a remote firebox. The outrigger door is usually located in the break room. Convenience is obvious - you don't have to be in the steam room to remove soot and ash. Thanks to this, the steam room will always be clean.

Another plus is that firewood can be placed next to the stove so that you can periodically throw it into the fire. This will prevent the natural fuel from getting wet.

In addition, the steam room takes on an aesthetic appearance, because firewood is not scattered throughout the room. Some of the stoves with a remote firebox sold in stores are decorated with stones (talcum powder or a coil).

Stove cookers advise: if you decide to purchase a stove for a bath with a remote firebox, opt for a decorated one - it will protect the visitors of the bath from burns. Such stoves are expensive, but safety and comfort pay off the costs by 100%.

Stationary

This is a stove with an unbearable firebox. It copes well with the prescribed functions for heating the room and perfectly complements the interior of the steam room. They look perfect in small rooms where every centimeter of space is appreciated.

The cast iron design provides for the presence of fire-resistant glass through which you can control the combustion of firewood; in such a peaceful atmosphere, the rest will become even more pleasant.

Take note: it is unlikely that it will be possible to independently make a cast iron stove, as is common with iron counterparts. With cast iron you need skill honed over the years.

The disadvantage of a stationary furnace is the impossibility of placing natural fuel next to it.

Universal

It is also called an oven closed type and is used in "white" baths. Through the provided opening, water is poured onto the stones lying inside the furnace, heats up and turns into steam. The versatile version produces denser, cleaner, dry steam.

Note: stones in a universal oven take a long time to warm up, and the temperature can reach 7000 C. Do not be afraid of the impressive figure. Adjust the level of steam intensity by closing the flaps or metal covers (depending on the model).

Among cast-iron stoves, not only for a bath, but also, universal ones are the most preferred and in demand.

In any specialty store, you will find dozens of stove models, including.To make an informed choice, familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the bath devices listed below.

Criteria for choosing a cast iron furnace

Some of the most traditional oven options

It is not an easy task for the buyer to choose from a variety of stove options exactly the one that will fit optimally into any interior, will not deprive all money savings and suit your household in various technical parameters.

Before purchasing equipment, be sure to evaluate the furnace of interest according to the criteria below:

• Power

  Selected by the size of the room. A standard steam room with a volume of 15 to 45 m3 will be perfectly heated by a stove with a capacity of 8 - 18 kW;

• Type of fuel

  The classic fuel for a hot bath is wood. There are also cast iron (cast iron stoves), running on gas, from the mains and combined. We recommend choosing a sauna that is designed for wood burning. Listening to the crackling of logs, watching them burn out, warming up, looking at the fire - these traditions have their own charm.

• Wall thickness

  A cast-iron stove is much heavier than a steel analogue, since the wall thickness is about 10 mm, and the furnace is 5-6 times larger. Small ovens weigh 50-70 kg, the largest ones weigh up to 160 kg;

note: The thicker the wall, the longer the service life of the cast iron stove.


• Furnace door decoration

  It can be tightly closed with cast iron or have built-in heat-resistant glass; choose according to your wishes;

• The presence and location of the water tank

  If you need a tank for heating water, choose from two types:
  built-in;
  hinged;

One of the components of a comfortable stay in the sauna is a high-quality stove. The design of a primitive firebox, where firewood melted before our eyes, was replaced by a variety of models from different manufacturers. What are the characteristics of cast-iron stoves for a bath and how to navigate the proposed range, we will try to figure out the details.

Advantages of a cast iron stove

Cast-iron stove designs designed for heating a bath with wood are always popular. The practical use of electricity or gas cannot be compared with the sound of crackling wood in the stove and the aroma traditional for a bath. natural wood... Despite the slower heating of cast-iron structures in comparison with metal models, they retain heat much longer.

Experts' responses to the question of which furnace design is better, cast iron or steel, are as follows:

• In the manufacture of a stove for a bath, cast iron 1 cm thick is used, the maximum thickness of steel for these purposes is 6 mm, more often metal is taken 3-4 mm. This explains the accelerated processes of corrosion, burnout and deformation of the thinner material.
• Despite the best heat dissipation steel furnace, the cast iron construction is not subject to intergranular corrosion. This property is due to the content of graphite in cast iron. Its presence is expressed by the presence of plaque on the outside of the oven, which can be easily removed with a dry cloth. Steel stove corrosion appears on the inner walls.

Here are the main advantages of a cast iron sauna stove:

1. Thermal conductivity... This indicator is much better than that of stone and brick structures, the masonry of which is deformed as a result of temperature changes. The efficiency of a cast iron stove is 82%, one load of firewood is enough for 7-9 hours of continuous operation. Their weight ranges from 60 to 300 kg compared to one and a half ton brickwork, which frees you from the need to equip an additional solid foundation in the bath.
2. Easy care. If you choose a cast-iron stove for a bath, you will save yourself many worries during installation and maintenance. The product does not rust, does not need to be coated with heat-resistant paint. The absence of cladding simplifies the installation of the structure and allows, if necessary, to dismantle the furnace for transfer to another room.
3. Design . The abundance of models allows you to choose the most suitable option for the conditions existing in the bath. The installation of a heat-resistant glass door adds sophistication. Compactness provides significant savings in free space in the bath.
4. Operational safety... Compared to brick stoves, cast iron products provoke the risk of fire to a lesser extent.
5. Long period of operationreaching 35 years old.

Consumer reviews based on the results of using a cast-iron stove in a bath practically do not contain negative aspects. The only obstacle to choosing an efficient design is the high cost of the product. But paying for quality is a common practice in market relations.

Closed heater design

Traditional cast iron stoves release heat through an open stove located above the brazier. The principle of operation consists in heating stones with a flame from a brazier, which, in turn, heat the air temperature in the bath. For efficient operation, a stove with an open stove needs constant fire maintenance, otherwise the stones will quickly cool down and stop radiating heat. The distraction of adding firewood is not conducive to complete relaxation and relaxation. The closed heater design is much better in this regard. The principle of operation of a stove with a closed heater is as follows:

• The stones are located between two sheets of cast iron, this ensures their rapid heating and delayed loss of thermal energy. Heat is given to the steam room gradually.
• In a classic stove, flue gases simply go outside, a closed heater passes them through itself, accumulating additional heat energy.
• The steam room, where a cast-iron model with a closed stove is installed, warms up more evenly, without drops.
• The heating temperature of stones in a closed stove reaches 600 ° C. This allows you to stay in the sauna long time without the hassle of maintaining the temperature regime.

Important! The even distribution of heat helps to reduce the load on the heart.

Therefore, people with lung and heart problems can visit the bathhouse equipped with a cast-iron stove with a closed stove. Reviews of patients confirm an acceptable mode of stay in the bath.

The nuances of choice

How to choose comfortable model stove and not to be mistaken. Classic cast-iron stoves for a bath have a stove above the firebox, in the upper part of the body there can be a 20-30 liter tank for heating water. In order to correctly choose a suitable design, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Fuel type. In addition to traditional models that run on wood or gas, there are also electric copies, the operation of which is easy and convenient.
• Performance... It is selected based on the volume of the steam room in the bath. The accompanying documents contain information on how much the power of the cast iron furnace is designed for.
• Firebox location... Modern cast-iron models have two versions: regular or elongated firebox. In the latter case, the installation of the stove is carried out in the wall opening, allowing you to load firewood from the dressing room, which is considered the most optimal solution for a bath.
• Material. Cast iron of various qualities and thicknesses is used for the production of furnaces. These parameters directly affect the service life heating structure for a bath. Consumer reviews give preference to the Sudarushka M cast-iron stove model.
• Container for water. There are various design options for cast iron furnaces with a tank. It can be mounted or built-in, the mount is located on the side, behind or directly on the chimney. You can choose a suitable model for the bath, focusing on the parameters of the steam room.
• Glass door... If you want to become the owner of a cast iron stove with beautiful design, it is better to choose a model with a glazed door. Indeed, the tongues of flame can be watched endlessly. It is worth noting that such a beauty will increase the cost of a cast iron stove.

Review of popular models

TM Hephaestus, ATB and Sudarushka received positive feedback from users of cast-iron stoves in the bathhouse. These models will be discussed further.

Hephaestus PB-03

The compact oven is ideal for rooms up to 25 m 3. The convection type construction works on wood material in the form of firewood or briquettes. The even distribution of heat inside the furnace is facilitated by the flame divider. Fuel is loaded from a room adjacent to the steam room.

The kit contains a forged mesh for laying stones. Cast iron inserts help to increase the length of the furnace tunnel. The delivery of the structure by separate elements allows for installation in a cast-iron stove bath without helpers. A cast iron stove up to 6 cm thick retains heat for 3 hours.

ATB

The Karelian plant has been specializing in the production of cast iron stoves for over 25 years. Main settings heater ATB-2:

• The power of the cast iron structure for the bath is 20 kW.
• Without loading stones, the mass of the furnace does not exceed 60 kg.
• The body is made of heat-resistant cast iron, the remote firebox and ash pan are welded elements.
• The volume of the water tank is 60 liters, the tank is in the steam room, which ensures the required humidity. Consumer reviews contain dissatisfaction with the rapid heating and additional heat in the steam room.
• Allow to heat bath rooms up to 20 m 3.
• High heat capacity: reaches the required temperature in 3 hours, the same period lasts for cooling.
• The service life of a cast iron stove, according to the manufacturer, is 20-25 years.
• The weight of the loaded stones is up to 60 kg.

Sudarushka

The most popular model of a cast iron stove with a closed heater. Main design characteristics:

• the oven is designed for rooms with an area of \u200b\u200b8 to 18 m 3;
• the container holds 50 liters of water for heating;
• dimensions of the cast-iron furnace: 500/400/1350 mm (including the tank);
• weight without stones - 115 kg; furnace unit - 100 kg;

In the absence of cladding, the heating period is insignificant - up to 1 hour. The closed design of the stove ensures the formation of a light, finely dispersed steam. The design is sophisticated thanks to the installation of a large glass door.

If a high cost is an obstacle to buying a cast iron stove, you should choose an economy class option. Such models are produced by factories located in Chelyabinsk and Udmurtia, but the operation of the structure in the bath is possible after independent modernization.

Conclusion

Compliance with the conditions for the correct operation of the cast iron structure will preserve its performance for a long period.

Attention! Any cast iron stove is susceptible to sudden changes in temperature, so they should not be watered with cold water to prevent cracking.

To make the conditions of stay in the bath even more comfortable, it is better to decorate the cast-iron stove with a casing or make a lining of bricks. It is not worth loading the stove in excess, if there is a desire to increase the volume of stones, you should take care of installing a reinforced frame. A metal sheet in front of the firebox is an indispensable element that prevents sparks from entering the wooden floor of the bath.