By aesthetics. Everyone has an opinion on whether you should choose real stones or ceramic, which kind, how much etc. so just choose the ones you like.
Cheapest and right sized stones. Size of the stones depends on what kind of kiuas you have.
I go to the sauna almost everyday and have tried them all. There’s not a noticable difference between stones aparth from aesthetics.
The traditional “Oliviinidiabaasi” are very good for all types of saunas. If you have a small electric sauna, make sure to not pick the largest stones, since the gaps between electric heating elements are quite small and there needs to be some space for air flow.
Other types of stones are for aesthetic purposes, if you want e.g. more modern look.
Buy olivine diabase if you don’t know what to buy.
5-10 cm rocks for electric sauna and 10-15 cm for wood burning sauna.
“Koriste” (decorative) means it is for mostly for visual effect, not suitable for normal use. You could eg have top layer of white stores, rest being “normal”.
Get the hot ones 😎
When box looks like from 90’s or have a simple design.
Consult the manual for your kiaus, it’ll tell you the size. Also, make sure you buy enough: if your kiuas needs 20kg specifically, get two packs, because there’s bound to be a few stones that are either too big (length wise) or too small to be of use. Before layering them in the kiuas, give the stones a rinse in a bucket to get rid of most of the dust etc.
If you’ve a dark coloured kiuas, some *vulkaniitti* (volcanite) might look better, especially as the common gray *oliviinidiabaasi* (olivine diabase) turns lighter and greenish with age, I’ve found. Round stones are best left at the top rather than throughout the stack – less heating area and more water dripple off cold stones, you see.
If you get the ceramic ones, check their manual for stacking – it’s very easy to pack them in too tight. Nevertheless, they’re very durable and long lasting.
Go with oliviinikivi (on mobile and the right one might be that, but not sure)
This stone is quite heavy and can store more heat per volume unit than most.
You’re suppose to steal then from a railway
Just get the 1k+€ ones wery good for wasting money
By taste
Half of the finns are “wait, are you supposed to *change* sauna stones??” and the other half will throw their used rocks at the first group.
But everyone agrees you need some kind of stones in your sauna stove. It doesn’t matter beyond that.
Steal any loose stone from the cobblestone streets
I like the ceramic ones, mine a re cylindrical.
They don’t split or suffer erosion, i.e. no dust or residue to floors.
They also keep heat well, so one can save on electricity once they are heated.
Nowadays several colours available for vanity.
First you look at them. You squeeze them and feel the texture. Good healthy color. Toss the rotten ones away. Maybe give them a lick. Put them to a bag and go to a scale. Press the number of the rocks and take a price tag. Enjoy.
I gathered mine from the creek and they work just fine.
Our police officer grandpa took us to the closest rail track to steel the stones for our summer cabins sauna, when we were kids. And those stones out lasted grandpa, so I would probably choose stolen railroad stones again.
On the left image you have decorative stones on top of the stove – you don’t need them. On the right you have regular stones that work very well. You can check from the stove manual if you need help on how to lay them. Ceramic stones might heat up too much and some stoves warranty get’s void if you use them, but if you lay them correctly they work very well too!
I just go to the forest or some open area and pick them off the ground that’s how
If there are two Finns, three opinions about the sauna will appear.
Can we send some Finns to Germany? They don’t know how to use the stones. They don’t put water on them. 🤯😳
Do not worry in the shop which stones, you just take one brand, test them couple of times and then if the heat and steam is not good, you just return the stones, or put your wife returning them.
Oliividiabaasi over granite and decorative stuff.
ı usually prefer the more stone
Be sure that it is diabase.
Oliviinidiapaasi
Oliviinidiabaasi is the best one, but differences are slim. Denser stones tend to be better and longer lasting. Change the stones every 100 warming or when they start breaking. Bigger stones for woodburning sauna and smaller ones for electric. Ceramic ones are just fine, they just looks a bit ugly. All stones should be washed before first use. Bigger stones go to the bottom and smeller ones to the top.
Stones found from nature can contain asbestos if wrong type is picked.
Cheapest are the best – the rail tracks stones. Needs proper burning before using 😂
Wash them b4 you place them in the Kiuas. Use smaller stones for electric, bigger for wood burning ,biggest for smoke sauna .
Taste test.
You do your saunaloitsu and it summons your stone type. You then pick a stone flair according to your liking and pay the Löylyn henki.
37 comments
Cheapest on the right.
There is not a big difference in stones.
Red granite is for snobs …
By aesthetics. Everyone has an opinion on whether you should choose real stones or ceramic, which kind, how much etc. so just choose the ones you like.
Cheapest and right sized stones. Size of the stones depends on what kind of kiuas you have.
I go to the sauna almost everyday and have tried them all. There’s not a noticable difference between stones aparth from aesthetics.
The traditional “Oliviinidiabaasi” are very good for all types of saunas. If you have a small electric sauna, make sure to not pick the largest stones, since the gaps between electric heating elements are quite small and there needs to be some space for air flow.
Other types of stones are for aesthetic purposes, if you want e.g. more modern look.
Buy olivine diabase if you don’t know what to buy.
5-10 cm rocks for electric sauna and 10-15 cm for wood burning sauna.
“Koriste” (decorative) means it is for mostly for visual effect, not suitable for normal use. You could eg have top layer of white stores, rest being “normal”.
Get the hot ones 😎
When box looks like from 90’s or have a simple design.
Consult the manual for your kiaus, it’ll tell you the size. Also, make sure you buy enough: if your kiuas needs 20kg specifically, get two packs, because there’s bound to be a few stones that are either too big (length wise) or too small to be of use. Before layering them in the kiuas, give the stones a rinse in a bucket to get rid of most of the dust etc.
If you’ve a dark coloured kiuas, some *vulkaniitti* (volcanite) might look better, especially as the common gray *oliviinidiabaasi* (olivine diabase) turns lighter and greenish with age, I’ve found. Round stones are best left at the top rather than throughout the stack – less heating area and more water dripple off cold stones, you see.
If you get the ceramic ones, check their manual for stacking – it’s very easy to pack them in too tight. Nevertheless, they’re very durable and long lasting.
Go with oliviinikivi (on mobile and the right one might be that, but not sure)
This stone is quite heavy and can store more heat per volume unit than most.
You’re suppose to steal then from a railway
Just get the 1k+€ ones wery good for wasting money
By taste
Half of the finns are “wait, are you supposed to *change* sauna stones??” and the other half will throw their used rocks at the first group.
But everyone agrees you need some kind of stones in your sauna stove. It doesn’t matter beyond that.
Steal any loose stone from the cobblestone streets
I like the ceramic ones, mine a re cylindrical.
They don’t split or suffer erosion, i.e. no dust or residue to floors.
They also keep heat well, so one can save on electricity once they are heated.
Nowadays several colours available for vanity.
First you look at them. You squeeze them and feel the texture. Good healthy color. Toss the rotten ones away. Maybe give them a lick. Put them to a bag and go to a scale. Press the number of the rocks and take a price tag. Enjoy.
I gathered mine from the creek and they work just fine.
Our police officer grandpa took us to the closest rail track to steel the stones for our summer cabins sauna, when we were kids. And those stones out lasted grandpa, so I would probably choose stolen railroad stones again.
On the left image you have decorative stones on top of the stove – you don’t need them. On the right you have regular stones that work very well. You can check from the stove manual if you need help on how to lay them. Ceramic stones might heat up too much and some stoves warranty get’s void if you use them, but if you lay them correctly they work very well too!
I just go to the forest or some open area and pick them off the ground that’s how
If there are two Finns, three opinions about the sauna will appear.
Can we send some Finns to Germany? They don’t know how to use the stones. They don’t put water on them. 🤯😳
Do not worry in the shop which stones, you just take one brand, test them couple of times and then if the heat and steam is not good, you just return the stones, or put your wife returning them.
Oliividiabaasi over granite and decorative stuff.
ı usually prefer the more stone
Be sure that it is diabase.
Oliviinidiapaasi
Oliviinidiabaasi is the best one, but differences are slim. Denser stones tend to be better and longer lasting. Change the stones every 100 warming or when they start breaking. Bigger stones for woodburning sauna and smaller ones for electric. Ceramic ones are just fine, they just looks a bit ugly. All stones should be washed before first use. Bigger stones go to the bottom and smeller ones to the top.
Stones found from nature can contain asbestos if wrong type is picked.
Cheapest are the best – the rail tracks stones. Needs proper burning before using 😂
Wash them b4 you place them in the Kiuas. Use smaller stones for electric, bigger for wood burning ,biggest for smoke sauna .
Taste test.
You do your saunaloitsu and it summons your stone type. You then pick a stone flair according to your liking and pay the Löylyn henki.
By taste mostly
The sauna stones choose you
[oliviini stones](https://suomenkiuaskivi.fi/en/the-olivine-stone/)
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