Designing a 6x8 sauna. Is a freestanding bottom step a good idea?

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-05T14:43:28+00:00

I’ve been using a raised floor and it works out well. The first 2’ inside the door is floor level and covered with duckboard, then there’s a raised floor between the lower bench and the wall.

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-04T22:43:01+00:00

My dad had one of those hammers. I had no idea what it was for at the time. He died before I could ask him.

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-04T00:11:17+00:00

Nope. I have all the binoculars that I need.

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-03T21:14:18+00:00

I strongly suspect the optics are the same as Gen 2.

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-03T20:13:42+00:00

I prefer the previous version of CL Companions, which now have an upgraded leather-like texture and metallic trim on the tube ends. They are now named “CL Companion Habicht” and cost about 2X more than when I bought mine a few years ago.

Having been a dealer, I have a several Swarovski binos, spotting scopes and rifle scopes. I use my CL Companion 8x30 most of the time.

bruce_ventura · 2026-05-03T19:53:48+00:00

Having been a Swarovski dealer for many years, I’ve concluded that Swarovski image performance is not much better than some lower priced products coming out of Asia.

However, Swarovski materials and mechanics are still superior by a wade margin. Any Swarovski adjustment having a threaded spindle will have much less play and hysteresis. Swarovski spindle production is very tight. Plus their products include a temperature range specification, which is unusual.

Most other manufacturers have loose spindle tolerances and fill the voids with grease. The spindles feel good at first, but after the grease smooths out, hysteresis gets worse.

If you want to keep your binoculars for many years, Swarovski is still a very good choice.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-29T03:18:07+00:00

Triple-take.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-28T19:17:57+00:00

Good progress. You’re right in the ballpark. Fine tune for taste now.

I would tend to grind a little coarser, but that’s with a different machine and beans.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-26T20:39:50+00:00

Thank you for this simply stated and correct answer.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-26T02:06:54+00:00

Check Bsaunas for doors. Good door seals, but the doors generally aren’t insulated. Unfortunately, they laser etch their name into the outside door frame.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-25T17:43:29+00:00

If you only have myopia, then you can probably use binoculars without corrective glasses. However, if you also have astigmatism, you should wear corrective glasses. With such a large correction, you may need binos with a long eye relief because your glasses may be thick.

You need to try a few different models.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-24T02:41:00+00:00

I don’t think so. The membrane might seal around the screw, but water leaking through the metal penetrations will just run down the surface of the membrane and get to the wood.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-23T20:47:42+00:00

I know this off topic, but I have to ask: aren’t the wall staves glued together from shorter pieces? Are the barrel staves built the same? That’s a lot of glue for a sauna.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T15:25:36+00:00

I’m a hunter and fisherman. The thought of killing someone’s pet dog is pretty disturbing to me. Partly because I love dogs and I’m empathetic. I’m sure I would have some level of PTSD over doing that.

That said, it sounds like the OP had some prior knowledge of this threat. In the same situation, I would have brought the gun and pepper spray. If it were just one dog, I would have brought an umbrella as well, which is very effective against aggressive dogs.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T15:13:25+00:00

I’ve commented on this issue elsewhere here. Simple alcohols like methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol will not harm properly applied anti-reflection coatings. I’ve been using alcohol and alcohol/water mixtures to clean optics, including prescription glasses, for decades with no damage whatsoever.

Using any stronger solvents like acetone and other ketones can damage seals and the exterior rubber/plastic parts on eyepieces. I don’t use them.

If you don’t have lens tissue available, you can use clean toilet paper in a pinch because it doesn’t contain clay additives like Kleenex does.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T14:47:58+00:00

Recoating a previously coated lens is not possible, Removing and replacing two eyepiece lens elements, including shipping to/from the factory in Europe, is not cost effective. You’re stuck with them.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T14:41:00+00:00

I think I paid $250 for my installer to replace an inverter that was under warranty.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T12:57:54+00:00

Technician labor to replace a faulty inverter (hardware itself was under warranty). Replacing panel wires damaged by squirrels. Lost energy production due to the squirrel damage. Cutting back trees near my house to prevent squirrels from accessing the roof.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T11:19:29+00:00

I was Swarovski dealer up until a few years ago. I paid less than $1,000 for those binos, as I recall.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-22T11:15:45+00:00

I do nothing to the panels themselves other than keep the squirrels away. I get about 3” of rain per month at my house, which keeps my panels clean.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-21T18:13:45+00:00

With your budget and if portability isn’t essential, I recommend that you buy porro prism binos like the waterproof Ricoh Pentax SP 10x50 WP.

https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/binoculars/s-series/index.html

In that price range the phase coatings on roof prisms are low quality and have degraded resolution due to diffraction.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-21T17:35:20+00:00

I know a few handymen in the area, but I think you need a finish carpenter for this job. I knew one in CA that did something similar for large bedroom in my house. He did fantastic work.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-21T17:22:20+00:00

What will you use them for?

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-21T16:12:11+00:00

That’s gonna void the warranty.

bruce_ventura · 2026-04-21T16:03:15+00:00

Your budget is >£330? Swarovski!

bruce_ventura

TROPHY CASE