How does one safely heat rocks for a sweat lodge/sauna with propane?
Question:Since I was a child I have participated in sweat lodge/kiva ceremonies but I recently ran into some problems when I tried to build one on a friend's property. My friend was unconcerned but the neighbours flipped out at the first sign of smoke. Traditionally a fire is built to heat the rocks. hot rocks are then carried into the lodge where water+herbs is poured over them to create steam inside the lodge. Even tho' the location is as safe as possible (near a cave & waterfall a few feet from a stream) the neighbours don't understand so I must find an alternative means of heating. I could place a double burner (propane) on cinderblocks to heat the rocks but I am concerned about the amount of time and gas it would take to do this with a normal regulator valve. It seems to me I should be able to heat rocks within 20 minutes if I used a large propane tank and could somehow safely remove the valve. Any suggestions?
Answers:
Cruise yard sales for a used barBQ or hibachi, and make sure you're not using a type of rock that can explode if you get it too hot.
What's with your neighbors, anyway? Are you making excessive smoke? Are you restricted by city ordinance or neighborhood association rules? Is there a forest fire danger emergency measure in effect? Are you doing this on private land that doesn't belong to you? Did you neglect to invite the neighbors into the sweat lodge with you? I just wonder if they are being busy bodies, and is it any of their business.
all you need is to get a outdoor gas burn used for camping and put it on the ground and put 2 blocks on either side and put a grill grate over them and put your rocks on that to heat them up id put the burner on med or low at first if ya do it to high it might crack the rocks from the high temp or you could justbuy an out door camping stove that has the controls on it and just put them on that and that way you can clse the lid and they may heat faster and you wouldnt use as much gas
sounds like a nice location!!
perhaps there is a fireplace near by? wood could be burned in it and then hot coals (which produce little or no smoke) could be transferred to a fire pit to then heat rocks in.
for whatever reason the thought of using a fuel like propane that includes refined petroleum to heat holders of the ancient knowledge of the Earth doesn't seem appropriate
as propane is highly flammable, removing a valve on a large propane tank and attempting to safely ignite the gas probably is more risky than it is worth.
DID you get permission to build this KIVA?
and were did you get your fire from?
IF you've done this since childhood you SHOULD know the rules.
I'd say this is THEIR (lookin up) way of stopping you from doing something wrong. There are NO short cuts, if your willing to settle for artificial heat, just go to a gym that has a steam room.
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