Ladles and a scoop for a bath: how to choose and make it yourself

Why do you need a ladle in a bathhouse?

Sauna stoves can have a special mounted or built-in tank for heating water. Having a tap in this design makes it much easier to collect heated water, but a more common option is to collect it through a special hole using a fairly capacious ladle called a scoop.

If you have carpentry skills and certain tools, you can make a bath ladle with your own hands

In addition to pouring water into various washing containers, represented by buckets, basins or buckets, scoops are used for pouring water onto hot stones. This very simple procedure allows you to easily and timely supply a fresh portion of steam inside the steam room of a Russian bath. The favorable microclimate directly depends on the correct choice of handle and shape of the bath scoop.

Ideally, you should have 2 scoops in the bathhouse - separately for hot and cold water.

What kind of ladles are needed in a bathhouse?

If your stove has a remote water tank, or there is a faucet in the mounted/built-in tank, then you can collect water in a basin or bucket. If a tap is not provided, you will need to draw water from above, through a special hole in the tank lid. You will need a fairly large ladle with a long vertical handle. They are also called scoops because they scoop up water.

The length of the handle depends on the configuration and size of the tank: the greater the depth, the longer the handle must be in order to be able to get water from the bottom. It is convenient to have several of these scoops: if more than two people usually steam, then one scoop is clearly not enough.

Sauna ladle with vertical handle

You also need a special ladle for watering the heater in the bathhouse. These buckets have a long horizontal handle. Even a small portion of water falling on hot stones causes the release of heated steam. If your hand is in the “affected zone,” you can get a noticeable burn, which is very difficult to treat. Some models of buckets have holes. Such scoops help to distribute water evenly over the surface of the stones if an open heater is used. How convenient it is to use them is a moot point.

Ladle for watering the heater

You also need a ladle for dousing in the bathhouse. It is inconvenient to do this using a container with a long handle. The volume of the ladle for pouring is at least 0.4-0.5 liters. It’s also convenient to have several of them, depending on the number of steamers. This is much more convenient than waiting for your turn... If children will be steaming in the bathhouse, you can purchase several pieces of a smaller volume so that the children can comfortably enjoy the procedure.

Wooden ladles for baths

An expensive ladle is hardly necessary in a bathhouse, but for those for whom the aesthetic component is very important, we can advise you to select a bucket and a ladle at the same time. If you purchased both a bucket and composite buckets - cooperage ones, it would be logical to order buckets of the same type.

For those who have both wood and metal in their bathhouse design, it is worth thinking about metal ladles with wooden handles - they will “fit” perfectly into this design option. If resources are limited, you can choose very good plastic accessories that will look good in the bathhouse, but when pouring water onto the heater with such a ladle, you need to be careful not to touch the very hot elements with it. For a heater, it is better to use a metal or wooden ladle.

How to choose the right one

Wooden ladles look organic in a bathhouse; when heated, they convey a light aroma of wood

To avoid burns, bath scoops are made entirely of natural wood or metal, such as brass, copper or stainless steel. The main condition is the presence of a sufficiently long and necessarily wooden handle.

Depending on the functional purpose, bath scoops come in three main varieties:

• Models with vertical and long handles. Allows you to draw water from a tank that is not equipped with a tap, or from a barrel.
• Models with horizontal long handle. Designed for watering stove stones to regulate temperature and humidity levels in the steam room of the bathhouse. Thanks to the long handle, the risk of burns is completely eliminated.
• Models with short handle. Used for water procedures in the font. These scoops are lightweight and fit very comfortably in your hand.

Scoops for a bathhouse need to be selected in different sizes: for supplying water to the stones - with a volume of 0.2–0.3 liters, for collecting water - from 1 liter.

The range of such bath accessories is very diverse. Scoops differ in shape and volume, and have a variety of finishing options, including cutting and metal inserts. The main criteria for the correct choice of such an accessory are the ease of use of the scoop, its practicality and environmental friendliness, as well as aesthetics, safety and durability.

Part of the steam room is a sauna ladle

The Atelier Saun online store offers visitors a wide selection of products. Among them, special mention should be made of a sauna ladle , which is necessary for a comfortable stay. People often cannot quickly give preference because they do not evaluate the entire range. To do this, you should first consider the materials from which different models are made today. Only after this will a person understand which option is best for him. Moreover, the catalog section is extensive, so without dividing items into separate categories you will never be able to make the optimal purchase. What material is the bath scoop offered in our catalogue, since not only metal will interest a potential buyer? The scoops presented in our store are made of: stainless steel, copper, wood.

What can be replaced

Traditional wooden scoops can be replaced with hybrid scoops, inside of which there is a metal container. Such buckets are convenient, durable and practical, but their price is higher than their classic solid or composite wooden counterparts.

After the first use of the ladle, it should be washed using soda, mustard and scalded with boiling water.

As an alternative to wooden ladles for a bath, you can consider ladles made of high-strength heat-resistant plastic. Despite their durability and sufficient reliability, such models cannot be classified as aesthetic products.

True lovers of the Russian steam room still prefer wooden products. Cooperage or carved scoops made of natural wood have always been highly valued for their original appearance, practicality and pleasant aroma of Russian forest.

Types and material of sauna ladles

There are models of different sizes and shapes. Buckets are classified according to the type of holder:

With vertical handle
. Suitable for scooping water from a boiler.

• With horizontal handle
  . Used for dousing. In the absence of a ladle, such a ladle can be used to supply water or a decoction of herbs to the heater.

Usually the bucket holders are long. This is necessary for ease of dousing, and also to avoid getting burned by the steam if you have to pour water onto hot stones.

According to the type of container, buckets are:

Carved
. They are cut from logs. Such models look aesthetically pleasing, but require special care. In particular, a wooden sauna ladle should not be left in a dry room, otherwise it will quickly begin to crack. To extend its life, it is recommended to fill it with water between uses and keep it wet.

Traditionally, these accessories are made from:
Wood
. According to its performance characteristics, this material is optimally suited for use in a steam room. It is environmentally friendly and safe. However, the product requires careful care for a long service life.

Stainless steel or copper

. Practical and convenient metal buckets can be used and stored in any conditions. Their only drawback is that they get very hot. Metal products can cause burns. Therefore, most often, for safety reasons, such buckets are equipped with a wooden handle.

You can purchase a ready-made production model or make a sauna ladle with your own hands.

Features of choosing a bath ladle

You can purchase the finished product in a specialized store or order it online.

It is advisable to have several ladles in the bathhouse for different purposes:

Several people can be in the steam room and washing area at the same time. It will be convenient if a bucket is provided for each vacationer.

There should be a separate model with a long horizontal handle for supplying water to the stones.

It is more convenient to draw water from the boiler with a ladle with a long vertical handle.

It is recommended to give preference to safe wooden accessories. They will not be cheap, especially the models made by folk craftsmen. But you can be sure that they will not burn you when heated.

Technology for making a wooden ladle for a bathhouse

To make a sauna ladle yourself, you must initially decide on its size, length and position of the handle, material of manufacture, and type of container. Having chosen a model, it is advisable to initially make blanks from thick cardboard.

Selection of material for a sauna ladle

First of all, choose the type of wood you will use.

The best options for these purposes:

Linden
. Practical wood with a pleasant aroma and original texture. Ideal for making all bath accessories. Does not rot or crack. Suitable for processing.

Oak

. Strong and durable material. It has an interesting rich shade.

Ash

. Light and fragrant wood. Withstands large temperature changes.

DIY carved sauna ladle

This method of making a bucket is considered simple, but it will require certain carpenter skills and a set of tools. Decide on the type of wood and start processing.

Let's look at how to make a carved ladle for a bathhouse:

On thick cardboard we draw templates for the bottom of the bucket, its top and side walls. It should not be too large, as it will be difficult to carry when filled with water. However, if it is too small, you will have to draw water more often. The optimal size is up to two liters.

We cut out the blanks and mark the edge contour lines on the wood with a pencil.

We perform rough cutting.

We mark the outline of the sides and top and make a cut according to the approximate outline of the bucket.

We process the resulting workpiece with a round chisel and remove excess layers of wood.

We form the handle of the product using a chisel.

We process the inner sides with an adze and go through it again with a large chisel.

Using a wood knife, we cut out the handle of the desired shape and the entire product. If you have artistic skills, you can make original patterns as decoration.

The inside of the product is treated with cranberry.

We sand the outer surface with coarse-grained paper and move on to the inner surface.

How to make a composite ladle for a bathhouse

You can make such a model without any special cooperage skills. To do this you will need a board, a handle, a base and a metal rim.

We adhere to the following instructions during the process:

Cut out a plank measuring 1 x 2.1 cm.

We grind the sides at an angle of 12 degrees.

We trim 15 parts, 8 cm each.

We mill a groove along the bottom of all planks; its depth should be 0.4 cm and width 0.8 cm.

We round off the sharp corners of the end sides. These will be the boards for the product.

Let's prepare the handle. To do this, we use a planed board, the dimensions of which are 1.5x7.5x38 cm.

We cut out the part into a convenient shape and round off the sharp corners.

We drill a hole at the end with a diameter of 0.8-1 cm and thread a loop of rope into it.

From a planed board 1x9 cm we cut out the base and grind the circumference to 0.6 cm, and to the radius - to 0.8 cm.

We drill two through holes with a diameter of 0.4 cm in the main board. They will be used for fastening with sharp self-tapping screws with a pressed washer (0.4x2.5 cm).

We assemble all the individual planks around the base, driving the bottom into the lower pre-made grooves.

We compress the structure using twine.

We prepare two hoops. To do this, we choose cold-rolled low-carbon, soft, steel packaging tape, measuring 0.4x0.2 cm.

We make three holes in the prepared hoops with a diameter of 0.16 cm for construction nails 0.16x2.5 cm.

We fill the first hoop from below at a height of 0.5 cm.

We shorten the nails from 2.5 cm to 0.8 cm and attach the top hoop at a distance of 1 cm from the top edge.

We fix the handle using self-tapping screws with a pressed washer.

The right accessories for relaxing in the bathhouse

The Atelier Saun online store helps with the selection of suitable accessories for the bath. The catalog pages are filled with a variety of products. You will be able to freely find the best option for purchase. The copper ladle may intrigue with its dull shine, but still we must not forget about other proposals. Only after careful comparison will it be possible to purchase a product that will match the surrounding environment, complementing the family’s vacation with its beauty and durability. We continue to expand our range by adding new models from various manufacturers. In the near future, there will definitely be other options with varying prices. After all, our specialists select both cheap and expensive accessories in order to offer users the best option for all characteristics. Only this way helps you not to limit yourself in anything, creating a cozy atmosphere in the bathhouse for your whole family.

Material for a ladle in a bath

When choosing any accessories and items for the bath, you need to proceed from several criteria. You need to take into account safety, practicality, durability, and aesthetic components. Well, there’s no escape from the material side either: in many cases, the decisive factor in the choice is the price.

Wooden buckets

Wood is the most traditional of all possible materials for bath accessories. Typically, linden, aspen, cedar or oak wood is used for bath ladles. In order to extend their service life, wooden ladles are coated with a layer of wax or impregnated with linseed oil. But even in this option, they have a short service life: they darken or crack, and may simply lose their aesthetic appearance.

Wooden bath ladles also come in several types:

Hollowed out from a single piece of wood. They are also called carved because they are cut from a single piece of wood. They may look a little rough, but they certainly suit the atmosphere of a Russian bathhouse. If they dry out, they may crack, so after completing the bath procedures, leave a little water in the bowl.

Buckets made from a single piece of wood

Wooden sauna ladles, like small barrels

Metal

Metal sauna ladles are more practical, but in order not to get burned, the handle of such an accessory must be made of wood or heat-resistant plastic. The materials used for production are copper, brass or stainless steel.

A brass or copper sauna ladle is not a cheap pleasure, but it also has a significant service life. The stainless steel ladle is the cheapest in this group, but by no means the worst: its performance characteristics are no worse, and perhaps even better. Brass and copper ladle will oxidize and darken over time. Periodically they need to be rubbed to restore a decent appearance. Not everyone will like this procedure: sit and sand the surface with a soft cloth. No problems with stainless steel. They are like a Christmas tree: in winter and summer they are the same color. In the sense that they do not change at all.

From a safety point of view, sauna ladles and metal scoops are not the best choice: they can become hot and burn. In a Russian steam room with its not very high temperatures, you will get a full-fledged burn if the ladle lies near the stove, but in saunas they heat up even from the air. In dry air vents, temperatures of 90-100° C are not the limit. And you can easily get burned with metal at this temperature. SO it’s better not to take metal buckets into saunas.

Metal sauna ladles must have a wooden handle

There are also hybrid buckets: a metal container is inserted inside a wooden bucket. This bucket is convenient, durable and practical. It is difficult for them to get burned; it will not allow water to pass through, even if the wood dries out. The cost is, however, decent.

A metal container is inserted inside a wooden ladle

Plastic

The most budget option is a ladle made of heat-resistant plastic. Appropriate modern materials can be safely dipped into boiling water. The only issue is the issue of aesthetics, which is compensated by the low price and a decent margin of safety.

Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages, but any of them is suitable for use in a bathhouse, but there should be no glass accessories in the steam room (and even in the bathhouse).

Material for making the scoop

Stainless steel is considered reliable and practical. Because of this, buyers pay more attention to it. We remind you that true comfort is rarely achieved with such models. In many cases, it is better to buy a wooden sauna ladle. It matches the surrounding finish better. At all times, people used such scoops without fear of getting burned and maintaining the naturalness of the situation. Although in recent years, users have shown particular interest in the third type of raw material. Copper is somewhat reminiscent of luxurious gold, which is why it is chosen by demanding customers. Yes, this metal conducts heat very well and is not considered the best for a hot sauna or steam bath. However, the manufacturers have thought through this nuance, which means that none of the owners will ever get burned because of the special wooden handle. This is not a decorative decoration, but an important element that prevents damage to human skin due to the high temperature in the steam room.