bucket on a heat riser?

so I'm learning to weld. I'm not good at it, but slowly improving. and I've got a project in mind for my sauna rocket stove when I'm more confident welding.

the stove is working fine. I'm welding one vane on at a time right now to improve heat exchange, but it heats up pretty well as it is. the plan I'm considering is welding a square bucket to the side of the outer barrel (what are folks calling the outer barrel?) to preheat water for dumping on the rocks. the barrel itself would be the fourth side of this square bucket, and the top would be open so the water could be dipped out. I would use maybe 3/16" gauge steel.

my inspiration for this is the steam bath I was invited to in a Yup'ik village years ago. the stove there was just an oil drum on its side with a chimney and an opening cut for loading wood. the rocks sat on top, and there was a metal bucket of water that sat in the opening. by the time the steam bath was ready to go, the water was boiling or close to it so that it vaporized very quickly when it was tossed on the rocks. it also didn't cool the rocks off as much, so there wasn't as much waiting for them to heat back up. that was, by far, the hottest I've ever been in my life. it was terrible. and I couldn't wait to go back for more the next evening.

so I want to be able to recreate something close to that experience. I certainly won't shoot for that scalding every time we fire up the sauna, and I won't spring it on unsuspecting guests, but I would like it to be an option. right now, I just set a metal pail on a railing near the barrel to heat up while the sauna is heating up. being close to the stove, it does heat up quite a bit, but not to anywhere near boiling. the high temps I'm getting right now on the barrel are about 800 F near the top and about 500 F near the bottom, so I imagine boiling the water won't be much of a problem.

so is this a reasonable idea? doomed to failure? recipe for an horrible disaster?

good idea, the fins will be interesting. choose the stones for the top carefully some explode after a bit

Ernie Wisner wrote:choose the stones for the top carefully some explode after a bit

reusing rocks from old saunas, so I think they'll be fine. which is good, because I have no idea how to tell the difference between a safe rock and an exploder. any secrets to share?

I guess I'll go ahead with the bucket, then. at least, I will after I'm convinced I can weld a bead that will hold water. could be a while.

and the one fin I've done so far looks terrible. depending on how many I end up doing, they could be a good document of my welding learning curve.

look fr dense non porous and non sedimentary stone. with in reason. lots of saunas use pumice. I like things like gabro, obsidian, nickel ore, tight granite, flint, soap stone Etc. fine grain to glassy rock. that has enough mass to deal with sudden cooling.
I remember welding school fondly. it will take a little time to get your welds down but your should do fine. just remember its all in the wrist if you are moving your arm you are going to stick it.