Care Guide

Corten steel

Applies to Faster Greta, Lillhälla

The patina looks after itself

Corten steel forms a protective rust layer, a patina, that develops naturally over time. It's not damage. It's the material's way of protecting itself. The patina matures over the first few months and stabilises after roughly six months to a year, depending on climate and weather.

You don't need to do anything for it to form. Just let the product stand outside.

Cleaning

Brush away leaves, dirt and ash with a soft brush. Water and mild soap is enough if needed. Avoid high-pressure washing, strong cleaners and abrasive sponges. They can damage the patina.

Ash should be removed after each fire. Ash left behind holds moisture and can speed up corrosion in an uneven way.

Placement

Avoid placing the product directly against light surfaces of stone, wood or concrete. Rainwater running off a corten surface can stain the ground beneath during the patina's first months. Place the product on a dark surface, gravel or paving stones, until the patina has stabilised.

Keep the product away from road salt. Salt can disrupt the patina's protective function.

Winter tips

Corten steel handles winter well. Brush away snow with a soft brush, not metal tools. Inspect the product in spring and brush away any debris that's gathered.

Faster Greta

Pizza oven in corten steel · See also Pizza peel, Gierkie pizza stone

Faster Greta is looked after the same way as other corten steel, with a couple of additions.

Sweeping

Soot gathers between the oven chamber and the outer wall. Make a simple sweep tool from a strong steel wire and a bit of steel wool (without soap). Bend a loop in each end of the wire and twist the steel wool into the middle. Push the tool through the opening between the chimney box and oven chamber and scrub back and forth.

It takes five minutes and makes a big difference to the draft.

Welds and small parts

Rust can gather at welds and details. Use a small steel brush to scrape away rust and debris from the seams. Then apply a little grease to the welds and other exposed parts. Once a year, ideally before winter, is enough.

The handle

The handle is oak. Oil it with raw linseed oil once per season if you want to keep the colour. Otherwise it greys naturally, which is also lovely.

Lillhälla

Fireplace in corten steel · See also Gnistan grill plate, Kloss'n stand

Lillhälla needs very little. Empty the ash after each fire. Brush away dirt and leaves if they gather. Let the patina do its work.

If you want you can inspect the welds and details once a year and treat them with a little grease, the same way as Faster Greta.

Bohemen

Outdoor bath in aluminium and oak

Bohemen is not corten steel. The bath and chimney are made from saltwater-resistant aluminium. Flue pipe, contact guard, chimney cap, bolts and screws are stainless steel. The interior is oak.

Aluminium

Clean with water and mild soap. Use a soft cloth or rag, not abrasive sponges or steel brush. High-pressure washing can damage the surface.

Don't use stainless steel or other impure metals in direct contact with the aluminium. It can cause rust stains.

The wood interior

All wood parts are delivered oiled with raw linseed oil. During the first baths the water may be slightly coloured by the oil. That's normal and disappears after a few baths.

If you want to keep the wood's original colour: clean the wood and let it dry completely before oiling. Use raw linseed oil. Brush it on and let the wood absorb the oil for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wipe away excess oil thoroughly. This is important, otherwise the oil can thicken and become sticky.

If you don't oil it the wood will grey naturally. That's fine. That's oak doing what oak does.

After the first bath the interior may feel a bit rough, because the wood's fibres stand up. Let it dry, sand with fine sandpaper (P200) and oil again. Then you get a smooth surface that lasts.

The frame around the bath should also be oiled regularly. Be careful to wipe away oil that lands on the aluminium, it can cause stains.

Water

During the first year of use: change the water after each bath. Even if you have a filtration system, don't let the same water sit for longer than 48 hours. It protects the aluminium surface.

For longer use the water needs to be circulated through a filtration system.

Use only chlorine-free products for water treatment. Chlorine can cause discolouration and damage the aluminium.

If you've bathed in lake or seawater, empty and clean the bath afterwards. Salt and minerals can affect the material.

Cleaning and storage

Always remove the wood interior (including the floor slats) before storing the bath. Don't leave it sitting in still water.

Place the bath on a level, stable surface. The support feet must have good support, otherwise the frame can be damaged if a bolt sits at an angle.

If you want to store the bath outside over winter: clean all parts thoroughly and let them dry completely. Lay two boards on the ground and turn the bath upside down so air can circulate freely between the frame and the ground. Lay a tarp over it, but make sure there's also airflow under the tarp. Ideally store the wood interior indoors or in an unheated shed.

Don't oil the wood in connection with long-term storage. Oil it instead at the start of the bathing season.

All our products are made to be outdoors. They change with the seasons. Corten rusts and darkens. Oak greys. Aluminium keeps its surface if you keep it clean.

It's not wear. It's life.

Do you have questions about your products? Get in touch with us.