Replies

1. 
   geoffmurray | Jun 04, 2002 07:13am | #1

   I've never seen soapstone in a kitchen. I've carved it and it is soft. I think you are asking for problems, like scratches and stains.

1. 
   andybuildz | Jun 04, 2002 02:55pm | #4

   Hey Geoff.....now dont ya feel dissed....lol....

   Be well

           Namaste'

                          andyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   geoffmurray | Jun 04, 2002 10:24pm | #6

   Obviously I need to see it on a countertop. I'vew done solid wood, granite, tile and, as much as I hate to admit it, p lam is still the best. It's low maintainence, easy to clean, easy to replace, relatively cheap. My countertop is not like a coffee table, which I look at an want to see nice grain and design. My countertop needs to be as my list above. I need to be able to drop pots on it, spill koolaid and wine. Once it's covered with coffee maker and fruit bowl, dishes and toaster, I don't see it. One of our designers correctly says the splash and the drawers and doors are the features, the countertop is for function.

   I'm on the tlookout for a soapstone countertop to go with my Inuit carvings, though.

1. 
   casey | Jun 08, 2002 02:27pm | #7

   I also have thought of using soapstone recently and have done a little looking in to it. The fact that it can be worked with carbide tipped router bits is definitely a plus. I once saw someone rout drip drains back to the sink right in the counter itself. One good site I found is http://www.greenmountainsoapstone.com.

                                                                            caseynick

1. 
   DaveHeinlein | Jun 09, 2002 01:28am | #8

   It's been used on a couple sets of my cabinets in the last year. I had never heard of using it for counters, but all of a sudden it's here. It'a a great material, repairable like solid surface, yet a natural material, which is big in my neighborhood. It is also comparable to plastic laminate in cost, and yes, carbide bit friendly. The local fabricator here actually took apart an 8"deep "farm" sink ,made a correction in dimension by cutting it with a carbide bit blade, re-assembled it all on the yob. Finish it with mineral oil.

2. 
   Qtrmeg | Jun 09, 2002 05:06am | #9

   I had it in one house and broke almost every glass I owned. Ok, I never broke a glass, but that was the net result.

   Loved the look, easy to work, but solid is solid. I am re-doing my counter now in pl, for function.

3. 
   bobhallsr | Jun 09, 2002 06:48am | #10

   Soap stone was traditionally used for laboratory bench tops and sinks. It was called <alberene> stone and was quarried along the James in central Virginia. The stone works seem to have been bought out by Tuli Kivi. (Ads in FHB) This stone was always very dark gray to black. The soap stone wood stove that I ordered from Vermont had much lighter colored stone. I have seen folk art carved soap stone the looked waxy and almost white. Are all these colors available for counter tops?

   An other thing. When I took a sculpting class and we used the Virginia soap stone, the supplier gauranteed it to be tested and free of asbestos. I don't think that I would want to be raising stone dust from power tools if it is a type that has asbestos in it.

   BJ Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland

2. 
   Mongo | Jun 04, 2002 08:30am | #2

   Roy,

   It's a fabulous material for kitchen countertops. It's one of my top two or three choices when I'm asked about my favorite countertop materials.

   Since you've already decided on it, you must have some basic knowledge of the material...do you have any specific questions or are you just looking for a little encouragement to stay with it?

1. 
   royr | Jun 04, 2002 03:37pm | #5

   I just wanted to hear what people think of it after they have used it for awhile. I have done a lot of comparing with granite corian ect. and keep coming back to soapstone.

   Thanks

   Roy

3. 
   TLRice | Jun 04, 2002 02:20pm | #3

   I'm using it in my house (renovation underway, currently). After looking at a lot of options. I've seen it in some old houses. Marvelous stuff. It has a character that it hard to match (or describe) and gets better with age.