So after looking at the osburn matrix stoves would it be possible to add a slab of soapstone to the top of my stove? Just for heat retention. Would this damage the stove? The slab would be about 2 inches thick. Any thoughts?
Adding soapstone to top of Osburn 2400
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Those who have tried this in the past haven't made out well. The soapstone, unless it is a perfectly flat fit against the stone, cannot conduct enough heat away from the metal to keep the metal from overheating or heat the soapstone up enough to give you the heat you need.
If anything, I'd try removing the firebrick from a stove and replacing them with soapstone. That way the fire would be licking them directly.
pen
If anything, I'd try removing the firebrick from a stove and replacing them with soapstone. That way the fire would be licking them directly.
pen
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
I cannot speak to your stove . . . but I decided to experiment with my Oslo. Stuck a slab of soapstone on top with some soapstone "coasters" to keep it about a quarter to half an inch off the top to allow air flow in case too much heat would cause any warping.
Found that the reason soapstone stoves do so well with heat retention is the sheer mass of the stone . . . putting one slab on top (or beside the stove or under) will most likely not make a stove perform like a soapstone stove in terms of heat retention.
That said . . . I still have the stone on top . . . it looks cool and it prevents my steamer from getting too hot and boiling over.
Found that the reason soapstone stoves do so well with heat retention is the sheer mass of the stone . . . putting one slab on top (or beside the stove or under) will most likely not make a stove perform like a soapstone stove in terms of heat retention.
That said . . . I still have the stone on top . . . it looks cool and it prevents my steamer from getting too hot and boiling over.
And believe it or not, if you do the math a chunk of soap stone really doesn't have enough thermal mass to make a whole lot of difference. It does some, no doubt, but not as much as you might think.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
And those who have tried adding the stone for cooking purposes have found it just does not get hot enough doing it this way.
Thanks for the input. I guess heat retention really isn't what you want, just less heat going out the chimney. The btu's are going somewhere being retained by something in the room.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Yes and no . . . but in my own case I've found that the sheer bulk of cast iron . . . along with the walls and stuff in the room do a half decent job of keeping the heat in the home when coupled with good insulation. I mean to say . . . it's not as though the room temp will suddenly drop 10 degrees once the fire flames out . . . the stove and area will stay warm for a decent amount of time . . . which is one lesson many folks have to learn when doing the shoulder season fires -- load 'er once and let it ride vs. loading a second or third time since doing so often will result in layers of clothing lost, excess wood burned up and windows wide open with pets and people hanging outside in a desperate attempt to get cooled off.
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