Hearthstone must have a new quarry!

[webby3650]

All of the hearthstones that we received this year have had beautiful stones! I thought I would post some pics so people could see that all soap stone isn't the same. I sure like them better than others I've seen!

 

[heatwise]

That is nice grain.

 

[Woody Stover]

Wow!

 

[Todd]

They are nice looking stones but I would rather see them match those stones better so the stove looks like it was built from the same slab. Too many different colors and viening going all different directions for my taste.

 

[BrotherBart]

I love their stoves but the top of that thing looks weird.

 

[webby3650]

You all are crazy!
It's awesome!

 

[BrotherBart]

No, we just don't have to sell it.

 

[webby3650]

No, we just don't have to sell it.

Neither do I

 

[begreen]

I find the grain a bit busy and poorly matched. When there is that kind of strong grain in the stone, care should be taken to have a consistent look.

 

[lumbering on]

They are nice looking stones but I would rather see them match those stones better so the stove looks like it was built from the same slab. Too many different colors and viening going all different directions for my taste.

Agreed.

 

[webby3650]

I thought this was an improvement over all the BORING soapstone out there. Feel free to just delete!

 

[lumbering on]

The stove on the right mixes 3 different looks.
I like the grain, but they gotta match it better.

 

[begreen]

No worry, thanks for sharing. It's up to the market to decide if they like em or not.

 

[webby3650]

The stove on the right mixes 3 different looks.
I like the grain, but they gotta match it better.

After all, it is natural stone. Right?

 

[lumbering on]

True, but I like to imagine artisans hand selecting each tile to match the others and create visual harmony...

 

[DAKSY]

True, but I like to imagine artisans hand selecting each tile to match the others and create visual harmony...

If you ever saw the process that is used to make these stones, you'd be amazed that they even get to upstate Vt for final assembly. Soapstone is isn't obtained from a quarry, per se, at least not the Hearthstone stuff. The soapstone they use is from South America & it comes from boulders randomly strewn across the jungled countryside. Once a boulder is used up, the entire operation is moved on to the next one they locate.
The saws it is cut with & the water pumped to keep the blades cool is powered by donkeys. Each stone is polished, chamfered & dadoed BY HAND. The workers are not craftsman. They are culled from the local population, making bare bones minimum wages in primitive working conditions.
The only matching that is done is at the Hearthstone facility in Morrisville, & if the stones aren't size & grain-direction controlled by the laborers, the assemblers just do the best they can...

 

[lumbering on]

If you ever saw the process that is used to make these stones, you'd be amazed that they even get to upstate Vt for final assembly. Soapstone is isn't obtained from a quarry, per se, at least not the Hearthstone stuff. The soapstone they use is from South America & it comes from boulders randomly strewn across the jungled countryside. Once a boulder is used up, the entire operation is moved on to the next one they locate.
The saws it is cut with & the water pumped to keep the blades cool is powered by donkeys. Each stone is polished, chamfered & dadoed BY HAND. The workers are not craftsman. They are culled from the local population, making bare bones minimum wages in primitive working conditions.
The only matching that is done is at the Hearthstone facility in Morrisville, & if the stones aren't size & grain-direction controlled by the laborers, the assemblers just do the best they can...

That's very interesting.

Where does woodstock source their soapstone?

 

[DevilsBrew]

I have a question about soapstone. I have been studying up on traditional cooking ovens and it seems like a lot of people don't use soapstone because it cracks easily, heats up too fast, and doesn't retain heat as well as fire brick. Basically, it is terrible for long slow cooking and baking. Why do companies use it for their heating stoves if the material doesn't store heat as well as fire brick?

 

[begreen]

Where is that information from? I believe soapstone is a bit more dense than firebrick and therefore has a bit higher heat capacity. It is slower to warm up and releases heat a bit slower. The specific heat of the two materials is the same I think. Regardless, a stove clad in soapstone is going to be a heckuva lot more handsome than one clad in firebrick.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/spht.html
(broken link removed to http://www.tulikivi.com/usa-can/fireplaces/Soapstone_Characteristics_Fireplaces)
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-solids-d_154.html
http://physics.info/heat-sensible

 

[DevilsBrew]

Mainly all of my info comes from the internet, but I also seek advice from stove builders. I surf a lot. One of the places I have been lately is Forno Bravo.

Your Tulikivi link isn't working, Begreen. I wonder what the fire core is made out of. Is it soapstone or another material? I know the lightweight versions use a ceramic core. I have been trying to find the answer on their website. http://www.tulikivi.com/.

 

[webby3650]

I have a question about soapstone. I have been studying up on traditional cooking ovens and it seems like a lot of people don't use soapstone because it cracks easily, heats up too fast, and doesn't retain heat as well as fire brick. Basically, it is terrible for long slow cooking and baking. Why do companies use it for their heating stoves if the material doesn't store heat as well as fire brick?

I've never heard that before, in fact the opposite. It's slow to heat up and resistant to cracking in high heat conditions.

 

[begreen]

The tulikivi link is getting some kind of bad redirect. Copy and paste the link into your browser and it should work.
(broken link removed to http://www.tulikivi.com/en/fireplaces/Soapstone_Properties_of_soapstone)

 

[firecracker_77]

I think that stove is unique looking but I like the grains that you have pictured. Just my opinion.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

After all, it is natural stone. Right?

No. It is all fake. Hand made.

I do agree the stone can look very nice. The side looks much better than the top. I'll bet they are aware and will make some corrections.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I have a question about soapstone. I have been studying up on traditional cooking ovens and it seems like a lot of people don't use soapstone because it cracks easily, heats up too fast, and doesn't retain heat as well as fire brick. Basically, it is terrible for long slow cooking and baking. Why do companies use it for their heating stoves if the material doesn't store heat as well as fire brick?

We never knew this and perhaps that is good because we've done lots of cooking on our soapstone. Wife likes it a whole lot better than cooking on a steel stove. As for the cracking easy, I guess it all depends. Ours has not cracked yet but we've only used it for six years.