Soapstone questions?

[chainsawaddict]

Ive been looking into getting a soapstone stove. A couple guys that Ive talked to keep talking about "soft" heat. What is "soft" heat? I want "hot" heat

I really like to crank up my stove(have a blaze king now), do you have to be more careful with soapstone? Are there durability issues? The blaze king has a couple cracks, but they were in it when I bought it.

 

[Moss Man]

I can only venture a guess into the "soft" heat deal, I would assume soapstone stoves are slower to heat up because of the thermal mass involved and also slower to cool down for the same reason. They might not have as much of that feeling where you can't stand any closer to it or you will get burned. As far as cranking it, I imagine it's like most stoves in that you only want to heat it to a certain point before some damage could happen.

Did any of that make any sense at all?

 

[chainsawaddict]

I can only venture a guess into the "soft" heat deal, I would assume soapstone stoves are slower to heat up because of the thermal mass involved and also slower to cool down for the same reason. They might not have as much of that feeling where you can't stand any closer to it or you will get burned. As far as cranking it, I imagine it's like most stoves in that you only want to heat it to a certain point before some damage could happen.

Did any of that make any sense at all?

Yes, makes sense.

Im wondering how it compares to steel or cast, when it comes to how hot you can get it before damage could happen. I have been known to get a stove too hot, and would hate to do that to one I spent a bunch of money on.

 

[fletcher0780]

I think consistent is a more accurate term than soft. check out this thread: http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=81814&highlight=soapstone+stoves

 

[Dennis_Peacock]

I have a soapstone stove and love it.!!

Here's how it goes.
firebox is 2 layers of 1" thick soapstone....total of 2"
My stove is rated at 73% efficient and is non-catalytic
I heat 2100 sq ft of house...single story
Takes about 30 minutes of a fire in the box to start feeling any heat from the top or sides of the stove.
Puts out an even heat and after the fire goes out? It still puts out some level of warm heat for up to another 4 hours.
Once the stove "heats up" to about 400-500º F, it can and will run you out of the house. DAMHIKT!!!!!!!
A key thing to remember on these stoves is it takes longer to cool down.

At the start of every "heating" season...the stove has to be "made ready". Build a small fire in the box and warm the stove to about 100º F. Allow to cool and build a warmer fire in the box. Allow to cool and then you are ready for the winter heating. Warranty stops you at 600º F and is considered an "over fire". We run ours up to and sometimes just over 500º F about once each day in the primary heating season to keep down the build up creosote.

BTW, the "making the stove ready" is to drive humidity/moisture out of the stone from it sitting around in spring, summer, and fall. It's a porous stone and does absorb moisture when it's not in use.....Just like the wood furniture in your house.

 

[logbutcher]

I have a soapstone stove and love it.!!
Here's how it goes.
firebox is 2 layers of 1" thick soapstone....total of 2"
My stove is rated at 73% efficient and is non-catalytic
I heat 2100 sq ft of house...single story
Takes about 30 minutes of a fire in the box to start feeling any heat from the top or sides of the stove.
Puts out an even heat and after the fire goes out? It still puts out some level of warm heat for up to another 4 hours.
Once the stove "heats up" to about 400-500º F, it can and will run you out of the house. DAMHIKT!!!!!!!
A key thing to remember on these stoves is it takes longer to cool down.
At the start of every "heating" season...the stove has to be "made ready". Build a small fire in the box and warm the stove to about 100º F. Allow to cool and build a warmer fire in the box. Allow to cool and then you are ready for the winter heating. Warranty stops you at 600º F and is considered an "over fire". We run ours up to and sometimes just over 500º F about once each day in the primary heating season to keep down the build up creosote.
BTW, the "making the stove ready" is to drive humidity/moisture out of the stone from it sitting around in spring, summer, and fall. It's a porous stone and does absorb moisture when it's not in use.....Just like the wood furniture in your house.

Now Mr. Peacock, this sounds like a "betterthanslicedbread" kind of heater. Why keep the world in suspense and be a tease: WTF is the name of this beauty ? ! ?!
....wouldn't be say---------------a Hearthstone Mansfield ?

Now for the stumper: does the ( Mansfield ? ) heat your whole house from ambient outside temp up to room comfort around 70F like some of do without a whole house furnace ? Or, are you doing the delta from the furnace's 55F to 68F then up to room temp ? That's one big BTU output for one wood stove to heat.
Curious minds need to know. Truth.

 

[myzamboni]

Chainsawaddict, you should look into an Alderlea from Pacific Energy(they have a couple sizes). It is a cast iron encased steel stove. better suited for your 'letting it rip' burning style and gives some of the same heat retention/extended heat dissipation that soapstone stoves do.

 

[eric_271]

Ive been looking into getting a soapstone stove. A couple guys that Ive talked to keep talking about "soft" heat. What is "soft" heat? I want "hot" heat

I really like to crank up my stove(have a blaze king now), do you have to be more careful with soapstone? Are there durability issues? The blaze king has a couple cracks, but they were in it when I bought it.

There is nothing soft about the heat my Hearthstone produces. When it's real cold I keep it between 4 and 500 degrees. Its about 13 years old and still in good shape. All the Hearthstone stoves are beautiful, not that it makes a differance but they sure catch your eye when you do see one.

 

[Joshlaugh]

I have a Hearthstone soapstone stove in my living room. It does take a while longer to get the stove to heat as opposed to a cast iron stove. It stays hot long after the fire dies down, which I really like. I try to compare it to my buddy's but our houses are so different it is hard to do. I will say that the stove alone will not heat my entire 2500 sq foot 2 story. I can do it through about Thanksgiving and than I have to turn the heat on(and set it really low, like 58-60 degrees) to keep my wife comfortable. My kids don't mind it but the wife doesn't like being that cold. I don't have any complaints other than I wished I had gotten a bigger model. I have the Hermitage and the dealer told me it should be able to heat my house but he was wrong. I think it won't get an upgrade anytime soon as the cost of a soapstone stove is quite expensive.

 

[Zodiac45]

Now Mr. Peacock, this sounds like a "betterthanslicedbread" kind of heater. Why keep the world in suspense and be a tease: WTF is the name of this beauty ? ! ?!
....wouldn't be say---------------a Hearthstone Mansfield ?

Curious minds need to know. Truth.

I think Mr Peacock is heating with a Woodstock soapstone. Maybe a fireview?

 

[woodchopper]

I've got a Hearthstone "Heritage" upstairs and a Warner in the cellar and my house is pretty small. The Warner is plate steel and throws alot of heat especially when you turn the blower on. It's made to stuff full before you go to bed and it'll last all night. The Hearthstone runs MUCH better with only a few sticks in the woodbox. It's made for someone who is around all the time and only add wood to a certain level. When you do this you get more heat using less wood. They both have their strong points and weaknesses.

 

[logbutcher]

I think Mr Peacock is heating with a Woodstock soapstone. Maybe a fireview?

Happy New Year Steve.
Woodstock stoves are all catalytic. Nice product, well-made here.
Are you finding it tough to get out and work ? First we have too much snow for equipment, then this thaw making the ground mushy. If only it would just stay cold.

 

[streeter]

Ive been looking into getting a soapstone stove. A couple guys that Ive talked to keep talking about "soft" heat. What is "soft" heat? I want "hot" heat

I really like to crank up my stove(have a blaze king now), do you have to be more careful with soapstone? Are there durability issues? The blaze king has a couple cracks, but they were in it when I bought it.

I can not speak for the stoves but soapstone has helped me out. I found some broken up soapstone (@ 200 lbs) and used is as a backing for my stove. I do have a concrete block house and can tell you this much.......soapstone DOES help keep it warm overnight

 

[Wife'nHubby]

Let me ask a real "dummy" question: Would I gather more heat from our fireplace if I put some soapstone inside the firebox?

We already have a blower grate in the fireplace. The soapstone shouldn't shatter from the heat.

Yes, I know, get rid of the fireplace and just buy a stove - that takes $$ and plumbing repairs took the $$ from my woodstove piggy bank.....

Shari