a question for Francy...and or Joshua et al

16 years ago

I have been following the "saga of the soapstone". I have 2 places that are "red" for lack of a better word. They didn't show up til it was sanded on site. After taking pictures and sending them to the supplier and having the installer come back it was determined that they are a different stone with in the soapstone. You guys have all been so great in helping Francy that I thought maybe you could offer some advice to me too.I didn't see these slabs before purchase and didn't know all I know now about the whole process or I would not be in this position . Now to the question. What is the dye that they gave Francie ? I had asked and was told that there was no way to disguise these areas. I sent pics to several folks at one time and they said that I should just live with it. I would love to be able to rub a color into the rougher red area and hide it as much as possible. Here are some pics to show the areas. They are rougher and very different than the ss. THANKS IN ADVANCE for any help. Caroline

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Comments (6)

sweeby
16 years ago
I'd try a black Magic Marker first. If the mineral isn't soapstone, it'll be at least slightly porous, and that might be all you need.
florida_joshua
16 years ago
I've seen it before. Typically it happens at the edge of a quarry, from what I can tell. Minerals are mixed with the soapstone giving it a unique look. The slabs that I came across almost looked stained from a distance. They are were also rougher as you have discribed. Basically these area's should been avoided if possible by your fabricator, but because they are not your left with a really cool piece of stone. . .

These areas will be porous and softer, if I'm right about my guess. I know it will sound crazy but black dye may work on this issue. I have no clue what where and how to get some but try putting it on then sand around it to the grit that the installers used. The black dye may turn thet area a bit darker. . .Sanding it down again may expose the soapstone around the area leaving the dye in the porous areas.

The area's like this that I've encountered could get soft and almost seem like there is dirt mixed in, other areas were just with that look but hard. Hopefully yours are harder than what I remembered.

I acctually think they looked really cool and made a table out of that leftover piece which I gave to a close friend, I may be able to get a picture of it. Don't hold your breath though. I would think about leaving it alone, enjoy it you may end up really liking it. I'll bet not to many people have that in a countertop. I also carved a trout in that area because it looked like the color of a fish. . . Thinking about it I have to give John a call soon it's been too long.
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angelcub
16 years ago
Hi C! I'm pretty certain that is an iron deposit. I saw some on slabs when I was picking my stone. Some people like it and some don't but it really doesn't affect your stone's integrity, just the aesthetics. I don't have any large areas like it but I do have flecks of it in my stone, which is also quite common.

I don't know about rubbing a color into it since soapstone is non porous. Maybe you could put something decorative over it, like a pretty tin or large glass jar filled with some of your yummy baked goods. : )

It's unfortunate you weren't able to see the slabs before but you'd think the fabricator would have positioned the template so as not to include that piece. Or maybe they couldn't? Did they use a large slab or remnants?

Diana
User
Original Author
16 years ago
sweeby I did that and it sorta worked but I was afraid to put too much and it does come back off.

Joshua: that is what I have been told also and I did see a very cool piece that was made from a beautiful piece of ss that had inclusions in it. It was a photo that Diana's fabricator, Tom Shadley, sent me to illustrate the beauty of these areas. Mine just look rough and red...LOL.

Diana and Joshua: I got these 2 slabs so inexpensively along with a bunch of architectural salvage. I never saw anything ahead of arrival from MASS. but e-mailed photos. The fabricator saw that there might be a problem but that is why he put the areas so that they are not in a place where their fragile nature would cause them to break. He knew I only had these 2 slabs and that they had to fit 2 areas. He had exactly enough stone...could barely put an edge on the big counter as it is 30" deep and the slab is 30" too !! They really didn't show til he sanded the seam...in the 1st pic you can see it to the left. Then I went whoa...and he oiled it and it was better. I don't oil but I am going to get the beeswax stuff from Holland Bowl and try it and see. Thanks and I just thought I would ask. It is different and I am the only one who "worries" about it. Given that I have a house full of oddities and old stuff I shouldn't complain! Thanks again, c
bayareafrancy
16 years ago
Hi there,

I can't read the words on my tube of goo--they are all rubbed off. But my goo appears to be a coloring paste along these lines:

http://www.stonetooling.com/store/266/23680.html

https://braxton-bragg.com/products/adhesives/axson_wood__stone_epoxy_coloring_paste

https://braxton-bragg.com/products/adhesives/axson_polyester__acrylic_coloring_pastes

After buffing and reoiling, I was starting to see the white crack again, so I tried some black sharpie. That seemed to "hold" better. But your areas are too big for sharpie.

At least you can try the coloring paste. It is only a few bucks a tube, and if it fails, you can remove it (try acetone; sandpaper if that fails).

Good luck!

Francy (trying to see the beauty in her 20 inch crack)
User
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks francy...I will see what the Holland Bowl oil does first and then look at the dye...everyone says "live with the difference" so maybe that should cont to be what I do. The main place is at the back...30" away and is usually under a cookbook or something...good luck on the "crack". c

a question for Francy...and or Joshua et al

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