Some people have also said that jetdry causes rings. Try googling "soapstone jetdry", I found a bunch of old gw threads.

One of the new threads mentions the old thread : ).

Becky

Here is a link that might be useful: Water rings on soapstone.....not anymore!

This thread?

Here is a link that might be useful: here's one

Now I feel antique. I remember the original water ring thread, it was by Bayareafrancy in 2008, and HERE it is.

The thing to remember is that soapstone is pretty impervious -- it doesn't "absorb" anything -- so what's happening is not so much that the water/glass leaves a deposit that needs to be wiped off, so much as that the water from the glass removes the patina/oil that was already there. It's like those greasy black tablets from grade school where you'd etch lines away to expose rainbow colors. Or like my copper countertop. ;-)

This is apparently why scrubbing the area with some form of surfectant (degreasing soap) will work to remove it.

Here is a link that might be useful: plus some followup threads on Francy's counters

circuspeanut-that is so funny that you remember that thread from Francy, because I remembered it too but couldn't remember her name (I kept searching for San Francisco Francy)I just googled it and found it and you had already posted.
I get water marks on our ss but since we don't oil they just disappear when I wipe them with a wet sponge.
A little OT buy does anyone know if/how Francy's problem was resolved?

I remember Francey's thread very well because it almost convinced me not to get soapstone. But after reading the responses of others, the white water marks seemed rare so I took the chance thinking it wouldn't happen to me (and it probably wouldn't have if I'd gone with Bucks County Soapstone). But it did happen and like Pluckymama, I was very close to having the counters removed and replaced with something else. They are much better since Joshua refinished them. Keep in mind, these rings are not the dark rings you get that can be wiped off. Essentially, what happens, is that the water removes the oil from the stone (don't ask me how). You won't have this problem if you don't oil your stone and the rings/spots vanish with re-oiling. I'll repeat what I've stated in other threads on this topic. I tried tap water, filtered water and distilled water...they all left white spots.

Thanks so very much for all help. I really appreicate it. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me? Any advice to impart to my fabricator?
Cheril27; can you please tell what Joshua did to help this problem? I am trying to prevent the issue, not have to fix it!