Greetings
I’m picking up a load of soapstone for my new kitchen countertops next week. From what I have read here and elsewhere I should be able to work the stone with carbide tipped woodworking tools. No worries about straight cuts and drain board, but the sink cutout raises a couple questions.
DW has chosen a double bowl sink with two different sized bowls, so several curves. I am planning on building a 1/2″ plywood template and cutting out the sink hole with a straight router bit and a bushing so I can make multiple deeper cuts. The soapstone is 1 1/4″ thick. With the template and bushing will a 1 1/2″ cut length bit reach deep enough to cut through?
Also, the stone on the users side of the sink will only be about 4″ across. The back side is about 18″. Should I let in and epoxy a steel bar on the 4″ underside for strength? If so what dia and how much overlap past the sink? Will I be able to move the cut out slab (with my three friends) once the cut is made?
Finally-anyone have a good source for simple angle brackets to support the 14″ overhang on the back side of the sink? The overhang stretches about 7′, how many supports do I need?
Thanks in advance for your insight.
Chris
Replies
Is your sink undermount or self rimming?
I have 1.25" soapstone counters from M texeria soapstone from NJ
For my bar I made supports with 1/4" x 2" angle iron--- notched a 90 degree chunk out then bent & welded it up.
1.25" soapstone will span 24" no problem. Your supplier should have all the span properties for you. http://www.soapstones.com was very helpfull for the info I was looking for.
Any steel fab shop can make them easily if you don't have access to a welder.
Cutting your bowl with the template is a good idea & making several passes---- it will be dusty as heck when ya do it.
A good 1/2" shank router & a quality bit is a must.
4" x how long? & is it sitting on the sinkbase cab?
Here is a pic of my bar top, where the shims are is the angle supports & in the messy pic there is the template on the floor I used to cut the radius.
View Image
Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
plumbbill
I'm also picking up my stone at M Teixeira.
Good idea for the angle brackets.Is there any additional support for the thin edge in front of the large sink cutout shown on the lower level in the bar picture? Mine will also be sitting on the sink cabinet base and is about 36" long. Undermounted sink.Did you cut that out in place?My setup is very similar to yours, except all on one level, from one slab.Thanks to all who have replied thus far. Great pictures of fine work.
Chris
Yes cutout in place---- but that hole is for the 45" cooktop---- self rimming
No extra support needed as long as the stone is sitting on the cabinet.
Also helps to apply some silicone from the stone to the inside of the cabinet before you cut it.
My sink is actually on the other side of the kitchen & it is self rimming too.
If I was to do an under mount ss sink I would drop it in a cut out of plywood to hold it up to the stone.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
PS
if you are using steatite soapstone carefull of the lighter veins I'm not sure what mineral that is but dang it sure is hard.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
Hi PlumbbillI think the white veins are quartz (silica) that deposited after the steatite fractured, letting in a hot solution that cooled and crystallized. Skinny veins are best, easier to power through than the wider ones. Nice job, BTW.Bill
Thanks
I had a white vein in the corner of my sink cut out --- bout 1/2" wide kinda nervous about crcking it right there it was just a killer on every blade I threw at it---- I couldn't get my diamond blade in that spot ended up drilling a few holes in it with rotohammer on straight drill function.
Then took a good crisp hit with a cold chisel.
View ImageDo you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
Bill, what kind of flooring is that, chestnut? Nice job BTW.
Hickory main with a bullet wood border---- bullet wood aka bolivian cherry
View ImageDo you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
Sweet.
I considered hickory for my place, but went with heart pine.
Nice
I have 2 boys & soon a dog I wanted high hide & tough as I could get.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
'Scuse me, but apparently you didn't know I hold the license for your bar top shape; I'll let you know via e-mail where you can send your license fee check for using it ... <ggg>Bruce
Between the mountains and the desert ...
LOL
checks in the mail or I can take it up with the tribal counsel----- that's the new saying around here.
The dw is freakin out------ a few weeks ago someone posted pics of their bedroom, other than the coffered ceiling they had our living room floor patter with the same fireplace that we have in our bedroom.
BTW nice work I bet that glass is fun to clean.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
That glass is 'posta be cleaned??Bruce
Between the mountains and the desert ...
Maybe 1/4" hardboard for your template, stick it in place with dbl. sided sticky carpet tape, good quality bit, preferrably 1/2" shank to minimize vibration and stress on the shank. Take your time, go slow and use a dust collection vacuum. 2nd post is right on with bracket fab.
This probably won't help you but....I added no steel supports when I fabricated all of these in my kitchen. One cut out for a steel bar sink in the island and one big farm sink in the main counter. I also used no templates. Cut free hand with a carbide blade in my saw and used a jig saw on the rounded corners all free hand. Sanded all the edges to straighten out any imperfections which were few.
I did consider hot gluing sticks down to run my saw guide against but it really wasn't necessary so I didn't.
Counters have been taking abuse now for about a year with no problems.
Good luck and try and do the work outside if you can because the dust is like volcanic ash and it makes your skin feel like a babies azz. It is what they use in talcum powder and cosmetics in a slightly different form.
Unfortunatly I had to do it inside in place but thats cool, the house was a mess anyway with all the construction I was doing here.
Have fun : )~
a...
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