The Canadian Soapstone scratches really easily with a fork. Deep grooves that would be easy to imagine with my three sons. I cannot find a hardness anywhere for their stone. The Green Bonotti is 4.5 and Antolini is over 4. I am hoping that both would be significantly harder than what I have in hand.

I want to think I could love patina, but scratches like I put on the Canadian soapstone would bug me.

They also have Anasazi which is a 4. Does anyone have any of these varieties? I know each company makes up their own name. Advice?

I just spoke with Marlene from the Stone Studio today.
I think that if hardness is key for you they could find you something that would be the best you could get.

My northern Indiana fabricator drove down there to pick up some Black Bonotti for me. I have no idea what other names it goes by. They told me they bought it from Italy even though it came from South America. I think of it as my 3 cent countertop with a few thousand dollars of travel in it. Actually, it is not installed yet.

This stone is 2 on the mohs. That is really soft. But it's really pretty. Marlene said I could go to her house and see it in her kitchen.

The way I see it, the stainless range is already scratched and the kitchen isn't even done yet. I'm tired of tiptoeing around fragile materials. I'm going to put my hot pans right on the soapstone and enjoy my dinner.

I've never sampled a soapstone that I couldn't scratch.

We have Beleza soapstone from the Stone Studio. Ours is quite hard and we don't baby it. Pete and Marlene are very helpful and knowledgable. Pete made a lovely custom soapstone sink for us.
We got samples from them and tested them thoroughly before choosing our stone.
Highly recommend the Stone Studio.
Reconmmend that you visit them and see the soapstone varieties they have.

Thank you for your endorsement of Stone Studio. They seem like good people.

I got two samples in the mail today. Bonotti and Antolini. They are my new obsession. The sample of Canadian soapstone I have is lovely, but a fork leaves deep grooves on the surface that catch my fingernail when I run it over them. I can scratch both of the Bonotti and Antolini, but the scratches are hairlines that I cannot feel with my fingertips and oil makes them disappear. Both are a beautiful deep green. I think I could happily live with either of these.

You know that commercial with the guy who embraces his flooring? I think I could do that with these countertops. Now I need to schedule a visit to view the full slabs.

Does anyone have blogs or links or threads that address DIY soapstone? I need to play with that idea as well.

This might be a wonderful 20th wedding anniversary gift for us to give each other.

Brian

Does anyone have blogs or links or threads that address DIY soapstone? I need to play with that idea as well.

Do I have a treat for you! See link:

Here is a link that might be useful: DIY soapstone thread

Ayerg used the Stone Studio

Here is a link that might be useful: Ayerg's finished kitchen

Great resources! Thank you all. I love this community.

Brian

Stone Studio is amazing!!! I have their Anasazi. I like it a lot. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to email me. :)