Can you get samples to test? And ask their opinion? I think you're right to want the sink the hardest you can get. Our sink is silgranit and as much as I love our soapstone countertops and would have loved a ss sink as well, I know it would probably be nicked on the edges after these 6 years of use. Ours is a softer variety called smoke, though, and I am very clumsy.

What kind of ss are you getting? Given a choice, I would want my sink to match my counters.

Would it help you to know that Bucks County Soapstone's carved sinks are made from Barocca, which is soft? Stormy Black is one of the harder varieties.

Don't know yet, Sherri. (Is 1058 your bday? It is mine.)

All information is good! I'll be looking at Dorado soapstone, too. The thing is, I'm in MD. I can't imagine the costs to have something shipped!

I didn't mean to imply that you should buy from Bucks..... just that they seem to have a good reputation and they are using the softer soapstone for their carved sinks, so one would think softer stone will be fine. I hope that's the right assumption because I just had the my countertops and sink (both Barocca) installed a few weeks ago!

Oh, and yes, that's my birthday!

I have Barroca soapstone for my countertops and it scratches too easily to be used as a sink, IMO. (It is gorgeous though.) If you used that variety in a sink you would definitely want a grid.

Green Mountain soapstone original PA is supposed to be one of the hardest. You can call them and ask if they send it to any place near you. I found out that they regularly ship to a slab yard ~45 minutes away, and when I called that yard, they said they just call it "gray soapstone" and get frequent deliveries.

Good ideas. Thanks!

Whaaaaaaaat?

If I put in a sink, they want to know!? Oops. Better not mention the two in the bathroom, the kitchen sink, the mudroom sink I've put in, taken out and put in again. Then, there's the future front bath...

Oh, I'd hate that, too. I'll figure out whom to ask.

Thanks for that tidbit.

This might help a little:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2670687/names-of-hard-soapstone

we have saratoga soapstone and its held up really well so far

We have countertops and farmhouse sink all made from Beleza soapstone. Working out really well.

Raee, thanks! I thought I recalled a discussion of such. Funny how one day you can't find something anywhere and the next day it pops up at the top of the search.

That Beleza is beautiful. Beautiful!
Banana suit, I'm looking for pics of the Saratoga, but haven't found anything yet. I'll keep looking.

Such eye candy!

Our soapstone is a version of a type called Pinheiros. It is really hard--- a 5. In the first year we have only had some very minor scratches and no chips. Good luck finding your perfect slab!

Where are you guys getting your stone? mom2sulu and banana suit?

I worked with a local installer who specialized in soapstone. I ended up sourcing a pre made sink through him rather than have him custom fabricate one, so it wasn't made from the slabs I chose for the perimeter. I don't think it makes a big difference looks-wise, as one doesn't generally oil the inside of the sink, so it isn't expected to look exactly the same as counters. My guy chose one with a face front that complemented my perimeter stone.

Going that route saved me LOTS & I think it looks fine. It has held up through nearly 10 yrs. of use.

amck2, that's the direction my mind was going. Making a sink seems to be a huge deal, but if I can source it through Granite Grannies, all is possible. It's the pay-on-time thing with that that makes all this possible.

I like your kitchen!

We also used a local supplier who specializes in soapstone. They are located in Indiana. Here is a picture of my soapstone-- it has some caramel swirls in it.

oh, that grain is gorgeous! Your fixtures are perfect!

I didn't want to worry about any soapstone sink problems, so I did a Blanco Silgranite anthracite -