Turn me on....

You can buy a 6 pack of firebrick at Menards for $15...I personally don't think going to the trouble and expense to change to soapstone is going to yield results that you'll be happy with...but I've never tried it either sooo...
https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...340-c-6881.htm?tid=6367530891187608117&ipos=1
As I understand it soapstone takes a long time to heat up and then gives up its heat slowly over time...not sure how well that would work out with an easy breathing VZ stove (tend to have plenty of air flow, even with the damper closed = heat up the flue) soapstone added to the outside of the stove might be a better idea...maybe

 

Very true. Just threw out my moms Jensen air furnace. Bought in 1982. Still had the originals inside. They was ugly but still all there.
The ones in my wood furnace from 93 still look brand new,,,,I think, don’t pay that much attention I guess.

 

Yeah as long as there are no missing pieces, you are good to go really.
I don't worry about cracked bricks unless it seems like they are gonna fall apart soon, or could separate and leave a large gap...but if the crack/gap is in one of the bottom bricks, it will fill in with ashes (a good insulator) and not hurt a thing...you can make it to at least the end of the burn season before replacing, if you even do it then...

 

Surely some valid points.
With my soapstone I like to say the first firing is to warm the stove. After that your warming the house . One of those things where you want to anticipate in advance the need for a fire. Don’t wait until your cold.
I can even notice on the first burn the heat ramp up during the coaling stage as the bottom of the stove also increases in temp. It is a world of difference from a tin stove. Cast is somewhere in between.

On the bright side the heat retention inside helps make relights easier.

 

The firebrick I got from TSC some years ago for the old stove is..
1.25"x9"x4.5"

Can't remember the price per brick, but wasn't terrible.

Most of the bricks have a crack, but I'd put them back into that stove and fire it up without worries.

Some that I replaced were in 5 or more pieces.
I'm not overly gentle on the reloads.


Soapstone in the IS has held up great so far.

 

Old boring topic. Fireplace store wanted 4.99 got 14 of the critters at stone supply for 1.40 each....name dropper that I am

 

Jumping thread topics. Son needs chainsaw ....what ya got cheap????