Working with Corian

[Len Silva]

I want to make some minor changes in a Corian counter top and have no experience with this stuff.  I don't need to make any joints, just enlarge the stove opening and modify a table, maybe rout a new egde.  Can I use regular wood working techniques?

Thanks,

Len

[pete81eaglefanasty]

 There is only one way to cut corian that is to take a piece of wood and hot glue it to the underneath of the counter top to where you want to stop at and use a flush router bit with the bearing on the bottom of the bit then route the cut out of the size you need to the board. when your done you can remove the board with a putty knife and round over the top of the corian with a quarter round over bit that relieves stress and sharp edges.


         Pete

[Len Silva]

Thanks,

Do you think that a Roto-Zip will work?

Len

[H3Jim]

Corian cuts very easily and smoothly with woodworking tools.  Sand it out with 220, then 400 for the finished surface.  Good comment about the stress relief, you don't want to leave any inside  square corners, only rounded ones to keep a crack from radiating out.  Its basically just plastic.

I just had a corian counter top installed, and the very experienced installer just used a straight cut router bit to clean up the cutout he made for the stove top insert.  They did re-inforce each corner with fiberglass.

[Ray D]

No, you need a good carbide router bit (sharp) and keep the corners as large a radius as you can.  The more square the inside corner on a stove top, the more likely a crack will develop later.

Ray d

[JerryH]

Len:

Yes, you can use other than a router to make cuts.  We (and our DuPont certified fabricators) use jigsaws to cut Corian and other similar solid surfaces.  Use the right blade.  We also rip solid surface with table saws.

Use the router as described, with a straight edge, to get the straightest and cleanest cutout with an inside radius at the inside corners.  You should never have hard, crisp, chiseled, right angle inside corners -- must be radius to avoid/ prevent cracking.  You might also consider edging the opening with a heat reflective metallic tape on the cutouts edges.

Jerry H.
http://i-kb.com

[Len Silva]

Thanks folks,  big help

Len