I wanted to first thank you for all of your instructional videos. I am a General Contractor and am a self taught solid surface fabricator. I have watched many of your videos in the past, teaching myself how to fabricate and install solid surface. I am soon to watch your video series of installing shower panels. My question is about your router guide that your using, it looks like a saw guide rail that you turned into a router guide. Can you explain a little about it as I would like to fabricate one up as well. Again thanks for all of great videos and literature as I am sure there are many others that have learned from them and will continue to learn from all of your videos into the future.
First, thank you for the compliment, much appreciated. It is custom made. The straight edge has a rib that the router base rides against. You can just use a piece of material cut perfectly straight. The most important thing is to NOT use a round router base. The distance between the edge of the but and the edge of the router is different.
Probably the hundredth time I’ve watched the same seam video 😂 I do ss too I’ve been watching your videos since I was still green it helped me get a visual on some of the things I didn’t understand starting out. Still curious what did you use to make your straight edge ? Is that phenolic or pieces of acrylic ? I want to make my own 😁
We make the straight edges now with a piece of Corian on a CNC machine. But we used to make them using a perfectly machine piece of aluminum that we would get from Penske edge. They were a solid surface tool company back in the day. In fact, I think they're still around. So we would make the solid surface straight edges with the aluminum straight edges and keep the aluminum straight edges.
It looks amazing! I had recently installed Infinity Calacatta composite porcelain installed and the seams look absolutely horrible. Asked the company and they simply won’t give me an answer. Is it possible to use this technique with the likes of Dekton and Infinity surfaces? Thanks 🙏🏻
Great F ing work! Ok I work somewhere we have corian doors but customers keep breaking the doors. It usually splits where u epoxy the seems. What can I put on the back of the door to keep them from splitting ? I’m saying this has happened 15 to 20 times. Thanks in advance
@@AndyGraves I’m going to look those up right now do these work well for installs the method you showed I do other than router wich I’m doing to try now
Is there a recommendation to clean a seam? I bought a house with these countertops, but there is a seam that is visible now (looks like it got stained with use) and I'm not sure how to fix it.
Absolutely, acetone or denatured alcohol will release hot melt glue from solid surface leaving virtually no mark. Just let it soak under for a couple seconds. You can even got glue a straight edge on and easily remove with acetone without running the surface of the material. Works great for times when you can't use a clamp.
Hello, there is not a lot you can do because the glue will yellow over time. If there is a thick glue line sanding it won't necessarily make it better.
Hi Andy thank you for your helpful videos. I am based in the United Kingdom and I'd like to learn to install and fabricate Corian. How would you suggest I learn? I can't find any courses here. To you think there is enough info here on UA-cam to provide enough instruction?
Thanks. I would watch all my videos on fabrication. Also download the Corian fabrication manual. Then go to another fabricator and buy some remnants. Then practice, it's pretty straight forward.
That is a Makita sander with a 5" sanding pad from Harbor Freight. The thing works awesome. 40 grit sandpaper. Here is a link to my Amazon Affiliate - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00005Q7BE&linkCode=as2&tag=olivemill06-20&linkId=fc243a90113fb5dc89b9c7d5f256861e Here is the link to the sanding pad - amzn.to/36l9iQZ
@@santhiagoamaral7143 Definitely buy the pad from Harbor Freight. But the Makita Grinder is what you need. Do not buy a regular grinder and expect the same results. I have tried and failed with a standard grinder. First you will need variable speed. Going over speed 2.75 will cause issues and not give you the results you need for a solid surface seam. Second, a regular grinder and full speed will leave the surface with dips and clog the sandpaper almost instantly. Hope that helps
Hello, Here is the link to Integra Adhesive. Make sure you get the correct color to match the brand and color solid surface you have. This adhesive works with both solid surface and quartz material. www.solidsurface.com/integra-adhesive-surface-bonder-xi
@@AndyGraves thanks so much. Do I need to buy the dispenser gun too? It’s a one time use, I am trying to see if I can get away with it or spend less money for the item.
You can clean the solid surface with Acetone but do not leave it on for a long period of time. It will evaporate really quickly so it shouldn't be an issue.
@@AndyGraves I see you use heavy-duty routers for your work with solid surface. Would you deem a 1400Watt Festool Router EBQplus sufficient? Or would a 2200Watt be necessary?
Hello, you'll need a heavy duty router for large edge profiles. Smaller router will work to cut seams and smaller edge profiles. We also w it uld cut tops to shape with a router.
Hi Andy! I went looking for some locally manufactured solid surface sheets here in Pakistan. The guy tried selling me imported adhesives saying they come in specific colors and I am not sure if he was trying to upsell a gimmick. Do I need to buy specific colors of glues? Isn't there a neutral glue that will work with all shades light and dark?
Cut a slot down the middle and insert a new piece of material. You could also cut the pieces apart and start over if you haven't fabricated the entire top.
If you have any questions or comments please post below. Enjoy the video, hope it helps.
I wanted to first thank you for all of your instructional videos. I am a General Contractor and am a self taught solid surface fabricator. I have watched many of your videos in the past, teaching myself how to fabricate and install solid surface. I am soon to watch your video series of installing shower panels. My question is about your router guide that your using, it looks like a saw guide rail that you turned into a router guide. Can you explain a little about it as I would like to fabricate one up as well. Again thanks for all of great videos and literature as I am sure there are many others that have learned from them and will continue to learn from all of your videos into the future.
First, thank you for the compliment, much appreciated.
It is custom made. The straight edge has a rib that the router base rides against. You can just use a piece of material cut perfectly straight. The most important thing is to NOT use a round router base. The distance between the edge of the but and the edge of the router is different.
Your videos are amazing man ! Really enjoy them ! Look for them and very educational
Thank you, much appreciated.
Nice working
Probably the hundredth time I’ve watched the same seam video 😂 I do ss too I’ve been watching your videos since I was still green it helped me get a visual on some of the things I didn’t understand starting out. Still curious what did you use to make your straight edge ? Is that phenolic or pieces of acrylic ? I want to make my own 😁
We make the straight edges now with a piece of Corian on a CNC machine. But we used to make them using a perfectly machine piece of aluminum that we would get from Penske edge. They were a solid surface tool company back in the day. In fact, I think they're still around. So we would make the solid surface straight edges with the aluminum straight edges and keep the aluminum straight edges.
Next time you are in SC you are welcome to come by and do a custom Corian job for me.
Perfect. Not sure when I'll be there but I will stop by when I am.
It looks amazing! I had recently installed Infinity Calacatta composite porcelain installed and the seams look absolutely horrible. Asked the company and they simply won’t give me an answer. Is it possible to use this technique with the likes of Dekton and Infinity surfaces? Thanks 🙏🏻
No it will not work on those types of surfaces.
Que ferramenta usou como régua?
I made it myself.
Are there any structural issues after you glue? Can you move the newly glued piece without it breaking?
Its 95% as strong as the material on it's cured.
So after you sand the seam on the Corian top you don't polish it out or anything?
Yes, sand the seam until it's the finish you desire. Mate, satin or polished
Holy shit! Nice work.
Thanks
Good
Thanks
Great F ing work! Ok I work somewhere we have corian doors but customers keep breaking the doors. It usually splits where u epoxy the seems. What can I put on the back of the door to keep them from splitting ? I’m saying this has happened 15 to 20 times. Thanks in advance
Send me pictures to olivemill@gmail.com
Question coming from a granite background. Are thier seam clamps to do this
Yes, there are seam clamps. You can use clamps that are used to seam granite as well. Have you ever used Parallign Seam Clamps?
@@AndyGraves no gorilla clamps have a bunch of solid surface coming up wondering if the gorilla that I used to granite work on solid surfsce
@@AndyGraves I’m going to look those up right now do these work well for installs the method you showed I do other than router wich I’m doing to try now
Is there a recommendation to clean a seam? I bought a house with these countertops, but there is a seam that is visible now (looks like it got stained with use) and I'm not sure how to fix it.
Can you feel a separation with your finger nail?
Hi
Can I just ask what liguid you used to help release the wooden glue blocks?
Many thanks
Absolutely, acetone or denatured alcohol will release hot melt glue from solid surface leaving virtually no mark. Just let it soak under for a couple seconds.
You can even got glue a straight edge on and easily remove with acetone without running the surface of the material. Works great for times when you can't use a clamp.
After sanding glacier white still visible seam, little yellow when lighting is on, less vissible daylight. Any advice?
Hello, there is not a lot you can do because the glue will yellow over time. If there is a thick glue line sanding it won't necessarily make it better.
Hey did you solve your issue? Ours is the same which is very upsetting.
Hi Andy thank you for your helpful videos. I am based in the United Kingdom and I'd like to learn to install and fabricate Corian. How would you suggest I learn? I can't find any courses here. To you think there is enough info here on UA-cam to provide enough instruction?
Thanks. I would watch all my videos on fabrication. Also download the Corian fabrication manual. Then go to another fabricator and buy some remnants. Then practice, it's pretty straight forward.
@@AndyGraves fantastic! Thank you Kind sir 😁
The only place in the UK where you can buy Corian™ is CDuk in Leeds. You need to be a certified contractor to do so. They do training courses.
@@desmondrobinson169 you can buy Corian many many places in the UK my father is a distributor. I was looking for a training course to fit.
May I ask what glue did you use
The brand is Artisan Adhesive
Professional 👍
Thank you, much appreciated.
What sander/grinder are you using, also what pad and grit paper? Thanks.
That is a Makita sander with a 5" sanding pad from Harbor Freight. The thing works awesome. 40 grit sandpaper.
Here is a link to my Amazon Affiliate - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00005Q7BE&linkCode=as2&tag=olivemill06-20&linkId=fc243a90113fb5dc89b9c7d5f256861e
Here is the link to the sanding pad - amzn.to/36l9iQZ
@@AndyGraves Thanks! Why spend more when Harbor Freight does it! Great work man!
@@santhiagoamaral7143 Definitely buy the pad from Harbor Freight. But the Makita Grinder is what you need. Do not buy a regular grinder and expect the same results. I have tried and failed with a standard grinder. First you will need variable speed. Going over speed 2.75 will cause issues and not give you the results you need for a solid surface seam. Second, a regular grinder and full speed will leave the surface with dips and clog the sandpaper almost instantly. Hope that helps
@@AndyGraves 40 grit, doesn’t that heat up the seam too much?
Absolutely not, it works perfect. Give it a try, it's by far the fastest way to sand a seam.
Can you let us know what epoxy was that? Where to buy? Any recommendations for epoxy to seam quartz?
Hello, Here is the link to Integra Adhesive. Make sure you get the correct color to match the brand and color solid surface you have. This adhesive works with both solid surface and quartz material. www.solidsurface.com/integra-adhesive-surface-bonder-xi
@@AndyGraves thanks so much. Do I need to buy the dispenser gun too? It’s a one time use, I am trying to see if I can get away with it or spend less money for the item.
@@pauldinh7256 You can buy a gun but you can also squeeze it out into a cup, mix it and then put on the seam.
@@AndyGraves hi the link seems not working now. can you repost? thx.
@@wyyik go to solidsurface.com, they will have adhesive for quartz.
Acetone is not a problem for this material, even on a top cleaning? Thanks
You can clean the solid surface with Acetone but do not leave it on for a long period of time. It will evaporate really quickly so it shouldn't be an issue.
very interesting video! thanks. Are the seams completely waterproof this way?
Yes they are!
@@AndyGraves I see you use heavy-duty routers for your work with solid surface. Would you deem a 1400Watt Festool Router EBQplus sufficient? Or would a 2200Watt be necessary?
Hello, you'll need a heavy duty router for large edge profiles. Smaller router will work to cut seams and smaller edge profiles.
We also w it uld cut tops to shape with a router.
Is that special hot glue, or can any general hot glue work?
Hello, it's just regular hot glue but use a gun that gets the glue hot. It can't be a craft glue gun.
Hi Andy! I went looking for some locally manufactured solid surface sheets here in Pakistan. The guy tried selling me imported adhesives saying they come in specific colors and I am not sure if he was trying to upsell a gimmick. Do I need to buy specific colors of glues? Isn't there a neutral glue that will work with all shades light and dark?
Each solid surface sheet color had a specific adhesive color. Sometimes a neutral color will work but you should get the correct, matching color.
Hello, I tried looking for 1/2 router bit for granite but can’t find. Can I use one for wood?
You need a carbide tipped router bit. It is a bit made typically for woodworking.
How do you repair a visible seam?
Cut a slot down the middle and insert a new piece of material. You could also cut the pieces apart and start over if you haven't fabricated the entire top.
You can also clean the seam and fill with super glue. This will make it so the seam will not fill with dirt.