• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Cutting Corian

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
I am starting to use corian more often, at the moment i am cutting it using my bandsaw, but this blunts the blades very quickly, so i was thinking of buying a tile cutter for this material, would it work ... :thinks:
 

The Wood Bucket

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Posts
189
Location
New York USA
Not normally made for plastics.. But I own a tile saw with diamond blade. I just got my delivery of Corian, I will try it and tell you how it works. I was told a table saw works. I just got a new carbide blade with 80TPI. If the tile saw doesn't work I will try table saw. It may be a few days before I get to it.
 

ataylor

Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Posts
1,668
Location
UK
First Name
Andy
I use a small table saw for corian, but only for straight cuts, i have tried cutting diaganal cuts using a jig that i made (Poorly made) but for some reason it always breaks at the end of the cut?

So i will also be interested in seeing you results Mr Bucket as i had not thought of trying a tile cutter. :goesred:
 

ataylor

Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Posts
1,668
Location
UK
First Name
Andy
Thanks for that mate, i know Jim is asking about to borrow one of these before he commits to buying one. I am sure seeing this will help him make his mind up. :thumbs:
 

ataylor

Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Posts
1,668
Location
UK
First Name
Andy
I have always used my bandsaw for corian, but never felt comfortable knowing it was making the blades blunt. Seeing this is given me more ideas so thanks for adding the image and starting the thread. :thumbs:
 

Mattyd

AKA 'The Dundee Redneck'
Graduate Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Posts
583
Location
Dundee
i've never worked with corian.....Although I have considered it........ Do you turn with normal tools??
 

ataylor

Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Posts
1,668
Location
UK
First Name
Andy
i've never worked with corian.....Although I have considered it........ Do you turn with normal tools??

Yes you use normal wood turning tools. Treat the Corian the same way you would acrylic blanks.

Also when drilling corian, make sure that you don't overheat the drill bit, if it gets to warm there is a chance you could have a blow out at the end of your blank. :bwink:
 

Alan Moore

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Posts
146
I find that corian is as tough as acrylic to turn but for some reason the final item looks much more professional and would recommend that you try it.
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
Thanks for taking the time out Gary, that is just like what i had in mind, its not to big and wouldn't take up to much space. :thumbs: What lengths were the corian that you cut by the way ... :thinks:

Did you get chance to turn some pens yet with the corian ... :thumbs:
 

The Wood Bucket

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Posts
189
Location
New York USA
Thanks for taking the time out Gary, that is just like what i had in mind, its not to big and wouldn't take up to much space. :thumbs: What lengths were the corian that you cut by the way ... :thinks:

Did you get chance to turn some pens yet with the corian ... :thumbs:

Jim,

I just grabbed a piece about 8"x12"x1/2" and ran it though the saw. But you can cut any size if you can hold it and maneuver it. You don't really have the same issues of kickback with this type of saw. Cutting was very smooth and no catches or binds on saw. The diamond blade I have is a continuous rims blade not one with segments. That saw is nice because when I it is not in use it hangs on the wall.

I did turn one quick pen just to see how it cut, but I have about 20 pens ready to go, so hope to get to them and will post photos. I also have another delivery of Corian coming on Monday. Would really like to find some of the thicker Corian, but I think :thinks: I will try gluing up some thinner pieces to make a bigger pen. What thickness CA do you use when gluing pieces of Corian together?
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
I use medium CA Gary, just rub each side lightly with a piece of sandpaper, wipe it clean and glue. Thou the corian sticks very fast Gary so make sure that you have your pieces in the right position, as i am talking seconds. :goesred:
 

The Wood Bucket

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Posts
189
Location
New York USA
I use medium CA Gary, just rub each side lightly with a piece of sandpaper, wipe it clean and glue. Thou the corian sticks very fast Gary so make sure that you have your pieces in the right position, as i am talking seconds. :goesred:

Thanks Jim. Think I will try making a larger pen with Corian. Made 9 slimlines today.
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
That is one of the reasons i am after the tile saw Gary, but i was talking with a friend of mine today and he reckons he could convert my small table saw which has a 9" blade to use a diamond blade? :thinks: At the minute i glue 6" x 6" slabs of two different colours and use the bandsaw for cutting which blunts the bandsaw blades in no time ... :down:

Also what i have found when glueing corian it is very difficult to see the joints where it is glued together.

Look forward to seeing the corian pens you have turned ... :thumbs:
 

The Wood Bucket

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Posts
189
Location
New York USA
That is one of the reasons i am after the tile saw Gary, but i was talking with a friend of mine today and he reckons he could convert my small table saw which has a 9" blade to use a diamond blade?

You could put a diamond blade on a table saw, but the problem is getting water onto the blade. Remember diamond blades do not really cut, they wear away the material (like sandpaper). This causes a high amount of heat and dust. The water both cools the blade and clears the dust out of the cut. The saw I showed in the photo has a water bath that the blade runs through, which cools, cleans the blade, and picks up water to clean out the cut. Other saws have a pump which spray water directly on the blade and material you are cutting. If you don't cool the blade and clean out the cut, it will bind up.
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
Yes that correct Gary, but what he said was to try and fit a bath under the blade but i would have to fill it manually. The downfall to this is that the gap is just over 1" so if we can add such a bath we only have a small area for water ... :nooidea:
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
I will try gluing up some thinner pieces to make a bigger pen.

This is what i use corian for when i double up Gary, i make chequered pens, i have tried often to find some thicker corian but it all seems to be cut around the 12mm mark, its like finding rocking horse sh*t around here ... :down:

Chequered_Flag_Sierra_Pen.jpg
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top