Getting small pieces of Corian

Aaron Beaver

Member
Messages
427
Location
Missouri
Anyone know where I might find small pieces of Corian, something like 8"x12" or something close like that, doesn't have to be exact. Can be either 1/2" or 3/4" thick, doesn't really matter.
 
Not to be too much of a smartie.... but how bout a corian counter fabricator?:D :D :D
I know one in Tucson, but thats no help...
Sink cutouts sound like just the right size.
 
I called a few Counter top people here in town and they all used the same installer, so I called the installer and the salesmen I talked to pretty much said they would rather throw it away than have to have a production manager stop and help me. geeesshhh. Maybe their dumpster doesn't have a camera watching it. Guess I could just always go by and see, but they leave at 4 o'clock and that's gonna be tough to get there, would have to try and leave work early.
 
I think I'd go by the shop early - if they quit at 4 they probably start at 7:30, find if there's a back door, and maybe bring them a box of donuts if they help you out. Talking to the salesman is sometimes worse than useless, kinda sounds like he needs to feel important from the answer, or maybe he just didn't want to bother getting up out of his chair. We used to have guys come for scrap mesquite all the time, and it wasn't any big deal at all to take a few minutes to show them where the junk bins were.
 
I'd go with everyone seems to be saying. Find a local cabinet maker that uses it for counter tops and ask if they have any scraps you can have.

I scored a box of assorted red oak scraps that way.
 
I have a friend who owns a Corian (Solid surface) business. He used to have a fellow come in and he would give him scraps to make pens and such. One day he told him that he would like to have one of those pens... the fellow quoted him a price. Needless to say he was promptly escorted out of the place with a warning not to ever come back. For a long time he would not allow any scrap to be given out (Dumpster Only) Over time I was able to get him to allow me some scraps, In return I made hime some of my products as a gift or payment. There are a few people he & I know that he will allow some scrap but we all know enough to repay the gift with a gift. It is not wise to expect payment from the fellow who is supplying your stash. I say this because you can find who the Solid Surface guy in your area and offer to make him some object or project with the scrap. Go to HD or Lowes and talk to the cabinet guys, they know who the contractors in the area are and who to contact. (You buy the counter top from them but they sub out the work locally.)

What I make are Trivits and Cutting boards, They can make the normal cutting boards but what I do is scroll work, I cut pineapples, fish silhouettes, Lizzards, or coat of arms and specialty designs to fit a person's theme in their kitchen or bar. He could have a CNC guy do it but th artwork is more expensive than my time if it is for one. the material cuts quite well and smooth on a scroll saw with correct blades.

BTW... Go by on a Friday afternoon, These guys are done with production about 3:00 or so and are cleaning up or "winding down" waiting till 4:00 .. That way you are not an inconvience.
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions, I called again today and someone else answered the phone so I ask for a production guy and got someone. He said I can come by tomorrow and take a look at what they have, but you are right they will be leaving around 3:45 so I will just have to leave early to make it. Probably a good thing to call on a Holiday week when some of the sales or other people are probably not there.
 
Polite that you called ahead, but I have found that when you "Show up" it is often harder to deny in person rather than over the phone.

Are you wanting this for a project or to make cool blocks for your BS?
 
Polite that you called ahead, but I have found that when you "Show up" it is often harder to deny in person rather than over the phone.

Are you wanting this for a project or to make cool blocks for your BS?

Need a piece to do some carving into. Making a pattern into it for a guy and he is going to use it as a mold to pour silicon rubber into.
 
I make fairly simple windchimes from the stuff I get. Last week when I went to pickup my load of scraps I took three of them in. Now the guys throw in some of the more costly stuff and larger peices. It is always nice to keep the suppleir happy.
 
Bill Simpson said of Corian: ".....What I make are Trivits ...."
You make trivits from Corian? The stuff begins melting at a little over 200 degrees. Wouldn't seem practical for that, IMHO. Or counter tops for that matter. Put a hot pot on the counter once and you have a mess.
 
Bill Simpson said of Corian: ".....What I make are Trivits ...."
You make trivits from Corian? The stuff begins melting at a little over 200 degrees. Wouldn't seem practical for that, IMHO. Or counter tops for that matter. Put a hot pot on the counter once and you have a mess.

Do you have Corian counter tops? I do, And you are ALL WRONG, Yes you can burn it and yes you can refinish it, Yes trivits do work of Corian.
Put hot pot on counter many time as well as on the Trivits. I make the Trivits to keep hot pots off the counters (both Corian as well as other materials) The open cutting of the trivits keeps the air moving under and allows for the correct cooling.
 
Do you have Corian counter tops? I do, And you are ALL WRONG, Yes you can burn it and yes you can refinish it, Yes trivits do work of Corian.
Put hot pot on counter many time as well as on the Trivits. I make the Trivits to keep hot pots off the counters (both Corian as well as other materials) The open cutting of the trivits keeps the air moving under and allows for the correct cooling.

No, I don't have counter tops. I had some I heated to try forming for pen turning. At not much over 200 degrees, it became like putty. Not an endorsement, IMHO, for use in a kitchen. Glad it works for you.
 
No, I don't have counter tops. I had some I heated to try forming for pen turning. At not much over 200 degrees, it became like putty. Not an endorsement, IMHO, for use in a kitchen. Glad it works for you.


that may be so... The reccommended temperature for forming Corian is 325 for 10-15 minutes. during that time it goes through transition but always returns to the formed shape. The temp is dispersed throughout the material and placing a hot pot on the Corian isolates the heat to the surface, but it is soon dispersed. In the event that extremely hot surface is laid on the counter, that is where my Trivits come to play, they carry the burdon of the heat and protect the Counter top. In most cases the pots and pans are not in excess of the 325 temp when they are recovered from the stove. In the case that they are, then again the trivit sacrifices itself for the good of the counter.

Aside from the beauty and texture and cleanness of the counter, the appearance is worth the effort. Solid surface is forgiving and can easily be restored to original luster with some progressive sanding with micromesh fabric. Or Green to yellow to white Scotchbrite.

Yes I am an advocate of Solid surface and Corian although I am not connected (other than through friendship) with Dupont or Corian or Solid Surface fabricators. I just like it.

Were you to ever get ahold of some sizable scraps and start doing some scroll work and making projects, you too would learn to respect it.

My Kitchen and one bath has Corian, Another has '70s Cultured Marble (it was the thing to have in 1976) (which I will replace with Corian) and another has Formica soon to be replaced with Corian.

Right now I am building a new helm for the houseboat and using Corian for the top and adjacent sides. Alsop great for cleaning fish....
 
There also different grade of Corain. Some are soft and others are extremly hard. I was shocked when the guy at the countertop store was showing me the difference between different types. The stuff that would be better for trivets would be the stuff that looks like glass once cleaned up.
 
There also different grade of Corain. Some are soft and others are extremly hard. I was shocked when the guy at the countertop store was showing me the difference between different types. The stuff that would be better for trivets would be the stuff that looks like glass once cleaned up.

I believe you mean there are different Grades of "Solid Surface". Corian is a Dupont product and is, I believe, One grade. But I will check with my buddy who does Solid Surface countertops ( He does carry different brands which have different characteristics.)
 
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