Your content is awesome!!! Thanks for sharing all those tips 👍

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Than, you're welcome.

I’ve made many a seam, but never have seen the shim- one- side- up trick. I will definitely try it the next time. Some on here say it creates a void and possibly a weak point, but in reality, solid surface seams aren’t supposed to be clamped super tight anyway. Thanks for sharing, sir!

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

I've been doing it this way for 25 years. If you actually level the seam you will find the is really no void. When you cut a seam perfectly flat it's very difficult to get the leading, top edge from being perfectly right. You will see a hairline gap. Give it try and tell me what you think.

Good job sir

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, much appreciated

Good job sir Fine work... beautiful work Great job I from India Thankyou

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, much appreciated.

Realized today that by adding your one degree bevel, you're always leveling your deck, never trying to feather out a cupped joint... thanks Andy!

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad it worked out. We use parallign seam clamps and that 1 degree never works great.

@Filmchippy

10 ай бұрын

​@@AndyGravesI'm about to fit some mirostone worktop here in the UK. It's similar to corian but 20mm 3/4" thick. Would you still use this method for a straight butt joint even with thicker material?

@AndyGraves

10 ай бұрын

Yes, I still think adding a slight bevel makes the top leading edge fit tight together eliminate your glue line

@Filmchippy

10 ай бұрын

@@AndyGraves same as when I fit end panels or butt jointed island back panels , I usually back bevel the joint slightly to get a tight joint

@AndyGraves

10 ай бұрын

Yes, just slightly works great

You are the best i have my solid surface shop in puerto rico and have used a lot of your ideas

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I'm glad the videos have helped.

I use the porter cable wavy but, much easier and comes out flawless every time , with more glue surface than a butt joint and it self aligns the top surface

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

That works too.

Have you got any videos of building like square troughs/sinks out of solids surface ?

@AndyGraves

6 күн бұрын

Yes, I have a ramp sink video but nothing on a square sink.

Good job 👍🏼 I want to ask you if I can cut a solid surface sheet using a table saw?

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, it can be cut with a table saw.

Hey there, I’m enjoying your videos and will be putting my learning to use soon. I found some cabinets with countertops on CL and am wondering if cutting is the best way to separate pieces at the joints or if there’s a better way to do it. It’d be awesome if I could do it in place.

@AndyGraves

9 ай бұрын

What is CL?

@bensimons8741

9 ай бұрын

@@AndyGraves Craigslist

@bensimons8741

9 ай бұрын

@@AndyGraves what are your recommendations for separating those seems?

It would be good to explain the reason for shimming one side up 1/8". Where did you get the straight edge?

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

I made the straight edge.

Very much like your 1/8" shim technique. It does two things very simply: 1. Gives a very tight unobstructed (by potential residue) joint right at the top, where you want it. 2. Creates a pocket to retain the glue so the join can't become glue starved.

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

That's it and the gap is extremely small. It really works well.

@archphase

Жыл бұрын

​@@AndyGraves Thanks for all your videos Andy. A question about the shim... by propping up the side the router's on, you're creating a parallel cut on both sides, and opens the bottom by a knats a** when you remove the feather board. Is the point to make sure the top edge positively touches, or is it to allow some room for the glue (or both)?

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. It's only to make the leading edge of the seam tight. Solid Surface epoxy is not designed to fill gaps and the joint should be tight for the adhesive to bond correctly. I've probably cut 50,000 seams and if you cut the seams without the shim there will be a hairline gap. This process just gets rid of the hairline gap. After cutting, you can hardly even tell it was cut like this.

@markrainford1219

Жыл бұрын

@@archphase Thanks, you are the only one in the comments to explain clearly what is happening here.

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, much appreciated.

Good morning. I have been working with Solid surface materials for many years now, and made a lot of joints. But this is the firts time I see that one side gets lift up and not cept level. Does the gap that form not make the joint weak? Thank you for your video's. Even afer many years in the trade, I still learn more.

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Hello, the gap is extremely tiny if anything. Keep in mind I'm only raising it 1/16"+ over a half inch. Sometimes you can't even see a gap at the bottom. I've been doing solid surface since 1986 and I haven't had any issues with the seam being weak.

@pieterconradie4087

Жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves thank you very much for the reply. I am going to try it that way. Like I said, even after many years in the trade, you showed me some new tricks. I polished a work piece with a wet scotchbrite, and wow!!! it did make a huge differance!!!

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Excellent, glad it helped. I don't know why wet Scotchbrite works better but it does. 🤷🏼

Thanks for watching. If you have any ideas or questions please comment. Let me know if you have any ideas for future videos.

Nice job, which glue are you using ?

@AndyGraves

7 ай бұрын

Use any solid surface adhesive that matches the color material you're using.

Do you have a link to the router bit you use? I am a first time DIYer and want to make my own L shaped countertop for my vanity. This seems like it will create a much cleaner seam than just using a circular saw.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I will get you a link. Give me a little bit of time.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

amzn.to/3sKi7vA

@ 2:04 you said need a piece of door shim? Not sure what you called it.

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

That is an 1/8" x 1.75" piece of door skin or basically plywood.

Hi! What’s a good place to buy Corian? Does it come in widths grater then 30” wide?

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

It does not come in widths greater than 30 but it can be good together. If your in southern California you can buy it from us. Otherwise, find a local company that fabricates it.

Why did you put the strip under one side of the material ? 👍🙂

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

The strip will raise the material so it will cut a slight bevel on one side of the material. When pulling the two pieces together it will make is so the leading edge will be perfectly tight.

How to make stone countertop seam for ferret fit？

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

I don't know.

What if there are two large quartz stones that cannot be placed on the workbench and use the tools in the video? There are also customers who require 45-degree stitching on the overhanging edge. Will you use this machine?

@andybrown8981

2 жыл бұрын

Personally I’d overlap the two pieces at a 90° mark each corner for your 45 then cut them roughly. Then apply this method to refine the cut. Not sure about quartz though, never has to cut it personally.

@AndyGraves

Жыл бұрын

Not sure, I don't cut stone but I would imagine you need to cut each side separately.

Make more videos

Could usually use your help on quoting and price for material I’m staring my own business it’s far from your state trust me but how can I reach out I would love to share this job I’m doing and get your advice coming from granite background and love this stuff but don’t know how to quote it so I think im missing it bad don’t know if the material cost if I’m getting good price granite has a large community for these things but solid surface not so much

@AndyGraves

6 ай бұрын

Olivemill@gmail.com

nice video but system only works on small seams what about on bigger seam ??

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

This will work on any length seam you just need a straight edge that's long enough.

Hi Andy, there is a large straight line crack on my kitchen countertop. By looks, it seems the joints connecting the L have opened up. People here want to rip me off saying the counter will have to be replaced. Any idea how cod the crack be filled and polished to disappear?

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

I have a video on how to fix a crack. It does not need to be removed, it can be repaired in place.

@mahendrakesari2029

2 жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves Thanks Andy, saw your video. Also shared it with a few contacts who call themselves experts. However, none seem to possess this skill in Singapore 😔😔.

@AndyGraves

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I hope the videos help.

@mahendrakesari2029

2 жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves the video was really helpful but finding an expert of your calibre is difficult here. Thank you so much and wishing you a very happy thanks giving week!

My problem is to sand glued seam It's always ends up with valley How you doing it to avoid that ?

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

You have to feathered the seam out quite a distance from the actual seam so that you don't see any dip or valley. Maybe I should make a video on how to sand the seam.

@BuiltByDesignKy

3 жыл бұрын

You can also use a router on a sled to rout away the extra epoxy at the seam and then sand (making sure to stay flat). That will help eliminate some sanding problems. Are you tilting the sander at angle to cheat the glue off? That will make the valley that you speak of. Stay flat the whole time.

Unless you're using a wavy bit, I don't understand propping up one piece of material. At least in my years of doing it, I have never had to offset one piece like that. Interesting.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

You don't have to, it just makes for a tighter joint at the leading edge. The angle is very slight.

@BuiltByDesignKy

3 жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves I understand. Seems like it could create a void in the seam that would create a weak spot. Not for us but glad it works for you guys.

@jimbaranski4687

Жыл бұрын

I could understand if the corian is upside down. This makes the seam slightly open on the bottom, and definitely closed on the bottom. You do the same thing with lots of trim cuts to make sure the visible top surface is closed. I’d actually want shims on both sides to make sure the bottom of the router bit clears the bottom of the corian.

Can this concept be used on a 66 inch seam?

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, it will work on any length seam.

Where can I buy this machine and track?

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

There are links in the description below.

@xiong7144

3 жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves My English is not good and I did not find the link. Can you write a link in the reply?

Any job vacancy i am work withyou

@AndyGraves

11 ай бұрын

No, sorry we don't

I haven't seen anyone prop up one of the sheets. Even dupont corian documentation doesn't say it to do it this way. I have seen granite seams made by propping up both edges to give a small 2 deg taper to the edge. Can you show us the edge view of the joint. Since one edge is 90deg the other is 89 deg there will be a gap on the edge.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

If you leave both pieces perfectly flat, when you cut the seam the top leading edge has a tough time closing 100%. By lifting up one side you create a tiny little bevel and then when you pull the two pieces together the top of the joint is perfect. We have been doing it like this for over 30 years and I've never had an issue with it. Give it a try on the next seam you do.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

I can't post pictures here in the comments, but I could send you a picture if you want to send you email to olivemill@gmail.com

@TristanJCumpole

3 жыл бұрын

It's a much lighter angle than you might imagine at first. Given a shim thickness of 2mm and that each half is say, 500mm wide then you end up with something like a 0,22° bevel. This works out to just under half a tenth of a mm back bevelling off 90°. More than enough to avoid hairline seaming on the surface but also far smaller on the back face than adhesive might ever need to reasonably fill. I didn't account for the sheets flexing parallel to the seam under their own weight during clamping in this calculation as this might increase the angle slightly (by "opening out" the gap) but really not by that much! I have to admit that I have never needed to use this video technique, however in theory it stands up and clearly it does so in practice also.

@AndyGraves

3 жыл бұрын

Well said. That's exactly what happens. We used to get hairline glue lines. Once we started back beveling it fixed the issue and we have had no issue with seam failure in over 25 years

@TristanJCumpole

3 жыл бұрын

@@AndyGraves I'm a woodworker by trade, picking up solid surface work over the last three years. Some concepts are transferable whilst others are unique to the material, that's for certain. I discovered your channel only today, and it's a mixture of confirming practice plus a few new ideas that I'd like to take to the table this week. Especially the corner coving router, which I believe I can machine from aluminium on CNC. It'll be an interesting alternative to stepped radius fillets.

Hi Corian designer white kitchen top. manufacturer made a mistake in measurements so my kitchen worktops are not equal in size. one side is one cm narrower. Manufacturer is saying that he cannot add a one cm piece to correct because the seam will show even with the left over pieces from the same cut since these would have changed colour through the years and they cannot round off the edge as is now. Am i being fed a load of BS

@AndyGraves

27 күн бұрын

Is it Corian Solid Surface Designer White material?