| Re: [GMCnet] new counter top [message #60083 is a reply to message #60080] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 12:53   |
Gary Worobec
Messages: 867
Registered: May 2005
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Here is my counter top horror story. I posted this back in February 07 so
everyone could take pity on me.
I did a solid surface top for my galley in my 23. Layed the 1/2" Meganite
(Corian clone)
material over top of 3/4 plywood. Rabetted out for the SS sink so it would
sit
between the plywood and the solid surface. I then did the cut outs for the
sink, the
3 burner rangetop and an outlet. The counter material was a wheat color and
I edged it with a blue corian material and then another layer of wheat color
so the edge was about 1 1/2". I then bull nosed it on the two exposed
edges. After like a week polishing with up to #2000 grit discs I installed
it. It
looked awesome. I must have had 40 hours in it.
Two weeks later I had a crack right from the corner of the
outlet box to the sink, and from the other corner of the outlet to the
corner of the cut out for the stove.
Here are the mistakes I made.
1. Should have used 3/4 MDF instead of plywood for the base.
It is more dimensionally stable under temperature changes and
does not warp. I think the plywood was constantly moving
which stressed the counter top. As well, the window for the 23 is right
above the counter and temperatures where I live can change from freezing to
100 plus inside the coach. Plastic solid surface is not very stable
dimensionally.
In a house with a very narrow temperature change from day to day it's fine.
2. Even though I radiused the corners of the outlet box
and the stove cut out I should have polished them to get
rid of the stress risers. Any kind of scratch will cause a crack.
I'll not put the outlet in the same location next time.
3. Should have "floated" the solid surface on the plywood
with silicone and not 3M 5200. Silicone has more flexibility.
I have another 4 sheets of material so I'm going to do another
top in a while.
It's a pretty fun project. You need good sharp router bits, an orbital
sander with discs from 400 to 2000 grit and Cycroacrylate glue both the
think and the thin.
Thanks,
Gary and Joanne Worobec
Anza, CA
1973 23' Glacier
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon" <wizwing@telus.net>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] new counter top
> Randy;
> My gosh, 2cm. Is your heritage showing or couldn't you find your REAL
> tape measure? Square feet and cm's has my calculator flashing red.
> Tre's complique'
> Gordon "hiding from the rain"
>
> rwbmitiopt wrote:
>>
>> I just went out and weighed a scrap of marble (maybe a bit lighter
>> than granite but not by much). It works out to 12.5 lbs per square
>> foot for 2cm thick material (common thickness for counter top)
>> Estimate the square footage of the counter top is 10 sq ft so total
>> weight is under 150 lbs. Randy
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