Corian fumes...need help

[miamw]

My daughter brought a project home from her woodworking class at school. She's making a lovely clock. My question is....are the fumes from working on Corian toxic? I never worked on Corian since I'm still new to this, but she is much more experienced than I and the fumes are worrying me. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Gill]

Hi Mia

According to the Corian manufacturers safety data sheet, it's an inert substance and the fumes aren't toxic. However, the dust can be an irritant so a half-face respirator with type N100 filter should be worn when cutting.

Gill

Also... if I may add. Corian works just like wood, except you don't have to worry about grain. Use any machine as you would.. wood.

[GrayBeard Phil]

Please don't jump into a Corian project without a test cut. (or Nairoc, which is the correct generic term as Corian is a specific registered brand trademark of DuPont Corporation. Nairoc is Corian spelled backwards. Few people use the term nairoc.)

Make a test cut on scrap material first to see how your saw will perform. Melt back in the kerf behind blade (which causes closing the kerf) is not uncommon for your first time cutting. It is very important not to have any sideways pressure on the material; in wood sideways presure will cause burning, here it will almost ruin your project with melt back.

The material is fussy on how it is cut. The name of the game is low heat build up on the blade. Biggest culprit on heat generation is the material chip (Corian-Dust??) that was cut in the kerf and is not being removed, but held next to the blade in the kerf. This causes friction, thus heat.

I, and quite a few other members of this forum, recommend the FD Polar blade for Corian because:
- Stays sharp, and a sharp blade will cut the material which means the chips can be blown away by your air system easier. Very hard steel.

- Large gullets between the teeth so cut material can removed from kerf easier on bottom and top of project.

- Personal opinion (-as in I have no proof-) but I think the hook angle of the teeth on FD polar blade may be slightly more than the other FD blades. That means the each tooth forms a very slightly bigger hook.

Bottom line, try a small scrap piece of nairoc first.

Phil

PS: I am sure other makers of blades have a counterpart to the FD polar blade. I am just un-aware of the specific blade brands and types that are as successful in cutting Corian, so I could not recommend them.

[FRETDUST]

Hi Mia
Make sure to slow your speed down on your saw when you cut the Corian. I bought my blades from Barry Grossman who does alot with Corian. Hope this helps you out. Have fun with it. I really enjoy working with it.

Steve