My first pen using Corian

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NGLJ

NGLJ

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2021
Messages
336
Location
Surrey BC, Canada
I have wanted to try turning Corian for some time but coming across it in my neck of the woods in a small enough quantity that I don't have to "buy the farm" doesn't seem to be easy. I even tried several countertop installers to see if they had offcuts. The answer I got was, "we used to carry Corian but it is no longer popular". Then I got lucky because when visiting a custom woodworking shop that was closing down, along with some very nice hardwoods there was offcuts of Corian. The selection wasn't great and the pieces were small but the price was really good - free! You don't need much to make a pen. Up to this point I had given no thought about thickness. At ½" I had not attempted turning anything that "thin" before. So, it became a first-time dual exercise, tuning a pen in ½" Corian. I had thought about gluing some together to make a lamination but I have no gluing epoxy at the moment. When I do I will attempt a Sierra style pen. To further add to the challenge I chose a kit that requires drilling an 8mm hole for the tube, leaving only 2.35 mm turning material. The kit is a Snap Cap rollerball pen kit in gold with black Corian. Please see attached.
 

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I love turning Corian. Mostly I have used the sample squares from closed businesses (2"x2"x1/2" - I think). They work well with modified slimlines.
 
I have made several pens from corian, if you need a thicker blank you can glue 2 pieces together with medium CA glue. To glue 2 pieces together you need to scuff up the surfaces with sand paper just like you do the tubes, just be sure that once you get the pieces ready to glue, put the glue on one piece and then place the other piece on top and hold them together and then you can clamp them together. They will bond together real fast. I glue dull side to dull side. Hope that this helps.
 
Oh, nice pen, I love those little editor pens. Women like them because they can easily carry them in their purses. I made one for myself a little longer to accept a roller ball refill, and made it out of deed antler.
 
Regarding Corian, make contact with contractors who do kitchen and bath remodeling. They might give you pieces from remodel jobs.
 
keithlong said:
I have made several pens from corian, if you need a thicker blank you can glue 2 pieces together with medium CA glue. To glue 2 pieces together you need to scuff up the surfaces with sand paper just like you do the tubes, just be sure that once you get the pieces ready to glue, put the glue on one piece and then place the other piece on top and hold them together and then you can clamp them together. They will bond together real fast. I glue dull side to dull side. Hope that this helps.
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Thanks, I will give CA a try. In the finished pen do you see where the 2 pieces have joined or does that disappear with finishing?
 
If you clamp them together you cannot see the seam. There are some corian that is 3/4 inches thick, however I never had any luck finding any.
 
Though obviously not as good as free, you can get residential samples of Corian directly from the manufacturer. A 10"x10"x3/4" block is $28.50 plus shipping. Actually, surprisingly good pricing given that that is equivalent to 8-9 kitless blanks or 16-18 blanks for kit pens.
Here's the link.
 
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