How to Smooth and Polish Scratched Corian Counter-tops before and after

Things to keep in mind
Deeper the scratch the more course the sandpaper will need to be.
Random orbital sander and variable speed buffer will yield way better results.
Using car compound may seem strange, but keep in mind it is basically an abrasive polish, and it tends to be very durable.

[@GroutReNew]

There is a pattern that our industry uses to polish stone which may be applied to Corian counters. Its left to right, right to left, up to down, down to up, and then left diagonal to right diagonal, lastly right diagonal to left diagonal. It takes alot of time to follow these steps but to avoid swirl marks, its worth it. Nice video.

[@gofgwoodworking]

Ok, I've been installing solid surface countertops since 1999. I'm certified for Corian, Staron, HiMac, and Formica. When the sheets arrive from the factory, they are covered by shrink wrap film, and they are a high gloss. When you begin the finishing process you actually dull it down, starting at 120 grit, removing all the defects. Then carefully working your way through increasingly finer grits until you reach the sheen you are looking for. This can go as high as 600 grit, and different 3M pads. When your solid surface top shows multiple scratches, it is due to polishing it from cleaning. You don't want a high sheen on the surface, it will show every scratch. Take it to just above a satin finish and just below a semi gloss and you will have a longer lasting finish. One more thing, don't wipe down your solid surface with papper towels, they are abrasive and will polish the surface, allowing the scratches to show more readily

[@Reviewsandmore]

These peices for the video were cut outs from the sinks that the previous owners used as cutting boards. The counters were in better shape and only needed a polish. So far no issues.

[@markworley1452]

Thank you, thank you and thank you. I would rather “how to” ion a minute that watch a 8 min. Video. Great info. Most of KZbin videos are too long and really could be covered in less than half the time. Five Stars to you.

[@Avecfort]

Do you polish it after this or just leave them like that? I've sanded mine down to 800 and thinking of putting my oscillating polisher on it and maybe finishing with some kind of wax?

[@gofgwoodworking]

@@Avecfort really you don't want to polish it to much, it will show every scratch

[@errcoche]

@@gofgwoodworking I have polished mine up ( before reading your comment ). I guess I will see how long it takes to degrade to where I feel the need to refinish it and decide if I want to take it back to a high polish. I bought the tools specifically to do this and it isn't that much work to do it every couple of years. It's tempting to polish it up because I want to see "results".

[@Suntan38]

I've had my Corian countertop for well over 15 yrs and it looks so dull and has scratches. I had no idea that it could be sanded or polished. Thank u so much for this video

[@Reviewsandmore]

i am happy it helps. DuPont's upkeep guide recommends using car compound when polishing, so have fun

[@garybates7021]

Great job on this. I wish all how-to’s were done this well.

[@sherlock1895]

I’ve enjoyed your video. I’m going to give my Corian a try. Being Corian it’s almost impossible to hurt it. Cheers!

[@Reviewsandmore]

You can do it!

[@larryhalverson7706]

Excellent. Simple and direct.

[@Reviewsandmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@austinroberson8]

Nice job. Thinking about getting quartz or Corian. Was looking into care for these solid surfaces when I ran across this video. I honestly wasn’t sure if or how easy these were to sand. Thanks for the video.

[@Reviewsandmore]

I did my whole kitchen not long after this video. I did not need to sand, since i had no deep gouges. I used car-compound (dupont recomended) and it had a mirror shine after using a harbor freight buffer. I was done in less than an hour with a large kitchen.

[@pj-light-glass]

That helps and confirmed what I figured I could do. I already have everything to do this. 🙂

[@Reviewsandmore]

After I made this video I did my whole kitchen. no need for the sanding, just used car compound to get it to a good polish.

[@infomercialguy]

wow. that was so darn helpful

[@suzannegolden9171]

Hey, I was excited about following these directions. For some reason, my countertops turned out really dull.

[@Reviewsandmore]

did you use car compound with a buffer?

[@NativeSD53]

Have you done any similar videos with Black Corian. I suspect Black is the most unforgiving when it comes to finishing.

[@hookc1c]

Excellent video!

[@Reviewsandmore]

Thank you very much!

[@Mr.BalboaYT]

Also can you use diamond grit pads, the same as you would use on marble. And can you use a 5x export powder compound

[@infomercialguy]

question....(great video by the way!!) is turtle wax rubbing compound the same as the car compound you used? i want to do it just like you. thanks. lmk. and, once again, GREAT WORK that was soooo helpful. also, do you think 400 grit and then 600 grit it "too" shiny? what is the highest grit you would go to??? thanks!!

[@Reviewsandmore]

any car compound will work as long as it is just a compound and no polish is included in the formula. As far as the sand paper goes, I actually skipped it completly when I did my whole kitchen (did not film that sorry) I would only sand if you have some really deep gouges. Keep in mind the sections I used in the video were used as improvised cutting boards so they had some pretty deep (non-typical) scratches.

[@infomercialguy]

@@Reviewsandmore thanks bunches. Interesting about sandpaper. I will do an area with 400 or 600 grit just to see what it does . Thanks. So turtle wax rubbing compound is what I bought. I have zero idea if that has polish in it. Do you know? Maybe I will just get ultimate mcquires like you used.

[@stephenfunk7097]

Can you use a rectangular vibratiion sander, the kind that takes 1/3 of a sheet?

[@Reviewsandmore]

random orbital will be more even, but you can use a rectangle one if it is all you have.

[@Gate3739]

thanks good video

[@starlingshan4201]

Nice video and great demonstration! We have a Corian counter top too. I wonder how often can you sand/polish it? It gets scratches fairly easily

[@Reviewsandmore]

polish, as much as you want (in theory)...sanding I would say one or two times before you may be causes more damage to the surface than what you fix.

[@Logan.Ninefingers]

I'm advised to start at 240, the 400, then ultra fine grey scotchbrite

[@mikevanderschaaf7166]

240, 320, the 400 is recommended. The extra step makes it easier.

[@samehbasily3041]

How can i fix corian sheet to sheet metal 6mm in vertical position all the sheet 12mm weight 80 kg nearly

[@HenschelFamily]

Hey there. Thanks for the great video. Two questions - first, can I use a drill with a pad for the polishing step of the process? Does it have a high enough rpm? Also, I’m having a hard time finding the right buffer pad. Could you recommend the best option?

[@Reviewsandmore]

Drill pad would be fine for polishing.l, but not for sanding (swirls) ..the pad I used was a super cheap one from harbor freight

[@anitaaustin7237]

Good simple explanation 👏 will try. Do you recommend a sealant?

[@Reviewsandmore]

The guide from Dupont does not mention one.

[@mikevanderschaaf7166]

No you do not need a sealant and Dupont recommends that you do not use one.

[@PilotVBall]

Thank you!

[@Reviewsandmore]

You are welcome

[@emilywong4064]

I heard Corian is more easily to clean compare Marble and Granite especially with stain. Does Corian have colors white & gray with vein like engineer marble.

[@Reviewsandmore]

I am not sure, BUT here is the big flaw to corian. It can be damaged/burned by heat. so if you accidentally put a hot pan or bot on the corian you can cause real and visible damage.

[@AaronMCook]

But what clear coat sealer is used? I have dings and gouges and ither urethane goops and bumps. I need to sand and reseal… not polish.

[@mikevanderschaaf7166]

you should not be using a sealer on it. the finish is achieved through sanding/finishing

[@oliveramar6220]

Nice

[@benjhafner6215]

How long/many times do you used the boards? Would you take corian again?

[@Reviewsandmore]

Those boards, came with the house. Based on the age of the counter tops they are about 10 years old...give or take....they were used as cutting boards by us and the previous owners....My wife hates the color of the countertops, but the corian as a material is not bad. If we had the money to replace them we would probably go with glass though.

[@Mr.BalboaYT]

Can you use a marble compound in substitute to car compound?

[@Reviewsandmore]

I used car compound, bc that is what is recommended in the instructions from Dupont

[@godofthebiblespeaks3188]

Is the wax you used food safe? Thanks for the video.

[@Reviewsandmore]

its a rubbing compound, most would not be considered food safe. However, even hopes products are not really food safe. But this is not really a prep surface for food. The only exception might be for baking which may involve laying down some flower and kneading some dough....the rubbing compound is just one method...you can use hopes in the same way and produce similar results. I used it as a cutting board not too long ago...I am still here.

[@Reviewsandmore]

follow up this is from the people at Dupont who make this kind of countertop www.corian.com/IMG/pdf/k-25298-finishing-and-polishing.pdf For high gloss the specifically mention automotive cutting compound (rubbing compound)

[@billzziv6859]

Would you use the same process to sand out small chips, and stains in a corian sink?

[@Reviewsandmore]

We have a corian sink. Stains are usually taken care of with bleach. Chips are another matter. It is very hard to smooth away a corian chip without also damaging the counter as a whole. It may be possible to use some kind of two stage poly filler that will be hard enough, but matching the color will be difficult.

[@blakewill1933]

I have sanded out my Corian sink many times. You can do it manually by hand or with a power sander with a foam pad- which is easier. If there are deep chips and scratches start with 150 grit, then 220, then 320, 400, 600 is normally good enough for a sink. Polish with a buffing pad and I have used regular auto compound polish. Use wet dry/ wet paper and a spray bottle keep the dust down. If you have all the stuff it takes about 15 min.

[@richardmanikowski5947]

I'm having a very hard time with swirl marks, I stop at 220 and still see swirls on dark colored Corian. I have been working with Solid Surface for years now, but still have this issue. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[@Reviewsandmore]

do you finish off with car compound?

[@larryhalverson7706]

Dark colors are the worst. Go to finer grits 400 thru 600.

[@richardmanikowski5947]

We used to go that far, we stopped because my boss wanted a less glossy look. I will try it.

[@larryhalverson7706]

@@richardmanikowski5947 it's not what the boss wants. But customer.

[@randybobandy9828]

Polish doesnt fill gaps it removes them, waxes fill gaps.

[@Reviewsandmore]

you are correct. and the car compound that dupont recomends for use on corian countertops is basically an abrasive polish

[@benedicttaylor3034]

Car polish on corian???? Why

[@mikevanderschaaf7166]

it is only recommend for high gloss finishes. normal finishes do not require that.

[@mjremy2605]

8:09 - COARSE, not COURSE. COARSE sandpaper is rough. A Physics COURSE is tough.

[@RealBlueLady]

Still see scratches.

[@Reviewsandmore]

the surfaces I used were used as cutting boards, way beyond standard use for these types of countertops. I could have gone with a more course sand paper and had better results, but I wanted to show improvement perfection was not the goal.

[@trinitytermitepestinspecti7804]

when I saw the Harbor Freight sander I stopped watching. Sorry

[@sallyyouhoo2710]

Please take a breath- talking too fast

[@Reviewsandmore]

Iwilltakeyourcritiqeunderadvisement

[@redlady222]

You can change it yourself in settings (upper right corner).

[@sissyziech9485]

@@Reviewsandmoreeverybodyacritic 😁 👆 I thank you for your time and effort, the transformation is striking!

[@johnpolvere2941]

I appreciate the speed of the info , though some reviewers do not . I don’t have all day to watch videos thanks

[@danielhubbard6243]

That does not look good at all , plenty of scratches still in it ....

[@Reviewsandmore]

The previous owner of the home used them as cutting boards. They had deep scratches and gouges in them, much worse than one would expect during normal use. Most likely f the "everyday" scratches came right out and the end result had a much better finish

[@timduppstadt2288]

Don’t use car compound ffs. To get it shiny all you need to do is go through these steps. 100/150/30 micron/15 micron the a rag. This guy is gonna have you doing unnecessary stuff

[@Reviewsandmore]

Followed Duponts instructions

[@richardc8129]

Too wordy.

[@Reviewsandmore]

I agree....

[@robertyue7017]

Amateur hour, should have started with a rougher grit from the beginning. That is the way to get the scratches out.

[@Reviewsandmore]

It was a demonstration.....on a section of corian that was used as a cutting board....your counters should not have scratches as deep as these

[@johnt186]

It's easy to criticize, some even get pleasure from it.

[@q-r6]

Complete fail.

[@Reviewsandmore]

This was done with a two damaged samples of corian (the cut outs for my sink area) they were used as cutting boards for years by the previous home owners. The finished product on my the countertops looks great. I can see the tile reflected in the finished product.