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Avonite Surfaces Fabrication Guide PDF
DESIGNING AND FABRICATING WITH
AVONITE SURFACES STUDIO COLLECTION
GLASS SERIES
The unique translucent quality of Avonite Surfaces
Glass products allows you to exercise a great deal of
creativity. For this reason, it is expected that there will
be many new applications that will produce
unanticipated effects. By all means experiment, be
creative, and consult with us as you have questions.
However, always make sure that the end result will meet
your expectations and those of your client by doing a
test piece to demonstrate the effect you are trying to
achieve. Should you develop special techniques for
dealing with new applications, please give our Technical
Services department a call at 800.866.8324
For good results, we recommend the following guidelines:
The Nature of Avonite Surfaces Studio Collection
Glass Series
Keep in mind that dabs of silicone, supports, and
under-mount sink flanges will show through these
products like any typical glass. When the products are
laminated together for a thicker appearance, such as a
drop edge or seam block, they will appear darker due
to reduced light transmission. These special effects
can be worked into the design for a unique aesthetic
effect or application. Thermoforming of Avonite
Surfaces Studio Collection Glass products is not
recommended.
When Glass products are chosen for more typical
applications, where less transparency is desired, the
backsides of the finished top can be painted to hide
any supports. We have found that most customers
prefer the brighter appearance when the backsides
are painted white. The color you choose will affect the
final appearance. Frosted glass offers unique
opportunities for painting the back different colors to
achieve custom hues that transmit through the sheet.
Painting should be done after fabrication to avoid
painting any surface where Solid Surface Adhesive will
be applied (field seams, build up, etc):
Seam Blocks
Due to the translucency of the glass products, on some
occasions the clear acrylic seam-blocks are noticeable.
Therefore Avonite Surfaces has decided on the
following procedure for seams in the GLASS series.
The edges of the seams should be routed with the
Pinske Wavy Bit System. This allows for added glue
area & helps to align the surface better. After glue
has dried, sand seam, flip sheet and do remaining
fabrication, edge build up, sinks etc. Clean up excess
glue before it dries. Then paint the back of the sheet
with a flat latex paint (WHITE). After the paint has
thoroughly dried, attach the substrate. In the area
where the seam is put a 4" wide piece of the
substrate to act as a seam block using extra silicone.
For field seams, prepare edges as above, but stop
substrate 2" from each edge of the seam and apply
the 4" wide substrate "seam block" and attach when
making the field seam.
If there are seams in a top that is to be backlit, run
a full sheet of 1/2" clear acrylic under the top being
sure to cover the seam. Do not glue a seperate 4"
piece of the clear acrylic under the seam.
Backlit Applications
For backlit applications, you may use clear
1/2"(12.7mm) acrylic to support larger spans. Using the
1/2" (12.7mm) clear acrylic sheet as a solid substrate is
recommended. The clear acrylic will not appear when
lit. Counters must be supported every 24" (61.2cm)
Frosted or white acrylic may be used to diffuse the light
source. When adhering the Avonite Surfaces glass
product to the acrylic, we recommend 100% silicone
containing a matching translucent tint, such as Axiom
Sealants (Buffalo, NY 14215, phone: 716.894.1561 or
email at thiemkeent@juno.com), or equivalent. Another
method uses 3M VHB Clear Acrylic double side tape
#4910 90065 287 N. Always test a small piece to judge
appearance. Backlit Applications that require deck
seams or have unsupported spans will require special
consideration. Please call Avonite Surfaces Technical
Services (800.866.TECH [8324]) as you have questions.
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