Taking a Shine to Well-Worn Formica
Question: Because of misuse and haphazardness, we have removed the shiny finish from parts of our Formica kitchen counter. The counter is still in good condition, but we’d like to know if we can restore the original finish.
Answer: Unfortunately, there is no way to restore the shiny finish. The laminate is formed under heat and high pressure--conditions that are impossible to duplicate in the home. Once abraded, the finish can’t be restored. You can, however, resurface the counter top with new laminate, provided the existing laminate is sound, well-bonded and does not have deep texture.
You can call the Formica Corp. at (800) 367-6422 for an instructional sheet on resurfacing laminated assemblies.
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Q: I am interested in making a kitchen counter top using DuPont Corian. Are there any special considerations in working with this material? I’ve heard that Corian is so hard that you need to use diamond-tipped tools to cut it.
A: DuPont Corian is a rock-like material made with acrylic polymer and minerals. It’s sold in sheets and can substitute for ivory, granite or other substances in craft and furniture projects.
If you’re interested in working with this versatile material, DuPont has a free brochure that offers concise and specific information on how to cut, shape, sand, drill and fasten Corian. And we do mean specific information. Approximately 1 1/4 pages of the 12-page guide are devoted to using adhesive. Also, you learn that although you don’t need diamond-tipped tools to cut this stuff, it’s tough enough that you need carbide blades and tools of sufficient amperage. For example, the company recommends using 10-amp or larger circular saws.
Corian is available in one-quarter, one-half and three-quarter-inch thicknesses in a variety of sizes. It’s difficult to identify an accurate square-foot cost because the material is available in a wide range of sizes, colors and patterns. To give you a rough idea, however, one of two retailers for the material said a 1-foot-square sheet costs from $12 to $24, depending on thickness and pattern, plus $5 for shipping.
To get the brochure, write DuPont Corian, P.O. Box 80702, Wilmington, DE 19880.
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Q: I modernized one of my bathrooms and installed a 1.6-gallon Kohler toilet. The toilet does not dispose of solid waste properly and often requires two or three flushes. What can I do to alleviate this?
A: The first thing you should check is that the flush valve is properly adjusted. Although there may be an adequate amount of water in the tank, if the flush valve is improperly set, the correct amount of water will not flow into the bowl.
The bowl’s installation instructions give information on the proper setting. If you try altering the flush valve setting and this does not help, contact the company’s customer service department: Kohler Co., 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI 53044.
To submit a question, write to Popular Mechanics, Reader Service Bureau, 224 W. 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10019.