[Jim Gilman]

Hi all!

Recently found your site and have enjoyed the wealth of nowledge that everybody here shares here. I fabricate Swanstone material and am very happy with it as far as cost, durability and ease of fabrication. My question is why have I not seen it mentioned here yet? It is 1/2″ material and is fabricated in the same manor. Am I missing something? I will be bringing in HiMacs in a few weeks, any thoughts on that?

Thanks for your input.

[Shane Barker]

Welcome Jim,

I have never worked with Swanstone and don’t suppose I ever will. I have talked to people that have and I have never received and positive feedback. I personally have only seen the ¼ material that was bonded to particle board and saw first hand all the problems they had. I would be very interested is hearing how you compare Swanstone to the Hi-Macs product if you start using it.

Shane

[Andy Graves]

We don’t do Swanstone but there is nothing wrong with it. I think usually you hear people talking about what they know and that is typically the larger companies. That doesn’t mean that the other manufacturers don’t have a quality product.

I think your comments speak for the product pretty well.

Thanks for participating

[Jim Gilman]

Thanks for your reply.

I have been working with it for almost 2 years. I have heard that they had a lot of problems with the 1/4″ material and have seen a few. One fabricator I spoke to basically said that if it wasn’t done exactly the way manufacturer specified you would have problems. Probably why they went to the thicker material. Any way I do have an oven test scheduled for some of the different manufacturers in our showroom. I’ll let you know how it goes.

[Reuben Hoff III]

Jim,

Welcome to the site. I also fabricate with Swanstone I have naot had any issues with the 1/4″ material , but did not cur any fab corners and left plenty of room for expansion to seam areas. I have recently switched over to the .400 material ( not quite 1/2″) so we can do eveything all the same. The main problem that I have ran into is stock at distributor and then turn around times from factory to us can take up to 4 weeks. The other thing is color selection and our customers have liked the other solid surface colors better, however if there is a color they like normally the will choose it over the others. Also I have started liking less dust issues with other solid surface materials. I do say it is still a good product and not bad to work with. Good luck Jim be interesting to hear about your test.

Reuben

[Reuben Hoff III]

One thing I forgot to mention is be prepared to change some of your fab techniques as for as finishing and bit you use. you will notice differences in look and workability from swan to other solid surfaces.

Good luck

Reuben

[Jim Gilman]

Thanks Reuben

I can see just from the HiMac samples that I won’t be limited to a matte finish so I’m looking forward to doing more polished surfaces. So far for seaming I use a 1/2″ shank spiral downcut bit and for cutting out moulded sinks a serrated titanium coated bit. I would appreciate any recommendations. I kind of put myself into a position where I sold A job with HiMacs before ever working with it but thats how I learned the first time around. Also, and this is kind of a rookie question but then again I am kind of a rookie, can I use a Swanstone sink with other solid surfaces?

[Norm Walters]

You can use different manufacturer’s sinks but you won’t have a warranty with either as far as the sink goes. I’ve done it myself because I prefer a certain manufacturer’s sink. If there is ever a problem though it will be 100% my problem, if you are comfortable with that go for it.

[Mory Ludwick]

Reuben,

Check with your manufacturer first. We use alot of different sinks in different manufacturers products. We also have their permission. Our company recently has become certified with several manufacturers for warranty work. Most manufacturers do not make their sinks. That is why the sink carries a separate warranty from the countertop.

Mory

[Reuben Hoff III]

Jim,

You can use others sinks with other products like Norm said your baby with warranty. Mory is correct also in checking with your distributors first to get their approval first I have found that most will let you, however you mention Swanstone and the stop and say I wouldn’t recomend it. After thinking about it I would agree the composition of the material is different enough I would not trust the seam in the long run.

When it comes to the bits for your sink I am assuming your are using Swans A bit the one that is gold and has all the little triangles. If this is the case you will not use it on your Hi -Macs. If you want more info you can e mail your phone etc. to hoffstops@cozadtel.net and I can answer any of your questions the best I can.

Reuben

[Reuben Hoff III]

That should be hoffstops@cozadtel.net

[KCWOOD]

Should I know what “an oven test is”?

[Jim Gilman]

Thanks for the comments. I assumed that you could use their sinks. I have had great luck with them, they seem pretty durable.The oven test will consist of my old oven in the basement and a handfull of samples (just because).

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