What I Learned at the Stone Expo in Las Vegas

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Tom Robinson
D802 front high def

New Eclipse Stainless D802 sink

Trade shows are always great because you get to see so many new things in a short period of time. Among the things I learned are:

  • If you go to a trade show make sure you have what my mother called “sensible shoes.”There is a lot of walking.
  • There is a lot of beautiful granite, marble and other stone available.
  • The Stone Fabricators Alliance – a trade organization – continually amazes me on the amount of knowledge and information (trade secrets) their members are willing to share.
  • The tariff on Chinese stainless steel drawn bowl sinks has caused a lot of confusion in the sink market. Even suppliers are confused.
  • Many suppliers have gone to cheaper 301 commercial grade stainless steel to hold down the prices. We have suspected for a long time the unbranded and uncertified sinks were lower grade. Now even some of the nationally recognized brands are going to lower priced steel. 301 grade stainless has less Chromium – 16% rather than 18% – and less nickel – 6% rather than 8%.  The less expensive steel will not rust but the lower chromium content will mean it will be duller and not have the luster consumers want in a product in their kitchen. Nickel hardens the finish so lower nickel means  a softer finish.

ANO, Inc and Eclipse Stainless will be at the Kitchen and Bath Industry show in April in New Orleans and the Coverings show in late April and Early May in Atlanta where we will present our Seminar “A Sales Seminar for Business Owners Who Hate Sales.”

Posted in Certified Sinks, Stainless Sinks, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What I Learned at the Stone Expo in Las Vegas

Stainless Steel Sinks Scratch!

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Tom Robinson

If the sales person who sold you a stainless steel sink with your countertop told you that your stainless steel sink would not scratch then they were mistaken. They may not be lying because many are misinformed themselves. Stainless steel sinks will scratch particularly if you have heavy pots or pans that you use regularly.

So what can you do?

Ecliipse Sink Grid (Grate)

Ecliipse Sink Grid (Grate)

If you purchased a sink with a mirror or matte finish there is little you can do to repair the sink. If your sink has a brushed finish there are several things you can do.

You can prevent most scratches by using a set of high quality grates (sometimes called grids or grills.) Eclipse and most sink manufacturers make grates that are made specifically for their sinks. Having poorly fitting grates can cause more problems than they solve.

Once you have scratches, what do you do? On a high quality sink like Eclipse you can remove the scratches. We have found that the best product to use is a product called Scratch Away. If used as directed it will remove most scratches. The application involves wetting the scratched area, applying a polishing agent in the form of a white liquid,  then sanding out the scratches with a series of pads that go from course to fine.

Warning; it works well on high quality sinks with a brushed finish but will not work on mirror or matte finish. If you have a poor quality sink removing the scratches may cause a bright spot and while it might hide the scratches the bright spot might be worse than the scratches.

Some tradesmen use steel wool or even grinding wheels to remove scratches. These methods work but be careful of a couple of downsides. Steel wool or metal grinding wheels can leave metal dust that once it gets wet can rust and leave marks – see previous article. Power tools can also wear away more steel than desirable and cause an indentation.

A note on brushed finish, it is better to have a sink that is brushed from front to back on the bottom.  When you throw silverware into the sink the scratches tend to be front to back and the brushing will hide those minor scratches.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Stainless Steel Sinks Scratch!

Call for Help. “Rust in my sink?”

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Kitchen-Sink_20071128_1193I received an email last week from someone who found my email address on the ANO/Eclipse Stainless Blog.

The problem: He said he had rust in pin points on his sink. He told me that his contractor used an unidentified white powder to remove the spots but they came back. He also said he has a number of scratches in the sink. I asked him what kind of finish he had and he replied a sating finish.

The diagnosis and fix: small pin points of rust can come from a number of sources. At first I suspected the cause was “metal dust” left over from the manufacturing and fabrication process. During the manufacturing of the sink and the fabrication of the countertop there are a lot of processes that involve grinding, sawing and polishing. These processes produce metal dust from saw blades and grinders. This dust can settle on the sink and be unnoticed until the sink is used and the metal dust is exposed to  water. The metal dust then rusts and shows up as pin points. If this is the cause a good cleaning by Barkeepers Friend or similar cleanser normal removes the spots. Spots from metal dust do not return.

Another cause of rust spots is the water supply. If water with a high iron content is left in the sink to dry it can leave behind residue. Usually these spots are larger than just pin points. Rust spots from this source can also be cleaned with a stainless steel cleanser. They will return unless the iron is removed from the water supply. It helps to dry the sink after every use. Rust from water supply will tend to reappear in a different place in the sink each time.

Rust can also come from metal objects left in a wet sink. It is not the sink that is rusting but the metal object; can, screwdriver, screws, etc.   This is surface rust and can usually be easily removed. It will only reappear if the source of the rust was not removed.

Stainless steel sinks should not rust.  Stainless steel is defined as 11% chromium and will not rust (it can stain, however.) Stainless steel sinks at typically made with 18% chromium. There can be iron impurities in the stainless steel that rust. These impurities will continue to rust and the sink needs to be replace.

I have also seen some of the older three piece sinks rust where the bowl meets the top plate where they are welded together. It is the weld not the stainless steel that is rusting. These sinks need to be replaced as well.

Unfortunately if you need to replace a sink you usually need to replace it with the same brand sink as most manufacturers have a unique cut out in the top for the sink. It is better to make sure you have a high quality sink in your top.

In the next article we will discuss scratches in stainless steel sinks.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Call for Help. “Rust in my sink?”

Cartridges for Eclipse Stainless Faucets

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Tom Robinson

A cartridge is a the part of the faucet that turns the faucet off and on and mixes hot and cold water. It is the primary moving part on the faucet so if something is to go wrong it is often the cartridge. Eclipse Stainless faucets are constructed with a high quality ceramic cartridge. Eclipse has parts in all three warehouses; California, Illinois and North Carolina.  Call your Eclipse representative if you have any issue with a faucet. If you send an email to [email protected] with the model of the faucet, when you purchased it, the problem and your address and we will forward it to the correct rep.

In late 2008 Eclipse made a part change on the cartridge. If you have an older faucet the cartridge may not be compatible with the new cartridge. You can identify the old cartridge because it has a blue base. The newer models have a white base. The three pictures attached to the article show the cartridge, the bottom of the old and the bottom of the new cartridge. It is easy to see the differences on the bottom.

Picture of Cartridge

Picture of Cartridge

Old Cartridge

Old Cartridge

New Cartridge

New Cartridge

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cartridges for Eclipse Stainless Faucets

Tips on Selecting a Countertop Color

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Most countertops will last a very long time so it is important you pick the right color and contractor. If it is not right the first time it will be very costly to change.  In this article we will discuss how to select the right color countertop.

  1. Light colors will make the room seem bigger.
  2. Light neutral colors can be more adaptable to change. With white or another neutral color you can change the color and feel of the room by changing accessories and paint.
  3. Matching colors to dark cabinets may be effective but can shrink the room particularly if the floors, walls or ceilings are dark.
  4. A dark countertop with white or very light color cabinets, floors and wall can offer a dramatic contrast and a very contemporary feel.
  5. Most people consider the countertop as the center of the kitchen so selecting a color that is too neutral can make the kitchen feel plain and ordinary which is probably not what you are trying to accomplish with your remodeling.
  6. Are you adventurous? Do you need the top to look just like the sample or are you willing to try granite tops with a lot of movement? Some granites with a lot of movement can be very dramatic but using these slabs takes imagination and courage.
  7. If you want a uniform color you can select a more uniform granite or one of the manufactured surfaces like quartz or even a laminate.
  8. The countertop is not just a decoration it is first and foremost a work surface. Make sure the material you select will hold up. Granite is great but can be porous so you need to seal it. There are a number of great sealers on the market. Some surfaces, even stone surfaces, are soft or subject to damage such as marble, soap stone and travertine. These can be used for dramatic effect but you need to understand the limitations.
  9. If you are using a natural stone make sure that you personally see all the slabs before they are used in your kitchen. Make sure they are from the same lot number which means they are quarried together and the color match will be the best. Avoid slabs that are marked commercial grade or similar grades. These will usually not have the dramatic color premium  residential slabs may have. Commercial grade slabs may also have carbon spots or other undesirable defects.  Slabs may have the same color name but can be far different in quality. Dramatic countertops may be exactly what you want but make sure they are not so unusual you will have trouble selling your home.
  10. Countertops are expensive so make sure you get one you love not one you are just settling for because it is a few dollars cheaper.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Tips on Selecting a Countertop Color

Ten Tips to Make Your Kitchen Seem Bigger

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Tom Robinson
  1. Use light colors on walls and cabinets. White cabinets, light color on counter tops and light appliances will all make room feel bigger particularly if they are all the same or very similar color.
  2. The floor is like another wall so making it light and coordinate with walls, counters andKitchen Area cabinets will make room feel bigger.
  3. Limit the number of small appliances and clutter on the countertops  and wall hangings. If you do pictures use one large print rather than a number of smaller ones.
  4. Kitchens without soffits above the cabinets will the kitchen feel bigger but do not stuff cabinet tops with decorative accessories or you lose the advantage of open top.
  5. Proper lighting is critical. If a lot of natural light is not available you need to create it with under cabinet lighting, ceiling lights, track lighting or can lighting.  Even Skylights if possible.
  6. Consider the island. If the kitchen is small an island will make it feel even smaller.
  7. Do not use a larger kitchen table than necessary to fit your family. A large table will make room feel smaller. If you occasionally need more room consider a table where you expand the table for those times. When you select chairs select chairs with lower backs. Very high back chairs can make the ceiling feel lower and room smaller. Chairs without arms and a  glass top table can also make the room feel more open.
  8. If you have an open wall add a mirror to expand the feel of the room.
  9. If you have windows do not install coverings window covering such as drapes. Blinds or shades reduce light and bring the walls in closer. If you must install window covering make them the color of the walls to avoid contrast.
  10. The best way to make the kitchen feel bigger is to open it up to adjoining rooms such as family room.  You will need to coordinate the color schemes of both rooms but if you use the same techniques it will make both areas seem larger. It works best of the same flooring continues through both areas. If you must change flooring keep them in same color range.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ten Tips to Make Your Kitchen Seem Bigger

Traditional Foods for the New Years

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Tom Robinson

If you are looking to spice up your menu for New Years Eve here is a list of some New Year’s food traditions.baby new year

Dutch eat pork and sauerkraut for good luck. Some say this is because pigs cannot walk backward.

Many Asia Cultures eat long noodles for longer life.

Cubans eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight one for each month of the past year.

Germans , Polish and in the Scandinavian countries they eat herring.

In the Southern US some eat black eyed peas on New Year’s eve as well as greens like cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, spinach to bring you money in the New Year. If those are not appealing then another Southern tradition is cornbread which is said to be the color of gold.

In Italy it is green lentils with sausage.

In the Philippines the tradition is to have food on the table at midnight to assure there will be food in the New Year. They also believe eating 13 (lucky number) round fruits is lucky.

In Denmark they eat boiled cod.

In Turkey they eat pomegranates because they are the color of the heart which means life, fertility and health.

Did you find anything appealing for your New Year’s Eve party? Which of these traditional foods go with Champaign?

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Traditional Foods for the New Years

Unusual Christmas Cookies

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Tom Robinson

On this just a few days before Christmas I thought it would be fun to look at some unusual Christmas Cookies that people have dreamed up. Each of the pictures has a hyperlink to the website where I found the creations.

dinasaur

Killer Dinosaur

 

melted-snowman-cookie-3sharpcrop

mouth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gingerdead-Man-Cookie-Cutter_large

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Unusual Christmas Cookies

What is a Composite Granite Sink?

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Tom Robinson

A composite granite sink is a sink manufactured for residential use that is a mix of granite (quartz) and resin, usually acrylic, to product a sink with color. They can be a beautiful part of your new kitchen.

There are a number of sinks on the market being sold as composite granite. The amount of granite and the amount of the acrylic in the mix varies by manufacturer from 70% to 80% granite or quartz by weight. The fact that the percentage is by weight makes them much lighter than if they were solid granite. Composite sinks are also uniform solid color and will not match the grain or pattern in granite or other countertops.

These sinks have developed quickly with a number of manufacturers jumped into the market, both known brands and cheap look-a-likes.

There are several problems with these sinks that have come to light. They are rigid and easily damaged in shipping particularly when boxed and shipped individually. Much of this issue has been addressed recently through advances in packaging.  Some of the brands have trouble with fading due to RV rays from the sun. This is particularly apparent in the darker colors such as black. The sink will look dull or even dusty over time. We have heard reports of staining on the lighter colors in some brands and just recently one of our customers reported they as seeing spalling on the bottoms of older sinks.

If you decide that a composite granite sink is for you select one from a source you trust to avoid future issues.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What is a Composite Granite Sink?

Electric Stove vs. Gas Stove

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Tom Robinson

The debate Electric Stove vs. Gas Stove is not new.  Here is a list of pros and cons of each. Source of list.

Electric Ranges

Pros:

  1. Less expensive to buy and install. Simply plug into the wall and you’re ready to
    cook.
  2. Easier to clean burners and surfaces.
  3. Smooth-top electric ranges are more stable for pots and offer additional counter or storage space when not in use.
  4. Instantly turns on and off every time with the twist of a knob versus gas ranges that may sputter to catch a flame, emitting unburned and potentially hazardous gas. No igniter or lighter necessary.
  5. More functions, such as additional fans and grillers, are available than their gas counterparts.
  6. More even heat distribution when baking.
  7. Dry heat for optimal oven roasting conditions.

Cons:

  1. You’ll miss out on the s’mores!
  2. Slower to cool when a burner is turned down or off.
  3. Subject to power outages.

Gas Ranges

Pros:

  1. More even stove top heat for cooking.
  2. Easy to gauge and precisely adjust the level of heat by altering the flame.
  3. Natural gas is inexpensive, abundantly available and clean burning.
  4. Natural gas ranges are less expensive to operate than electric ranges.
  5. The heat from a gas flame heats the sides, as well as the bottom, of pans, cooking food faster.
  6. Able to change temperature rapidly. You can immediately remove the heat when the flame is turned off, so you can still leave food on the stove to rest without continuing to cook.
  7. Less ambient heat to the rest of the kitchen.

Cons:

  1. More expensive to buy and install.
  2. More dangerous. Increased potential for gas leaks, the leading cause of residential fires. If a gas line is damaged or a pot boils over and quenches the flame, a home can quickly fill with toxic, flammable gas. Children or pets are also at greater risk to be burned or catch fire with an open flame.
  3. Diminished Baking Results. Oven temps are hotter at the top so baking requires rotation and placement farther from heat source. Gas gives off moisture when cooking, creating a humid heat rather than the dry heat required for effective roasting.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Electric Stove vs. Gas Stove