See the process of building a custom sink by Rachiele in this video.

2. What makes your copper sinks different from the rest? (Read what other copper sink companies say about their sinks)
Let's start with precision. You might read that many sink manufacturers say that their sinks may vary as much as 1/2" from the ordered size. They say that this is because the sinks are hand made. I have measured several imported sinks and have found them up to 3/4" out of square. I grew up in the hand made furniture business and "hand-made" was never an excuse for size variations. Our sinks are square, true and the size you order. If we build a sink that is more than 1/16" from any measurement, we rebuild it and the sink ends up on our clearance page.

We copper weld our sinks and our welding is the finest you will see. A few years ago a gentleman, who was quite familiar with welding, looked at the welds on our sinks and was impressed that we had a computer welder. I told him we did all of our welding by hand. He was so insistent that it was impossible to weld so well by hand that I had to take him to watch our craftsmen weld before he would believe me.

Drain location: Center drains dates back to ancient Egyptian times when the technology available would only allow a vessel to drain fully if the drain were in the center. Folks, the United States sent a man to the moon! I think we can move a drain to the rear corner (where it belongs) and fully evacuate a sink. Moving the drain out of the way allows the user to place pots, pans, trays, etc. inside the sink without covering up the drain. This is the most important difference between our sinks and others on the market.

Overall design of our apron front sinks: Our sinks are designed to fit cabinetry. That might sound obvious, but most are not easily installed in a cabinet. The rear of our apron is designed to partially overlay the cabinet face. This means that the cabinet cut-out does not have to be accurate at all. The sink covers the cut-out. I have seen so many apron front sinks (by others) installed with gaps between the sink and the cabinet. That will not be the case with a Rachiele apron front sink.

FAUX is a NO: Putting a faux finish inside a copper kitchen sink is a NO-NO! Sadly, many of our fellow copper sink manufacturers do not understand the basic properties of copper. Copper will always turn the color of an old penny when in use in a home (a rich caramel color). Only when copper is outside (for over 7 years) will it begin to turn green. So, if you see a copper sink with an interior that does not look like the color of an old penny, watch out! Our interiors are never a uniform patina. A uniform finish is destined to look blemished in a short amount of time. We never lacquer or wax the interior of our sinks. The natural property of copper kills bacteria within minutes. That is not the case if there is a lacquer, wax or any other coating on the sink.

Lastly... American Pride. We have a vested interest in our products and our country (Hey... my name is on the sinks!). We build our sinks here because there is no where else on earth that can build a sink of this quality. (Click on images to see full size view)

Just look at the bottom of our apron front sink: (Click on images) Notice that the apron is closed on the bottom. That adds significant strength to the apron front portion of the sink. Now look at the back side of the apron: You will see that also is enclosed and welded to the sink body. Our apron is designed to overlap the face frame of the cabinet. This allows for a perfect fit every time. Here is a typical installation using a Franke stainless steel apron front sink. Notice that there is no easy way to install this sink and have it line up with the doors below or line up with the edge of the cabinet. It certainly does not look custom. This is how most other apron sinks have to be installed - not ours! By the way, notice the horrible vertical weld on the Franke sink. We would not even sell that as a "second". The photo has not been retouched, that quality is what Franke is selling! Beyond that issue, the distance from the front of the farm sink to the bowl is approximately 3". That defeats the purpose of a farm or apron sink. The extra 1 1/2" you have to reach to get to the bowl is a back ache in the making. I spoke to a surgeon today and he totally understood this premise. He says heavy people cause him to reach further in surgery causing more strain on his back.



Here is our finished product: Our apron is 1 1/2" thick, with a right rear drain. Don't settle for outdated sink designs. There is no way to defend outdated designs, they just don't make any sense! (Update 10-15-09: I finally found an intelligent reason for having a drain in the center of a sink. If you use the sink regularly to wash your dog, a center drain will not get in the way of the four dog paws!) There you have it - a reason for a center drain!

Now look at the bottom of what many other imported copper apron front sinks on the market look like: This particular sink is made of 16 gauge copper. All of our copper sinks are made of heavy 14 gauge cold rolled copper. Most imports use thinner annealed softer copper. Our copper is at least 8 times stronger.

The bottom of the apron is mostly open and the back side of the apron is open.  This is a fragile apron that can be pushed in with your hand. The back side of the apron is also open. Notice that you never see the bottom of most sinks online - now you know why!

Please understand we do not think this is substandard quality! It is not. We are just in a different league, just as Rolls Royce is in a different league from Chevrolet. We understand that it is difficult to tell from photos online why one sink is more expensive than another. We are regularly asked to justify our higher prices. These photos should help in identifying some significant differences. Our sinks are built to last. We back that up with a limited lifetime transferable warranty. No other copper sink on the market has such a warranty.

The below video illustrates a patented design that is used when you have existing cabinetry and would like an apron front sink. This is a perfect design if you are just replacing countertops and are keeping your cabinetry.

3. Why is it important to make sure there is no lead or mercury in a copper sink?

Small amounts of lead are poisonous. Lead affects the nervous system and the damage is irreversible. Mercury is even more dangerous. Years ago, in California, prior to the use of unleaded gas, there were tests done in yards nearby the highways - looking for lead content. Often the homeowners were told that their grass and dirt had to be removed due to unsafe levels of lead. Sadly, the FDA, nor the Consumer Protection Agency has paid attention to the lead content in copper sinks imported from other countries. Eventually, they will. We have documentation showing 99.9% purity of our copper with NO lead, NO mercury and NO arsenic. We keep documentation from our copper supplier on hand that indicates the copper is 99.9% pure, with no lead, mercury or arsenic and has been kept in a mercury free environment for storage.

4. You mention that double bowl sinks are obsolete and 10" deep sinks are not functional, why is that so?

First of all, the most ridiculous sink design, which still prevails in our industry, is the center drain. The center drain dates back to ancient Egyptian times, when the technology did not exist to fully evacuate a bowl without a center drain. Today, we have the technology to completely drain a sink no matter where the drain is located. So... why do sink manufacturers still place drains in the center of a bowl? The answer is simple. The cost of retooling is expensive and the general public has not demanded the change yet. A center drain ruins the storage under the sink and also ruins the work space inside the sink. It is impossible to lay a large pan or platter inside the sink without covering the drain. So, what are the benefits to a rear corner drain? First, the work surface inside the sink is uninterrupted. You can place flat items inside the sink without covering the drain. Secondly, and equally as important, the inside of the sink cabinet is not cluttered with plumbing. With a single bowl sink and a right rear drain, you can place a double full size pull out trash cabinet on the left side. If you think of it, you will realize that most of the trash generated in the kitchen is generated at or around the kitchen sink. Why spend hundreds of dollars for a designated "trash cabinet" which takes up valuable space in your kitchen? Professional kitchen designers find this revolutionary design opportunity quite appealing.

Now, let's talk about double bowl sinks. Double bowl sinks were designed prior to the invention of the dishwasher. We washed in one side and rinsed in the other. Let me outline the most popular concern I have heard about making the change from a double bowl sink to a single bowl sink. Most Americans use their dishwashers for dishes, cutlery and glasses. Some, like myself, like to wash a few dishes here and there without running the dishwasher. The old fashioned way was to place a grid drain in the left bowl so that dishes could be washed in the right bowl and set to dry in the left bowl. That divider kept dirty water from getting on the cleaned items. If you have a double bowl sink I guarantee that you have to take your large pans, platters, cookie sheets, etc. and place them vertically inside the right bowl. You have to spin them around to wash them and you have to spin them around again to rinse them. It is impossible to lay them down inside the sink. The new way, using a single bowl sink with a right rear drain, is similar. Merely place a drying rack in the left side of the sink and wash on the right. The sink is sloped to the right rear so the dirty water never touches the clean dishes. Since the drain is in the right rear, there is little chance for a misplaced dish to cover the drain and begin the maddening unintentional filling of the sink with dirty water.

You say you occasionally fill one bowl with soapy water to soak an item and need the second sink for other things. No problem! Tupperware to the rescue! Just get a large Tupperware container and place it in the left side of the sink, fill it with soapy water and you have accomplished the same thing without a PERMANENT divider that causes more problems than it solves.

Lastly, the right rear drain allows you to work differently at your sink. With your current double bowl sink, most of the washing and scrubbing is done near the mid level of the sink - rarely at the bottom. This has to be done because you can not lay your items flat in the bottom of the sink (they don't fit!!!). With our right rear drain, large items will easily fit flat in the bottom of your sink - allowing you to scrub pots, pans, cookie sheets, etc, with more ease. Since the items are flat in the bottom of the sink, you have more leverage and rinsing them is less treacherous. Think about it... Now that we are working in the bottom of the sinks, sinks need to be shallower. Most of our sinks are installed under 1 1/4" granite. Think of a 10" deep sink under a 1 1/4" slab. Now you have an 11 1/4" deep sink. If you are working in the bottom of the sink, that is too deep! We recommend 8 to 9" deep sinks for ultimate comfort. So... you diehard double bowl fans - please reconsider. We have converted thousands of you and we hear back from them regularly. They say they could never go back! Just in case this epistle was not convincing enough - yes we build custom double bowl sinks too!

5. Is a copper sink suitable for food preparation?

In short, the answer is yes! Copper actively kills bacteria on contact. It is the most hygienic surface you could possibly have for food preparation. Keep in mind, many homes have copper pipes for drinking water. What was not known years ago, these pipes were actively killing bacteria in the water lines! The following is a statement from the Copper development Association in conjunction with the EPA. "Users must continue to follow all current infection control and cleaning practices. Routine cleaning to remove dirt and grime is necessary for good sanitation and to assure the effective performance of the Antimicrobial Copper Alloy surface.

Also, Antimicrobial Copper Alloys must not be coated in any way (i.e. with waxes, paints, lacquers, etc.) in order to be effective. The natural tarnishing of copper alloys does not compromise their antimicrobial property."

6. Will pots and pans dent my sink?

Denting is unlikely in our copper sinks. We use a heavy 14 gauge cold rolled copper for our sinks. Cold rolled copper is significantly harder than annealed copper (which can dent and bend easily). Annealing occurs by the diffusion of atoms within a solid material, so that the material progresses towards its equilibrium state. Heat is needed to increase the rate of diffusion by providing the energy needed to break bonds. The movement of atoms has the effect of redistributing and destroying the dislocations in metals and (to a lesser extent) in ceramics. This alteration in dislocations allows metals to deform more easily, so increases their ductility. That is precisely why we do not use annealed copper. Our cold rolled virgin copper is up to 8 times as strong as annealed copper.  Our copper is just about as hard to dent as a 16 gauge stainless steel sink. As an example, if I were to send you a 6" square of our material, you would likely be unable to flex it if you tried your hardest. If I were to send you the same size of annealed copper, a child would be able to fold it in half. Both would be 99.9% pure copper - the difference is that the annealed copper has been super-heated and that changes the molecular structure of the copper and makes it much softer. I recently discovered (watching a television show on the History Channel) that recycled copper is rarely used for copper wiring - as it is too expensive to purify to the standard required for copper wire. Virgin copper is pure enough for copper wire. We use ONLY virgin copper for your sinks. There is a massive supply of virgin copper in the US. Watch this demonstration illustrating the strength of our copper.

7. I am a bit nervous investing in a sink that I have not seen. Can you assure me I will be pleased?

Well, no. We can not assure that you will be pleased, however, we do guarantee you will be more than pleased - you will be thrilled. We have been manufacturing copper sinks for over 10 years and have offered a guarantee that states: "If you are not thrilled with the quality of our sink, we will buy it back, pay all shipping costs and send you a check for $100 in consideration of your inconvenience." In the 10 years we have been offering this guarantee, we have never been asked for a refund! Lastly, we recommend you make your purchase with a credit card. Credit cards protect your investment. If you have a grievance with any company where you use a credit card, simply call the credit card company and they will begin a dispute. Often, they will refund your money immediately until the issue is resolved.

8. What kind of warranty do you offer on your copper sinks?

We offer a transferable lifetime warranty with NO disclaimers regarding the use of acidic products or bleaches, etc. We have looked at some of the other so-called lifetime warranties. They do not pay for shipping costs and there is generally a long list of items that can not be used inside the sink. Some actually mention that their sinks must be dried out after each use! We firmly believe that any quality product with no moving parts should have a lifetime transferable warranty! We could not offer this type of a warranty on a copper sink if we did not use 14 gauge cold rolled hard copper.

9. How do I order a custom product from you?

Simply call us from 8am to 6pm EST Mon-Sat. We will discuss your needs and develop a sink perfect for your situation. We have designed very complex sinks by phone, confirming with detailed drawings. Once we agree on a design and a price, we will email you with detailed drawings and a purchase agreement. We will give you an expected ship date as well. We have been building custom sinks for about 10 years now with a 100% track record of thrilling our customers. See "The Process Page"

10. You mention a self healing interior. What exactly does that mean?

We only offer a naturally weathered patina on the interior of our copper sinks. We do not artificially color the copper with heat, chemicals or colored waxes. That allows the copper to heal back to it's original coloration no matter what you do to it. That is why we are the only company that offers copper sinks with a lifetime transferable warranty with NO disclaimers regarding what you can and can't do inside the sink. Just to prove that our sinks heal by themselves, I did an experiment and recorded it with a camera for you to see for yourselves. The sink bottom shown is the one we use in our office kitchen. It does not get nearly as much use as a household kitchen sink, therefore the patination process will be slower in our office than would be expected in an average home. To begin the process, I took sandpaper and sanded through the patina on the sink. Then, I took a very sharp knife and made as deep a scratch as I was able to make. I did this to prove that even the deepest scratches become invisible over time and that the patina that we apply before the sink ships to you is the same coloration that copper will naturally weather to. Click on the images to see the close up detail. The second photo is between two and three weeks old. The last photo is 5 weeks old. There is no sign of the missing patina nor the scratch.
    As you can see, there really is no way to ruin the interior of our sinks unless you try very hard!

11. What about stainless sinks? How do yours compare?

Those who know me, are fully aware that I am a straight shooter and "tell it like it is" no matter how politically correct it is, without much regard to the "marketability" of my comments. I have to say that we do not build the finest stainless sinks in the world. We simply do not have the million dollar machinery required to make a microscopic weld as done with a computer and laser. That being said, I have seen sinks built by these other companies with better welding equipment that have ripples in their stainless due to careless quality control. So... why buy a Rachiele stainless steel sink. Two reasons: Our Millennia stainless is exclusive and helps to hide scratches and water spots. Secondly, our designs are far superior and outweigh the very small difference in weld quality.

12. What is the difference between wrought iron and cast iron?

Wrought iron is traditionally smelted at a relatively low temperature in the solid state to produce a spongy mass of metal called a bloom from which the impurities were driven off as liquid slag by hammering, hence the term "wrought" ie "worked" iron. Wrought iron is very pure, with a carbon content of less than 1%, which makes it resistant to corrosion, strong in tension and malleable.
By comparison, cast iron, is smelted at much higher temperatures in the liquid state, and so becomes saturated with carbon from the furnace fuel, up to about 5%. It is then poured out (ie cast) into a mould to produce blocks traditionally known as pigs hence the name "pig iron". The high carbon content makes cast iron very rigid in compression, but weak and brittle in tension, even when red hot, so it cannot be forged or rolled. Wrought iron is a much safer material for holding the weight of a countertop than is cast iron.

13. Why are so few of your copper sinks hammered?

I strongly feel that hammered sinks became popular due to the fact that that was the only way some of the original imported copper sinks would be tolerated in the U.S. market. If the sinks were not hammered, the sides, fronts and bottoms would be wavy and would not look like a quality sink. Now, hammered copper sinks are seen in the home centers for a fraction of what our sinks cost. Mark my words, hammered copper sinks will become dated with regard to high end fashion very soon.

Secondly, and most importantly, the hand hammered sinks (like you see with the imports) must be hammered using a soft annealed copper. It is impossible to hand hammer our hard copper and achieve the look you see on most copper sinks. Our cold rolled copper is much stronger and will hold its shape even with the constant use of a heavy garbage disposer.

Lastly, when you hammer a sink, you create little ponds inside the sink which make it difficult for the water to evacuate properly. Our sinks have a significant slope to the drain, so this is not an issue with our sinks. When we hammer a copper sink, we recommend not hammering the bottom, as water can sit in the (dents). We generally hammer either the apron, or the apron and the interior sides.

                               
          Typical imported hammered copper sink.                                                                          A Rachiele hammered copper sink

By the way... have you ever seen a penny that is that dark? When something cuts through the lacquer on the sink above, the copper will turn the color of our sink below. Don't you think it will look like a blemish? The penny in the photo is a real copper penny from 1957. As you can see, our sink is a match for naturally aged copper.
 
Will your copper sink pass the penny test? See the video below. (Yes, I should have used an actor - I really need a makeover)

14. Why are most of your sinks showing zero radius corner construction instead of radius corners?

We are able to produce either square or radius corners. We have found a strong preference for the square corner sink. Here is some of the feedback we have received from designers and architects as well as homeowners. A) The square corner sink looks more like a custom sink than a radius sink. B) The cutout in the granite looks more pleasing. C) The interior usable space at the bottom of the sink is significantly larger with a zero radius corner construction.

15. Isn't it difficult to clean a square corner sink?

First of all, the transition from the bottom of our sink to the sides is not perfectly square on the vast majority of our sinks. There is a slight radius. Even if it was square, a sponge gets in the corners quite easily. Keep in mind, if you have a copper sink, the copper is always actively killing bacteria!

16. Strength: This video speaks for itself. There is no way you can do this in a 16 gauge sink, especially if it is made of annealed copper.  I was standing inside a customer's sink without any concern about damaging it. Let's face it, I needed to go on a diet. Since that video, I have actually done so!

See the videos below to see how copper compares to stainless with regard to denting. In both cases we used our standard 16 gauge stainless and copper.
  

17. Right rear drain?

The best analogy I can give to illustrate the difference between a right rear drain and a center drain is as follows. Imagine all the shoes you own are uncomfortable. At the end of the day, your feet ache. As soon as you put them on, there is a bit of discomfort. You, however, have never owned a pair of really comfortable shoes. You go on day after day and the discomfort becomes natural, it is a part of your day. The shoes, however, are in style and they are not so uncomfortable that the pain is unbearable. One day, you try on a new pair of shoes. Not only is there no pain, but they actually make your feet feel so much better than they ever have. From that day forward, you could not go back to the old shoes. Suddenly, the comparison makes the old ones feel so much more painful.

The above analogy describes how I and countless others have felt about the drain location difference in our sinks. I have so many emails from past customers telling me that my description did not come close to the reality. They tell me they could never go back to a center drain sink. The best part for me is that these folks will be customers for life. We have been in business almost 10 years now and we are already getting quite a bit of repeat business. In short, you can't imagine the difference - but once you experience it, you will be a strong advocate.

18. Can I have an apron front sink if I am only replacing my countertops?

Only with Rachiele! We own the patent. Take a look at our video that shows how simple it is done. We offer it in copper and stainless. We also have a patent on a situation where you are keeping your existing countertops and want an apron. Call us for more information.

19. When during my building or remodeling process should I order my sink? Your countertop fabricator is likely going to want your sink in hand before they start any fabrication. Our custom sinks can take from 3 weeks to 6 weeks to produce, depending on our workload. Make sure you speak with your countertop supplier to firm up a date.

20. What if I live in California or some other country and your hours of operation are not convenient? I ask that you call any time. One of two things will happen. I usually answer the phone, whether it is early in the morning or in the evening. The phones are forwarded to my cell phone 24/7. If I do not answer, please leave a message. I will call you back as quickly as possible. That being said, I generally go to bed around 9 because I am up before 5am. Calls after 9pm (Eastern) will likely be returned the following day. By the way, I do answer calls on the weekends.

21. You show different finishes on your apron front sinks. Can I have a custom finish. and how can I make sure I will like it before I get it?  We always speak with you to get a good feel for what you would like your sink to look like. Secondly, we send a photo of the apron prior to our final process to go over any adjustments you might like. Lastly, we can also send a final photo for your approval prior to shipping if you feel that is necessary. We are here to make sure you are thrilled!

22. How durable are your gemstone sinks?

Our gemstone sinks are quite durable. They are non-porous. We have made floor tiles using the same material and they have withstood traffic for over 8 years. The only gemstone that is a bit fragile is the Amber. It is much softer than the stone sinks and can scratch. The good news is that it can be buffed out if necessary without hurting the sink at all. In all cases, there is no topcoat to wear off. The material is solid through and through.

23. What is a patina on copper?

Oxidation: Oxidation refers to the chemical changes that a substance undergoes when it is exposed to the elements. Iron, for example, forms rust when it is oxidized. When copper is oxidized, however, it forms a unique patina layer that, in addition to the color change you can see, provides a protective barrier that you cannot see. While oxidation leads to the corrosion and corruption of some materials, it does not affect the stability of copper.

24. How are your sinks shipped to us? Click on the image for details

Our sinks are shipped via UPS ground. They are fully insured. When you order a sink, we order a custom made wooden box specific to the size and shape of your sink. We take great care packing your sink, and spare no expense. We have researched to find the best packing materials available. We use two types of foam. One is a  low density foam, placed at strategic points around the bottom of your sink. Wholesale, the foam costs $155 a sheet. We use a harder foam in the other areas of the sink. The wooden boxes are glued and screwed shut on all sides except the top. The top is screwed shut and then we also use 275 pound strapping tape around the box as an added precaution. The UPS charges alone generally cost well over $100, due to the size and weight of the shipment. The box and other materials cost at least $75. As you can see, when we charge you between $175 and $195 for shipping, we are just covering our costs. Please note that all of our shipments are monitored by Each box we ship has a device which will indicate if the box has been mishandled. Studies show that shippers take better care of products shipped with monitoring devices clearly labeled on the box.
This system has been shown to significantly reduce shipping damage. Your sink will be shipped with one or two impact monitors. If your box arrives and the indicator shows red (meaning the box has been mishandled) accept the delivery and note this fact in writing with the UPS driver. It is unlikely that the sink will be damaged, but this is an indicator that alerts you that you should check the sink carefully and call us immediately. This is just one of the many things we do for you to insure you get the very best!

25. Are your sinks inspected before shipping?

I personally inspect every sink before it is shipped. Your sink will be signed by me (on the bottom) showing you that I have inspected your sink. All sinks are checked for squareness, proper drainage and finish if applicable. The photo shows us checking to make sure a large drain board sink is perfectly flat and true prior to packing. This is the sink shown in the above photo.

25.  You made it to the end! If you have read this far down on the page, you deserve a medal or something like that.  Whew, I sure can get carried away with words. Anyhow... If you made it this far, I would like to offer you a free bottle of either the copper conditioner or the stainless steel cleaner along with an order of a sink. All you have to say when you order is the phrase "Dino talks too much" and you will get your prize! You can also order online and put that phrase in the comment section for your free bottle.