The gauge, or caliber, is how the thickness of the metal is measured: a high gauge number corresponds to a thinner copper sheet and a low gauge number to a thicker piece of copper.

The thicker gauge will provide more solidity, durability, resistance to dents and scratches, than a slim caliber.

So, it is key to consider this factor at the moment of selecting your copper sink.

16 gauge is the standard for any copper kitchen sink; 14 gauge may be used (if required), but by experience we do know that 16 gauge is solid enough; over almost 20 years in the business, we have never received any complain about one of our kitchen sink being too slim or fragile.

For a bathroom or bar sink, the gauge may be 18, 17 or 16, depending on the design and dimensions of the model.

In order to calculate these measurements, you have to take into account the inside dimensions of the sink, it is to say the whole dimensions (outside) removing the width of the lip/rim or apron.

For example, our standard kitchen sinks are 33×22” (outside) and the lip/rim on the 4 sides is 2” wide, so the interior dimensions are 29×18”; then, the opening in the countertop needs to be around 30×19”.

The best way to maintain and protect a copper sink is to use only water and mild dish soap for a daily use, and avoid throwing any harsh chemical and letting food and wine stagnate inside it.

If some stain appear on a shiny finish, you can rub a lemon on it, the juicy part, a simple household trick.

If the patina looks removed on a dark finish, you can heat the area with a household blowtorch or/and apply some black/dark shoe wax on it as well.

The standard drain opening diameter for a kitchen sink is 3.5”.

It is 1.5” for a bathroom sink.

2” may be the standard for some bar sinks or some bathtubs.

When you buy a handmade copper sink, you have to understand that you do not get an industrial product: your sink is not made by a robot but by some artisans, and the finish (performed with or without patina) provide an added value to your sink, giving it an artistic note.

The great trick from copper (apart from its antibacterial properties) is that it recover by itself, on its own: just be patient, let time pass and through the daily use it will go full circle and get back to its original color.

What we can guarantee you is that although your coper sink will experience some change in its look (color, part of the process), it will last and work for as many years as you want.

The hammered copper is our specialty, as for most of the artisans and workshops in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán; however, we are able to make some plain/smooth copper sinks, without hammering it.

It is important to mention that the hammering of copper enables us to better hide any flaw in the metal sheet (hardest to do on a plain metal).