The Dark Side of Cheap Handmade Sinks: Very Low Prices Come With Hidden Traps

There are a lot of cheap handmade sinks on the market these days. While the price may be tempting, you need to be aware of the traps that come with these low-cost sinks. In this blog post, we will discuss the hidden costs behind these inexpensive sinks and help you make an informed decision about whether or not they are right for you. We believe that quality should never come at a sacrifice, and our handmade sinks are made with that philosophy in mind. With Cresheen, you can always expect the best quality and customer service!

Trap #1: Using 201 stainless steel instead of 304 stainless steel

Types of stainless steel materials have been increasing on the market, and two common types are 201 and 304. The surface of a 201 is dull while the surface of a 304 is smooth and bright. The difference in performance between them is based on the amounts of nickel or other elements present in each type of steel.

The nickel content in 304 stainless steel accounts for 8-10%, while the actual nickel content of 201 stainless steel is only around 2%. This makes 304 stainless steel much better in corrosion resistance, acid and alkali resistance, ductility toughness and other aspects. It is the best raw material for manufacturing a stainless steel sink. Because of its excellent performance, naturally, its price is higher than that of201 Steel, almost double.

While it might be hard to tell the difference between raw stainless steel materials at a glance, some less-than-honest businessmen exploit this opportunity for personal gain. An example of this is when a sink manufacturer creates 201 Stainless Steel sinks but claims they're made with 304 steel - or worse, arbitrarily stamps "304" on the product itself to trick unsuspecting buyers. This isn't even mentioning how others can produce their raw materials for half the cost of ours.

We don't use 201 material fake 304 steel because it's not consistent with our business philosophy of working transparently with people. Plus, our customers can still afford the price. If we're able to make a profit why take the risk of compromising our morals? Sometimes, the second reason is even more important than the first one.

Businesses aim to make a profit and will charge consumers whatever price they deem necessary. In the domestic market, many consumers want cheap goods without understanding that people get what they paid for. In our business practice, Cresheen aims to provide quality products that fit your B2B sink requirements without overcharging you. We believe that quality should never come at a sacrifice, and our handmade sinks are made with that philosophy in mind.

Trap #2: Cutting Corners with Thin Gauge Steel

When it comes to handmade sinks, the thickness of the steel is very important. Sinks made with thin gauge steel are more susceptible to dents and scratches and are more likely to warp over time. They also tend to be noisy because they vibrate more easily. On the other hand, thicker gauge steel sinks are more durable and longer lasting. They are also quieter because they vibrate less.

The thickness of stainless steel sinks is generally expressed in mm or inches. For example, 16-gauge steel is about 1.5 mm thick, while 18-gauge (1.2 mm) steel is about 20% thinner. As you can see, there is a big difference in thickness between these two types of stainless steel. Generally speaking, the thicker the steel, the better the quality of the sink. Therefore, a 16-gauge handmade sink can already be classified as a luxury sink. For daily household use, an 18-gauge seems to be the most cost-effective choice.

Many businesses will try to cut corners by using thin gauge steel in their sinks. This allows them to save on manufacturing costs while still being able to charge consumers a high price. However, at Cresheen, we only use thick gauge steel in our sinks because we believe that quality should never be sacrificed. We want our customers to be able to enjoy their sinks for many years to come without having to worry about them warping or becoming damaged.

Trap #3: Poorer Quality of Stainless Steel Plate that Used

In the previous article, we went through the kitchen sink manufacturing process so that we would have a better understanding of how the stainless steel plates are "folded" to make handmade sinks. Even if we as customers manage to avoid Trap #1 (incredibly cheap handmade sinks made with low-quality materials), there might be a second trap waiting for us.

We often talk about SUS304, or just the word "304" stainless steel, there are actually more tricks behind this big name. 304 stainless steel is roughly divided into 2 kinds:

1. premium material - that is nicely processed (we will have an upcoming article to explain more)

2. calendered material - is often more cost-effective but will poorer surface processing

The word "premium" can be distinguished as the best in stainless steel, meaning that it is more expensive than calendered stainless steel. At Cresheen, we purchase SUS304 stainless steel material from POSCO (Foshan), a joint venture between South Korea POSCO and Jiangsu Shagang Group. They specialize in production and have service quality at world-leading levels.

The SUS304 austenitic stainless steel we often purchase conforms to the Japanese standard JIS G4303-2005. In our industry, it is also called 18/8 stainless steel because of its chromium (18%) and nickel (8% or more) content.

We've been sending our sinks to many countries and sourcing POSCO's excellent SUS304 premium material. The resulting steel product is dependably high-quality and will save us much headache down the line.

Trap #4: Cross-Cutting VS Piecemeal Cutting

As the stainless steel plates are "folded" as we previously introduced in our handmade sink manufacturing article, these handmade sink plates are first to be cut by a CNC laser automatic cutting machine. This is an important step because it determines the size and shape of a handmade sink - two very important factors in deciding whether or not the sink is suitable for your needs.

There are two ways to cut the stainless steel plates. The first is called "cross-cutting." This involves cutting the plates into multiple pieces that will be welded together later on. The second method is called "piecemeal cutting." This involves cutting the plates into a single piece that will not need to be welded.

Cross-cutting is generally used in lower-quality sinks because it is less expensive and faster. Piecemeal cutting, on the other hand, takes more time but results in a stronger and more durable sink. This is because when the plates are welded together, there are always potential weak spots where the plate meets. When the plates are cut into a single piece, there are no weak spots because everything is one continuous piece of stainless steel.

At Cresheen, we only use piecemeal cutting because we believe that quality should never be sacrificed. We want our customers to have sinks that will last for many years without any issues.

Summary

In this article, we talked about the four traps that customers might fall into when purchasing handmade sinks. At Cresheen, we avoid all of these traps by only using the best materials and manufacturing processes. We believe that quality should never be sacrificed and our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible product. If you're in the market for a new handmade sink, make sure to check out Cresheen!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Cresheen handmade sinks, please feel free to contact us. We would be more than happy to answer any of your questions.