Educational Series

Straight answers on zinc, brass, and copper bar tops, from how living metals age to what it takes to get a metal top built and installed right. For our newest articles, visit the 3 Spark Design Blog.

Basics of Metal Bar Tops

Introduction to zinc bar top educational series

Now you might be thinking, “Why zinc, or some other soft metal, and why this guy?” Quite honestly, I’ve been working in this area for more than twenty years, and I have experience on…

1- A brief history of zinc bar tops.

Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in earth’s crust and one of the easier metals to mine. With current mining technology, zinc is obtained from Sphalerite, first discovered around 1850,…

2- Patina. Am I really letting my expensive zinc countertops rust?

Well, the short answer is no- you’re actually letting them tarnish, though rust is oxidation specific to iron, which zinc alloys do not contain. There are two types of metal tops: stainless…

3. Zinc- Utility Player of the Periodic Table. Why is Zinc so amazing?

Zn (atomic number 30) is located in the last column of what is called the transition metals on the periodic table (although it is technically a post-transition metal because of its physical…

4- Can you weld the seams of my zinc bar top on site?

Are you seeking a source for reliable information about zinc bar tops? Read about 3 Spark and how they have changed the industry with 10’ tops and tight seams.

5- Almost Alchemy. What are the most common living metal alloys?

An alloy is a metal made by melting two or more elements together to take advantage of their specific properties and create a new material with desirable attributes from each.

6- Zinc sheet metal basics with a special note about galvanized steel.

There are two different basic classes for decorative sheet zinc. The most typical, alloys zinc with a little bit of Titanium, which gives it strength and rigidity, and a resistance to dents…

7- Can you DIY your zinc top project or should you hire a professional?

Surprisingly enough, you can take on some projects yourself or have a contractor on-site assist you with select jobs. I would only recommend this to individuals who have completed or who…

1- The 4 basic zinc options available to you as a consumer. $70-$700

A challenge facing the zinc countertop industry is simply understanding the difference between the four basic fabrication methods; their limitations, their strengths, how they differ from…

2- “How big is an inch?” The difference between zinc tops and stone.

Today we’re going to talk about a challenge facing the soft metal countertop industry- how the construction basics for zinc differ from the most popular surface-stone.

3- Are zinc bar tops really antimicrobial?

Another challenge facing the zinc countertop industry revolves around the claim that zinc and copper are antimicrobial. So, are most zinc bar tops really antimicrobial? To investigate…

4- I’m dying inside! Industry-standard construction fails from within.

Another challenge facing the zinc countertop industry is that current construction assemblies are literally ripping some products apart.

5- The Unknown. How does zinc metal thickness affect site modification?

A major challenge in the industry that fabricates deposition or cast tops is the ability to measure metal thickness (or thinness) as the product is being made.

6- Using bar mats? Drink rails and how water affects how products are used.

Water creates more than a few issues for deposition cast tops using plywood and hardwood construction. While it may seem counter-intuitive, (no pun intended), some manufacturers do not…

7- Are we there yet? Long processes and what to realistically expect.

Ask anyone in the industry “how long does it take to receive my tops?”, and you’ll get the classic “It depends” response. Let’s take a look at the process, and see what factors affect…

8- Why zinc bar tops can’t be welded or soldered on site.

A challenge facing the zinc bar top industry is how to address seams or joints in the field. Why can’t the tops be welded into one piece just like the tops from France? There is some very…

9- You’re gonna need a bigger boat! Zinc top transportation logistics.

Domestic manufacturers have not adopted standards on length for their products. Because they have reduced the number of seams in tops, products have gotten longer and heavier, which…

10- Maintenance for your zinc tops? The commitment after the sale.

Demonstrating to customers that self-maintenance of the product is possible and that manufacturers are there to provide support after the sale is a major issue facing the industry.

Educational Series

Basics of Metal Bar Tops

The Market Challenge