I am updating this Retro Renovation “Classic” post for Tiel, her husband, and all readers looking for classic 50s and 60s metal countertop edging. Trust me - this is the real deal:
My husband hunted down the only place left — in Astoria, Queens — that still made the exact stainless steel edging on 50s and 60s countertops. We installed this very easily and successfully on our new countertops.
Go to newyorkmetal.com to order this. Here are the exact pieces that you need:
1. Stainless steel “snap-on” edging - 1-5/8″:
![](http://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/2_158snapon.jpg "1-5/8\")
2. For the top of the backsplash #SS801A in 1″ profile:
I want you to call the company and get the same PROFILE as above, but in 1″.
3. The little piece that goes in between these two where they meet at 90-degree angles:
4. Note, there is a core shipping charge of $150 - because the edging comes in 12′ strips, it must go freight. Well worth it, in the long run (no pun intended)!
Here are close ups of how this stuff comes together.
And, be sure to see my updated post on varying your countertop materials - this really improves a retro reno kitchen.
Related posts:
- Can I use stainless steel snap-on edging to make a curve? Not easily. Use butcher block or switch to aluminum tee molding I just go
- How to install metal edging on your retro laminate countertops Several r
- Retro kitchen sinks from Kohler - cast iron, metal framed - my new #1 choice if you are buying new! I don
- Recreate this lovely green laminate kitchen from 1959 Following
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
You have NO idea how long I’ve been looking for this stuff. The kitchen counter in my 1949 ranch house in southern Indiana is a blue-green scritchy-scratchy formica with stainless steel edging. I have called everywhere, talked to every custom counter company, and all I’ve gotten is that no one knows how to do it.
I’m so psyched! I’ve held off re-doing the counters for 15 years because I love that edging. Hmmmm. I wonder how expensive it is?
My husband is the most organized human being on this planet. He has the paperwork from Dave Sanders. I’ll ask him to pull it out and post the cost info. Happy to help - and I’m glad you’ve found the resource you were looking for!
I’ve been looking for aluminum edging, would you say stainless steel is a better option?
We’re actually going to use the exact same Formica in the first picture, the Skylark.
Would love to see your pictures, but the link doesn’t seem to work.
Love your site, by the way!!!
Amy - Thank you for your comment including the info about the link not working. I fixed it, so you can take a look at the kitchen - it’s also along the top nav bar.
Regarding countertop edging. When we were looking for ‘metal’ edging about 2 years ago to complete our kitchen plans - the New York Metals stainless steel was the only thing we could find to fit the bill.
As I’ve become more immersed in all things retro renovation, I am pretty confident in saying that steel was the material of choice for this purpose in the postwar period. The New York Metals s.s. edging is identical to the stuff we pulled off the 1963 countertops. Dave Sander also had the insert to connect the counter to the backsplash…and the 3/4″ piece to cap the backsplash. They told us — they’d been making it since the ’50s.
Let us know how it turns out for you, Amy!
Thank You!! Your kitchen is “to die for!”
One question, what is the height of the s.s. edging? My countertop will be 1 1/2″ thick, do you think that Dave Sanders’ edging would cover the edge of my counter? (I guess that’s two questions…)
Thanks again for your insight and fantastic website!!!
Pam,
I have a technical question. The original SS edging on my countertops is soldered at the corners, which are mitered at 45-degree angles. How did you deal with the corners in your kitchen using the NY Metals edging?
Femme 1, the counter guys also mitered the corners as you described. However, they did not solder them. Subsequently, I saw a story in an old magazine - which, yes, advised soldering. Some day, I will find the story again - and post it.
Also - funny story - the countertop company was, like everyone involved in my retro renovation kitchen project, confounded and amused that they had not done work on edging like this for…40 years or more! In the end, everyone loved the result!
Hey Pam! Wow, I, like everyone else love your website and am finding it invaluable to my restoration/remodel of my 1959 Ranch Kitchen that just recently suffered a major plumbing leak which has prompted my early “redo” of my kitchen that I had been wanting to do anyway.
I’m going to use the Formica aqua boomerang countertop ( just like you) and am ordering the SS edging from NY metals - thanks to your info on that as I had no luck on my own….but my local contractor is also now a little “afraid” of committing to doing the SS edging due to cutting it and it “crimping” on the edges when it comes to the corners - What tool did you use to cut your SS edging from NY Metals?
Thanks for all of your incredible information and oh yeah, I’ve ordered my Dishmaster 76XL (found that on your website as well) and bought a Kohler white cast iron sink on clearance at Home Depot. I’ll send pictures as I get further into this nightmare…oops, did I say that, I meant exciting project!
Thanks!
Welcome, Milster, and we can’t wait to see the results of your project. Honestly, there were professional countertop guys who did the stainless steel edges along with my contractor. They were all very trepidatious, too — but also kind of excited — because they had never worked with the steel edging, although they had thrown out plenty and knew that their dads had worked with it! I strongly recommend that you talk to the folks at NY Metals about the correct tools to use, every time that I have talked to them, they have been very very helpful. All that said - my guys said it was “easy”, ultimately.
Thanks Pam and I’m so excited to be part of your online “family” and will definitely post photos for you when we get all finished of the before and after. I’ve got an email in to Larson at NY Metals on how to cut so I’m sure I’ll be getting a response soon. I’ll also be glad to post that info when I hear back from NY Metals.
I’m really getting excited and can’t wait to get more of it done! My contractor said he’s excited too as he’s never done a project like this and looks at it as a “professional challenge”! It’s a shame we retro lovers are having to take these young whipersnapper contractors back to the roots of countertop installation! LOL!
Thanks again and I’ll be back with more info as soon as I have it!
Pam - I got my samples from NY Metals today and Larson there is just way too helpful for words. I’m going to show them to my contractor and hopefully be on my way. I saw where someone was interested in the prices and I can tell them that as he gave me the prices today. All these come in 12ft lengths and price is per 12 ft.
The SS224 3/4″ snap on is $33.00
The SS799 5/16″ is $18.00
The SS806 1 5/8″ is $58.00
Then you just have to pay the shipping fees but he said if they cut it down into lenghts that can go FedEx or UPS you may can avoid the $150.00 freight charge it just depends on how much you order.
I’ll keep you posted,
Milster
Milster, thanks for adding this info - and I am glad to hear that NY Metals also is being very helpful to you - as was my experience. I’ll also say - that before you have them cut down the edging to save on shipping cost, make super sure you understand your project. It is really really nice to have complete spans along your cabinet lengths and around any outside corners. You can cut-and-match at inside corners. The $150 shipping fee, while it sounds steep, reflects the cost of the only (I think) carrier who will ship/handle 12′ lengths. Finally, I recall that the shipping was handled very well. Literally every piece of edging came fitted along a ‘block’ that ensured it was not damaged in shipping. Each piece also has a protective piece of sticky blue plastic on it to prevent it from being dinged. This stuff is NICE!
Thanks Pam, I’ll keep that all in mind. I may actually be reconsidering now and am thinking about using polished aluminum in order to get the exact measurements and cuts I need for my countertops and backsplash pieces and based on what my countertop man is able to feel he can do and do very well. He seems more comfortable with the thought of aluminum so we’ll see. It’s definitely all a big learning process for a novice like me!. And, I know what you mean about making sure I get the excact sizes I need as I don’t want to have to “piecework” anything and as much money as we’ve already spent, I don’t want it to look “rigged” in the end. I’m still weighing all my options.
NY Metals definitely rocks in their customer service though and even if I may not be able to get all my trim from them they still get an A+ from me!
Milster, it’s not that I ‘don’t recommend’ another edging…I just haven’t researched this more expansively yet. In fact, some readers have recently sent more resources - such as Outwater Plastics. But I am up to my eyeballs in other things right now…Pam
Any body here from Idaho or the Pacific NW that needs any of this edging? I need two uncut 12′ sticks but can’t afford it with freight costs. Would love to split it with you.
Thanks
Hi and LOVE this site. I have a 50’s kitchen with pink and gold fleck laminate that is in very good condition. It is trimmed with the strainless steel edging which is also pretty nice. BUT, all curved edges and the center of the edging has a plastic insert that I would like to replace as it is chipped and broken. ANY ideas? I will post a pic if needed.
THANKS!
I never read this post before, because we redid our kitchen in 2006. However, I’m somewhat bummed that we were unable to find this edging when we did ours! I called all over trying to find something like this, but everyone was so confused by what I was asking. You think this edging would be really popular in modern kitchen remodels. it’s awesome.
Hey Jamie-
I’m in Boise and would be interested in splitted frieght cost w/ you. How do I get in touch with you?