Our arsenal of suppliers for metal kitchen countertop edging continues to grow — with the addition of Eagle Moulding, a distributor in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Eagle Mouldings’ large inventory includes a two styles of aluminum countertop edgings, in a variety of sizes.Eagle Moulding is the direct supplier to many furniture manufacturers and, in fact, I see at least one of these edgings explicitly mentioned over on the Bars & Booth moldings page.
Thanks to an unidentified reader — who must live near Eagle Mouldings — who told one of the new owners of the company, Thor Smith, about the blog. Now, Thor is an advertiser — over in the right-hand column with a special page just for these retro-style countertop edgings, RetroTrims.com. (This story was not part of the advertising deal.)
Nosing around Eagle’s website (how fun am I on a Saturday night??) I also see they have “plain face nosing”. Go nose around — I bet you’re just like me and think there is no better way to waste time than to surf through a few hundred varieties of metal trim to imagine potential uses.
For example, Thor: Wouldn’t the coves above also work for our retro countertop installations???? And, this is off-topic, but before I die, I really want some slat wall.
Prices are not listed on the website — you can call or email RetroTrims.com with your enquiries. But prices are no big secret, Thor sent me the price list and as an example, the 1-1/4″ tee molding (bottom row) is just over $14 for a 12′ length. The next size up, the 1-1/2″ aluminum countertop edging is about $27 for 12′. There is no minimum $100 order — you can just order what you need.
I also like that the webpage shows us how tee moldings work. Above, left: You cut out the notch to make a bend… and center and right: You need a “wing cutter” to cut into your countertop edge, then you fit the tee in the groove.
Link: Aluminum kitchen countertop edging on RetroTrims.com
Metal trim to prevent food from falling between your stove and countertop 
Dozens of NOS aluminum wall switch plates — $2 each! 
Can I use stainless steel snap-on edging to make a curve? Not easily. Use butcher block or switch to aluminum tee molding 
Become a fan
The wing-cutter info is really key…keeps one from the thick smoke of dremel-induced burning I cobbled together out of desperation to install my t-moulding. It’s great to know about a place with such reasonable prices and great advice! Many thanks.
Thanks Pam. Great article.
To answer youer question, yes. the coves
http://eaglemouldingsinc.com/CovesDividers
that we sell are excellent for working with backsplash trims. We have several different sizes and styles as well.
-thor
Good stuff. It’s always great to have more options out there. The splined counter edge is what our cabinetmaker used…probably sourced by our local supplier from Eagle Mouldings and Trim.
That is a great question. I don’t know the exactly when it was, but I know I have seen metal trims on homes as far back at the 20′s and/30′s. I don’t know if they were ‘re-done’ in the 50′s or 60′s. I do know that many of our trims have been used to retrofit homes from the 1920′s though.
Thor, what would you suggest for 1930s or 1940s? Would it have visible screws?
Janet- For a counter edging for the 30′s or 40′s I would use our E-031-POL. It is a grooved face nosing. It does NOT have scre holes. You would simply use a commercial grade (PL-400, liquid nails, etc.) to secure it to the counter top. It follows the contour of the counter very well and bends around radius’d corners nicely. I also think that era would support having a cove (E-510-BD)to separate the wall(backsplash) from the counter. This cove does have screw holes and comes in a brite or satin finish.
face nosing: http://eaglemouldingsinc.com/BarFaceNosing.aspx
cove: http://eaglemouldingsinc.com/CovesDividers.aspx
Although you will see it, the 30′s and 40′s didn’t get into the ‘flashiness’ of the brite fluted/ribbed tees as much.
I have a cabin/house from the 1950′s. It has the steel trim edging on the countertop in the kitchen. It also has the aqua plastic edging that snaps inside. Does anyone know of a website that still sells the plastic edging/moulding?
I am not sure about this one, Vickie. I do recommend you try RetroTrims.com to start — they are an advertiser here and if they cannot help you, may be able to point you in the right direction.
Vickie- We (www.retrotrims.com) do not have the vinyl insert moulding. However, there may be one company that does. Unfortunately it will probably be pretty expensive. Give me a call tomorrow morning and I will look for a resource for you.
-thor
Eagle Mouldings
800-888-2044
where can I buy some of this product?
gene, the link to the store is at the bottom of the story, in bright blue: http://eaglemouldingsinc.com/Nostalgic50s.aspx
Thanks for finding this Pam! This will go perfect with my Formica overhaul on the counter! Now to figure out grooved or ungrooved…….THAT is the question!