2011 Cliffside Power Rankings 3 comments

Our last top ten list examined products quite some time ago. Since late 2008, there have been significant changes to the Cliffside product line, with the addition of over 500 hardware pieces in the last two years alone! That said, Cliffside’s products are timeless, and so this week’s power rankings will compare our 10 best-selling products to where they ranked when we first started our blog.

#1: 100 series knobs

The 100 series, shown in antique brass

Previous rank: 1
No surprises here. Cliffside Industries was founded with only 1 knob — the 100-PB. Since that time, we have expanded this series into 14 classic finishes which range from the glossy sheen of polished nickel to the deep vibrance of Venetian bronze. This elegant piece is a testament to the fact that the right piece of hardware can stand the test of time. It also comes in a miniature size, the 100-20, which is available in 10 finishes.

#2: BH2A series hinges

The BH2A hinge in black

Previous rank: 2
Cliffside’s BH2A hinge continues to be the best seller in our proprietary European hinge line. Styled by Old World craftsmen who pay the finest attention to detail, our hinges are precision-honed to exacting specifications to bring you the highest-quality product imaginable. Solid, one-piece construction characterizes our hinges as among the strongest brass pieces in the industry, and they are extruded rather than stamped for added durability. Available in up to 15 finishes, these hinges are, without question, the best on the market. An honorable mention is given to our ball-finial BH2A hinges as well, and they are available without a finial too.

#3: 161 series knobs

One of the 161 knob's 12 finishes is iron.

Previous rank: 4
The popularity of the 161 has recently skyrocketed — so much so, in fact, that it has surpassed some of our top-selling hinges in pieces sold! The attractive ridged face of the 161 combines with its wide base to complete our second-best selling piece. Available in 12 finishes, this knob can be used in a wide variety of applications (and it’s also your blogwriter’s favorite piece!).

#4: BH2A-NM series hinges

OA is the most popular hinge finish.

Previous rank: 3
The convenience of non-mortise hinges helps them to maintain their spot in our rankings, just below their mortised counterparts. The slightly thicker barrel and finial are an attractive option for manufacturers, and these hinges are extruded — as all Cliffside hinges are — to reduce metal wear and squeaking. With 15 finishes, the selection of the BH2A-NM, shown at right in old antique, is unparalleled.

#5: 158 series knobs

The 158 looks primed for big gains (shown in old copper).

Previous rank: 9
The biggest gain in positions among our prior top-10 members belongs to none other than the 158 series. Its attractive beveled backplate has made it a favorite among designers and manufacturers alike. It has a rounded face, which has become very popular among designers seeking polished chrome and polished nickel finishes. Since we added these items in early 2009, their popularity has only grown greater, and we at Cliffside predict further success in the future.

#6: B1 series pulls

B1-3 in polished brass

Previous rank: out of top 10
A newcomer to the party, the B1 series of pulls is a recent addition to Cliffside’s top 10 pieces of hardware. With a classic bevel around the feet of the full and bold, striking lines throughout the piece, the three sizes of the B1 (available in 3″cc, 8″cc, and 12″cc) are here to make a statement. These pieces were left out on the very cusp of our top 10 the last time around, but no longer! The B1 series pulls are now the most popular handle in the Cliffside line and are sure to remain a hit with clients and contractors for many years.

#7: K4235 series cup pulls

The K4235 cup in polished chrome

Previous rank: 7
The only cup pull to crack the top 10 is the K4235, long the leader among all of Cliffside’s bin-style handles. The simple half-circle design and the attention paid to the tiniest details in crafting this pull are what sets it apart from the competition. With a 3″ center-to-center measurement, like the rest of Cliffside’s solid brass standard pulls, the K4235 is great for drawers of many sizes and shapes. It is one of five standard cup pulls that Cliffside currently offers, but it has always been — and continues to be — the most popular.

#8: BH3A series hinges

In polished nickel, BH3A is popular.

Previous rank: 6
The longer length and beefy barrel of the BH3A series hinge keeps our customers coming back for more! Though the BH3A has dropped two positions in our rankings, it is no less popular in total pieces sold. With 12 attractive finishes, this hinge is designed to hold up to the toughest and heaviest cabinet doors. At 3¹/₂” long overall (2¹/₂” leaf), the BH3A is the largest mortised hinge in the Cliffside line.

#9: 105 series knobs

105 in silver satin, our most popular finish

Previous rank: 8
The oblong 105 is the only non-round knob that features in Cliffside’s top 10. It’s a popular piece that is easily secured against spinning by a convenient brad that holds the knob in place against the face of the cabinet door or drawer front. Its elongated design makes it easy to grip — whether installed vertically or horizontally — and its solid brass construction ensures that this piece, and its popularity, will endure for years to come.

#10: 110 series knobs

Our newest finish, Venetian bronze, on the classic 110 series

Previous rank: 5
The 110 series knobs lend a touch of class to any cabinet face. The distinctive ringed face, a simple but classic design, matches well with any cabinet style or molding. This piece is a great complement, no matter what style of kitchen you are creating. One of the heaviest knobs in our line, it is also one of the most durable.

This concludes our Power Rankings to open 2011. With questions on anything you see here, contact our Customer Service department or e-mail the blogmaster.

Honorable mention

Honorable mention: BH2A-AB-BALL

• SP series pulls (previously #10; new #11)
• K341 series cup pulls (new #12)
• BH2A-BALL and BH2A-NM-BALL hinges (new #13 & #14)

Featured finish: Venetian bronze No comments yet

B721-VB

In conjunction with our new product line rollout, Cliffside Industries has introduced a brand-new finish to complement our top nine colors already available. The new Venetian bronze finish is a luxurious blend of rich chocolate brown and vibrant copper that shows exquisite detailing on even the plainest of pieces. Pieces with raised centers and small designs now have an opportunity to “pop” visually on your cabinets and drawers.

K544-VB

One of the most distinctive features of the VB finish is the “thumbprint” mark created in the production process. On cup pulls and on many knobs in the Venetian bronze, a bright streak of copper highlights the difference in color tones between the dark and the light. This design is also prevalent on the B674 series rope knob and on the SP series pulls, where the brushing appears on the surface of the center scroll, on the bends of the pull, and around the rim of the backplate.

BH2A-VB-BALL

This fabulous finish will be available in all of our most popular-selling items, including all items that are part of the new hardware suites. This includes:

• Ten knobs (100, 100-20, 105, 110, 158, 161, B674, B721, K-579, K-580)
• Four 3″cc pulls (B1-3, K344, P-399, SP-3)
• Four 3″cc cup pulls (K341, K4235, K544, P-398)
• Four 8″cc oversized pulls (B1-8, K344-8, P-399-8, SP-8)
• Four 12″cc appliance pulls (B1-12, K344-12, P-399-12, SP-12)
• Two cupboard latches (IBCL, SBCL)
• Six hinges (BH2A, BH2A-NM, BH2A-BALL, BH2A-NM-BALL, BH3NA, 3-8-OFFSET)

IBCL-VB

Cliffside Industries looks forward to further serving your hardware needs by developing this premium finish for use in your showrooms and in your kitchens. Contact us today by phone (800-873-9258), fax (800-926-3435) or e-mail (info@cliffsideind.com) for more information, or visit our website to view further pictures of Venetian bronze on our “new product” flyer.

Ask the Expert: Hardware installation No comments yet

The Expert!

When do I use a cup, a pull and a knob ?

The traditional application is to use a cup or a pull for the cabinet drawers and a knob for the hinged cabinet doors. On wide drawers, it is also common to mount two knobs.

To open big refrigerator/appliance doors with fabricated cabinet panels, longer and larger pulls are being used to allow for greater leverage. These pulls range anywhere from 8″ to 24″ long and upwards.

Cliffside has an extensive line of knobs, cups, pulls and appliance pulls available in traditional, classic and designer styles, a variety of high quality materials including stainless steel and solid brass and in up to 10 popular finishes. Break-off screws are included with all Cliffside hardware.  

Professional installation is advised for all hardware.

Pulls can be used in a variety of locations on your doors and drawers.

Cups and Pulls

For cabinet drawers

The optimum placement of cups and pulls is to find the spot slightly above the center line (vertical) on the drawerand the spot that makes the pull look like it is centered when the cabinets are viewed from above (as if you were standing at the countertop looking down). The amount of offset is up to the installer, but starting with 1/16″ and up is a good place to start.

Using a Phillips head screw driver and the standard thread 8/32 x 1¾” break off screws included with your hardware, mount the drawer cup or pull on the face of the cabinet. Turn the screw into the socket clockwise.

For hinged doors

Avoid placing the pull in the corner of the door frame. We recommend placing the pull in the upper third, but with many traditional-style cabinets a pull in the center of the door stile (vertical) can be pleasing.

SP-12-OA, one of the most popular appliance pulls

Appliance Pulls

We recommend utilizing your appliance manufacturer’s installation/design guide for mounting instructions. Professional installation is especially advised for all appliance hardware.

The optimum placement of appliance pulls on hinged doors is when the center of the door hardware is at elbow height of the adult users in the home. This allows the lowest part of the handle to be used by children comfortably.

The optimum placement of pulls on appliances should be in the center of the appliance panel’s top rail, regardless of width.

For both hinged door and drawer panels, we recommend mounting our hardware slightly away from the panel edge. This allows a little more finger clearance on these larger pulls

Note the placement of knobs and pulls in this kitchen with Cliffside hardware installed.

Knobs

For wide cabinet drawers

Avoid mounting them too widely or narrowly. The optimum placement of two knobs on wide drawers is the center of the door below (if applicable) and align vertically with the outer third of each door. If there are only more drawers below, then measure the drawer into thirds to find the best spot.

For base cabinet drawers

The optimum placement of a knob on a base cabinet drawer is slightly above the center line (vertical) on the drawer. This helps make the knob look like it is centered when the cabinets are viewed from above (as if you were standing at the countertop looking down). As with any pull, the amount of offset is up to the installer, but 1/16″ and up is a good place to start.

For hinged doors

We recommend placing the knob on a hinged doors in the upper third of the door face. Both options provide more leverage. Using the corner of the door to install hardware can cause weakness in the hinges over repeated use, so as with a pull, we suggest avoiding that particular location.

Cabinet manufacturer’s exclusive! No comments yet

Why not switch to a high-quality adjustable extruded solid brass hinge? Sure, in the short run, those steel hinges may look like a good buy, but over time, they could end up costing you more money for replacement pieces, and they result in far too many complaints from dealers and customers.

BH2A-SS

Made by European craftsmen who are masters of precision manufacturing, our high-quality hinges have been made with the cooperation of the biggest and best cabinetmakers in the industry. They have given us their input at every step of the development of these hinges to give you a premium product that is easy to work with. Our hinges are hand-finished to give them that polished perfection on which your customers have learned to depend. For comparable prices to our competitors’ steel hinges, you can get the lasting quality and durability of solid brass. Your days of frustration working with low-quality hinges are over!

BH2A-NM-OA

Have you considered Cliffside Industries as your source for adjustable solid brass hinges?

Cliffside has been designing and distributing high-quality extruded brass hinges for over 20 years, and we supply many of the industry’s top cabinet manufacturers. To make you a believer, we are offering to send you one sample BH2A or BH2A-NM hinge in your choice of finish. The only cost to you for this sample is the $4.00 freight charge.
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