Hey, I didn't think model numbers were important same size/ type sink and all, but here they are: Ticor S405 $170(with grid and strainer - basket or regular), Mr Direct 2421D $110 (with grid and regular strainer). Both prices include shipping. Also, I haven't compared with Franke, Blanco etc. but I was hoping others had. Now I have to go look at those. Dag-nabit! Still between the cheaper online sinks, my review, although subjective, was done as objectively as subjective can be. Eh?

After 21 years of use, I am replacing a white Franke composite sink, as I am removing worn laminate countertops and replacing them with quartz. I have agonized over the choice of a new sink and have done much research about them. While I love my current sink, it has developed many small cracks around the disposal drain presumably from hot oil poured into the sink. You cannot feel the cracks, they are not raised, but there is a web of them all around the drain. Of course, this has been after many years of heavy duty use. Since Franke no longer makes granite composite sinks,(which has me curious as to why they discontinued them), I am down to a choice of SS, Silgranite II, or Iron coated with enamel. After much research, most chefs and other serious cooks recommend SS sinks. In fact, many of the current sink offerings for residential use are channeling the sharp angled configurations of restaurant SS sinks. On line reviewers and the salesperson at my local plumbing supply have experienced staining and chipping with cast Iron sinks. The salesperson told me that many companies will replace them if they do chip or stain, but they only send you a new sink, the owner is responsible for the cost of installation. Some reviewers on line talk about scratches in Silgranite sinks, especially on the darker colors. One magazine editorial that reviewed sink materials even included a picture that was taken of a showroom sink that had a scratch in the bottom that would not come out when the editor tried to remove it while in the store. From my on-line research, the cracking with Silgranite seems to have been only during transport and installation, however people have written about scratches that occurred during use. Missing from the comments on this site is the type of cooking being done by those offering their opinions. There is a big difference in experience with kitchen gear between a person who makes light meals for one or two people versus a gourmet cook who executes complex multi-course meals for many guests. As for myself, the utility of a sink is a more important consideration than how it looks. If I am in the middle of preparing a complex meal, I do not want to worry that I might damage my sink if I lob a heavy skillet or pot into it!

Crl_ - those links are about appliances' stainless steel skins, which are a different composition from stainless steel sinks. I have seen a few posts on this forum (or maybe the Appliances Forum) from people complaining that their fridges are showing rust spots. It's terrible how the manufacturers are cutting corners.

Here's a link with threads discussing different reveals: GW search Just by reading this forum for a few years, it seems to me that that negative reveals are more popular--a negative reveal covers the caulk, and you don't see any grunge that collects there. Negative and flush reveals have a cleaner, sleeker look, IMO, but have a higher incidence of chipping, especially if the counter material is prone to chipping, such as some soapstone and marble varieties. I've read that negative reveals are easier to install because the edge of the sink is masked--it's easier to see slight variations in a positive or flush reveal. The argument for a positive reveal (other than the option for an integrated cutting board), is that one can see the grunge and clean it more easily, and deteriorating caulk can be discovered and redone sooner rather than later. The caulk line is also visible in a flush reveal. The left and right sides of my counter are m/l flush with the sink edge--DIY amateur, so there is a slight offset, but not enough to redo it.