What is your budget?

Elkay is always a safe choice. However stainless will age naturally with use and not look like a freshly grained piece after some months or years of use. The stainless cleaners will make it shiny for a while but the fine scratches that come from use won't go away.

I rather like the patina of age on these plus, its like not having to worry about the first rock scratch on a new car. otherwise stainless is really durable. There are several grades of stainless and the more premium products will have a harder stainless with more nickle in it.

Franke...look at their website section...About Franke...

Julien SS sinks are quite nice.

What is the application? Granite? Estone? Solid surface?

C-Tech makes a very nice sink. 304 stainless is 304 stainless no matter the brand. They perform the same.

I will second Kraus because of my recent experience with their Customer Service. I purchased a sink,faucet, and soap dispenser combo package from Overstock in 2010 for our lower level kitchen. This kitchen has been in constant use for the last two years due to our main kitchen remodel. The sink has held up beautifully because Kraus includes the stainless grid for the sink bottom. A couple of days before Thanksgiving, the faucet began to leak through the spray button. I called Kraus customer service in Port Jefferson NY and explained what was happening, and within a few days I had a new spray head delivered to my doorstep at no charge. I liked this faucet so much, that I purchased another one for the main kitchen, and I have had many other brands of kitchen faucets, including Grohe, Kohler and Moen. Kraus asked for a copy of my receipt, so just hold onto your paperwork if you order from them.

We bought a Miseno from FaucetDirect. Looks amazing, but can't attest to its durability yet (not installed). Apparently Miseno is Build.com's line of Kraus or something like that. Our's was delivered in a Kraus box, so makes sense. Cabinet maker commented that it's a good brand.

I found this thread helpful: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2520103/miseno-sinks

Kraus one day Sale on amazon today.

Elkay pioneered the die-drawing method of cold pressing used to manufacture stainless sinks. With manufacturing facilities in Broadview, Illinois; Lumberton,
North Carolina; and Ogden, Utah, Elkay manufactures many of its
sanitary-ware products (toilet, sinks, etc.) domestically. But, it also
owns Zhuhai Daya S.E.Z., a manufacturer based in China, and E.B. Tecnica Mexicana,
Mexico's largest sink manufacturer located in San Luis Potosi. These
provide stainless steel sinks for their home markets, but also supply
Elkay with sinks for sale in the U.S. and Canada.

Franke makes many of its stainless sinks in Switzerland and Canada (Franke-Kindred), but also gets some of its sinks from a Chinese
factory owned by its subsidiary, Franke (China) Kitchen Systems Co., Ltd, And, some of Franke's
stainless sink manufacturing is farmed out. Chinese companies such as jiangxi Zoje Kitchen & Bath Industry Co., Ltd., manufacture stainless sinks for Franke as well as a half a dozen other "name brands". You have to check the box to see where a Franke sink is made, or ask customer service. And, as the same sink may be made to two or more different factories, sometimes customer service cannot tell you where a sink is made.

Miseno is a build.com/faucetdirect.com private brand. Its sinks are all made in China or Korea. Miseno has no known association with Kraus, so I am surprised to hear of a Miseno product being delivered in a Kraus box. I think some Chinese factory got its orders mixed up. We have no information on the quality of Miseno sinks -- the brand is too new -- and welcome any information readers here might have.

Kraus USA is an importer of Chinese sinks, but seems to import only better quality sinks, and is a good prospect. The Kraus sinks we have installed have had no issues, and as noted by wilson853 above, Kraus customer support is pretty good. Kraus faucets, too, have improved over the years I don't think they are yet up to the average quality of Cifial or Danze, and certainly not Delta, but they are better than the average Chinese import.

Another source for Chinese sinks that has not been mentioned here is Ruvati, a relatively new company that offers stainless sinks of decent quality made mostly by XinHe Stainless Steel Products Co., Ltd. , a reputable producer of quality stainless steel products with a good international reputation.

Chinese sinks used to be considerably cheaper, but they have been hit hard with an anti-dumping penalty tariff and are now about the same price as sinks made in North America.

You are not going to find a stainless sink that does not dull with time and scratch with use. There is no such product. Do stay away from highly polished sinks. They look great in the showroom, but not after three months of use in your kitchen. Go with a brushed finish, 304 or 305 stainless and at least 18 gauge steel -- 16 gauge is even better. Buy only sinks with a lifetime warranty. If the manufacturer is not confident enough in its sinks to guarantee them for a lifetime, then you should share its lack of confidence and move on to another brand.

I think stainless sinks require too much maintenance, and would not have one. But, it's a personal choice, and I know of folks who would not have anything else.

What great information and I appreciate you sharing all of your extensive knowledge about sinks. It is quite helpful.

StarCraft Custom Builders - if you do not recommend stainless sinks, what would be your first choice?

If you wind up looking for a single bowl sink with offset drain, Elkay makes this one. We're about to order that one. Since I haven't installed it, I can't attest to how it wares. The
promotional photo looks nice.

My plumber seems to like Elkay and owns one, and reviews seem to agree they are a safe brand.

cwilcoxson

For my own kitchen, I ( (read "my wife") chose a Kohler enamel on cast iron sink.