I could have spent over $100 on the one that went with my sink or I could have bought one that didn't have the drain hole in the right place for $39. I went with $39. The grid is wonderful and I'd do it again. The grid I bought has the cross grid as opposed to single bars. I think it was circuspeanut who alerted me to that. The single bars allow stuff to fall through.

Here is a link that might be useful: cheap sink grids

A few ideas.

1/
I searched recently for "steam pan" and
I came across "steam pan grate"
Here are two examples.

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A.

GRA-1 Full Size Pan Grate - 18" x 10" x 7/8"
$4.15
GRA-2 Half Size Pan Grate - 8" x 9" x 7/8"
$2.25
GRA-3 Third Size Pan Grate - 5" x 10 1/8" x 7/8"
$1.90

http://www.food-equipment.com/foodpans.htm

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B.

Wire Pan Grate, Fits Third Size Steam Table Pan $1.95 JR-5307
Wire Pan Grate, 1/3 size, fits third size steam table pan,
5" X 10-1/4", nickel-chrome plated steel.
Welded wire mesh. Heavy duty construction.
Wire Pan Grate, Fits Half Size Steam Table Pan $2.25 JR-5308
Wire Pan Grate, 1/2 size, fits half size steam table pan,
8-1/2" X 10-1/4", nickel-chrome plated steel.
Welded wire mesh. Heavy duty construction.
Wire Pan Grate, Fits Full Size Steam Table Pan $2.95 JR-5309
Wire Pan Grate, full size, fits full size steam table pan,
10" X 18", nickel-chrome plated steel.
Welded wire mesh. Heavy duty construction.

http://www.akitchen.com/store/steam.html

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C.

Steam Table
Pan Grate
Full Size
Item # 441114
$2.72
This one is from Costco.com

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I guess this means we can make money selling grates to homeowners. By calling the grates grids you can prevent homeowners from seeing the competition. Don't share this with anyone else. Let this be our secret. : - )

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2/

I got two stainless steel "trivets" from Ikea.
I put them on the counter on each side of the sink now.
They overhang over the edges; it's an undermount sink.
They create symmetry and framing. That is the visual effect.
I can use them as a landing pad: a wall oven is nearby.
I can use them to dry things, the same way you would if you had runnels (grooves) cut into the counter.
Initially I used one at the bottom of the sink, as a grid. It was fine. It took some getting used to. The trivet bars are far apart, so things need placement or they do fall through.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30111087 Lamplig . $7 . a steal.

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3/

I put my wall ovens grates in the bottom of the sink yesterday.
(... offhand I can't remember now if grate or grid or another term is the right one, for the open shelf in an oven...)
They fit perfectly.
They are a bit flimsy but nobody is going to put ten pound point objects on them.
I left them there.
Nobody complained.

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4/

I think ...
Grids don't need to cover all the real estate at the bottom of the sink.
So idea number one is looking better than ever.
Today, this "Full Size Steam Table Pan" selling for $2.95 is looking better than ever.
Yesterday I saw grates for $1, and large size ones for less than $2.
When I get to a professional restaurant supply store, I'll go look at steam pan grates.

hth

Thank you for the responses pinch me & davidro1. Gosh davidro1 - you really did some great homework. Your steam table idea is really a savings but they don't appear to have the little rubber feet to protect the sink from their scratching. I wonder how I could work around that. For a couple of dollars, I should be able to figure out something. Thank you again.

I got mine from FaucetDirect.com because I just thought the retail was outrageous. There was something like a 20% difference.