Chinese tools: I have both Mtutoyo and cheap Chinese micrometers. Just out of curiosity I compared the measurement of the two, both measured exactly the same throughout their range of movement. The only difference, the Mitutoyo cost over a hundred bucks, the Chimese micrometer was $8 and the Chimese micrometer is much heavier.
The Mitutoyo sits in its box and I never use it. The cheap Chinese one gets thrown all around the shop, dropped on the floor, sits in a pool of coolant for hours and still it measures accurately. I wonder how well the Mitutoyo would stand up to that treatment.
When Ibought the cheapies I reasoned if I damaged them they were only a few bucks to replace, they are all well over 15 years old now, never had to replace them.
That's not to say all Chinese manufactured items are oky doky. The Chinese have trouble accepting the difference between imperial and metric measurement: I bought a throttle which the ad said would fit 22mm/7/8" bars, I enquired as to whether they were 22mm or 7/8". They replied 'both'. I sent off for them anyway and when they arrived they would not fit 7/8", however they fit a piece of 22mm tube I had lying around. Interestingly, the Chinese also advertise their bars as 22mm/7/8" bars, but they are actually 7/8". I found the same with handlebar switchgear. Switchgear are easy to fix with a little judicious filing, but throttles - nope!
