I think you’re missing an important detail. MicroJig hold a patent on their product and Hongdui have infringed that patent to bring their product to market. They’re controversial sure but their version isn’t available for import into the USA because of this. Your conclusion is fair, but for me china knockoffs are morally wrong.
I can appreciate this, I wanted to stay away from the politics in this review as everyone is always going to be opposed to your view and as much as those that are for it so I wanted to try and stay true to the comparison of the two but yes, I would agree with your stand point 👌
Yah I don’t see it as a political issue at all. I see it as stealing our technology and profiteering from it. But China has never seen it as stealing. They copy our products and call it good business practices. It comes down to a lack of morals with the Chinese.
@@woodcraft_cz It's not about politics. We spent 3 years developing the FitFinder, tens of thousands of dollars on tooling and molds, and the patents are often more expensive than the tooling. These costs HAVE to be recovered by the developers. The Chinese knock-off companies have none of these costs, just copy and sell. The long term result is that US companies like MicroJig will stop innovating new products because it does not pay. And the Chinese knock-off companies will NOT bring you any new innovations.
@@Microjig I completely agree with your outlook on this but the reality of it is, they have ripped you off and released an almost identical product, this effects you directly as a business but the end user not so much, (yes, there can be a residual effect) so their view would perhaps take a different stance and some may not even realise. So when I say I’m staying out of the politics that’s exactly what I mean, you will have some completely against and some completely for the Chinese rip off then you’ll have many somewhere in the middle. Now if this video had been about my view on the ethics surrounding these items then it would indeed be political as the individual viewer would then presumably make a decision on this with perhaps influence from the video, making it very much political because politics are essentially all about making decisions especially in our wood working community ergo I wanted to stay out of it. I chose to make a comparison video and evaluate each item solely of functional merit to which I believe I did a good job. So to summarise I totally understand and agree with your take on this but feel this video wasn’t a showcase on how rip off companies in China are ruining genuinely hardworking companies who are innovative and pushing the community forward, believe me I nearly have all your products
I would love to use Microjig Half Guage. It is cheaper ($34.00 in amazon) compared to the Hongdui one ($46). However, shipping cost to where I live (on the other side of the world to the US) shipping cost is $15.18 and import duty is $ 15.89. So the total is $65.07. The price of the Hongdui 1/2 Guage already include free shipping and import duty. The shipping cost alone for some products from the US is more than the cost of the product. Alternatively, for products that is not too bulky and heavy, I sometimes wait until a friend is visiting the US before I make a purchase. Then shipping is practically free.
The feature you couldn’t figure out is what makes the hongdui product much better! Being steel the pointer can scribe wood and being able to extend it means it scribes higher. I have both products also, the micro jig is now relegated to second place
I have the Microjig. And I also have a marking guage that can reference the microjig with no cumbersomeness necessary. You can only really use one corner edge with the Hongdui and in many cases need to fiddle with extending its blade out. Both achieve the same results, in terms of accuracy. Depends on if you prefer using a dedicated marking guage. After hearing about the weight difference and magnetic versatility, I remain happy with my purchase.
What is ironic is if the origin of mfg was swapped. The plastic "thingy" would have been ridiculed for just looking cheap while the heft of the aluminum would have been hailed as good old American made "stuff". So, did the Chinese decide on the heft because they thought that's what Americans would want? Or was it their way of making sure of not being accused of "borrowing" an idea? If it's the former, it's kind of funny how it backfired. With everything else being equal, I'd go for the Microjig product because of the magnets.
😅 haha all valid questions I can only speculate on. To add if the Hongdui had been the only one to release this type of guage I may not even have battered an eyelid at any of the issues I mentioned. That just re enforces the fact it is most definitely a quality product but having been spoiled by microjig version, for my “needs” microjig just wins the cup 🙌
The price for the Microjig Fitfinder is ridiculous and shows that patents are not always to the best. I think I will look up what is patented. It would be bad if such an old mechanism like the 45 degree angle to get to half the distance could be patented.
@@woodcraft_cz The reason that was my first thought is that a few thousandths is important, and by definition there has to be play in the slides. e.g. + or - .004 makes a huge diff in a joint.
Set the microjig up, lock the knobs down starting with full thickness measure knob first. You get zero slop. You have to push down with force on the half way measure part and lock it under pressure to get any inaccuracy. Who would do that?
I’d take the Chinese version 10/10 times, better made, you can scribe with it and I’m betting 5 times more accurate due to the smaller build clearance. So what! The magnets are stronger on the plastic one.. Unscrew them from the Chinese version and replace with better magnets, problem solved. imho
I’ve owned both and I agree. The build quality of the Chinese one is much better. And weight? I’m not taking it backpacking across Europe . I see his point regarding the magnets but having it score a line for me is way more important that sticking it on a vertical surface (I’ve yet to need to). I returned the micro jig - I like their products but the only plastic tools I want are push sticks and other items that I might nick with a saw blade.
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I think you’re missing an important detail. MicroJig hold a patent on their product and Hongdui have infringed that patent to bring their product to market. They’re controversial sure but their version isn’t available for import into the USA because of this. Your conclusion is fair, but for me china knockoffs are morally wrong.
I can appreciate this, I wanted to stay away from the politics in this review as everyone is always going to be opposed to your view and as much as those that are for it so I wanted to try and stay true to the comparison of the two but yes, I would agree with your stand point 👌
Yah I don’t see it as a political issue at all. I see it as stealing our technology and profiteering from it. But China has never seen it as stealing. They copy our products and call it good business practices. It comes down to a lack of morals with the Chinese.
@@woodcraft_cz It's not about politics. We spent 3 years developing the FitFinder, tens of thousands of dollars on tooling and molds, and the patents are often more expensive than the tooling. These costs HAVE to be recovered by the developers. The Chinese knock-off companies have none of these costs, just copy and sell. The long term result is that US companies like MicroJig will stop innovating new products because it does not pay. And the Chinese knock-off companies will NOT bring you any new innovations.
@@Microjig I completely agree with your outlook on this but the reality of it is, they have ripped you off and released an almost identical product, this effects you directly as a business but the end user not so much, (yes, there can be a residual effect) so their view would perhaps take a different stance and some may not even realise. So when I say I’m staying out of the politics that’s exactly what I mean, you will have some completely against and some completely for the Chinese rip off then you’ll have many somewhere in the middle. Now if this video had been about my view on the ethics surrounding these items then it would indeed be political as the individual viewer would then presumably make a decision on this with perhaps influence from the video, making it very much political because politics are essentially all about making decisions especially in our wood working community ergo I wanted to stay out of it. I chose to make a comparison video and evaluate each item solely of functional merit to which I believe I did a good job. So to summarise I totally understand and agree with your take on this but feel this video wasn’t a showcase on how rip off companies in China are ruining genuinely hardworking companies who are innovative and pushing the community forward, believe me I nearly have all your products
I would love to use Microjig Half Guage. It is cheaper ($34.00 in amazon) compared to the Hongdui one ($46). However, shipping cost to where I live (on the other side of the world to the US) shipping cost is $15.18 and import duty is $ 15.89. So the total is $65.07. The price of the Hongdui 1/2 Guage already include free shipping and import duty. The shipping cost alone for some products from the US is more than the cost of the product. Alternatively, for products that is not too bulky and heavy, I sometimes wait until a friend is visiting the US before I make a purchase. Then shipping is practically free.
Yeah unfortunately for me too, everything that comes from the US generally doubles in price 😞
The feature you couldn’t figure out is what makes the hongdui product much better! Being steel the pointer can scribe wood and being able to extend it means it scribes higher. I have both products also, the micro jig is now relegated to second place
Yeah definitely all warranted reasons but for me I just like the microjig myself 😁
No, it is aluminum, not steel.
@@Woodcademy the scribe pointer is stainless steel
I have the Microjig. And I also have a marking guage that can reference the microjig with no cumbersomeness necessary. You can only really use one corner edge with the Hongdui and in many cases need to fiddle with extending its blade out. Both achieve the same results, in terms of accuracy. Depends on if you prefer using a dedicated marking guage. After hearing about the weight difference and magnetic versatility, I remain happy with my purchase.
But you can use the metal blade to mark your wood. I’d buy the Chinese for that reason.
Tbh il always mark with a knife or pencil, to this day I still grab the microjig. The Hongdui is just cumbersome
What is ironic is if the origin of mfg was swapped. The plastic "thingy" would have been ridiculed for just looking cheap while the heft of the aluminum would have been hailed as good old American made "stuff".
So, did the Chinese decide on the heft because they thought that's what Americans would want? Or was it their way of making sure of not being accused of "borrowing" an idea? If it's the former, it's kind of funny how it backfired.
With everything else being equal, I'd go for the Microjig product because of the magnets.
😅 haha all valid questions I can only speculate on. To add if the Hongdui had been the only one to release this type of guage I may not even have battered an eyelid at any of the issues I mentioned. That just re enforces the fact it is most definitely a quality product but having been spoiled by microjig version, for my “needs” microjig just wins the cup 🙌
The price for the Microjig Fitfinder is ridiculous and shows that patents are not always to the best. I think I will look up what is patented. It would be bad if such an old mechanism like the 45 degree angle to get to half the distance could be patented.
What would have been useful is an actual accurate measurement of their accuracy and slop factor from the play in the slides.
I actually think the microjig has a little more play, however they mark the same which I should of included in the video
@@woodcraft_cz The reason that was my first thought is that a few thousandths is important, and by definition there has to be play in the slides. e.g. + or - .004 makes a huge diff in a joint.
Set the microjig up, lock the knobs down starting with full thickness measure knob first. You get zero slop. You have to push down with force on the half way measure part and lock it under pressure to get any inaccuracy. Who would do that?
I’d take the Chinese version 10/10 times, better made, you can scribe with it and I’m betting 5 times more accurate due to the smaller build clearance. So what! The magnets are stronger on the plastic one.. Unscrew them from the Chinese version and replace with better magnets, problem solved. imho
I’ve owned both and I agree. The build quality of the Chinese one is much better. And weight? I’m not taking it backpacking across Europe . I see his point regarding the magnets but having it score a line for me is way more important that sticking it on a vertical surface (I’ve yet to need to). I returned the micro jig - I like their products but the only plastic tools I want are push sticks and other items that I might nick with a saw blade.