I like Mitutoyo for quality.
Lewis Stout has some affordable .0005" indicators available that look pretty decent.
An alternative to purchasing cheap junk, is to find surplus auctions. The aircraft industry is always rotating out tooling, downsizing, etc, and auction off tons of fantastic quality tools for pennies. There are even brick and mortar businesses who specialize in liquidating surplus tooling from the aircraft industry. There are many online sellers as well.
In response to Chip's comment regarding DQing a competitor using an import gauge....I'd go one step further and say that the typical 8" degree wheels used in the tech barn are just about worthless.
If I'm teching (or teaching tech to other tech men,) I'm very clear about not tossing someone by a degree (the width of the needle indicator wire) using an 8" degree wheel. When we build engines here in the shop, I use a 22" wheel, that hangs off of the side of the work bench, that I can split half and even 1/4 degrees with.
I'd also suggest that you get your gauges certified if you are doing tech and if you are building engines.
It's not hard to find someone who works in a factory with a tool crib that can help you get your gauges certified once a year.
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Thanks and God bless,
Brian Carlson
Carlson Racing Engines
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31 years of service to the karting industry
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bcarlson@CarlsonMotorsports.com