Hi guys. Not being local i'm an occasional poster.

I'd appreciate some help if possible with Star-M hinge drills. It seems they are distributed in Oz, so i'm hoping somebody may be familiar.

Having heard excellent reports i bought a set from a Euro supplier who offers a premium Japanese made Star-M product, and a 1/3 priced budget Taiwanese made alternative. (implicitly also by Star-M and on the same page, although the former is not explicitly stated - the designs are very similar indeed, and probably share parts) Trouble is I've been supplied with what looks like the Taiwanese item in Star-M blister packaging. The Japanese product looks to be dimensionally more or less identical, but is polished rather than having a satin/bead blasted and plated finish, has eased shoulders and the name is stamped into it rather than printed - pic from a different EBay supplier here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-M-QUICK...item418f09e470.

The concern is that the premium product may very well be made to tighter tolerances, and be different in detail respects that matter. I've meanwhile paid for the premium set and need a reliably performing tool.

Trouble is that if they actually are the budget item they could (judging by the majority of other brands on our local market) prove problematical as a result of poor fits and finishes. The supplier is stonewalling - avoiding the obvious difference in their own write up and photos that position the obviously different Japanese item as the premium product, and falling back to the argument that i ordered and was supplied with Star-M items. Against that they normally deliver excellent service. The situation is complicated by the fact that the Star-M english language catalogue coming up on the web doesn't even list a set of hinge drills - so checking hasn't been possible.

There's no question but that the two products are closely related, and for sure what i have is Star-M branded. It's very possible that all is well, that Star-M has made a running change and started using the Taiwanese supplier, but that the product is better than the budget stuff and to acceptable standards. Or they have simply started supplying the budget product in place of their own, and my supplier is conveniently ignoring this - even if the budget product is just fine.

Anybody know what the story might be? I can keep or return what i have, or could even exchange them for the budget product - but the right course of action depends on the specifics.

Thanks, ian