20 responses so far ↓

• 1 Bienvenue

  I just sent back the third C8FSE in a row. None of the three could cut a straight line… I ordered the Forrest bladeForrest CM08H606100 Chopmaster 8-1/2-Inch 60 Tooth ATB Miter Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for as clean a cut as possible. I square the fence to the blade, and on small stock it looked great. But when I tried cutting wide stock (12″ or more) for cabinets, the manufacturer defect showed up.

  The arbor on the first saw was bent, making blade visibly wobble. I returned it for replacement.

  The arbor was good on the second, but the entire head was cocked out of parallel alignment with the slides. With the factory blade installed, the maple veneer would slightly tear out on the left as the blade exited the ply. With the Forrest blade there was no tear out, but after completing the cut my co-worker and I could both see a belly that let in daylight between the cut and a straight-edge.

  I had the same problem with the last replacement.

• 2 Veblen

  I’ve been using this saw for a week now to cut trim. Assembly was easy, and took about 10 minutes, I did have to consult the manual for the setup. The laser is dead on, and the light is bright and very nice. The cuts are absolutely clean, and it cuts fast. I am a bit concerned about finding a replacement blade, I didn’t see this size in Lowe’s or Home Depot. So far I’m very happy with the purchase, it’s a great tool!

• 3 Esparza

  Having owned 6 Hitachi C8FB2 saws this new version does not compare. Very cheap. Save yourself the time and misery spend the extra hundred and buy the saw built for a lifetime. My shop cuts a million dollars of exotic hardwoods a year with the C8FB2.

• 4 Sheen

  I’ll break it down simply put, the good and the bad. I was not sure if this saw would replace the older version and be as well built. It’s not the same quality as the older one. Hitachi designers did a good job making this saw very light weight, but sacrificed some of the quality with plastic and a thin casted table. The saw was dead on with the cross cut set at 0 degrees. Miters came out fair when cutting large crown but were off by maybe a 1/32″-1/16″ every time. Here is what I found out. I took a framing square and checked the relationship between the left and right fence. That was on the money. I then checked the table and realized that the miter center table sat below the left and right outside support tables a whole 1/16th. There is no adjustability to raise or lower the miter table and that’s why my cuts are off slightly. That combined with the play of the head and rails having some slop and being able to freely clunk the head to the right and left a 16th. The best way I can describe it is it feels like the head doesn’t ride on the right rail snuggly, and by the time you tighten the slide action so you don’t have any play its very stiff to slide. Also the blade guard stays low when you bring the head down and doesn’t allow you to start your cut with a back stroke and then to finish your cut with the forward stroke with ease. The kerf insert is also another big 1/32 below the already low miter table. That’s 3/32nds out of level. The good is that it is very light, portable, decently accurate and it has a rebate as of right now for a Hitachi 2 1/4hp router. I work in very high end homes working with prefinished huge crown molding and paneling, etc and need the accuracy to be within a 1/32th. If you don’t need this kind of precision then this saw is a decent unit. If the table wasn’t out of level with the base I would have worked it out. But because you can’t adjust this problem I am sending it back. It’s also kind of cheesy to be blunt. As an alternative I bought the Hitachi 10″ slider which is a Japanese made unit and is proven to be accurate from my experience. Hope this review helps some finish carpenters out there

• 5 Jeffries

  THIS WAS THE FIRST CHOP SAW I BOUGHT BECAUSE 15 YEARS AGO IT WAS THE STATE OF ART SAW ALL SAWS TODAY ARE FROM THIS HITACHI.EXCEPT FOR THE CRAZY TABLE IN METRIC HELLO. WE GAVE THAT UP IN THE EIGHTYS.

  FRAME,SIDING OR TRIM THIS BABY IS TUFF AND EASY TO SQUARE IF SOMETHING UNFORTUNE HAPPENS IE FALL OFF YOU PUMP JACKS AT 25′OR OUT OF THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK, THIS SAW IS THE BEST SAW FOR THE MONEY AND WHO NEEDS DOUBLE BEVEL. IN 15 YEARS THE FIRST 7 THIS HITACH WAS MY ONLY MITER SAW AND I USED IT ALL DAY EVERY DAY MANY MANY HOURS START AND STOP MOVE IT HERE THEN THERE BUMP DROP THE THING IS BOMBER. I HAVE REPLACED THE STATOR ASSEMBLY,THE ARMATURE,TRIGGERS X4, AND MANY CARBON BRUSHES AND A FEW OF THOSE ORANGE PLASTIC BEVEL INDICATORS I FINALLY MADE A METAL ONE . THIS HITACHI HAS MADE ITS MONEY TEN FOLD AND WOULD BUY IT AGAIN WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR MANY OF THE TOOLS I OWN.
  THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT HITACHIS’ FIRST GENERATION OF SLIDING CHOP SAWS, I WAS TRIMMING OUT A HIGHEND CONDO COMPLEX “CHATEAU FEW YEARS BACK AND THE OTHER FELLAS HAD THE NEW MAKITA 10″,GREAT SAW HAVE BOUGHT 2 SINCE, BUT ALL OF THEIR MITERS OPENED OVER A FEW DAYS SAME APPLICATION SO IAM THINKING IT MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BLADE SPEED OR BLADE. I WILL ALWAYS RECOMEND THE CB81/2. LAZERS AND ALL THE BLING ARE FOR SHOW BASIC MODEL COSTS LESS AND LESS TO BREAK.WTM S.S. CO.

• 6 Keoho

  After waiting for years to buy this saw because of all the great reviews I bought the one with the laser. I build furniture and thought this would be the end all of miter saws. First off, the fence was out of adjustment and took some doing to line up. After less than 3 months of limited usage, the electric brake quit braking! I took it to an authorized repair facility, they ordered a switch which came in defective. Then they ordered another switch, armature, and two other items and I got the saw back after about 4 weeks. Less than 10 hours of use and once again, no brake — it just coasts down forever which really makes it totally inefficient. I’d just as soon use my table saw. I contacted Hitachi once again wanting them to send my a replacement but it won’t work that way. I need to take it to another authorized repair place and have them go through whatever the proper channels are to replace this saw. Maybe since it’s “new & improved” I should have gotten the older, proven one or maybe because it’s made in a different factory. Whatever the case, I’m very disappointed with this saw up to now. Purchased the end of October and barely any use.

• 7 Pluim

  I purchased this for my Dad for X-Mas and he loved it! The laser was a nice bonus that he didn’t have from his previous model.

• 8 Hanson

  I read with intrest the comments of roscoe4 concerning his Hitachi C78BK circular saw.I too like the saw for the very same reasons that he likes his i.e. light weight, powerful, easy-to-see blade at all angles etc. but to become disenchanted with an otherwise above average saw because a thumbscrew strips out is something I wouldn’t admit. I have also had this very same problem and the solution is quite simple. First tap the hole with the next size fine thread metric tap, screw a wing nut on a 1 1/4″ bolt corresponding to the tap, bush with a few flat washers, screw this assembly into the new hole and you’re back in business. Total time:10 minutes….Total cost: approx. $1.00. I have owned my saw for over four years now and have used it every day,mostly for framing,and aside from the above mentioned “problem” have only replaced the brushes and power cord. My saw has been dropped off ladders, rained on countless times and still comes back for more. When I do finally lay it to rest I’ll definetly buy another one just like it.

• 9 Neiman

  While I am impressed with the overall performance of the saw,its light weight, plenty of power for ripping, its easy to see where the blade is,and is very smooth in the startup, it does have one very serious flaw…the thumb screw and the mounting plate , where it screws into on the saw, (so that you can set the saw on a bevel) are made of aluminum, and with very much use or any over tightening, they both strip out and render the saw near useless.This is both frustrating and annoying to the saw owner, not to mention costly. I have purchased two of these saws so far and this has happened to both of them.Currently I have become quite disenchanted with this and have gone to purchasing a more reliable brand.

• 10 Carlisle

  This saw is a very well built saw, however it seems it is now out of production. I don’t understand why Hitach stopped production nor do I understand why Makita stopped production of the makita 5007nb, which is the only saw I would say is better than this Hitachi. However both saws have there own issues but very minor. Bring these great tools back please.

• 11 Ho

  I went to the big box with all intentions of purchasing the much renowned PC 743-K (blade on left) circular saw, but I just didn’t like the way it felt, so I started looking at their other saws. They must have had 20. I tried them all and then my wife said, hey look at this one, it was the Hitachi C7SBK and it was light weight and it just felt right. It was on clearance also… which helped make my decision a little easier. I figured if I didn’t like it I could always return it for the PC, but when I got home and cut some plywood, it cut like a dream and you can actually see what you are cutting. If you are looking for a good circular saw for under $100 you will not be sorry with this one.

• 12 Naus

  I opened up the box and set it up on the table, let out a big grown put it back in the box and sent it right back. I don’t know who would rate this thing above 1 star unless they don’t use it. I need a saw for 4 to 6 hours a day so I bought a Milwaukee 12″. Spend $150.00 more and get a tool not a toy.

• 13 Escobedo

  I am retired but I do work around the home and this saw works great. Dead on accuracy just out of the box and not any problems at all. Easy to set up and easier to use. Wish I had bought this one before I bought the $1.98 rag that I wasted my first purchase on.

• 14 Talamantes

  This is probably the best 10″ miter saw ever made , will last a lifetime if taken care of yet can also take the abuse yet cuts are always lazer clean.
  I’ve had mine for almost 15 years and use it constantly…what more can I say . The reference standard miter saw In my Opinion

• 15 Reaves

  Hitachi C10FSH 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser
  This miter saw is probably way beyond my needs since I am not a contractor, but it is a superb tool. The laser light makes cutting precise angles a breeze. I attached the saw to a 3/4″ plywood table top and then fastened the plywood to a ryobi miter saw stand. The saw accurately cuts through 2×4’s as easily as it cuts moulding.

• 16 Jia

  This saw cuts absolutely great, which is the most important thing. Alignment was perfect out of the box, travel is smooth, and there is very little play in the blade arbor, slide, or the pivot. For anyone who is thinking about a higher end vs a lower end saw, the belt drives on the higher end ones make a huge difference in smoothness over the direct drive in most of the lower end saws. Laser is fine for rough work, but I mostly ignore it. I use it regularly for cabinetry and trim work, and it makes very near perfect cuts, about as good as my high end tablesaw and a lot quicker. Good power, it has no trouble with 4×8 lumber or 2″ thick oak.

  The only major thing I don’t like, and I really don’t like it, is the vertical handle. It is difficult to grab up top unless I am well above the saw, and fairly difficult to hold as I make the cut. My bench is just above waist level, and this places the saw too high to use easily. Horizontal handles are much easier to use, and I am now wishing that I had gone for the Bosch because of it. Another minor improvement would be in the back fence, the left side has a flip out upper portion that makes the fence quite high on that side, the right side does not have this and is very low, too low to do crown molding. If the fence were symmetrical, it would help.

• 17 Newhall

  This is a great planer I inherited the one I own from my dad. Overall the one that I own is probably about 20 years old and it has never had any problems with it. The blades are easy to change and are realtively inexpensive. The nice thing about having solid steel blades is that they can be resharpened and reused, if you have the right equipment you can do it yourself or they can be sharpened by anyone you sharpens sawblades. It is nice to have several sharp sets of blades on hand. Compared to the makita n1900 make of similar size the plane compares well, when the blades are sharp this plane cuts like no other!

• 18 Griffin

  I used it a minute here, a minute there for a total of no more than 20 minutes and the brush terminal wire connection burnt out. I’ve owned it for over a year and the warranty is expired. Worked well until then.

• 19 Umphres

  TODAY (7/11/00) I USED MY PLANER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WAS REALLY PLEASED HOW VIBRATION FREE IT WAS AND WHAT A SMOOTH CUT IT MADE. THE FURNISHED GUIDE WAS A BIG HELP IN KEEPING THE PLANER AT A NINTY DEGREE ANGLE WHILE RUNNING A EDGE. THERE MAY BE BETTER PLANERS ON THE MARKET BUT FOR WHAT I PAID I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU COULD BUY ONE BETTER FOR THE PRICE. I HAVE OTHER HITACHI TOOLS AND NEVER BEEN DISPLEASED WITH ANY OF THEM.

• 20 Archibald

  This is a very good buy at the price. It has been being used by my one of my finish crews and is used almost daily. I have had it for about 2 months and have had no problems with it at all.

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