Hitachi C10FSH 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser Reviews

• C10FSH: A cut-above the rest!!!...

  
  By A2N137JND0PD3Q on 2003-06-03
  I recently purchased this saw, and boy am I impressed! I do tool testing for a large Orange Home Improvement company! I have tested dewalt, bosch, makita, and other hitachi mitre saws. This time Hitachi is a cut-above the rest! They made some worth mentioning improvements over the C10FS. Most notably, they have increased the left / right fence's aluminum thickness; the older version has a problem with fence cracking! The dust collection (how much dust actually goes into the dust bag) of this new saw is nearly double (if not more) than the C10FS.

  The dust collection is large and can accomidate a wide range of vacuum systems. Worth mentioning, the vacuum mount (where you attach you vacuum hose) is aluminum, not plastic as in the case of most saws! The rubber thinggy behind the blade does its job well. The flip fence is nice and sturdy; while easy to move out of the way if not needed! Mine did not come with the dust sleeve for the rails (as many have wrote in their reviews here as well).

  The only downfall is the laser position! It is accurate and it lets the operator know precisely where the blade will cut, the fine adjustment laser knob works great for tweaking the laser if needed! However, I have noticed that as soon as one starts to cut, the black rubber dust guide (right behind the blade) gets in the way of the laser beam! Meaning that one is able to see the line before you start cutting, but once you start, the line disappears behind the black rubber! I have also noticed that the bevel stops were removed! The C10FS had like 5 bevel stops, now it only has three (90, 45 left / right)!

  The saw has incredible smoothness and a nice slide action. The recoil has been reduced immensely; thanks in part the poly v-beld driven motor! One other thing worth noting, like the C10fs and other hitachi's, the left and right fence's are independent of each other! This has always been a hitachi marvel! This little detail allows one to recalibrate the fence easier, rather than the half moon piece of aluminum that usually joins both left / right fences! I have heard cases where (makita, dewalt, and bosch) fences have warped due to the fact that they are one piece!

  If anyone is in the market for the most accurate and most consistent saw period, look no further than the C10FSH!!!...
  
  

• Fantastic Saw

  
  By AJB79KJ1UIF8Y on 2003-06-20
  I purchased this saw today after weeks of shopping around. It seems that all of the contractors I spoke with have the 8 inch Hitachi slider and swear by it. I was looking for a bit more capacity but with the same reliability, accuracy and the advantage of a laser guide. This saw is extremely well made and accurate out of the box. While it has a bit more plastic than it's 8" counterpart it is still made like a tank at less weight than the competition(44lbs I believe). The slide, bevel and miter functions are all smooth and the preset angles are easy to set but not to stiff that they don't allow you to set angles close to the presets without accidentally "clicking" into them when tightenned. The fence seems to be improved over previous models and is a bit higher. It will also flip out for longer workpieces. As for the laser guide, I was skeptical of their accuacy but I couldn't be more wrong. It was dead on out of the box and easily adustable depending on you personal preferences. Some people seem to have complained that the laser line disappears as soon as the blade is lowered, but it is so accurate that it doesn't matter. Once you match your laser to your line, there is no need to follow it through the actual cut.

  There is not one flimsey piece on this tool. While not overly heavy, it is very solid. The only drawback to this saw that I can see is the relatively small table area. If however weight and portability is important to you, this could be seen as an advantage. The standard blade is acceptable but the 72 tooth blade that comes as a "bonus" is excellent. Some people have complained about the dust collection. I found it to be adequate but not great. In all fairness, I have never had a tool with a system that was much better. I have heard that the rear rubber blade guard (to aid dust collection) has problems when using a powerful vac. for the collector but I have not tried that yet. If you are looking for a slide compound miter saw with a laser, this is the only one as of now. Compared to other quality 10" sliders, the Hitachi C10-FSH is priced towards the high end of the scale at between $499 and $530 but based on my initial impressions, worth every penny.
  
  

• Great Saw!

  
  By A2R4KLVXZE0BB8 on 2003-06-02
  After looking around for a couple of weeks and reading all the reviews on the miter saws, I narrowed the list down to the Makita 10" slider and the Hitachi 10" slider. I went with the Hitachi and have not regretted it. The laser feature is great!! Definetly speeds up the cutting, I just lay my tape measure on the stock, line up the laser and lock it down. The cut is dead on! No need to break out the pencil and square or to visually align the blade to the mark. I also read reviews about the dust collector with miter saws and how they were basically worthless, so I did not hold much hope that this would be any better. I couldn't have been more wrong! The dust collector, while not perfect, is very effective! I would estimate it collected 80-85% of the dust from the saw. I emptied the bag three times while cutting a load of 2x6 for my front deck. If I had attached a vacuum, I'm sure it would have been near 90-95% effective. The slide is solid and very smooth. Adjustments are as easy as any other saw. I also thought the saw was very quiet as well. The table is a little small but I wanted a compact setup due to limited space in my garage. I did not use any equipment to verify accuracy but the cuts were right on and fit well. All in all, I'm very pleased with my purchase. I'm sure you will too.
  
  

• significant flaw

  
  By AAVQJUMHFKFYT on 2005-03-17
  Look for the other reviews that give this 2 stars. I make custom cabinets and furniture, and from time to time do interior trim and some remodeling, and I don't like to give painters alot to do except paint - gaps and mitered joints "cheated" w/ caulk or filler is not acceptable, and obviously doesn't cut it when working w/ clear finished work. I've had 2 of these in 2 yrs and both have had the EXACT same problem. It's hard to actually explain, and in fact the Hitachi reps I've spoken to don't even seem to understand it but I'll try to make some sense of it here.
  The saw IS NOT ( based on my experience ) suitable for high end furniture/cabinetry/trim work. As the one other reviewer mentions, reliable 90 cuts have been impossible. I've had to try the R&L fence cheating and while that can work, it doesn't seem to stay set for long and also it's a nuissance to have to remember and/or compensate for out of plane fence positions. But the biggest trouble I have is that regardless of bevel the cuts are NEVER accurate to the miter angle, regardless of the dimensions of the piece being cut. No matter the setting it's off by at best 1/32 and at full extension, up to a 1/16. I believe the flaw is either in the head joint knuckle and is either a factory casting flaw or poor milling or perhaps the arbor but so far that hasn't seemed to be the real issue. I've spent literally hours trying to adjust and tweak, and nothing works. As for the head deflection, these aren't radial arm saws, push on any slider and they move but I'm very careful to let the tool do the work and not push or lean on it so that's not the issue either. The shame is that this is such a smooth cutting machine and does have the power to handle most jobs but except for being a faster than cutting by hand, or having to remember how to use a single bevel saw, I wouldn't use this for more than siding, maybe exterior trim or sloppy mediocre paint grade trim - to help out those poor painters of course. If the tool manufacturers keep making sloppy cutting saws, the painters won't have to worry about work too often.
  Last for anyone who might be dazzled by the laser option, it's not worth much, you better not expect it to be accurate to the cut you need. It's better than guessing but you will still need to creep up to your tick mark if accuracy is what you expect in your work.
  I have on of the 1st generation DeWalt 12 dual bevel sliders and except for the wobble all 12" blades have it's still dead nuts accurate. I've had the Makita LS1013 before and it has squareness issues too. Why doesn't someone at DeWalt snap out of it and make a 10" version --- but a little quieter would be nice, mine is a screaming ear buster!
  
  

• Almost Good

  
  By A2ALJY347DSU0T on 2004-11-25
  I purchased the Hitachi C10FSH and I have several issues with the saw. They are (in no particular order)
  1 Head Flex. While fine for general carpentry the head flex (lateral movement of the head assembly and blade) is excessive, close to .3 degrees. Add this up for left and right cuts and you are off a significant amount. It is unusable for furniture making, the accuracy is not there.
  
  2 Adjustment problems. Measured with Starrett (i.e. quality) tools the right miter setting is of by .5 degrees. In order to compensate for this I have set the right fence at 90 degrees to the blade when on the left setting. Now the left and right fences are not coplanar.
  
  3 General issues. The center bolt for the table could not be tightened enough to eliminate wobble. I needed to remove it and add a washer to increase the spring tension to rectify this issue. Also, the table is not level with the right and left sides of the base. It varies enough that when rotated the either left or right miters are slightly off from 90 degrees to the base wings. The laser marks only one side of the blade making it usefull only on either right or left cuts.
  
  Added 12/17/04
  The 90 degree bevel stop is easily pushed in while making bevel adjustments. If you are doing an entire house that has many odd crown corners (135 degrees for example) this gets to be a real hassle. Still only 2 stars although I am close to going to one star based on price to value.
  
  The good: cuts well (what saw wouldn't with a Forrest Chopmaster blade, soft start and smooth slide.
  
  Based on price to value I can only give it 2 stars. My next saw will be a DeWalt 708 or an Makita LS1212. The new Bosch and the Porter Cable each had WAY too much head flex to even consider. Don't rely on reviews in magazines, like the new Pop. Wood which raves about the new Bosch.
  
  
• Supersaw!
  By A382POHO4RBSLZ on 2003-09-01
  As a finish carpenter maximizing time coupled with quality is is paramount. The laser is single greatest feature saving you from the "double cut effect" of looking where the blade drops before each cut. The only gripes are the detents on bevel cuts... there are none, except at the 90 and 45 degrees angles. For crown moulding.. the marks are there but no detents for beveling and the angle lock is in the back unlike the new Delta which are in front.The electronic start/brake is very smooth.It miters at 45 degrees left and over 50 degrees right. Both Hitachi blades provide excellent finishes and the detentes work cleanly. It's not a light piece of equipment and after lugging it around from truck to jobsite purchasing a miter stand with wheels is a must. The only other piece with a laser on a miter is the 12' Rigid. Lowe's also carries this locally and is a little cheaper but Amazon shipped free to the doorstep with no tax.
  
  
• Ultra Saw has razor thin laser .
  By A3EKZSAZLOT17Y on 2003-02-13
  I have been a carpenter for twenty years building high end homes on Marthas Vineyard. I have used Hitachi compund saws on all of them. If you are into quality. This is your saw. In my opinion there is no other manufacturer of slide compounds that can compare. They never develop slop (like the Makita) in the positive stops .I can set it to a 1/8th of a degree and not fall into a positive stop (like the Dewalt). So Every time I pull up this saw out wheather its a 22 million dollar house or a 200.000 dollar house this saw with its razor thin laser will show me what accuacy really is. Buy it. It wiil last for years and years. I give it 10 stars
  
  
• This one's the best on the market to date!
  By A3SMX8MYH7GQ30 on 2003-03-05
  Since January 2003, I have bought and returned the Dewalt DW308 (limited in use for it's steep price), Bosch 3915 (inaccurate cuts and heavy), and Makita LS1013 (1 dealer says electronic module is prone to failure after normal commercial use and that's why not too many pros use it).

  This past weekend I purchased this saw (serial #201xx) based upon recommendations by at least 10 seasoned finish carpenters and 3 professional power tool dealers. The dealer included a free Hitachi 10" 72 tooth carbide blade and a Hitachi baseball cap.

  I will not applaud the saw's capabilities. Instead, I will criticise the saw's short comings and mainly compare it with it's strongest competitor the Makita LS1013 10" dual sliding compound mitre power saw.

  1) the power cord requires to be slackened so that it doesn't strangle and cut itself on the saw's sliding lock knob,
  2) unlike Makita's LS1013 owner's manual, Hitachi's owner's manual is inaccurate and incomplete (2 examples are with the saw's mounting dimensions and the depth-of-cut adjustment hex key size) and the English is terrible and hard to follow,
  3) unlike the LS1013, for saw clearance one has to set-up an auxillary fence to cut nominal 4" x 4" lumber (?!),
  4) unlike the LS1013, the depth-of-cut adjustment requires a 4 mm hex key to perform this process,
  5) unlike the LS1013, a plastic triangle to calibrate the blade angle to the saw's fence is not included (even though the saw came out of the box in perfect factory calibrated condition),
  6) unlike the LS1013, 2 extra safety lock-off buttons are not included,
  7) unlike the LS1013, Canadian/UK and USA compound bevel and mitre angle tables are not included in the manual,
  8) unlike the LS1013, there is no place on the saw's body to store the socket tool,
  9) unlike the LS1013's finish, Hitachi's cream coloured paint was chipped at a couple of the corners,
  10) unlike the LS1013, left/right material extensions are not included as a standard accessory, but are available at additional cost which is cheaper than Makita's parts price list,
  11) like the LS1013, the right subfence is an optional accessory,
  12) the laser adjustment knob does not have a lock-your-preferred-setting feature,
  13) unlike the LS1013's 4 offset screws, a total of 6 screws must be loosened and tightened to adjust the 2 table (kerf) inserts,
  14) there is no crown moulding bevel detents when the power head is turned clockwise to the right, and
  15) unlike the LS1013's wide footprint, Hitachi's small portable base is not as structurally stable to resist overturning moment even with the saw's soft-start feature.

  After having said all that, and aside from all the bells and whistles of the LS1013, isn't accuracy and long term reliability the most important feature of a sliding compound mitre saw?

  This Hitachi is the most accurate 10" dual sliding compound mitre power saw I have used. Based on it's predessor, this saw should last a long time.
  
  

• Awesome!
  By APM4FHD65SGS8 on 2005-03-22
  After reading reviews here I was concerned about purchasing this saw. I took the plunge today and went and grabbed it from a local store.
  
  My main concern was the accuracy. When adjusted correctly, the saw should cut so that the kerf ends where the laser mark lands. It does exactly that. I used a Starret combo square to mark a 90 cut and lined it up with the laser and sure enough, this thing is dead on. I also used this same sqare the check run out of the laser since some of the reviewers here mentioned it was off 1/64th and the end of the cut. No its not. I set the square on the fence and checked the laser at 2 feet and its less then a 64th at that range.
  
  BTW, I own a DeWalt 708 (12 inch slider). This saw is better in every way with exception to slightly less cutting capacity.
  
  
• C10FSH The Best There Is
  By AFI18CI6NZVU8 on 2005-02-26
  There is no better miter saw out there, period. I have owned all of them, and this is by far the best. Mine is almost 2 years old and is still perfect, as it was right out of the box. I bought a Forrest chop master blade for it that cuts without chipping, and I think this combination is the best possible. The laser is just for lining up your cut, once you begin you should not move your part so no need to see the line. If you have it adjusted correctly it will cut where the line was. I find that I can split a pencil line or cut to either edge of the pencil line if I want to simply by lining it up first. It is really great when cutting an angle that is undetermined, just mark it and line it up with the laser line, then cut. If you need the line on the other side of the blade just make a cut in a piece of scrap while holding it still and adjust the laser line to the cut.
  After almost 2 years of constant use, this saw is still right on the money. I will buy it again if I need another.
  
  
• Great saw, worth the money
  By A21X2TI4NM5LSV on 2005-06-02
  Bought this saw as a replacemet for my $100 delta miter saw. I did half the house in laminate before buying this thing and it took forever. I pretty much gave up on finishing the house and decided to invest in a better saw. Worth every penny. No more flipping panels or guessing at cuts. Only problem I have isnt really a problem with the saw but with my own stupidity. The first day using it, i needed a left bevel cut for the stairs and ran the blade right into the fence. The fence is replacable... so is the blade. Its just an expensive accident.
  
  
  
• Good but not great. It could and should be.
  By ALMXBE5GGDLYV on 2004-05-12
  The major feature of this saw is that it can make both a right and left bevel cut since the motor is up out of the way. That is the reason for the belt drive. However, the laser guide is only on one side of the kerf which negates most of the advantage of having a laser. The competition has solved this by having two laser lines, one on each side of the kerf or by having a line that is a big as the kerf.
  My saw, which I have had for over a year now, the laser line is off about 1/64th at the end of the extended line. It can be set for the exact mark at the inside of a cut but will be off at the outside mark by 1/64th. In other words the kerf and the laser do not track exactly.
  Otherwise, this saw has performed very well. It would be simple for Hitachi to make an upgrade for the laser and give instructions on how to correct the misalignment. I was unable to get anyone to even listen to me when I called the national office.
  
  
• PERFECT
  By A38OA8KJ7YP9J3 on 2005-10-04
  Just bought this product, and oh, boy! I believed it....the reviews are right on the money. Have been looking for this kind of power tool for a while after I gave my old miter saw (not Hitachi) to my brother. My old miter saw was not even close to this thing.
  
  I tested how good this saw by having a 1" x 20" board cut on one side and the other side by flipping over the board in order to cut across. The cut looks like it was cut by just one pass only---this thing never ever happened with my previous miter saw. And this is just only one thing I really like about this saw among others.
  
  Over-all I give this power tool a 5 star for quality in every aspect. This probably is a little expensive, but you get what you pay for---every penny of it.
  
  If there is something wrong with the cut, I think the reason is human error, because this machine is perfect.
  
  
  
• Pucker up... And be prepared for incompetence.
  By ADP7NWJBZ7UWW on 2005-11-30
  11/20/05
  The saw works fine. In fact, it is a really good saw. The rebate process for the 16 gauge nailer is for crap. After waiting 10 weeks, I went across the river and through the woods to talk to an Amazon rep (in India) who gave me a number for Hitachi CS, the TV division. The Hitachi rep I spoke with referred me to 800 706 7337; The Tool Division. Once there, I spoke with Deborah. She told me to re-send all of my information via FAX to 770 923 2117. She said some 'supervisor' would review the information, then somehow complete the rebate. I swear by Hitachi tools so it pains me to bitch about this, but promises are promises, and service failures must be noted so here we are. Hitachi: If you are not going to honor the rebate as promised... Don't make the promise. Amazon: Don't advertise manufacturer promises you are not willing to stand behind. And, don't make me call 800 555 1212 just to get a phone number for a representative who speaks poor english and can't help.
  1/20/2006 The nailer arrived last week. It took another phone call and another fax to Hitachi, but it got done. The saw continues to be an excellent purchase. The laser is a great feature. The Forrest Chopmaster blades are worth every penny.
  
  
• Up there with the best
  By A1CGPUT996O42M on 2005-01-27
  I have owned this saw for about a year and find it to be a top quality saw. I have the 8" also and that has been a great saw. the degrees are still a little hard to read (very difficult on the 8") and I find that to be my major complaint. I fold up the rubber dust flap and then the laser line will show up as you cut. I have found the laser line impossible to see while using the saw outdoors on a sunny day. The saw cuts great, and I have found the angles to be dead on out of the box. I also own the dewalt 12" slide compound, and except for the extra cutting capacity, I would rate the Hitachi over it. This one is a keeper!
  
  
• HITACHI C 10FSH
  By A3NDQ1MS6N2J4N on 2003-04-16
  I am an amatuer wood worker. I thorughly researched all the competing saws including Makita, Bosch, PC, and Delta. My father in-law has owned the 8 1/2" Hitachi sliding miter saw for over 10 years and attests to Hitachi's reliability. The 10 inch saw gives greater capacity and flexibility. The Hitachi saw was delievered in perfect adjustment. It is smooth and powerful. The laser line makes aligning cuts a pleasure (especially for far sighted individuals) and is a definite time saver. The standard 40-toothed blade leaves such smooth cuts that I haven't needed to use the bonus 72-toothed blade that was included. My criticisms are the table could be bigger, the power cord should be longer and there should be an adapter to easily hook it up to a vaccum system. This is an extremely well made tool that will not disappoint.
  
  
• Problems remain with packaging & laser
  By on 2004-03-04
  I'm upgrading from my 8 1/2 inch hitachi and so this saw was a
  natural - it fit into my existing saw table setup with ease.
  For a saw that I was going to haul around, but not use with a portable saw table, I'd definitely want a bigger more stable base and some work supports like the Bosch or Makita. The right side fence is also really really short. I only feed from the left in my setup, so it's not generally an issue, but I can see wanting more support on the right for some applicaitons and that means buying their fence exctender (not sure how much it is)

  I echo the comments about packaging some others made. I my case
  the bevel adjust had come loose and the whole top of the
  saw had flopped over and was breaking out of the box. Most
  of the internal packing in the box had wandered around inside the box and was doing nothing to protect the saw.

  It may be due to that, but I'm also having problems with the
  laser. it will barely adjust over to the left edge of the blade and it is not perfectly parallel to the blade, so while I can get ot spot on near the fence, a mark way out on a wide piece of wood won't necessarily line up correctly. To return it, or take apart and try to adjust - that't the question.

  ...
  
  

• Willard from Montana
  By on 2003-01-31
  Great saw with all the needed improvements from their previous 10 inch model. Easier to read bevel and miter scales. Easier to use bevel adjustment levers. Came set up "right on" out of the box. The laser is easily adjusted to read either left or right of the saw kerf (or right down the middle if you prefer). I would have preferred the 72 tooth blade but have no complaints about the quality of cut with the 40 tooth blade. A solid, well built machine with NO slop in the cuts!
  
  
• slides have to much slop
  By on 2004-03-06
  i got my new hitachi a bout a week ago and toot it to work yesterday i am cutting 1x8 v rustic cedar siding if you drop the blade at the back of the board and pull it up than pull the saw back and cut from the front there is a descrepency of a 64th plus where the two cuts meet the rails are adjusted as tight as they can be if i tighten them any more it wont slide so i am going to send it back it was not damaged at all in shipping
  
  
• Poor parts support
  By A21ZP060NOUH9U on 2005-02-05
  I owned this saw for two years and it has had a problem with the trigger switch since new. The dealer does not have any repair parts . Can't find a HITACHI parts supplier who has any parts on the internet.
  
  
• Great Cuts
  By on 2003-01-27
  I Like the laser feature to align the cuts when cutting diferent angles so I know the lengths will always be what I want them to be , "Rigth on the money " .
  I wish HITACHI would include the same blade as the one they sell with the 10FSB. The blade they include in this Laser type is the 40T carbide and not the 72T carbide.
  
  
• Laser Guide the difference
  By A39YZ4PYDL42G3 on 2003-05-01
  My Hitachi C10FSH just arrived yesterday (way ahead of schedule), 4-29-03. I ordered it on 4-23-03 with the free shipping. It came down to either the C10FSH or the Makita LS1013. All my cordless tools are Makita. I love them and was ready to go with LS1013 but it didn't have a Laser Guide. Even the boys on "Ask This Old House" were salivating over this new technology. After putting the saw through it's paces last night, I am very impressed with the saw.

  I agree with just about everything said below. Peter Jung's review comparing this saw to Makita's LS1013 are mostly accurate but I'm sure he would agree those minor (some extremely minor) differences are very much outweighed by the laser guide feature of the Hitachi. Why Makita hasn't come out with a Laser option on their saws is a mystery to me.
  
  

• other reviews right on - a great saw with some minor flaws
  By on 2004-07-01
  Bought the C10FSH as an upgrade to the DW703. Would say that
  the other reviews are right on the money. Saw was set up
  properly right out of the box, and makes fine and accurate
  miter and bevel cuts. Very solid, no slop. Soft start is
  excellent.

  Before you buy, you should be aware of the following shortcomings:
  *the safety switch takes some getting used to. To me, it is a pain.
  *the laser does in fact have about 1/64" of run-out. It is
  correct at the fence side of the cut. Since this problem
  has been mentioned by so many reviewers, I have to assume that
  Hitachi considers this a feature. To me, it is no big deal.
  *My biggest beef is that there is no vernier on the miter
  table. On the DW, it is very easy to change the miter angle
  in accurate 1/4 degree increments. Not so w/ Hitachi.

  All in all, I got what I expected.
  
  

• Dead on
  By A2J830DSAJABPJ on 2004-11-13
  Im an experienced paintier, trim, and finish carpenter and I work for myself. I was brought up with a table saw and "chop" saw at my home. The chop saw was always used for "chopping".
  My success has been built on trying to always outdo myself, not others work, and being willing to take on things harder than I have done before.(this also keeps me interested)
  I bought this saw two months ago, worrying about the quality of my work, the perfectionist that I am, and having learned to do finish work on a crappy saw, I went from what I feel is paint to stain grade literally overnight, by adding this quality tool. I dont even think about it when someone asks me to pull off a job.
  EVERY TOOL COMPANY has its products. Be careful if someone uses all the same make. I use 2 sources to pick my tools, Journals- Journal of Light Construction and Fine Homebuilding, and Amazon reviews.
  I picked this saw based on both of those mentioned, and the top contenders were pretty much the same in both. I chose a 10 inch rather than a 12 due to a stairmasters comments on the benifit of giving up a little distance of reach to blade wobble in a 12 inch, which can ruin your edge.
  Ive only used a grinder made by Hitachi before but I am totally pleased with this saw and I have read this model has a long history with added improvements every few years.
  As for the Laser, Im glad they made a come back, but be careful, I have a bad habbit of crouching down to check my line by dropping the blade with the tool off, the laser comes out quite a ways and can do damage to your eyes like watching arc welds maybe worse.
  Yes it is a huge investment and it took me about 2 weeks to hit the add to shopping button, but its a dream. The other top saw on my list was the new Bosch 10 inch, but this saw was cheaper by over 100 dollars, with a laser added, and is lighter by about 12 pounds, runs at lower rpms (less wear), pulls 12 rather then 15 amps, and the fence is square to the table. I love both brands but when tools are so expensive and you depend on them to pay the rent, you split hairs.
  Finally, lighter, I didnt think that would be a big difference, but my jobs are usually about 2 weeks long, and I have to break down a lot. Carrying this saw at 43 pounds is enough, 55 is a bit much. Im sure that is a good saw as well, and Bosch makes great tools- just find out which ones.
  
  
  
• This thing rocks!
  By on 2003-02-26
  I did a lot of research (Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, etc.)...but when I went to Berland's House of Tools (Illinois) and saw them all side-by-side, it was a no brainer. It is relatively compact (a good thing), and the laser is great! Only drawback is size of table...overall, extremly accurate. One last note, the 40 tooth blade is very good as well.
  
  
• Solid, accurate, repeatable. Love this saw.
  By A1TMPDPMQQ8143 on 2004-03-20
  I am a garage woodworker and I wanted precision cross cuts for cabinetmaking. I have had the Hitachi for six months and use it a lot.

  The saw starts soft and cuts beautifully with the enclosed blade. The angles are true out of the box -- this is not a saw that requires much assembly or permits much adjustment. The laser feature is point 'n shoot simple.

  I hook this saw up to my shop DC. I was not crazy about the bag dust collector (it's not awful, but it is a bag to clean up). I attached a 2.5" DC fitting with a bit of surgery and duct tape. Works fine and is reasonably clean. I clamp the saw to my workbench and fold the saw for storage underneath when not in use. Setup is well under a minute.

  BTW, if you are training kids to work wood, this is a terrific first powersaw. The laser ensures precise cuts and as a slider, it is far easier to control than most power saws. My 11 year old uses it safely with supervision.

  My other power tools are DeWalt and Bosch, but Hitachi invented compound sliders and I have no regrets about choosing this one.
  
  

• another great hitachi product
  By A3LKFTC5TXUN0Z on 2005-09-19
  I must say that I am getting fond of Hitachi tools. Got this saw for some moulding projects I have going and from the very start I could tell it's quality. Let me just say that the packing leaves something to be desired. The first one I got was brutally damaged from the slide rails sticking out of the box which made the saw cut out of whack. Credit to Amazon for quickly shipping a new one with no problems. The new one came fine, is square, and cuts great. The laser is adjustable for sides and spot on, the slide is smooth, and the motor has a nice start with constant RPM's. Once again as with other Hitachi products this has external brushes that can be changed for longevity. For the price which included a free Hitachi carbide finishing blade and a 16 guage nailer you just can't beat it. All in all I recommend.
  
  
• Top Quality Product
  By on 2003-02-15
  Top quality product. could not have asked for anything better! The laser sight makes things so much easier in cutting parts for my projects. Price may be a little much but believe me you won't be disapointed! Quality of the cuts, capacity, and accuracy is also excellent. I am a welder-fitter by trade and a wood worker hobbiest, so I do realize what a proper fit-up means to the end product. This tool is a real asset!!!
  
  
• Good but flawed
  By on 2003-11-09
  This saw works great, for about a week. We've gone through four of these in the past month, all with the same problem, the positive stops on the miter wear out. The one on display at my local Mega-hardware store works fine after what I assume is constant daily abuse by tire-kickers. But ours die in one week. The saw is fantastic otherwise, beautifiul smooth cuts with no blade wobble, the laser has spoiled me, and it doesn't jerk on start/stop. If Hitachi could just make the stops more robust this saw would be a 5 star hands down.
  
  
• C10FSH excellent!!
  By A16HGZLJBYEZWR on 2007-01-07
  I have been in this trade for over 30 years and have owned my own contracting company for the last 20 years. That being said , buying a saw is a very subjective thing and there is no way to say one outshines another due to personal preference issues of course. I have used every saw out there over the years and for the last 10 years have owned the Makita. Love that saw but find a few things about this Hitachi that I rate very high and one small issue that initially I find annoying but will get used to I am sure. The bevel adjustment in terms of placement and function is far more to my liking than on the makita. The sound of the motor on both is nice and both have nice soft startups w/ the nod to the hitachi as far as I am concerned. The weight of the Hitachi is a big plus ( lighter the better for me ) as I am on site not in a shop. I like how compact and "tight" the Hitachi looks and feels as compared to the Bosch for instance. Hitachi is smooth as silk as is the makita. I LOVE the design of the Hitachi ( visual/ sculptural) above the others. Positive stops and placement of the miter settings on the Hitachi is tops. Laser is a useful addition but no big issue to me. Dust collection is never a big deal for me as well, I find all of these saws one should expect dust to fly ( again I am not in a shop ). The ONLY thing I find on the Hitachi I would change is the trigger itself...too small as far as I am concerned. Take note though , I am used to the makita's full grip trigger so I think I will get used to this. If you wear gloves though I would caution you to look into how dinky the trigger is, and if that would cause you a headache. All in all I am in love w/ this saw, and look forward to creating some fine work w/ it.
  Good luck to you all
  
  

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