I compared the Hitachi C7SB2 to several other saws in its price range and chose the C7SB2 for the following reasons:* Lever locks used for blade height and angle adjustment instead of wing nuts or knobs. My old saw used wing nuts that are difficult to tighten and loosen.* Aluminum saw base makes the saw lighter and feels more solid than pressed steel bases.* Blade lock makes it easy to change saw blades.* Replaceable brushes for easy maintenance.* Carrying case included.* Carbide blade included.* Priced below $100.This saw would have received a 5 with the exception of two issues:1) The blade guard retracting lever is made of plastic (most saw manufacturers use plastic) that could break in time.2) The Hitachi information label is lifting at the edges and will probably come off at some point.

Consumer Reports (August 2005 Issue) reviewed this saw and recommended it as a Best Buy. If your budget allows, I would recommend going with the Hitachi C7BD2 (also a CR Best Buy). The C7BD2 includes an electric brake for much quicker stopping of the blade and therefore better safety. Like the C7BD2 this saw has a powerful 15 Amp motor and a sturdy alumimum base.
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br /I also wish both saws had better depth adjustment (there are no measurement markings to approximate the depth of cut). Lastly a Laser guide would have been nice.

The saw is excellent quality and a very good deal, but I found it for minimally less expensive in Home Depot after placing my online order. The shipping time/delivery time were outstanding; only 4 days after placing the order.

Plenty of power and, contrary to another reviewer, adjustments are simple with large lever-locks. The lack of a blade brake is a negative that can be managed if you're careful. There is no depth-adjustment scale on the saw, but my own experience is that either you just eyeball the depth anyway or, if you're making precision cuts, you measure it with a ruler. There is an angle scale on the bevel adjustment (but again, for real precision you'll want to check this with a protractor). Base plate is a solid chunk of aluminum, which is a blessing. The saw isn't heavy, but it's not balanced quite right, either, being both front heavy and motor-side heavy (as to be expected). Not quite nimble enough to merit five stars, but an easy four.

I replaced my 30ish years old Craftsman saw with this one. The Hitachi is lighter, more powerful, easier to adjust, easier to change blades, and more comfortable to use. I don't use a circular saw too much, but for the average home owner and hobby carpenter this saw is great, especially at Amazon's price of $52. Building a deck is my latest project and so far I've cut about 150 boards with this saw. It gets the job done. Since I've never used a circular saw with a brake I didn't see the need to spend the extra money for it. If you don't get a saw with a brake, just be careful and know that you are more responsible for safety than a mechanical device anyway. A laser cutting guide might be nice, but they are only good when the battery is good. Seems like everytime I pick up a battery powered device the battery is dead. This saw cuts accurately especially when using a speed square for cross cuts at 90 or 45 degrees. For less than $100 I don't see how you could go wrong with this saw.

I purchased new from Amazon for $69.95 which is a good deal. However if the price is over $100 your better off getting the Dewalt for an additional $15-$20. This saw is lightweight and powerful. It is a great home owner saw for occasional use. For full time construction/carpentry use, it falls short of the Dewalt, Makita, or Portacable. The carry case does not have a place for the wrench and the rip fence, which is not a big deal, but wrapping the power cord and closing the case is a challenge. The base of the saw is very sturdy and easy to adjust, the numbers are easy to read. Overall quality and feel is about a 3 out of 5.

I was looking for a decent saw on ebay and they were all beat up or going for too much money. So i thought about getting one at wal mart or sears or somewhere for 40 - 70 bucks and a friend said to check amazon, so i did BINGO! Wow a good saw with lots of power good balance and light. The blade adjustments work great, it has a heavy duty plate,Im very satisfied.It was reconditioned, but it seems brand new.GREAT SAW!

This Hitachi saw is great for most household projects but it is not cut out for major construction or professional level work. It is very powerful due to its corded style and handles well for relatively quick cuts. The larger blade size is also great.
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br /I would agree with other reviewers that it can be a bit difficult to adjust the depth and angle and to set it accurately. The saw also feels a bit heavy but that's the trade off for it's power. I would also recommend investing in a quality blade because it makes quite a difference. Overall it's a great saw for the home and I prefer it over my Rigid cordless saw in most cases.

Plenty of power,but you'll need a hammer to adjust the angle or depth.This is not a professional grade saw.