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.

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!!!...

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.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /BTW, I own a DeWalt 708 (12 inch slider). This saw is better in every way with exception to slightly less cutting capacity.

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.

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.

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.

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.
br /

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.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /If there is something wrong with the cut, I think the reason is human error, because this machine is perfect.
br /

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.

I have been using this saw for approximately 9 months on various home woodworking projects. I am a heavy-duty DIY and have installed many types of interior and exterior wood framing, finish trim, flooring, siding, paneling, shingles, etc. Before purchasing this saw, I read a lot of articles and reviews and this saw seemed to perform consistently well. This saw is hands-down the best investment in a saw that I have made.

Right out of the box it cut straight and true. The laser was a "nice to have" for me, but I quickly learned to love it. It makes alignment much easier (read minor gripe below though). The dual bevel ability is awesome for crown moulding. The sliding action is outstanding for any board wider than my standard 10" miter saw would handle without flipping the board over.

Only two (relatively minor) gripes about this saw:
a) The extra tall fence mechanism on the left side of the blade has to be swiveled out of the way when the saw is beveled left. The first time you forget to flip the fence out of the way, get ready to change your pants because its fairly scary when the blade hits the fence; luckily I had safety glasses on when the shrapnel from the shattered blade and fence started flying. Yes, you can buy this as a replacement part, but I've elected to leave it off of the saw entirely.

b)The laser works great indoors, but does not show up well in bright sunlight. If you block the sunlight with your hand or work in the shade, you can see it just fine though. Also, the laser lines up clean if your "good" piece is on the left of the blade and your scrap/waste is on the right. When your good piece is on the right of the blade though, you have to allow for the cutting width of the blade, so the difference between the laser and your pencil mark ends up being about an 1/8" to the right of the laser mark -- this is the same way you'd line it up on a saw without a laser. Minor detail, but something you have to remember when using the laser.

For reference, my prior miter saw was a Delta 10" Compound Miter. It was a great starter saw, but has been collecting dust in the basement since I bought my Hitachi.

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.

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.

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.

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!

This tool was truly engineered to the hilt. Every part on the saw is rock solid, especially the ones that count. The sliding mechanism is buttery smooth, and the ball-bearing miter table glides and locks into place effortlessly.
I found that the slightly smaller table found on this saw has not been inconvenient at all. Any width of stock is well supported and the included vise makes extra sure that you are flat and square on the table.
The accuracy of cuts, merely by moving the stock to the desired length and lining the laser up with your tape will give a dead-on cut time and time again. Cutting and recutting will be greatly reduced. You really won't believe how fast and precise your cuts can be.
The dust collection bag, although a bit small in capacity, catches dust so efficiently I have to remind myself to empty it often. Some days I have stuffed it full 4 or 5 times!
Most importantly, this saw is proof that quality and REAL engineering is still out there in the tool market, if you are willing to pay for it.

I haven't even the SLIGHTEST REGRET AFTER CHOOSING THE HITACHI. I will definitely be more attentive to the tools they have on the market.

AND........ the 72 tooth "bonus blade" offered by Amazon WON'T need replacing. It leaves a glass smooth crosscut in both veneers and hardwoods. A package worth well more than the price.

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.
br /Good luck to you all

I've been trimming custom homes with this saw for several years and I'm generally happy with it. It is powerful without being a brute (think: Dewalt) and simple enough to let you do the thinking (contrast: Bosch). However, there are several flaws that I have noticed, probably irrelevant for the homeowner but important for the finish carpenter who needs dependability and precision from their saw.
br /
br /The most glaring flaw is the denet mechanism, which consists of a STEEL pin (probably costs $3 to replace) which fits into the ALUMINUM denets that are cut into the underside of the main table (a couple hundred to replace). Obviously the aluminum wears out faster than the steel, creating slop in the denets and thereby rendering them useless. Mine became problematic after about a year of use (I could have been gentler with it).
br /
br /A second and related problem concerns the fence. Because there isn't an adjustable denet plate (as with the Dewalt), the only way to ensure that your 0 degree denet puts the blade at a 90 degree angle to the fence is to adjust the fence itself, which is a huge headache. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that there are actually two fences, left and right, which aren't connected, so you have to do this adjustment twice. The Dewalt system is much easier to adjust. (That's not an endorsement of the Dewalt, which is an inaccurate brute suitable only for framing or trimming track homes.)
br /
br /Another problem with the fence is that it warps easily - especially the one on the right side which is secured to the table by two bolts far to the right side of the fence itself, leaving the part closer to the blade unsupported. The result is that if your material ever binds up against the blade (admit it, it happens) you wind up with a banana shaped fence, which of course renders the thing useless. I've taken to carrying around replacements and find that I need one every six months or so.
br /
br /The left side of the fence has another sort of problem:
br /if you forget to flip the adjustable fence out of the way when the bevel is set around 22 degrees left, there's nothing to stop you from cutting into the fence itself - not a tragedy, but you'll ruin your blade (don't ask how I know). The saw would benefit from some idiot-proofing here. Really though, I probably know ten guys with this saw and every one of them has done this.
br /
br /Less important but also noteworthy is the lack of a second laser for the other side of the kerf mark, and the tendency of the single laser to break - not surprising, but annoying and prohibitively expensive to replace.
br /
br /I don't mean this to be a negative review - I'm about to buy another C10FSH to replace the worn one that I've got - but the saw's good points are obvious while these flaws don't tend to make themselves felt until you've had the saw a while. Overall this is the best saw in its price range for high quality finish work.

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.

replaced a radial arm saw with the C10FSH and yes I am pleased.

Originally I intended to buy the C10FSB but to make a long story short I bought this one. I wasn't really sure how I'd like the laser but I love it. A co-worker has the DeWalt 12" which is nice but this blows that out of the water. It's very well constructed and has a great slide action, very smooth. The laser reads very clear and accurate and is very easy to adjust from a left side cut to a right side cut. It's not very bulky to carry around the job site and the 10" blade is a great size. I highly recommend this saw, you won't be disappointed.

11/20/05
br /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.
br /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.

I bought this Hitachi miter saw after reading all of the positive reviews and the experience I've had with other Hitachi miter saws in the past. Well, I don't know what to say except that I must have bad luck. The first saw arrived and, when I opened the box, I found the whole motor housing shattered and the inside of the box damaged. It was clearly damaged in transit and perhaps Hitachi needs to put a little more protection around the contents. Amazon promptly replaced it (kudos to Amazon!!). The second miter saw arrived and this one has a problem with the blade guard. It retracts when making the cut; but doesn't drop back down when the cut is finished. There is also an unusual amount of slop in the arm that retracts the guard. Maybe this is part of the problem. Anyway, saw #2 is now on its way back to Amazon and I think, at this time, I will take a pass on saw #3

I did own this saw until some sorry b#stard stole it from my while at the job site. I will be rebuying it shortly. I am using my dad's 8-1/4 hitachi slider and his 12" dewalt for now. I am a professional contractor and do mainly trim work and flooring. I have used just about every chop saw out there. I would take this over the 12" dewalt any day. The motor has tons of power, the laser is nice but I rarely even used it. The saw is super smooth to use. The blade that comes with the saw is actually pretty darn good for a factory blade. Was pretty close to dead on in being accurate right out of the box. Throw a 60 tooth freud blade on, and its like cutting butter with a warm knife.

I am a handy man by trade. So I am not really into a lot of finish work but this is a great dual purpose saw. Its not too heavy being over the age of 65 weight is a definite consideration. Easy to use and the laser is great. I am getting used to pushing the saw blade in versus pulling it out toward me as on my old Dewalt. I like the slide feature as well. I found the reviews to be a big help. Enjoy the saw. Price was excellent as a fifty dollar discount was available at the time. Worth every penny.

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.

I purchased the Hitachi C10FSH about a year ago after much research into the different brands available. After researching brands like DeWalt, Rigid, Ryobi, Craftsman, and a few others, I made the decision to go with Hitachi. Over the past year I have used this saw many times for many different projects from simple shelving to picture frames and onto cabinets and furniture that I custom designed for my house. This has been by far the best saw that I have ever used. The laser is accurate right out of the box and the micro-adjustment lets you set the laser to your cutting preference. Yes the laser does dissapear once you lower the saw to start cutting, but if you dont move your work piece you know where it's going to cut.
br /
br / I also read some reviews that stated that the laser is hard to see if you are in bright light. Yes it is, but when I got out my "RED Lens" glasses that came with my laser level and put them on, the laser line was much easier see. And they make great safety glasses as well.
br /
br /I would recommend this saw to anyone that asks. And as a result of using this tool I have since purchased other Hitachi power tool and have had equal success and satisfaction from them. All of my Hitachi tools have been worth every penny spent, and there are others that are much more expensive.

This thing rocks! My first one arrive damaged - But hats off to Amazon's return policy. Easier than taking back to the hardware store!! They had the replacement shipped before UPS came by to pick up the damaged saw. I had a replacement about two days later. Anyway, the saw is great. Clean, precise, perfect cuts. I'm just a do-it-yourself homeowner, maybe this is too much saw? Nope-I cut the 2X4 framing and 1X6 steps for a garage landing/steps. Perfect cuts. Measure twice, cut once. The laser is great! I'm glad I got it. You will be too.

I've had this saw for almost a year and find it to be a great asset. Its compact size and versatility make it perfect for the small shop. The DeWalt is a good alternative if you have the space and don't mind the weight and of couse living without the laser cutting guide which I find extremely helpful. I strongly recommend this tool and feel its an excellent value for the price.

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.
br /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 RL 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.
br /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.
br /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!

I like the Lasor guide it's great. I bought the saw because of it.The saw has one big negative, the black rubber dust guide. If you hook up a vacuunm system to the saw, the rubber closes up completely and render the vacuum system useless.Hitachi need to come with a retrofit improvment.

The c12fch is a nice saw and it can make up to 5 ¼" cuts vertically. I did have to hold the guard back to get it to cut this but nonetheless it cut it. The only thing so far I do not like about the saw is that you can not see the laser if you are cutting verically. The laser is underneath the blade instead of up at the top hence the blocking of the laser by the wood you are cutting. So if this is a big deal keep shopping if not... this model seems to be decent. If you need the digital readout for bevel cutting crown molding then go for the c12lch. It's a little more expensive but would be worth it for the accuracy.

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.

I bought this saw to replace an older Hitachi miter. Not that I was a big Hitachi fan, in fact I really wanted the DeWalt Sliding Miter. However when I investigated further I found that the Hitachi C10FSH includes a laser cost around the same, and got really good reviews by other users. The saw arrived with no damage and on time. Set up was a breeze as the saw AND laser were perfrectly set at the factor with no further calibration on my part. I use this saw alot for all sorts of wood working projects. From framing to trim to cabinets (with blade changes of course). Works flawlessly all the time. I liked it so much I bought one for my Dad as a Christmas gift last year. Unsolicited and echoed my sentiments exactly. Love the laser!!

The saw is excellent but don't fall for the rebate tool offer from hitachi, whatever it is (I was to receive finish nailer)or drill they just won't send it without repeated correspondence.

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 is a great saw, does everything that the reviewers said it would with ease, and is very nice to use. Im glad I sprung for the fancier unit with more tilting, beveling, etc. options, as Ive found them to be handy.
br /
br /I give this unit 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons. First, the dust colector bag is VERY small. Sure, I suppose I could attach it to a vacuum system if I desired, but I need to use this saw all over the house, so the bag is what I utilize. However, the bag doesnt hold a very large quantity of dust, so you cant work continuously for very long without having an issue. Perhaps a retrofit larger bag exists, but i just wish it came with a larger one from the OEM. My real reason that I gave it 4 stars is because the handle is flimsy. Thats right, the handle that has the trigger to operate the saw. I noted it when I pulled it frm the box, and while the small crack and stress lines in the ABS plastic handle dont inhibit functionality whatsoever, I just wish they would have made the hande a bit stronger - you can easily see that it is made of very thin weak plastic.
br /
br /Other than that, it is great, and it has really earked its cost in my around the house tasks.

Simply put; the laser line makes all the difference in terms of fast and accurate cuts.This is a smooth operating, heavy duty, quality built dual sliding compound mitre saw which no offshore knock off can replicate.

You can not go wrong with this saw. We have 8 Hitachi saws and some are 10 years old. The only thing we do is replace the brushes once a year. Parts are easy to get and reasonable. We just ordered 3 more. We do interior millwork and custom cabinet building and can't find a better saw! The lasers are OK but a brighter beam would help. Outdoors forget about the laser. To us the laser is a bonus at times.

i am a contractor and have owned several makes of miter saws, craftsman, delta, etc. no other miter saw comes close to this one. has the power and precision to work flawlessly on any project large or small.i have used this saw for about three years,without a hitch.

I've used the 8" model of this saw for years, but this is one fine saw! Took it out of the box this morning and it was dead on accurate out of the box. I need to tweak the laser (or just read the manual on how to use it), but it is a smooth cutting saw. Nice blade on it--didn't even have to buy a better blade for a decent cut. Quiet, smooth action. Can't wait to start cutting crown moulding with it. I'm impressed!

I've owned this saw (minus the laser) for a year and a half, and have used it for some fairly extensive remodelling tasks. Everything from finicky hardwood trim work, to cutting doug fir 4x8s. It does the job, but there are some caveats:
br /
br /- definitely hard to use with the left hand due to the location of the safety switch
br /- hard to set the mitre a half or quarter of a degree from the detents
br /- depth adjustment is difficult to set precisely, and you'll need to offset your work from the fence if you want to cut all the way across
br /- a little underpowered - use a thin kerf blade.
br /- need to make and adaptor plate to attach to a standard 4 bolt saw stand
br /- work surface is not huge. you'll want to support your wood to either side
br /- brake sometimes takes a few seconds to kick in after you release the trigger
br /- stock blade is mediocre, but then you were planning on getting a good one, right?
br /
br /on the plus side:
br /- once squared up, stays true
br /- cuts well with a thin kerf blade
br /- easily transportable
br /- wide range of mitre and bevel angles
br /- blade changes are easy
br /
br /overall, a good quality saw, and hasn't failed me after a lot of abuse. Could do with a few improvements, but you get what you pay for.

I use this saw mostly to cut segmented bowl pieces for turnings. It's as good as my table saw. Set up is much quicker and the blade that comes with it is good. As previous post's have said, the packaging is poor. My saw was delivered by FedEx and not in too bad of shape. Hopefully Hitachi will fix this problem..

I was a little hesitent on spending a lot of money for a "good" saw. I wanted features that most miter saws do not provide, but I found them all in my Hitachi, dual bevel, compound, 10" sliding miter saw with laser sighting...WOW...I am doing my entire home in tongue and grove beaded wood. My ceiling is being installed by my wife while I cut all the boards. Boy does this saw make it easy to cut two opposite 45 degree angles on the same board, and do it accurately and quickly. The laser sight makes measure and cut a breeze as long as I get my tape out of the way before I cut...:O)...I am very very happy with this purchase, my wife is even more happy with it, cause it is making our house a home much faster than my old miter saw.

this saw worked great for me all the way till it got stolen. i never had so much acuracy with finish grade crown and base as i did with this chop saw. my only beef is that the laser sight isn't worth a damn unless it's either dark, or a really clowdy day. next time i'm gonna buy the one without the laser sights.

Order the saw on Friday and got it on Tuesday! The saw works very smoothly. Recommend replacing the stock blade right away. I put an eighty tooth unit on mine and it cuts smooth as glass. The tool has already saved me several hours on the job. A laser on both sides of the blade would be nice but none of the sliding compounds that I am aware of have that feature.

This miter saw with a laser guide is an outstanding compound miter saw. It was accurate out of the box, and remains accurate with no adjustments required. I found the best buy on this item through amazon.com and it was delivered to my home in a matter of just a couple of days. I would highly recommend both the saw and purchasing it through amazon.

This saw has been a Godsend. We couldn't afford to buy everyone on our Christmas list gifts last year, so we decided that I would make picture frames for them. I had some money saved up for a new saw, so I jumped on this one when it was lower than it usually is, to help get the project done in a timely manner (I had over 15 frames to do in less than a month, which isn't much time with a newborn in the house!)
br /
br /Straight out of the box, the saw makes accurate cuts, and the included blade gives an excellent cut, although with a small amount of tearout.
br /
br /The laser is very good as well, and easily adjusted depending on what kind of cuts you're making. The sawdust flap at the back of the blade does block the laser when the blade is lowered, but that's easily taken care of, since the flap is rubber, and can be moved up out of the way with no problems, to help with setting up the laser for your cuts. You will need to make sure it's lowered back down when you're ready to make your cuts. I like the integrated lasers more than the add-on ones, because this way there are no batteries to replace or anything like that.
br /
br /To give an illustration of how nice this saw is, I'll give an example of what kind of work I've done with it since I got it in December '06. I've got some Corian countertop material that I have been turning into a small tabletop (24" x 32"), and the piece is too wide for my table saw. My regular circular saw left too rough a cut, and the job would have taken too long with my router, and setup would have been a pain. So as a test of my new saw I put the table top (1/2" Corian on 3/4" plywood) on the saw table and trimmed 1/4" off one of the 24" sides (which required a flip, as this saw can only cut 12" at a time). When I was done, I was left with an edge that looked better than the ones from my table saw, a little rougher than those from my router, and perfectly straight. The only way I can tell where the cuts were made was by direction of the marks left by the blade. The sliding action is smooth and fluid.
br /
br /My only complaint (and not enough to ding the 5 stars I gave it, since it's a minor "fit and finish" complaint) is that the included thumb screw that holds the hold-down clamp to the fence was impossible to use by hand. I had to use some 12" pliers to move the clamp to the other side of the fence, and eventually the plastic housing that covers it broke off, which was actually a blessing, since now I can use my socket wrench to screw and unscrew it. If it becomes a hassle to deal with I'll call Hitachi to see if they have any ideas, but like I said, it's not that big a deal. I even made sure it wasn't getting cross-threaded, and tried lubricating it, but it never got any easier. It was like the tap was soo small or something.
br /
br /All said, this saw is an excellent deal.

I am happy with the saw. It runs well and cuts acurately. As far the finish it has a rough spot on the base but not really anything to complain about.
br /
br /I am in agreement with many that rated the saw in the view that the laser is worthless. It needs to be on when the saw is cutting and it dosent and it needs to indicate the side of the blade (Preferebly the left side of the blade for me) and the best I could adjust it was the right hand side of the blade or the center of the blade. It wouldnt adjust far enough to the left to show the left side of the blade.
br /
br /The way the motor is arranged it apperars to be belt driven which is a plus.
br /
br /I really like the saw and would buy another one but not the laser option.
br /
br /PHM

I agree with the positive reviews for this saw, in fact that is why I bought it. However now having used it for 4 years I have some issues.
br /First gripe: The LASER has burned out. $99.95 to replace... Yikes. Be sure you turn it off EVERY time.
br /Also it would be much handier if the laser was on both sides of the blade as you can only mark rights (or lefts depending on your preference).
br /Second: While this saw was perfectly accurate when I got it, after it had a harsh kick from a knot SOMETHING went out of whack. I have spent countless hours trying to realign it to the factory perfection and have never been able to. I even bought a new fence.
br /While I would certainly buy this saw again I would now use two saws, this one for fine work and a DeWalt for the framing and rough stuff.

After reading virtually all the reviews on all the sliding compound miter saws, I settled on the Hitachi C10FSH because it was the only one that didn't have a single negative comment posted.
br /
br /It arrived a few days after I ordered it, in great condition. The only adjustments necessary were those associated with unpacking it. It cut dead on right out of the box. The laser was dead on. (I particularly like that the laser has an on/off switch; no need to start the saw to turn on the laser.) No wobble in the head or slide. Easy to change angles. Very smooth starts and stops, and very quiet (compared to my Makita chop saw).
br /
br /I haven't used any other sliding compound saws, so I can't compare objectively; but I can't imagine how one could be any better.

After looking high and low for a sliding compound miter saw with laser this is the only one I could find. Although I was skeptical (because it was the only one I could find) I order it. I couldn't be happier. It's easy to cart around to job sites. The laser is terriffic, well worth the extra money! The trigger took a little getting used to (actually a safety feature), but once you get the hang of it, you love it too!

This saw is the perfect tool. Very accurate with lots of power and the laser guide is awesome. Why did I wait so long to get one?

I am carpenter by trade and I have owned this saw for about five years now it is the most accurate slider I have used miters are straight bevels also are excellent it does not have a lot of upright capacity but once you get used to cutting on the flat its wonderful highly recommended I rarely if ever use the laser If I had to buy another one I would buy the non-laser model.Most laser are not that accurate anyway I know some will tell you differently but in my experince I have not had much luck with them .Also love the compactness of the saw I can move it around the jobsite with ease and I do not mind setting it up for punchout because of its light weight .I have also looked at the Makita but I do not like the miter scale setup also the hitachi goes a cople more degrees wich might not sound like a lot but makes a big difference when needed .

Despite the occasional negative review from professionals (I'm an amateur pretending to be one) I have nothing but raves for this saw. My experience: I've trimmed out two homes, an office and assorted small furniture projects. I started out with a hand miter box, graduated to a $99 Sears miter saw, and then splurged on this saw several years ago for Christmas.
br /
br /I was impressed by the fact that this saw cut square (I checked with a machinists square and with cut blocks) out of the box. The laser is VERY accurate, and a nice aid. I have never had such tight miter joints, or smooth cuts with a factory blade( it's very typical of woodworkers to trash the factory blade on saws immediately and replace with an aftermarket blade).
br /
br /I have no regrets about this purchase at all. Watch for Lowes annual tool sale; I bought it from Amazon with a price match policy, with free shipping and no sales tax.

I"d like to know where Amazon gets their "wacky" retail pricing from.They claim this saw is retailed at $1015?. You can buy this saw at any Lowes for $375..Anyway. this saw is the greatest thing since sliced bread.Cuts like a dream, accurate right out of the box.Do yourself a favor and buy this saw. Think twice where you buy it !!!!!!!!!

I can't speak to longevity as I just installed this saw. However, I can say it cuts very accurately and cleanly with the blade provided. The sliding action is important to me as the saw replaces a radial arm and this allows a wider cut. I added the right side fence and believe it will be very useful. The only complaint I have is the thumb safety button is not well located for my use. I like the fact that you move the cutting blade from front to rear which is the opposite of the action of a typical radial arm saw.

The saw is great. Smooth sliding cutting, everything you need in a saw. The only thing I have to complain about is that the laser has to be cut on off manualy and doesnt come on when you pull the trigger. That's a minor complaint but you just have to remember to cut it off when you're done. Other than that its all you need!

Great saw, well built, smooth, very capable. BUT WATCH OUT for the accessories that Amazon says go with this saw. I made the mistake of ordering the stand that this site said goes with this saw and it is absolutely, totally incompatible with this saw. Since I live bascially in the middle of nowhere it is very hard to return the stand so I will make extensive modifications to make it work but it would have been easier (and cheaper) to just build a stand from scratch.
br /Caveat Emptor, even from a supposedly knowledgeable product page.

Nice saw! Haven't found a serious flaw with it yet. It's well designed, built with great precision and using it has been a dream. Gave it 4 stars because the 1st one arrived with a broken handle so a replacement was needed. Obviously needs to be shipped in a more protective of a box. We'd recommend this for anyone although it is quite heavy, so if using it as a travel saw may be limited.

Woodworker's Journal (part of Rockler) evaluated six 10" Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saws in the June 2008 issue. The top rated by a good bit was a Festool saw. Festool is European in origin and a VERY good saw. However it costs more than three times as much as this one.
br /
br /The reviewer says if you are gifted in the money department, buy the Festool because it excels in every test done. Kind of expected for the Germans...
br /
br /This saw came in third and the separation between number two, a Makita, and this one is minimal. For the price and it's accuracy in cutting it will be a very good buy for yawl looking for a new chop saw...

I've owned this saw for over 2 years and use it almost daily. It works great, I'm glad I bought it. The long throw makes building bookcases and other shallow cabinets easier.
br /
br /I have 3 complaints though: 1) The handle is vertical, not horizontal, and is for right-handed use (its difficult to use the trigger release with the left hand); 2) This saw is screaming for a dual laser setup and I have yet to find one (haven't looked recently though); 3) Its extremely difficult to set it up for a perfect cut, especially at the far end of it slide (but that is a common complaint for sliding miter saws).
br /
br /But none of these are deal-breakers for me and I would buy it again.

I'm really impressed with this saw.
br /Got this saw to help remodel and do trim work. It does everything flawlessly. The only gripe is the right fence is too low, and had to get the additional fence to do crown molding.
br /This saw and the UU610 stand is a winning combination.

Bought this saw to replace one (different make) that broke. What an improvement. This saw was dead on right out of the box. Saw is built very well and very easy to use. The add on miter guides are a great addition if doing alot of crown molding since the ones that come with it are rather small. Saw has plenty of power to handle 2x8 material with no problem. This saw is great for all around remodel work from framing to cabinet trim and crown molding.

I did a lot of research before I ordered this saw. I have to say that it really makes short work of cutting. Love this saw. Only thing that would have been great is to have some measuring along the fence. But, hey this saw is one of the best. Solid and cuts through wood like a knife through butter.

I am pleased to say that I have made a very smart choice in the Hitachi C10FSH compound mitre saw, it is so smooth and sturdy, great machine, you can do most anything with and I am so glad ordering through amazon.com, delivery was super fast, and free, the only drawback is paying tax, you guys at amazon have got to fix that problem, I am overburdened with taxes as it is !

This is the best of all of the dual compound sliding miters. Accurate right out of the carton excellent features and accessorys. I expected nothing less from the first manufacturer to make one of these saws. Recommended for any builder/perfectionist who demands high quality results from thier tools.

I am going to give this Hitachi Miter Saw a Five Star because of it's quality and performance. A friend let me use his Hitachi miter saw to do a hardwood floor job. I liked it so much, I ordered me a new one. The new saw had improvements, such as, laser, dust catcher, etc. I noticed that the new saw was not a noisy as the older one. Laser was perfect out of the box but I played with it's adjustment, then put it back to it's mark with ease. I looked at other chop saws but I especially like the slide bar on this saw, it gives you the capacity to cut 12" boards. A chop saw can only cut an 8" board, that's with a 12" blade, maximum. Well anyway if you are looking for a great miter saw this is the one. This saw will go through many climate changes up here, I believe it will handle them all, with ease.
br /
br /Happy wood working, Michaels
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /

i have two compound miter saws working on one site. this saw is leaps, and bounds better than that other thing. hitachi is at the zenith of compound miter saws. it's better, cheaper, faster, and more durable than comparable saws from other manufacturers. just get it.

I have had this saw for quite a few years and it is still working fine. The 10" blade is all you really need. It works great for trim work as well as framing.

I owned the Makita for many years and loved it for the large table and tilted motor. What I didn't like was the single cast fence which often warped and/or cracked and the detents which wore out so quickly. I decided to go for the Hitachi as they started the sliding compound miter saw revolution (if you want to call it that). The design hasn't changed much and while I think the laser is an unnecessary addition, this is a great saw that will see many years of use. By the way, having a right and left fence independent of one another allows you to make adjustments as things inevitably move out of alignment. This was the first compound miter saw I ever used and am glad to return to it.

I replaced an older version and this unit is a little heavy but cuts very nicely and seems sturdy.

I would recomend this saw to everyone : carpenter or amateur. In my daily life i used Dewalt , Bosch , Makita , but Hitachi is one star better than any of them.

This is the best saw in the world and blows the others away! The saw is tough and accurate and the price in unbelievable - no other saw can compare with it. I recommend you get it before Dec 31 and get the 25 bucks off.

I have been doing renovations for quite some time. After going through several name brand miter saws I thought I'd give the C10FSH a try. Right out of the box the saw performed well. the Laser works great for both angle and straight cutting. I did notice if your cutting right of center you had better add the thickess of the blade to the line. Left of center the line is right on. I dumped the blade that came on it and installed the 72 tooth blade before I even pluged the saw in. The saw works great on Crown. The duel bevel is a great feature. Now all I have to do is keep everyone that sees it from trying it out.

Its pretty nice, but the laser does not align with the saw cut and NO instructions on how to adjust!!
br /I have a Craftsman 10 Radial arm saw using the same 60 tooth Freud blade and it (craftsman) saw cut is rough compared with the Hitachi cut.
br /
br /Miter's join very well!!

Saw is great however Hitachi promised a power drill with purchase and never fullfilled. When I contacted the company they didnt know if the order would ever be filled this was 6 months ago as of Feb 27th 2004

I am a prossional trim carpenter and I have bought 4 of these Hitachi Sliding Compound Miter saws over the a 15 year period. (2 as gifts) They cut perfect out of the box and give you years of service. AT 38 lbs. they are the best miter saw on the planet.

I bought this saw after read all review on Amazon web site. The saw arrived almost two weeks later. UPS dropped it in very good shape. I didn't use it yet, I just gave it a test and these are what I found: like other review , the saw is good except the noise.This saw has 12Amp motor but the noise is much louder than some 15Amp motor saws.The bevel stops at 33.9 degree is corect but at 30 degree on mine is at 29 degree but I don't know how to adjust it. If Hitachi fix those prolems it would be a five star miter saw.

Overall this was a pretty good saw but I just couldn't get use to the large, uncomfortable handle. I mean, who did they design this handle for, Andre the Giant? Might seem like a small issue, but when this is the thing you hold onto every time you make a cut, it's pretty significant. I do not have particularly small hands, and am surprised there isn't more mention of the oversized, uncomfortable handle in other reviews.

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.

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, and15) 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.