I purchased this saw in a moment of desperation. I was laying up butcher block and was having a terrible time getting good joints on the ends of the boards. It turns out my trusty 10" Delta chop saw had developed so much slop that it wouldn't cut square.
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br /So I went to Lowes and picked up this saw for ~$270.
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br /In a nutshell, it works great!
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br /I chose a non-slider because I wanted good accuracy in the cross cuts. Straight out of the box this saw cut very well. Both fences were square and it cut with no detectable errors. (I measured the resultant cuts with my engineer squares) The vertical alignment was slightly off, which adjusted quickly.
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br /I did notice that flip-over fence did not line up exactly (another reviewer noted the same problem). It is only a mm or so off, and lines up with only light pressure, so does not affect performance. I am going to try to get this line up by shimming the rotator bolt.
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br /The only reason I gave the saw 4 stars is the 32 tooth blade that was supplied with the saw is suitable for rough and medium cuts, but I am going to replace it with a finer tooth blade for more precise work.
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br /One interesting note, the dust collection bag actually works! My old Delta never filled the bag, even after months of use. I am going to attach it to my dust collection system so I assume it will collect even better.
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br /I will update this review as I get more experience with the saw.
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br /Pat Robinson
br /"The Man" Installation
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This saw has a number of nice features for the money. I would personally want a slide miter if I were still in the construction business, however this 12 in saw with dual bevel can handle most tasks. I did have to align the laser and both fences upon arrival to ensure square cuts. I had to file out the stop on the left swing away fence to get the alignment perfect. I have checked the miter angles on many cuts and they are near perfect. The laser makes cut alignment a snap. As a person who performs remodel projects routinely, I would personally purchase this saw again.

I purchased this saw a few weeks ago. After years of borrowing my father's DeWalt, it was time to get my own. I'm not a professional, just a weekend home improvement guy. I compared features and warranty vs. price and after speaking with the folks at the "blue" home improvement store, made the decision to buy this saw. I used it this weekend (over a period of about 18 hours over two days) to cut crown molding and could not have been happier with the performance. The laser was lined up perfectly out of the box and made cutting extrememly easy. This is just a well made, powerful, easy to use saw and I could not recommend it highly enough. Quality on the saw looks great and it was set up perfectly out of the box. For $289, I can't be happier and look forward to using this for years to come. Also got a Ryobi saw stand at the "orange" home improvement place-love it also. Assembly and set up with my saw took about 30 minutes. No issues at all. You will not regret buying this saw.

This saw has a powerful motor and makes a smooth cut. The laser feature is excellent and provides an easy guide for cutting and is easy to adjust to the left or right. However the left and right fences do not lineup for a square cut on both sides. I have to adjust the fences for a square cut for the side on which I want to make a cut. Also there are no instructions in the owner's manual for how to adjust the fences. I had to figure it out on my own. The bevel guages for the left and right do not agree when the blade is set square. The left bevel guage will read as "0" while the right guage will read as -1 1/2 degrees. The saw is heavy at 47 1/2 pounds so is difficult to lift for storage. If you have a space problem and will need to lift it to store it I would recommend the 10" saw. This saw would be good for basic construction but I now wish I had gotten a 10" saw for finish work.

This machine is everything it says. It's great. I enjoy home remodeling and this machine makes it even better. I have never had a laser before and it truly makes it easier to get a precision cut.

I have to preface the review with the $189 price I paid during a special sale, because at that price it deserves 6 starts. Even if I had paid full retail for this one, it still would have received 5 stars.
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br /The purchase was not without trouble. The first one I got had a broken piece on the upper fence. It was only a small piece, but it could have caused a problem for taller crown moulding. I took it back and got another, which was in good shape.
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br /As far as the performance of the saw goes, I love it! The laser was right on, with no adjustment needed. I did have to adjust the bevel slightly, which was tricky because the scale on the left was different than the scale on the right. A square got everything lined up, and I haven't had a problem since.
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br /The only con so far is the weight (*if you need portability*). I did not buy it to go anywhere other than my garage, but my buddy had a project at his house and I volunteered my saw and myself. It was a pain to lug over there, but it did a great job on a vaulted ceiling for him. While I say it is a con, I actually like the weight because it feels solidly built. It should last a long time.
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br /If this saw comes up for under $200 again, it is an AWESOME bargain. At just under $300 I'd put it at a good deal. I had my eye on it before the sale and would have been happy getting it at the higher price as well.

I recently purchased the 12" Hitachi C12FDH dual bevel with lazer. I purchased it reconditioned to save a little $$$. I could not be happier with the saw!!! It came in like new condition with a 60 tooth blade. The lazer was aligned correctly out of the box and has an on/off switch within finger reach of the handle. It starts up smooth and brakes smooth with plenty of power. The dust collection port really works well. The dust port is on the back of the blade housing and will adapt to a shop vac. My first project with the saw, was to install 220 sq ft of teak hardwood plank flooring in my dinning room. I brought the saw onto my porch during the project. It was January 20 and very cold out. I experimented a little to possibly save time on the clean up. Instead of using a shop vac I connected a garbage bag to the dust port, and it filled the bag with approx. 90% of the dust. I did not make any compound cuts yet but, the saw is very solidly built and I do not expect any problems. The only thing I seen on the saw that could be improved upon is the mitre cut degree label. It is only a sticker made of a thin metal foil. This could be damaged or come off over time. I still give this saw a excellent rating for quality,value, and function. I would recommend it to anyone!!!

pound for pound, this size and quality of saw for this money is an outstanding deal. I've done it again! This internet buy
br /saved me almost $100. WOW!
br /rea, broken arrow. ok

I have used many miter saws and still use my 6 year old 10" Delta. After doing a lot of comparison shopping, and testing, this model Hitachi is the best value; there are bigger and there are cheaper, but this combines the best of all features at a very fair price. The ability to align the laser to the left, right or middle of the blade is particularly attractive as is the separate laser power switch. I really like the handle configuration also. Saw operation is smooth and powerful with a positive blade stop. I would recommend this tool to any serious DIY guy or contractor.

I purchased this Miter saw in Feb '08, and have not been disappointed yet. I did a lot research on miter saws and determined this model had all the features I needed (12" blade, Dual bevel, Laser, Vacuum Hook-up, and fold-out wings) at a cost effective price. I made quite a few trips to Home depot, Sears and Lowes testig out several saws including Ridgid, Dewalt, Bosch and Craftsman. Hearing great things about Dewalt, I immediately tried it out and did not like it at all, since the saw dust guard hit my thumb when I lowered the saw arm(due to the way I grip the handle). Additionally, the cost was way above the other competitors prices for the same saws. Next, the Bosch models were nice but again the price was extreme. The Craftsman almost made it to my list of finalists, but were cut because of the cheap manufacturing and flimsiness. Finally Ridgid put up a great comepetition with the Hitachi. The two reasons I chose the Hitachi over the Ridgid were 1)Price (Ridgid is overpriced, although they supposedly offer a lifetime guarantee on certain parts and 2) Hitachi's laser is activated by switch, whereas Ridgid's laser is activated when you pull the trigger. The reason why that's important to me is because I can line up my lumber for a cut, clamp it down, then pull the trigger as opposed to pulling the trigger, holding the trigger while the blade is spinning and adjust the lumber, lock it down and then cut (safety issue).
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br /So far I've cut pine trim with perfect angles, walnut hardwood flooring, and 2X8's and I plan on using this saw to build a deck out of composite lumber. Just a tip, the saw comes with a 40 tooth blade, which isn't good for trim or hardwood floor, I went out and purchased a 90t blade and it cuts perfect. In addition to the blade I bought the UU610 table which fits almost any size piece of lumber and is a snap to put together and wheel around.
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br /If you want to try it out in person first, Lowes carries this exact model!

Have had this saw for a couple of months now and have been very satisfied with it's over all performance. It required a little adjustment from shipping, but otherwise I have had great results from it. Hard to beat it for the price.

I have a 10" Hitachi and bought the cut n crown system. I was getting ready to start and found that I needed more height than what my 10" could give me because of the jigs with this system. I know I don't need the jigs and could use the 10" but the fence was very low anyway. So I went to Lowes. I have the Dewalt mitre saw stand and was going to buy a Dewalt to go with it. Actually was kind of excited. After looking at all of the saws, I decided on the Hitachi 12" because of the 5 year warranty, laser, comfortable handle grip and double bevel for less money. I loved the saw at first. Then, while I was checking the alignment I noticed that the right side markings and the red pointer had come into contact with each other. This peeled the foil marking label with the adhesive on the back of the label exposed. I tryed to lay this label back down but it kept coming up. Saw dust has gotten underneath it and forget about it ever staying down now. To me this is a critical oversight on Hitachi's part. I went back to Lowes and found the saw on display had both left and right labels messed up. I used the saw for crown moulding and after 4 days of use I decided to take this one back to Lowes for a refund. Oh, this saw is VERY loud too. You will definetly need ear plugs or hearing protection. It actually hurts to listen to it. I went back to Lowes and purchased the Dewalt DW716. This is the saw that I originally was going to purchase but got cost conservative. The customer reviews where all excellent for this saw. Got this saw home, Loved it and after three cuts the saw quit. I checked the outlet, 120V power was good. I could not believe it! I think maybe the switch went out. I took it back and now I'm waiting for the Bosch 4212 from Amazon.com. I also bought the Bosch 80 tooth blade. Oh, I forgot to say earlier that with the Hitachi I had the Dewalt 80T precision trim blade and it was a dream. Perfect cuts with absolutely no splintering. With the Dewalt saw, it came with a 60 tooth Dewalt blade. Was not quite as good but would probably have worked out ok. Just not quite as crisp. I hope this helps.

Background: retired then downsized to a much smaller workshop, in the process I unloaded many power tools and had to think about space, versatility and probable applications.
br /I decided on a compound, dual bevel 12 inch mitre, the C12FDH fit the bill and price.
br /It arrived with a defective "subfence B". Within 1 business day I had contacted Hitachi customer support and after two emailed descriptions, they forwarded a new subfence B which was easily installed and fit to spec. Very good cooperative support personnel.
br /The laser guide is a marvel for these old boomer eyes.
br /I would recommend this product.

I am an avid woodworker and have learned over the years that you should put your money into quality tools. For that reason I have a Powermatic table saw, Porter Cable Drill, Plate joiner, Bosch Circular Saw, etc. I could go on and on and name my tools that are manufactured by some of the top contractor brand names. I was a little leery to purchase a Hitachi tool when I bought my first one about 6 months ago when I needed a new cordless drill because the batteries on my Porter Cable stopped taking a charge. I bought a DS 12DVF3 and I paid somewhere around $60 for the drill and two batteries. Great buy. It has impressive power and it fairly lightweight. I have used the heck out of it in 6 months. My son and I are finishing off our basement right now and he accidentally dropped it off of the ladder from about 5' up onto a concrete floor last week. I thought for sure that it was a goner since I broke a Bosch cordless drill several years ago when I dropped in from a smaller height onto a grass surface in my backyard. I picked it up the Hitachi from the floor with a red face and through clinched teeth I calmly explained why WE DON'T LAY DRILLS ON THE RUNG OF A LADDER. However, I was pleased to hear the familiar whine from the motor when I squeezed the trigger. We used it to drive several hundred more screws that day and it is still working like new!. My son is probably happier about that than I am. :-)
br /I purchased this saw about a month ago and have used the heck out of it for my basement job. I have made hundreds of cuts and with each one this saw has performed flawlessly. The laser is a very nice feature, especially when you are working in a fairly dark basement (don't have all of the lights installed yet). The laser was off by about 1/32" when I took it out of the box. Most people wouldn't notice the difference but I am picky. My wife and kids call it anal but I call it picky. I was able to quickly adjust the laser alignment to my high standards by following the instructions in the manual.
br /I spent a lot of time researching this purchase and made a few trips to different stores to look at the different saws, Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Delta, etc. and came away feeling like this saw offered the best value of them all. If this saw is built as rugged as my Hitachi Drill, and it seems to be, then I should get years of precise cuts from it. One more thing, I read some of the reviews mentioned that the stock blade was mediocre and recommended a new one. So I purchased a 60T finishing blade at the time of purchase. I wish that I would have waited because I still haven't taken it out of the package. The stock blade cuts framing members like butter and leaves a very smooth edge on them. I haven't tried it on trim yet, but I would be curious to see how well it performs. This is from a guy who spent $100 on a Forrest blade for his table saw. I know a good blade when I use one. I am not saying this is a great blade, but it may be good enough. That is for you to decide. All and all I would say this is a great tool and I would highly recommend it.
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I've had this saw for over a year (bought it from Lowe's on sale). It is an amazing saw. I never used the original blade since I think you should always use at least a 60 tooth for finish work (I have a 90 tooth hitachi blade). It cuts through pine with no visible tearout and a smooth finish (likely due to the blade as much as the saw). The laser is awesome and adjustable, though I do wish you could just use a knob instead of an allen wrench to adjust it. But once it's adjusted, you don't need to worry about it unless you change your blade.
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br /The saw has enough power to cut through just about anything. I did have an issue with the flipover fence, as it was slightly out of alignment. I think it might be due to the way it is packaged (there isn't the slightest hint of styrofoam to protect it). But I called Hitachi and they sent me a new one right away and it is perfect! I suspect that is what happened to the person who says the left and right fence don't line up. There is a way to adjust it though I think. You can download the manual from hitachi's website if you want to see the type of adjustments you can make.
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br /Last thing: It may be that the bevel gauges do not match each other as one person's review said (when one gauge reads zero degrees, the other has a different number). But that's not something I think should detract from the saw. It is a dual compound miter saw, which means it bevels left and right, so the need for the dual gauges (in order for you to be able to look at the angle while you are adjusting the bevel regardless of which side you're on). But if they don't match each other, there is an easy fix. The arrows for the bevel gauges have screws on them, which you loosen to adjust the arrow to the correct reading and then re-tighten. Then the readings will match no matter what you change it to, as they move in tandem. If they're off by a huge amount (say, 20 degrees), then you're out of luck. But it is highly unlikely, and that would just mean you have a defective saw.

Having used a borrowed DeWalt 716 for the past 4 months I decided I need to return my buddies saw and get my own! I was dead set on getting the DeWalt but figured I would wait and maybe catch a sale. While 'waiting' I started researching other saws and the Hitachi caught my eye. Last week while checking online I found the Hitachi on sale at my local Lowes for $199. That was too good to pass up so I picked it up. Immediately after leaving Lowes I went next door to Home Depot and grabbed the Ryobi miter stand for $99. What a combination is all i can say. For less than $300 I am equipped with a 12" double bevel miter saw, with built in laser and 15 amp motor and rocking miter saw stand. The DeWalt 716 in $399 just for the saw, no laser, and then you need a stand.
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br /After set up I started making cuts to check squareness and angles. Even though the indicators were on zero I had to adjust the bevel to square. Then I simply reset the pointers. The miter was fine from the factory. Next I adjusted the laser to the left side of the blade for my preference. Thats it.
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br /Over the last 2 days I test cut everything up to a pressure treated 4x4 while testing squareness, etc. The saw cuts with the stock blade as well as the DeWalt I borrowed and for the price its simply amazing. I like the DeWalt fences a bit better and it does provide a wider cut. But the Hitachi comes with a built in laser, which is operated by a seperate switch.....many add ons run on AAA batteries, or the built in lasers often do not come on until you start the saw. This one you just hit the switch, line up the cut with the laser and your ink line, then pull the trigger to start the saw, Very nice.
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br /Not for this review but the Ryobi miter stand rocks for the price....check it out if in need. No wheels but rock solid mounting, easy removal of saw, folds away, very sturdy, extends over 8', work stops on each end, etc., etc., ect.
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br /Overall, Great saw and for $199 I woulda been nuts not to grab it. Glad I did. (and the stand too).

After researching miter saws and reading the reviews, I chose this saw as my first miter saw to ever own. When I received it, the left fence was broken during shipping. Returned it back to Amazon for an exchange and had no problems with the second saw I received. It has performed and worked perfectly out of the box. I have had no issues with this saw at all, just used it to build a 600 square foot deck. When comparing the price to Lowes, it was $50 cheaper on Amazon plus the free shipping. Overall I would recommend this saw to anyone, very easy to use and if any adjustments need to be performed they look very easy to do.

I have been using this saw in my small cabinet shop business for a couple weeks now and it already deserves a 5 star rating. Of course I don't know how long it will last, but I'm betting it will be an improvement over the Dewalts I have been using. I've owned 5 of the dewalt 12" saws and two of them burned out in 2-3 years, so it was time to try another brand this time. Of course we use them hard, and they get hundreds of cycles a week.
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br /I'm very happy with the acuracy of the saw and it seems very solid. I thought the laser was a gimmick and almost didn't bother to calibrate it, but now I consider it a must-have feature. I don't use it very often, but it really comes in handy if you scribe a pencil drawn angle to your work and want to chop it right on the line--no need to even bother the measure the angle.
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br /The dust collection works good for a chop saw saw too. Might get 70% of the dust or so, which is much better than any other saw I've used.
br /A couple small things I don't like though--this sucker is loud. While I always use ear protection anyway, this is the only saw Ive used in which it is mandatory. I tried to sneak a quick cut in without the ear pro. once and it is painful---and that can't be good for you.
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br /The other minor downside is it takes up more space than the Dewalts. With dust collection attached it needs about 6" more space from the back wall in the shop. But it's still way better than a sliding miter saw. (I'd rather have non sliding saws as the very rare times I need more capacity I use the sliding table on the table saw.)
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br /The first thing I did is build this into a chop saw table with the Kreg system stops. Why more people don't bother to set up a chop saw properly is a mystery to me. I couldn't build a shed with out it! Anytime you use a tapemeasure to pencil mark and then nudge the work around into position you are wasting your life.
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br /Five stars for this tool.
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br /-Steve

I bought a reconditioned saw at the site that is linked to Amazon for $149. It looks brand new and works great. I bought a 90 tooth Hitachi blade from the same source and it is the only blade I have used on the saw. The settings were accurate out of the box but I had to move the pointers a little which I consider very minor. You have to do a bit of assembly on the extended fence on the left but again this is minor. The saw and blade work and cuts are consistently accurate. Features I like include the accurate table for cutting, the rotating table is very close in height to the rest of the table, the miter settings have indents at the normal angles but they are easy to override for settings within a half degree of the setting, and good dust collection.
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br /The capacities listed for this saw seem a bit conservative or incomplete to me. I can cut a 6 inch piece vertically against the fence and I did not see any capacity close to this. If you thumb the guard out of the way you may be able to do 7 inches this way. It is handy for mitering large base moulding. Crosscuts at 90 degrees in thin material (1 inch or less), you can do something over 7 inches (7 is the most time I've tried) laid down flat. I did not try it but I believe you could easily crosscut a 4x6.
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br /It's probably worth the $250-300 they get for a new one but at $149 its a no-brainer. You are getting a double bevel saw of good design and quality at a price below what a simple single bevel 12 inch of the cheapest price point goes for. If you buy new, you may want to look hard at the FCH - the model with the digital angle readout. For miter settings this is not a big deal but it's a little hard to read bevel settings to half a degree.
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br /Jim

This saw review is a little delayed because I wanted to try out a few projects with it before giving my two cents. First off the saw arrived brand new with a broken fence. I think I read another review with a person who had the same problem, but figured "That won't happen to me." Called Hitachi for a new fence, which were backordered for 2 weeks and I had no problems with their customer service team. With the new fence in place I am ready to cut. The saw was properly aligned out of the box and the laser required no adjustment either. The saw has plenty of power and I found the included blade great for building my first project, a garage workbench. The cuts were accurate and the saw was very pleasant to work with. Next project was crown molding. This saw cut like a dream. It really helped get all those difficult angles properly cut and it didn't tear out my finish either.
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br /Pros:
br /Great price and features. Easy to adjust and accurate. Very powerful and smooth.
br /Cons:
br /Broken fence, the gauge decal indicating blade tilt started to come off and I had to epoxy it back in place. Could use more positive stops.
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br /Overall a great choice for this novice and will take some time for me to outgrow.

This saw arrived with part of its plastic case broken. Rather than return the whole saw, I tried to contact Hitachi through their support site on the web to get a replacement. Nothing but silence. I won't buy from them anymore.

I received my Hitachi C12FDH miter saw as a Christmas gift from my duaghter and son-in-law, to replace an older Delta that was shot.
br /After about 6 uses the belt guard broke and fell off, I emailed Hitachi and got no response, so I fastened it back on with a nylon cable tie and rubber band. After a few months and little usage the bolt holding the retractor arm to the blade guard broke, I again emailed the company, and again got no response. Finally I called the toll free number on the website, and tried to get the belt guard and bolt under warranty, only to be told I had to take it to an authorized service center, (apparently they are unaware that other people CAN operated a screwdriver). I took a half day off work, drove an hour and a half to the service center, and found out there that I needed a store receipt to prove I had purchased it, (remember it was a Christmas gift). I was very dissatisfied with their unwillingness to invest a few bucks in retaining me as a customer. I came home, went to my local hardware, purchased some longer screws and fender washers for the belt guard, and a replacement screw for the retractor arm, and fixed it myself. I'm sure I voided the warranty by doing this, but in my opinion, the warranty was worthless from the start. When someone asks me about my saw, I'm sure I'll share this story and try to persuade them to buy Makita, Delta, Craftsman, or anything other that Hitachi.

My first saw came damaged. The sub fence was broken and the bevel gauge was torn up. Amazon sent me a new one, and the second one was also not right. The sub fence on this one was not broken but did not line up with the back fence making a square cut impossibe. There was also grinding when I adjusted the bevel. Complete junk. Hitachi was no use. They informed me that it was manufactered in China. Big surprise. I do not see myself buying anymore Hitachi tools because the customer service was so poor. Maybe you will have better luck than me. My suggestion is to look the saw over very carefully before using it. I regeret this purchase.

im having trouble getting a 90 degree angle on the saw . it has adjustments but it takes some work. the blade that came with it wasnt suited to my needs so ill have to buy a finer tooth blade. the laser is a plus and the saw overall is well built.have'nt tried compound yet but it seems to have nice controls.

I was looking to replace a 19 year old 9" BD power miter box and after some considerable research, decided on this model.
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br /I have previous experience with Hitachi power tools and was expecting to receive a tool of comparable quality - instead what I received was a broken tool that is made in China.
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br /Amazon was great handling the return and got me a replacement right away, but the replacement saw was broken at the same location (the right adjustable fence was ripped from the base).
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br /Inspection of the aluminum casting revealed large occlusions in the material, leading me to believe that the entire base is made of the same substandard materials.
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br /I would stay away from this tool - look at the DEWALT DW716 15 Amp Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw- it will cost more, but you will be infinitely happier with the quality of the tool and construction - plus it is made in North America.

I had to give the saw a poor review because I never got to use it. After ordering the saw, and looking forward to using it, when it arrived, the sub fence was broken, and the saw had to go back. Ok, they were very good about the whole thing, so I can wait for the replacement. The second saw came just three days later. I joked with the UPS driver that she should stick around so she could take it back with her. Guess what, the sub frnce on the second saw was broken! Back it went, but this time I didn't ask for a replacement. The saw looked good, but the thing was shipped with the bevel not fully locked, so it must have slammed into the sub fence during shipping, causing the thing to break.

I bought this saw from another vendor a year ago it was a floor model so I was able to check it out real good and it worked great for me.Then it got stolen.
br / I liked it well enough to Buy it again and ordered it from Amazon. When it arrived I checked every thing out real well and found the laser to be out of alignment and the subfence was not lined up with the fixed fence .
br / Rather than return it I called Hitachi .They told me the sub fence was bent and they would send me another one. After a week I received the wrong part. I called Hitachi again giving them the part number this time.0ne week later again ,wrong part again can't even figure out if this part even goes on this saw.
br / So back to Amazon for an exchange ,new saw comes with new problem.Fence is broken (cracked off).
br / Hitachi is garbage , no quality control.