Replies

1. 
   lat_axe | Nov 02, 2020 04:57pm | #1

   A Scheppach. :-) They're nearest to you. Or a Mafell if you can find the dosh.

   Lataxe

2. 
   Beasley7 | Nov 02, 2020 09:00pm | #2

   Let me start by saying that I haven't used either of these two saws. Researching like I was buying, I would give the nod to the Dewalt. As near as I can tell the Hikoki has a 7 AMP motor, the Dewalt 15AMP. Could be a continental difference: USA runs 110v vs EU 220v. Stronger motor means better functioning in thicker / harder woods. It also means you can feed wood faster to avoid burning.

   Dewalt blade spins faster 4800 vs 4500 no load speed. Generally faster = cleaner cuts, but also generates more heat.

   As for the accuracy, the Dewalt looks like it has a better fence. The fence is the #1 factor for accuracy. If it slips or deflects, you will not be able to get straight and square.

   I can't tell from research if the miter gauge slots are standard or odd sized. Both the included miter gauges look disposable.

   Like I said, I haven't used either of these saws. So I am by no means an authority or even remotely qualified to form an opinion.

3. 
   Niels_Witlox | Nov 03, 2020 01:58am | #3

   Beasley,

   I can't find that 7 amp number you mention. In reviews, some even say the Kikoki is more powerful, but maybe that's not the European version. Anyway, I think you are right about other things. So thank you very much!

4. 
   Niels_Witlox | Nov 03, 2020 02:02am | #4

   Lataxe,

   Thank you for commenting again!
   What kind of model do you have in mind?

   I can only find quite cheap jobsite saws, which I don't really trust. Or big cabinet saws that jump to over €2000 euro's and are probably too big for my shop anyway.

   And for Mafell: the cheapest saw is €1.300 and it doesn't even have a fence.

   Don't you think a solid DeWalt DWE 7492 (DWE7491RS) would be a good option?

   Niels

5. 
   Niels_Witlox | Nov 03, 2020 02:19am | #5

   You guys could have al look at this article:
   https://www.sawinery.net/hitachi-c10rj-vs-dewalt-dwe7491rs/#:~:text=While%20both%20the%20Hitachi%20and,with%20the%20speed%20it's%20at.

   or this video:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oi5BTKl2hY

   In the first, they say both are equally good, and in the second the Hitachi wins, although its because price is a factor.

   It's too hard for me to believe that de Hitachi can actually keep up with the DeWalt. I wonder if reviewers are so soft on it because of the price tag. What do you think?

6. 
   john_c2 | Nov 03, 2020 06:01am | #6

   A few decades ago, Hitachi tools were geared toward professionals. They pretty uniformly made good stuff. Along the way, quality dropped off, and they were marketed more to homeowners. I don't see them on jobsites at all anymore. To me, that says an awful lot.

   The same exact thing has happened to Porter Cable. There are still a few things they make that have not changed in a great many years, and are worth buying. But the vast majority of PC stuff is now crap.

   I wouldn't personally buy anything from Hitachi, or whatever they call themselves as they try to wriggle out from under the cloud of poor tools they made. There are too many fantastic tools out there to take a flyer on a company that has had too many issues.

7. 
   Niels_Witlox | Nov 03, 2020 11:39am | #7

   Than you John, That is some information I can use. So the DeWalt is still on the top of my list!

8. 
   FrenkyV | Nov 05, 2020 10:52am | #8

   Hi Niels,

   I only recently started looking for a table saw. Funny enough I came to the exact same conclusion as you did.
   In my case it will be used at home and it will be my first 'serious' investment in my garage workshop. (okay, I allready bought a dust extractor / vacuum cleaner the other week to go with the new saw)

   I went ahead and just ordered the Hikoki for these reasons:
   - reviews look good to me (I came up with pretty much the aforementioned videos)
   - fence system similar to dewalt with a milder pricetag...
   - Soft start (because I'm not too shure of the power leads to the backyard and also because I will use the outlet on the vacuum)
   - dado possibility (I don't currently own a dado stack but I think I would totally freak out if I ever decided to want one)
   - for me it has to be portable so I can store it in the garage and use it in the backyard (when not in use I don't want to sacrifice too much floor space)

   It's supposed to be delivered mid next week. If you like I can keep you posted.
   Get back to me if you'd like to see it at work. I'm in Uden (NL)...

9. 
   muskokalayne | Nov 05, 2020 03:00pm | #9

   I can’t speak for that saw but dewalt makes great products I have built tons furniture with the Dw735 thickness planer and it’s bullet proof I think sometimes you get what you pay for,hope this helps all the best.

10. 
    DieterV | Dec 29, 2020 12:35pm | #10

    I pretty much ended up with the same two options for my first (hobby) table saw. FrenkyV, any chance that you could already share your experience with the Hikoki C10RJWAZ?

1. 
   FrenkyV | Dec 30, 2020 09:27am | #11

   @DieterV and @Niels_Witlox,

   the saw came only a couple of days after I posted and I have made a few basic projects already.
   Upon delivery I wanted to get to know the possibilities and learn how to handle the saw, so I set off to check the calibration of the fence and the stops on the bevel angle. I decided to fiddle about anyway, but I think dial-in is now better then upon delivery. Without any earlier experience I'd say this works both accurate and easy.

   In general the weight is enough to make for a sure and stable machine jet still manageable if you want to set it aside to clean up after work. I tend to vacuum all my machines after work and I think this machine has no difficult spots where sawdust would gather and mess up your garage or vehicle. The wheels are great and setting the machine up is real easy. Also I like how the blade guard functions. You can put each side up separately when measuring and you can get your fence real close without removing the blade guard. Ergonomics and practicality in general is great. So far I only want some sort of storage. I'm thinking of a belt bag or so to wrap around the frame and keep hearing protection, glasses and maybe some measuring tools at hand. I'd also keep a coin in there to unlock the blade cover. Last remark is that the motor hits the miter gauge when completely lowered. This can be avoided by storing the gauge at its maximum angle. Not to bad a score imho.

   Dust extraction is reasonably good, but I think the main 'bottleneck' is the fact that I only have a hose-adapter that fits INSIDE the dustport on the saw. I believe that it will be good when I get another adapter to fit over the port. I now use a small Makita extractor with the 38mm (or 1.5") hose.

   I've done some ripping of pine, oak and meranti and I'm very impressed by how clean the rip cuts come out. On the oak picture frame I've had to sand down some sawmarks, but that was my own fault through relatively careless feeding. Even with the 44mm thick meranti the saw didn't noticeably slow down so the power is quite alright for this range.
   On my birdfeeder I wanted to use some perspex (plexiglass) and after a few careful tests I was confident enough to saw this with the miter gauge. Really nice cuts with the standard blade impressed again.

   So far I haven't used the fence too far beyond the edge of the table but I'm confident the set measurements will hold through the rack-and-pinion and the good locking mechanism.

   Hope this answers most of your questions. Please feel free to ask any specific details if you are looking for information I haven't mentioned.

   Happy new year and keep your fingers safe... ;-)

1. 
   DieterV | Dec 30, 2020 02:54pm | #12

   Thanks for the quick reply. Sounds very good -- almost too good to be true compared to other table saws in that price range. I was very close to the point of buying the DeWalt before I read these posts, now I'm in doubt again :P
   One question, to get better calibration, did you only adjust some screws (eg fence offset reading, miter gauge squareness, angle dial correctness), or does it have more to it?

   Happy new year too!

2. 
   HenkPa | May 24, 2021 04:27am | #16

   Hi FrenkyV,

   I was wondering about your experiences with the saw after a few months.

   I am also trying to decide between the Hikoki or the DeWalt. (And also residing in NL.)

   I am having a hard time justifying the price difference between the 7492 with stand and the Hikoki with stand, which are currently about €500 apart.

   So I am hoping the Hikoki is still to your liking.

   @PieterV, @Niels_Witlox, if you ended up buying the Hikoki, I would be very keen on hearing about your experiences also.

11. 
    user-6822566 | Dec 30, 2020 06:24pm | #13

    I've owned the DeWalt saw for two years. The rack and pinion fence is accurate, easy to use and always parallel to the blade and the miter slots. Most high end cabinet saws have T-square fences and many are difficult to square up. Using carbide blades, the saw rips everything I throw at it with its 1.75 hp motor. I cut sliding dovetails, tenons, miters (using the Incra miter bar and sled), slots and dados and tapered octagonal table legs with precision. Using zero clearance inserts, the dust collection works fine. If I could improve one function, I would add a rack and pinion adjustment for the blade angle, but setting the angle is by no means difficult. A great saw at a bargain price.

1. 
   weymouth2 | Dec 30, 2020 07:06pm | #14

   I've had the same exact experience as 6822566 -- have had mine 2.5 years (first table saw) and it has never failed me (DeWalt). Two other features that I love are 32.5" rip capacity, and ability to easily take it to back yard in nice weather. I'm a hobbyist not a pro and maybe someday I'll upgrade if/when my projects get bigger and use more 8/4 stock, but for now it's not slowing me down.

12. 
    jandy_7664438 | Jan 01, 2021 02:27pm | #15

    I personally own the Hitachi model mentioned here, which I bought on recommendation from my father who works in the homebuilding industry after I told him I was going to start learning woodworking. In terms of the industry he works in, he has used nearly every table saw in that price and performance range. I am not displeased with the purchase at all, though it does have some things I do not particularly like about it, primarily being table size. However, it does have a larger table and rip capacity than the Dewalt in its category range. I did buy an aftermarket miter gauge which has greatly increased the accuracy of work I am able to do. I have cut very soft and very hard woods with the saw, and have been able to cut through 12/4 purpleheart and 8/4 oak without the motor bogging, stopping, or deflecting (though your feed rate will be noticeably slower). The rack and pinion fence is very accurate when dialed in and tightened down, and I haven't had an issue with the miter slot being out of parallel with the blade. The dust collection absolutely sucks on it though, and that is my major gripe. Otherwise, it has been a great little saw for me and I don't see myself upgrading from it until I can afford a nice cabinet saw as a permanent replacement. It does everything I need and expect it to do and allows me to produce clean and accurate work. That said, the Dewalt is a very nice and capable saw as well from what I have seen and heard, but for me, it was not worth the price compared to what I got with the Hitachi. Just my 2 cents. Best wishes, and happy New Year!

    Justin Anderson