Hitachi Table Saw (Cabinet model 3HP)
GFite | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I’m shopping for a table saw, and have been to all the woodworking shops within a 25 mile radius from my home. This evening I stopped at Lowes and discovered a 3HP, Hitachi table saw in a cabinet (motor not sticking out the back). Full miter slots, precise measurements, very smooth glide, and extremely stable. Only downside is that it doesn’t have cast wings.
The unbelievable thing is that Lowes is selling it for $500. Appears to be much more saw than the $650 jet contractor model.
So I went to the Hitachi website, and they don’t even list it as a product. Unfortunately I didn’t get the model number (but I will).
Does anyone own this saw, know why it is so inexpensive, and/or know if it is new or discontinued?
Replies
If its tipical Hitachi it will be a fine power tool. I picked up a cordless 14.4V Hitachi from lowes for $80 and its great.
I just saw this saw, too - pretty impressive. I am here to search for more info on it. . .
That saw is not a cabinet saw, and the concensus is that it's sure as heck not a 3HP motor either. I'm fading fast and have to work tomorrrow, but do a search here at Knots, you should be able to find the 2 threads that we had last year and earlier this year where the saw was discussed.
Caveat emptor.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Definitely not a cabinet saw....looks like a contractor saw with the motor mounted internally, and trunnions mounted from the table top. It's definitely not 3hp either...it's 1.5hp, 15 amp induction motor like most other contractor saws. Since the motor is mounted internally it could be argued that it's a hybrid saw too, but the connecting rods are not as big as those on most hybrids....they look like typical contractor trunnions to me. It's made exclusively for Lowe's and merely sports the Hitachi name...no ancestry that I'm aware of, so I wouldn't put much faith in the nameplate.
Hope I don't rain on anyone's parade, but my opinion of this saw isn't that good...keep in mind I haven't used it, and it's just my opinion based on observations FWIW (whoopie...we've all got one right?!). Maybe the overstated motor rating made a bad first impression, but I tried to be objective. The fence appeared to be average at best...light aluminum construction, and all three of the floor models I've ever played with seem prone to teeter vertically when you grab them, plus most are very hard to move...probably a set up issue on the movement, but the teetering concerns me. Gotta give the fence a "C". The steel Biese clone fence on the Grizzly models is far superior IMHO....so is the Delta T2 fence and the aluminum fences on the Ridgid and Craftsman.
The steel wings are very thin. Cast iron is better IMO, but steel is understandable in this price range and not a show stopper. Most steel wings are thicker and are reinforced....the Hitachi's are not.
The cast iron table surface looks fine, the internally mounted motor will save space, DC looks pretty good, the legs seem a tad weak however. The wheels are a nice idea, but a fairly poor application...each wheel requires an individual action....that's 8 actions to relocate it. It seems like a bit of pain to me and is kind of an obsolete Craftsman/Emerson design from the 70s and 80s....the Herclift on the Ridgid is much nicer, and I think I'd rather have an aftermarket mobile base. The stock blade and miter gauge are very typical disposables....the miter gauge on the Craftsman 22114, and 22124 has some advantages in features, and the gauge on the Grizzly's and GI is just far more robust.
The front handwheels are a "double edged sword" in my view....maybe convenient, but also a very new design with little track record, and not incredibly well made.
This isn't to say it doesn't cut well.....I'm sure it does, and I'm sure it's a good machine...most $500 saws are very good. I'm just not seeing many advantages over several other machines that are close in price in this category. For a new offering, I'm surprised they didn't put together a real eye catcher with a better fence, cast wings, better mobile base, etc. The new design has some risk. With very well proven saws from Delta 36-675/680, Grizzly G0444/0575/0444Z/0576, Craftsman 22104/22114/22124, PM64s/64a, Ridgid TS3650, GI 50-175/185, and Jet(?), I'd be doing alot of research before coughing up $500 for the Hitachi which is a more unknown entity and has several quirks that would likely bother me. I've read 3 or 4 positives from owners, but also at least 2 negs. (My apologies in advance to those that own it and like it...no ill feelings intended.)
Good luck with your selection and let us know how you make out.
p.s. My Lowes has the basic Jet for $550...I agree it's not worth $650 unless it has a better fence or CI wings. It may not be cutting edge, but is a solidly build and proven machine.
Edited 8/21/2005 5:07 pm ET by scotty
Both your and FG's responses are eye openers.
The set up on the saw I messed with was good - the fence and handwheels worked well. I agree that the "8 actions to relocate" is not as good as the Rigid, but not a big deal to me.
I tried to look as closely as possible at the "guts", but the undermount DC chute prevented it. I did remove the blade insert and give it the best look I could.
To me, it looked like a light duty cabinet arrangement (like the new craftsman saws), but (Perhaps, as you've stated) hung from the table.
I am not a big fan of the motor-out-the-back contractor saws and I think that the price of the other hybrids I've seen makes me say "might as well get a Grizz/real cabinet saw"
I suppose the fair comparison to this would be a higher end contractor, or one of the new craftsman light duty cabinet saws.
Thanks to both for the input.
I too looked at that saw and was very.... mixed. At first it appears well thought out, and it is. Unfortunately it is cheeply made (to match the price). The hand wheels had a very rough action to me. and the over all fit and finish is nowhere near that of Delta, Jet or Grizzly. I think that if you are sold on the Hybred design go with the Craftsman saws. Those are nice saws for the money. Or go with the Ridgid contractor saw, it is a great saw for the money.
Mike
"I suppose the fair comparison to this would be a higher end contractor...." I have to disagree with you there :-( I don't think it comes close to a higher end contractor saw. I would not trade my elderly blue Jet contractor saw for it, and it has led a difficult life.
As Mike stated "At first it appears well thought out, and it is. Unfortunately it is cheeply made...." When it first came out, I went to Lowe's and laid hands on it -- yuck. I guess my feelings about it are very strong because they put so much effort (and, shall we say "stretch the truth") to make it sound like a totally different animal than it is. I shudder to think how many people who don't ask questions in forums like this or to experienced woodworkers have bought this saw and will be giving it away in a year or so.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
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