Customer Reviews

Hitachi C8FB2 9.5 Amp 8-1/2-Inch Sliding Compound Miter saw

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the owner of a trim carpentry business with 5 employees, I have to admit this saw is the most versatile I have found. Each employee has one entrusted to him, and I have tried the other brands and even own the new 10" Hitachi dual-beveling saw. The point that needs to be made is that the description at this time from the manufacturer says that this saw bevels both directions- which it does not. It miters both directions, but only bevels to the left. The larger ten inch Hitachi bevels both ways, and it a nice saw to own also. The beauty of this saw, though, it that it lasts practically forever, is lightweight, and versatile. We cut up to 24" shelving by cutting one direction, then flipping it over and finishing the cut. We cut miles of crown flat with it using compound mitre and bevel cuts, and it's not a big deal to flip your piece around.(Most of the time, we use a crown that you can flip over and cut due a flat profile instead of handling the long length again) Buy this saw, you will enjoy it.

I have used DeWalts 12" DW708 and Delta's Sidekick 10" slide compound and the Hitachi 10 slide compound. I have been building cabinets and doing a lot of finish carpentry for years. What I like about the smaller Hitachi 8.5", is that it does not have the "head flex" problem that some of these larger saws have when you slide them out on larger lumber or crown moulding. I can flex most 10" slide compounds almost 1/8" when all the way out. Most average consumers won't notice this. But when you are cutting 5 and 6 inch crown all day and you want peices to fit like laser accuracy, you need something with STABILITY, this is more important than all the fancy features. And the smaller Hitachi cuts the most accurate "crosscuts" I have ever experienced, the other saws tend to "kink" under their own power and start making their own line as you cut. If you want accuracy, BUY this saw. If all you care about is a big fence, table, etc... buy something else.

I've owned this saw for over 5 years now and will most likely grab another one for the crew. It doesn't get anymore percise than this unit.We work on exclusive homes on a daily basis that are loaded with sizeable moldings.A little clue to those who try and cut everything standing up, LAY IT DOWN. You can be much more accurate with your molding laying on a flat serface,specificaly large crowns and baseboards.So my advise to Bobby from Boulder is to learn how to use that exspensive saw you speak so pourly of or just work with 3" moldings for the rest of your days.

This is indeed a well-made saw. I used a competitors' model with disastrous results for the last 6 yars, and finally orderd this saw when the other expired for the third time. My associates who work in the interior trim industry swear by this model and its' 10" cousin, and I have used this saw for years on others' jobsites. The motor is exceptionally strong, I've replaced bearings on five year old (used daily) saws, with no electrical problems. The fact that wide moldings need to be cut flat is a small drawback compared to the weight/size penalty of larger saws, and easily gotten used to. A Forrest blade on this saw produces superb results, even in chip-prone plys.

I have used this saw on a limited number of occasions. It is a decent and accurate saw. BUT if you want to get more than your moneys worth look to this saws bigger brother the C10F. If you're seriously considering spending the coin that this machine costs, you have to ask yourself. How much better is this saw than the DeWalt 705? True, it can cut slightly wider moldings, although they have to lay down (as with all slide compounds) It only bevels to one side, same as the DW705. What about really large crown moldings? The real advantage of the C10F over the C8f is the ability to bevel left AND right. With its larger 10" blade, belt drive and double bevel ability the $100 more that it costs over the C8F is money VERY well spent. Because when you're cutting 8" or 10" crown molding the last thing you want to do is to flip around a 16' board AND make three saw adjustments to make a miter return on the other end. You can also cut finish stair stringers with this saw. It miters to 52 degrees! P.S. Buy an extra hold down clamp too. (Tool Crib #307559) Moving the 1 clamp from left to right all the time is a hassle.

Hitachi has come soo close to perfection with this saw. It's small blade, high power motor, and well designed slide mechanism make this saw cut more consistently high quality cuts than any other saw on the market! But, this saw also has some serious weaknesses. 1) Only tilts in one direction. 2) Fence is too short( all cuts must be done flat.) 3. Fence is too soft. becomes bent after relatively short period of constant use. plastic fence pieces break and are tooo flexible. can be remedied by attaching hardwood to fence but this limits the clamp. 4) smaller capacity.

while I say this is the best on the market I have not tried the latest 10" sliders to enter the market.

PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN WITH THESE DRAWBACKS IF YOU MUST HAVE A SAW TO DO FINISH WORK THIS IS IT. THIS SAW MAKES THE DeWalt SEEM LIKE A TOY!

I actually have an original C8FB. The C8FB2 is even better: self-retracting guard is the best. As you lower the saw, the guard pulls itself up via a linkage. My older model allows the guard to touch the wood and is pushed up by being in contact. Not bad on 90 degree cuts but if the saw is laid sidewise, the guard binds against the blade. They fixed this problem elegantly on the B model.

The saw is now twelve years old or more and is as accurate as when I bought it. What else can I say? It crosscuts 2x12s. Crown mouldings. Aluminum. Anything. I'm trying to get the 998864 blade that is actually designed to cut aluminum. That would be even better.

The saw transports well: not too big and heavy. Cord is too short, but they all are. I replaced it with a 14-ga 25' cord. Much better.

Now if they offered that centrifugal-on laser cutting guide in the blade bushing it would be perfect.

My radial saw was retired by this beaut.

i'd like to get right to the point... i am a building contractor/carpentry contractor in florida. i use this saw to trim houses and install cabinetry every day. i've tried them all, and this saw outperforms everything else i've used in the past.

I live in Santiago, Chile, and bougth this little miter saw from Amazon 5 month ago. I ended up paying 35% more than the Amazon price including shipping to Chile and custom taxes. Still less expensive than the price you get from a chilean distributor. It arrived in perfect conditions. I have been remodeling a small country house that my wife bought 450 miles from Santiago. My job allows me very few opportunities to go there but whenever I can, I load this small Hitachi marvell with other tools in my SUV and work there for two or three full days. The job is a pleassure with this saw, it cuts beautifully straight and in angles and the motor seems more powerful than it looks. I am very, very happy with this saw. I must add that I use it with a big 220 to 110 transformer since here our line voltage is 220 volts, and it works great.

Wish all my power tools were this good! Just bought my third c8fb, in the last 10 years, or so. Under pretty heavy job-site use, only failure I've ever had, was to replace a trigger switch once. This tool goes from light trim work, to cutting 2 x 12's, without missing a beat! I might give a second look to Hitachi's 10-inch version, for shop (non-portable) use. However, after packing this saw around job sites for so long, one really appreciates the lighter weight...