Hitachi C8FSE 8-1/2-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Product Details

Shipping Weight: 42.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
ASIN: B001FOQU3G
Item model number: C8FSE

By : Hitachi
Price : $300.99
You Save : $337.01 (53%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The Hitachi C8FSE 8-1/2-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw provides smooth, accurate miters and crosscuts in a variety of workpieces, including trim and crown molding. Its gliding slide system allows for easy handling of large framing pieces, and its compound cutting capability provides versatility on the job. An ideal tool for trim carpenters, framers, and woodworkers who demand precision and reliability, the C8FSE is the lightest and most portable sliding compound miter saw in its class.

C8FSE Compound Miter SawTool Specifications
Amps
9.2
No-Load Speed
5,500 RPM
Blade Diameter
8-1/2"
Arbor Size
5/8"
Bevel Angle Range
Right 0°-5°Left 0°-48°
Miter Angle Range
Right 0°-57°Left 0°-45°
Miter Detent Stops(R ; L)
15°, 22.5°,31.6°, 45°
Cross Cut Capacity (90°)
2-9/16" x 12"
Tool Dimensions (WxDxH)
21-27/32" x 31-3/32" x 19-3/32"
Weight
31 lbs
Linear ball-bearing slide system allows for easy handling of large framing pieces..
Thumb-actuated miter stops facilitate simple miter adjustments at the most common angles. .
Adjust the bevel up to 48 degrees to the left or 5 degrees to the right for a precision cut. .Powerful Motor Provides Smooth, Accurate CutsThe C8FSE Compound Miter Saw features a powerful 9.2-amp motor that generates a no-load speed of up to 5,500 RPM for making crosscuts and miters with ease. The electronic speed control ensures consistent RPM throughout the cut, so you get smooth, precise, controlled cuts each and every time.
Compound Feature for Precise Miters and BevelsHitachi designed the C8FSE for versatile, easy use. The thumb-actuated positive miter stops allow for simple miter adjustments at the most common angles: 15.0, 22.5, 31.6, and 45.0 degrees to the right or left. This design allows you to easily change the angle of the cutting blade for creating miters in crown molding and other trim pieces. And with a bevel range of 48 degrees to the left and five degrees to the right, the Hitachi C8FSE provides gorgeous bevels on the first try.
The 8-1/2-inch TCT saw blade (included) makes easy work of delicate trim and other woodwork, and the linear ball-bearing slide system and pivoting fence allow for accurate cutting of large workpieces up to 2-9/16 inches high and 12 inches deep.
Chock-Full of User-Friendly FeaturesThe C8FSE contains plenty of features to help you make the perfect cut the first time. To start, a splinter guard behind the fence reduces tear-out for clean, finished cuts. For further refinement, a comfortable vertical handle with a vibration-reducing elastomer grip keeps you in control at all times, a large table provides a stable guide and sturdy support, and a built-in clamping system holds your workpiece in place.
The C8FSE also includes a dust collector that minimizes accumulation of dust and particles in both your workspace and the saw's interior components, keeping your jobsite clean and prolonging the life of the tool. An added bonus, easily accessible carbon brushes will help your saw perform for the long term.
Weighing just 31 pounds and measuring just 31-3/32 x 21-27/32 x 19-3/32 inches (LxWxH), the C8FSE is the lightest tool in its class, making it the most portable 8-1/2-inch slide miter saw on the market.
Durably built, this tool is backed with an industry-leading five-year warranty. It is compatible with Hitachi's UU610 and UU610CZ Universal Work Stations.
About Hitachi: A Tradition of InnovationHitachi Power Tools (Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd.) provides professional-grade power tools for a variety of applications, including woodwork, metalwork, concrete, drilling, cutting, and fastening. Hitachi is a leader in power tool research and development and has achieved many firsts in the power tool industry--in fact, the introduction of the C8FSE marks the 20th anniversary of Hitachi's development of the first-ever sliding compound miter saw. In 1988 Hitachi developed the sliding compound miter saw to combine the capacity of a radial arm saw and the convenience of a miter saw. Today, Hitachi continues the tradition of innovation and engineering with new features in addition to classic quality.What's in the BoxC8FSE Compound Miter Saw, 8-1/2-inch TCT saw blade, dust bag, vice assembly, box wrench, and sub fence.

Weighing a mere 31 pounds, the miter saw is the most portable tool in its class.
From the Manufacturer
The Hitachi C8FSE 8-1/2-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw is one of Hitachi's newest 8-1/2 inch sliding compound miter saws. The Hitachi C8FSE is powered by a 9.5 amp motor with a no-load speed of 5,500 RPM's yet only weighs 31 pounds for easy portability. The Hitachi C8FSE uses a linear ball bearing slide system for superior accuracy while positive stops on the miter and bevel scales make easy-to-read measurements and quick settings. The Hitachi C8FSE features a vertical handle with soft, vibration reducing elastomer grip and electronic speed control for consistant RPM while cutting. The Hitachi C8FSE is equipped with an adjustable pivoting fence for improved stability while cutting and a splinter guard that reduces tear out and increases user safety. Externally replaceable carbon brushes greatly prolong the life of the Hitachi C8FSE.

Technical Details

Lightest in its class at only 31 lbs
Vertical handle that has a soft, vibration reducing elastomer grip
Large pivoting fence and table provide better support when cutting crown molding lying flat.
Externally accessible carbon brush for quick and easy brush changes
Easy-to-use positive miter stops for quick miter adjustments to 15, 22.5, 31.6, and 45 degrees to the both left and right.

Hitachi C8FSE 8-1/2-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Customer Reviews

I'll break it down simply put, the good and the bad. I was not sure if this saw would replace the older version and be as well built. It's not the same quality as the older one. Hitachi designers did a good job making this saw very light weight, but sacrificed some of the quality with plastic and a thin casted table. The saw was dead on with the cross cut set at 0 degrees. Miters came out fair when cutting large crown but were off by maybe a 1/32"-1/16" every time. Here is what I found out. I took a framing square and checked the relationship between the left and right fence. That was on the money. I then checked the table and realized that the miter center table sat below the left and right outside support tables a whole 1/16th. There is no adjustability to raise or lower the miter table and that's why my cuts are off slightly. That combined with the play of the head and rails having some slop and being able to freely clunk the head to the right and left a 16th. The best way I can describe it is it feels like the head doesn't ride on the right rail snuggly, and by the time you tighten the slide action so you don't have any play its very stiff to slide. Also the blade guard stays low when you bring the head down and doesn't allow you to start your cut with a back stroke and then to finish your cut with the forward stroke with ease. The kerf insert is also another big 1/32 below the already low miter table. That's 3/32nds out of level. The good is that it is very light, portable, decently accurate and it has a rebate as of right now for a Hitachi 2 1/4hp router. I work in very high end homes working with prefinished huge crown molding and paneling, etc and need the accuracy to be within a 1/32th. If you don't need this kind of precision then this saw is a decent unit. If the table wasn't out of level with the base I would have worked it out. But because you can't adjust this problem I am sending it back. It's also kind of cheesy to be blunt. As an alternative I bought the Hitachi 10" slider which is a Japanese made unit and is proven to be accurate from my experience. Hope this review helps some finish carpenters out there

I just sent back the third C8FSE in a row. None of the three could cut a straight line... I ordered the Forrest bladeForrest CM08H606100 Chopmaster 8-1/2-Inch 60 Tooth ATB Miter Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for as clean a cut as possible. I square the fence to the blade, and on small stock it looked great. But when I tried cutting wide stock (12" or more) for cabinets, the manufacturer defect showed up.
The arbor on the first saw was bent, making blade visibly wobble. I returned it for replacement.
The arbor was good on the second, but the entire head was cocked out of parallel alignment with the slides. With the factory blade installed, the maple veneer would slightly tear out on the left as the blade exited the ply. With the Forrest blade there was no tear out, but after completing the cut my co-worker and I could both see a belly that let in daylight between the cut and a straight-edge.
I had the same problem with the last replacement.