Don't Buy This Hitachi Tool Before Reading These Secret Miter Saw Reviews

Pop quiz…How many miter saw reviews will you have to read before making your next purchase of a 12-inch sliding compound miter saw? I can spend months researching my "next tool purchase", and when it's a big-ticket item like a 12-inch slider, I want get the scoop on all of these tools before pulling out the plastic. Maybe it's a guy thing…or maybe I just don't want to be stuck with an $800 tool that I'm not happy with and can't return.

I have some experience with Hitachi saws, and I have to tell you up front that I am a big fan. But every tool has it's pros and cons, and the Hitachi C12LSH 12 inch slider is no exception. So let's get out the white lab coats and have a closer look at the biggest dog on the leash at Hitachi.

First things first: this saw performs like an absolute beast, and it looks like one too…I can't decide whether it looks more like a 68-pound BMX decal, or the 2009 slime-green Seattle Seahawks jerseys. Anyway, someone at Hitachi thought this Predator-styling was cool, and I don't really mind as long as they keep making 'em like this one.

I must admit that I truly hated the blade that came with this tool. However, once I installed a 12" Forrest Chopmaster, it cut like a dream, with no wobble. If you've seen any miter saw reviews before this one, you'll know that any entry in the 12" slider category will have plenty of juice…and so did this one: The Hitachi C12LSH employs a soft start that eases you into 15 amps of power at full throttle.

There are three features that really set this tool apart frome the other entries in the 12-inch slider category:

1. Rising like a serpent above the blade is the digital display mounted on a flexible arm, which holds an an LCD screen indicating exact miter and bevel settings. While it's useful to know that the bevel I'm cutting is actually 46.3 degrees, I won't be using it as much the laser guide, which is still the best and most accurate on the market. Best of all, this laser can be read off the back edge of the workpiece, which is a real bonus when cutting crown molding miters.

2. Also new to this model is a micro-adjustment guage for both the miter and bevel settings. What does this mean to you ? Well, if you need to cut a 45.5 degree miter, you won't have to wiggle the handle past the detent setting to finesse this cut…you simply dial it in without moving the table at all. Very cool indeed.

3. But the feature that really "makes" this tool is the zero-clearance dual rail system. This allows you set up the saw flush against a wall, without banging the back of the rails into the wall to finish the cut. May not sound like much, but it really comes in handy when you need to set up in a tight space where clearance is limited (like a hallway), or when there are several other trades working close by.

This tool is built like my truck…weighing in at 68 pounds, it is one of the heaviest models in the 12-inch slider category. While I'm tempted to install it as a stationary tool in my shop for this reason, I think I'll find a way to haul to my next trim job as well…It's just too nice of a tool not to use it all the time.

It's hard to beat the combined features and performance of this Hitachi. Having said that, this is a lot of saw, and it may not be suitable or neccessary for a homeowner to purchase a large saw like this one — Ten inch sliders can do just about everything that a 12 inch model can, at about 2/3 the price. I encourage you to comparison shop based upon your budget and needs before you buy…One way to do that is to check out some more miter saw reviews by visiting my blog at http://www.squidoo.com/miter-saw-reviews. I look forward to seeing you there!

Looking for more miter saw reviews like this one?…Learn these little-known secrets of the big-name tools before your next sliding compound miter saw purchase.