My SCMS burned up!

[Doug Carpenter]

I was working the other day in my shop and my Hitachi saw seized up and smoke came out of the motor housing.

Why can't this syuff happen when you are farting around doing something for yourself? Instead it happens when I am in the middle of a kitchen job.

I am waiting to hear if it it repairable. A number of years ago I had the 8" version and it died the same way. It wasn't fixable so I don't hold up much hope for this one. It isn't that old, maybe seven years old.

I am thinking of maybe trying another brand if I have to buy a new one.

What kind of life do you guys get out of your scms.

[Glen Butler]

I am finding that I am not terribly impressed with Hitachi tools. My brother and I both owned an m12v plunge router and they only lasted a little over a year each. Their 18V cordless drill batteries died rapidly too. They have been dead for years and my original Ridgid batteries are still going strong and it was purchased a year prior to the Hitachi.

My SCMS, also Ridgid is 7 years old now. It was used for framing day in and out for the first 5 years and is still used everyday in the woodshop, though not as heavily as when I was framing.

[Craig McCormick]

My HF $79.00 SCMS I bought five years ago to do one job is still going strong. I'm on my third Freud blade. I bought it because I forgot my other SCMS that day and HF was much closer to the job than my shop.

AZCRAIG

[Rob Holcomb]

I bought a DeWalt 12" SCMS 3 years ago when I was building my new garage and have used it since then quite a bit for various things. Still working like it was new.

[Bob Borzelleri]

I've had my Hitachi SCMS for about 10 years. Works as well today as the day I bought it.

[Doug Carpenter]

I used to kill a circular saw in two years regardless of brand....untill I bought a Milwaukee. It has lasted like 16 years.

I am seriously considering a Milwaukee SCMS. They are hard to find though and I definely want to get my hands on it before I buy.

The Bosch looks nice too but it is huge! If it were going to stay in the shop all the time I would consider that one. However it looks like a bear to move.

If I go cheaper I like the look of the Makita. It has like four rails that guide the slider.

[Byron Trantham]

I bought DeWalt's 12" SCMS when it first came out (5-6+ years ago?). Still running strong. ;)

[Jason White]

It sounds like you might just need new brushes.

Jason



I was working the other day in my shop and my Hitachi saw seized up and smoke came out of the motor housing.

Why can't this syuff happen when you are farting around doing something for yourself? Instead it happens when I am in the middle of a kitchen job.

I am waiting to hear if it it repairable. A number of years ago I had the 8" version and it died the same way. It wasn't fixable so I don't hold up much hope for this one. It isn't that old, maybe seven years old.

I am thinking of maybe trying another brand if I have to buy a new one.

What kind of life do you guys get out of your scms.

[John Thompson]

It sounds like you might just need new brushes.

Jason

Ditto Jason.. at least check them as brushes don't last forever in any machine except an old Craftsman 1/2" drill I purchased in 1973. :) Hitachi SCMS in my shop which get used almost every day 10 + years with absolutely no issues except brushes...

[Doug Carpenter]

I hope that is it. I dropped it off at a repair shop a few days ago. It seemed like the blade was binding up like the gears were siezing up.

That would be good if I didn't have to replace it.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I have some serious doubts if smoke was seen coming from the motor that replacing brushes will fix it. Typically smoke is an indication that the motor windings have burned up. Bad brushes might contribute to the windings burning up but I doubt that it will fix the problem.

[Steve Kohn]

I bought DeWalt's 12" SCMS when it first came out (5-6+ years ago?). Still running strong. ;)


+1, same as my experience. However, a friend bought one about 2 years ago and hates it. They cost reduced it so that it is not as accurate.

[Doug Carpenter]

It was exactly the same thing that happened to my 8" version and that couldn't be salvaged. I have a feeling that this will not be different.

I'll have to wait and see.

[Don Whitten]

Under size drop/extension cords can be harmfull to electrical motors and cause premature death. Hopefully yours can be repaired.

[Doug Carpenter]

I got my saw back from the shop. They replaced brushes and the bearings. Hooray it only cost me 52 bucks.

I was sure it was a goner.:)

[Glen Butler]

Thats good news. I was sure you'd be buying a new saw.

[Larry Edgerton]

I have a Hitachi 8" that is twenty years old, been used on the job all of that time with an untold number of hours on it, and it has never needed a part. still on the original brushes. I also have a couple of the basic 10" Hitachi sliders, and a 15" chop saw. none have ever given me a problem.

Maybe you are too hard in the cut? I have employees that are lugging the saws too much and I retrain them, or fire them if they will not respect my tools. I always use a rule of thumb that if the tool is slowing down more than 25%[by ear]then it is working too hard. I have routers, skill saws that are over twenty years old and still working when I see others burning tools up in less than a year while horsing them through cuts.

Try slowing down a bit maybe, and keep your blades sharp.

[Doug Carpenter]

Of course I can't account for what goes on while I'm not on the job but I certainly don't abuse the tool. Nothing lasts forever. I had one of the original 8" sliders as well an it did a similar thing only it wasn't repairable. I suppose that shows a pattern but I don't think it means that it is my fault per say.

Honestly I'm quite please with the saw and it is a bonus that it was fixable for such a reasonable price.

[Van Huskey]

Glad it was cheap to fix. In the world of disposable everything nice to know something can still be fixed.

[Bill Wyko]

I just got into a Kapex that needs new brushes. It was used daily by a cabinet shop. I think they built over 4000 pieces of furniture using it. I ordered the brushes for $17.00 bucks + shipping. To swap them takes less than 5 minutes. very easy. It has a lot of great features you won't find on most miter saws. Expensive but worth it if you are going to use it daily.

[Larry Edgerton]

Under size drop/extension cords can be harmfull to electrical motors and cause premature death. Hopefully yours can be repaired.

This is a very good point Don brought up Doug and is the kind of thing that could lead to your type of equipment failure. I have electricians make me up my lead cords out of really heavy cable {I'm electrically illiterate} and run them to the area that I am working, plugging my bench tools in directly and then running smaller cords from there. I have them in different lengths up to 150 foot, and use the shortest one that will do the job. Store bought cords are most often too light for long runs. If you can feel your cords heating up after extended use they are too light.

I hate what employees will do to my tools when they think I am not looking, but I am on the site most always, which I am sure saves my tools a bunch.

[Tom Rick]

What kind of life do you guys get out of your scms.

25 years on a Hitachi 8".

Miles of crown and flat trim in commercial and residential work as well as a ton of radial arm duty on framing jobs.
Still as smooth and accurate as the day I bought it.

My supplier just told me that the new ones will not give such good service as they are now build off shore to a price point.
Pity- a fine tool in its day.