Bill Fields
03-22-2005, 11:30 PM
Bought this unit at Lowes about 10-12 days ago for $499 + tax. Compared to a Jet at $550.
Biggest negative-the included mobile base will work OK--just OK--on a really smooth concrete floor. Any ridges or expnasion strips in the floor will destroy (mine is bent beyond repair) the mobile base. The Jet did not offer a mobile base.
Insrtructions really suck--make sure one pays attention to the mating of the saw to the base and the fit of the important rigid plastic membrane for dust collection. Weighs about 300#, and certain phases of the set-up are strictly 2-person.
Otherwise, the unit, with much fiddling--- offers 24" rip--a decent fence and miter bar.
Guts--motor trunnions-internals al good quality cast iron.
The motor is fairly quiet, strong and smooth.
The dust collection is amazing--I consider removing mask and goggles for a couple of short cuts.
I just built a strong paltform base on 4" ball-bearing casters. There will be an accessory drawer on the top surface of the base for storage of parts, blades, dado sets, etc.
This should roll over most obstacles.
Most of my larger work is done OUTSIDE my 3-car garage due to a) Lack of room indoors b) Lack of a planned dust control system c) I live in Phoenix, where the weather is conducive to year round activity (except deep summer).
Other comments welcome--this saw is new to the market, and I was struck by the customer service guy at Hitachi USA who remarked--"be sure you keep all paper work in case you want to return it---"!
Final advice to those living in a city--look for used stuff like Grizzly/Delta/Powermatic before you make the plunge. BTW--plunge it is --it's hard to "take it back" from a logistical point of view.
Buy it if you are an occasional wood worker on a budget.
Biggest negative-the included mobile base will work OK--just OK--on a really smooth concrete floor. Any ridges or expnasion strips in the floor will destroy (mine is bent beyond repair) the mobile base. The Jet did not offer a mobile base.
Insrtructions really suck--make sure one pays attention to the mating of the saw to the base and the fit of the important rigid plastic membrane for dust collection. Weighs about 300#, and certain phases of the set-up are strictly 2-person.
Otherwise, the unit, with much fiddling--- offers 24" rip--a decent fence and miter bar.
Guts--motor trunnions-internals al good quality cast iron.
The motor is fairly quiet, strong and smooth.
The dust collection is amazing--I consider removing mask and goggles for a couple of short cuts.
I just built a strong paltform base on 4" ball-bearing casters. There will be an accessory drawer on the top surface of the base for storage of parts, blades, dado sets, etc.
This should roll over most obstacles.
Most of my larger work is done OUTSIDE my 3-car garage due to a) Lack of room indoors b) Lack of a planned dust control system c) I live in Phoenix, where the weather is conducive to year round activity (except deep summer).
Other comments welcome--this saw is new to the market, and I was struck by the customer service guy at Hitachi USA who remarked--"be sure you keep all paper work in case you want to return it---"!
Final advice to those living in a city--look for used stuff like Grizzly/Delta/Powermatic before you make the plunge. BTW--plunge it is --it's hard to "take it back" from a logistical point of view.
Buy it if you are an occasional wood worker on a budget.