Perhaps you aren't aware that it was Hitachi who produced the first SCMS back in the 80's. I bought a CF8B back then and have been very happy with it ever since.

However, my choice today would be effected by what I was intending to do with it. The 8 1/4" blade is more than adequate for all the trim work I do but IF.........I was intending to build decks for a living, then perhaps the Hitachi C10 would lose out to the Makita or the Dewalt.

Even my little saw hands 2X lumber just fine but if you want to hand 4" lumber, then that's a whole different bag. Quality-wise, Hitachi is up there with the best of them. I own DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Hitachi. They all make pretty good products. I suggest that you think about the uses intended by you for this SCMS and then examine those saws to see if one of them will perform better for you. For the most part, they are pretty equal when it comes to doing trim and if that's what you want one for, then it all comes down to price.

According to the 2007 Tool Guide from Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking, The Bosch 4410L miter saw, priced at $510, is the best of the litter, with the Milwaukee saw rated high, also.
Me, I'm still using an old Delta miter saw that isn't even compound miter, and am not complaining. Norm

I've had the Hitachi C8FB for 16 years now and it's a great saw. The fences are a joke, but I can deal with it.

I really can't justify buying a miter saw, for as little as I'll probably use it, but it seems I'm always in need of a reliable miter from time to time. I've spent a bunch on these manual miter box contraptions and still haven't gotten real good angle cuts. We're doing some light upgrading with trim, chair rails, etc. We're kinda going room to room with our upgrade, so I forsee my miter need lasting off and on for a while. I don't forsee any heavy cutting over 2x's.

My local Lowe's has this Hitachi 10 on sale for $128 (including coupon) and I got a gift certificate for Christmas to cover most of it.

I have a craftsman 12in professional compound miter saw that I picked up 5 or 6 years ago on sale and with the craftsman club (membership is free by the way) for $229. I have used it to cut pressure treated wood for a huge deck to baseboard trim etc. I know a lot of folks dislike craftsman power tools, but this saw is a workhorse and built well. I think Craftsman's professional line is pretty close to the Dewalt, Makita etc. Can't hurt to check out sears as they carry other brands as well.

Posted by jimtnc 7b NC (My Page) on Thu, Dec 28, 06 at 8:20

I really can't justify buying a miter saw, for as little as I'll probably use it, but it seems I'm always in need of a reliable miter from time to time. I've spent a bunch on these manual miter box contraptions and still haven't gotten real good angle cuts. We're doing some light upgrading with trim, chair rails, etc. We're kinda going room to room with our upgrade, so I forsee my miter need lasting off and on for a while. I don't forsee any heavy cutting over 2x's.
My local Lowe's has this Hitachi 10 on sale for $128 (including coupon) and I got a gift certificate for Christmas to cover most of it.
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How I wish that I could buy a Hitachi SCMS for a mere $128.00........

My C8FB cost me over $800.00 back in 1989, when they first appeared in the marketplace. I don't know what your annual income is or how much tool storage space you have. All I do know is this. A SCMS is a very handy tool to have around. If it is set up properly and treated right, it will give you excellent cuts at any angle or compound angle you wish. In my opinion, for that kind of money, you should never regret making that purchase.

Thanks castoff, and others. I was feeling kinda foolish about buying it thinking I didn't have enough to justify it...but I might just jump on it anyway. Thanks, guys.

All it takes is one good project to pay for itself which is how I justify the cost of my better tools.

Well, I picked up the miter saw this PM. I'm sure it'll be used very safely and hopefully often. Thanks again, guys.

jimtnc,

You'll love the saw. I purchased the same model this past spring because I needed a miter saw with the laser guide for crown molding. I have a 23 year old Sears miter saw that I use as a chop saw.

The Hitachi sits on a Ryobi miter table system. My crown molding is looking fantastic. This project alone has paid for the saw and table.

Enjoy the journey.

eal51 in western Connecticut.

eal51 - thanks for incite. I probably won't even start thinking about using it until well after the holidays...it's still in the box. ha ha

But I will be replacing some trim, and perhaps adding some crown if I can get the knack of the cut. I've looked at DIY FAQ's on doing these cuts, but I'll have to test a few. I have coped some smaller wood angles, so I have an idea of what's entailed there.

jimtnc,
If you are going to build furniture that has crown mouldings, then the compound mitering feature does work because you are able to control the degree of angles.

Unfortunately, when working with houses, you have no such control over what the angles of walls end up at. As such, I rely on my SCMS to give me precise 45 degree cuts that are nice and straight so I can use my coping saw to backcut them. I have found that method to be far faster, more precise and use less wood than trying to figure out the two angles needed when inside or outside corners are not true 90's.

Yep. I know that some guys can do it but I think that you would have to be putting up trim every day in order to master it.

castoff - thanks for the tip. I'm gonna ease into the crown world, I think. That material can cost some bucks if you start screwin it up.

eal51, and others - The Hitachi I bought doens't have the laser feature. You probably have the C10FCH model and I have the C10FCE model (without laser). Which brings up an interesting question: do I really need a laser guide and is it that much more helpful or is it just nice stuff to sell the product? It's only $10 more and if I should have it I can return what I have and get the C10FCH instead. Any thoughts, guys?!?

Thanks.

Personally, I don't really see the need for a laser guidance system in this saw for the following reasons.

The item being cut is pressed against the fixed rails at the rear of the saw table.

The saw blade angles are already fixed by the settings you make prior to beginning the cut.

Therefore, the only variable is the "sideways" positioning of the piece being cut in relationship to the blade. While I agree that the laser (if highly accurate) will assist you in determining that position, so will lowering the blade to the work before making it spin.

I think that a laser works better on hand-held jig-saws and "Skil-style" saws when there is no mechanical guide in play.

Just my opinion.

Personally, I don't really see the need for a laser guidance system in this saw for the following reasons.

The item being cut is pressed against the fixed rails at the rear of the saw table.

The saw blade angles are already fixed by the settings you make prior to beginning the cut.

Therefore, the only variable is the "sideways" positioning of the piece being cut in relationship to the blade. While I agree that the laser (if highly accurate) will assist you in determining that position, so will lowering the blade to the work before making it spin.

I think that a laser works better on hand-held jig-saws and "Skil-style" saws when there is no mechanical guide in play.

Just my opinion.

Okay, thanks castoff. I've also heard that the laser, while a nice addition, is not necessary for getting the correct cut result.

Regarding coping, I think you may have the right approach to joining 45 angles. I know my walls are not prefectly flat, so the angles can vary some. I have coped smaller sized wood (backcut) to fit the angle more snugly, but as I said not with crown. Seems there is much more wood to make errors and screw the pooch with, so to speak. I know there are FAQ's available...I've read them before, which is helpful, but I guess practice on scrap pieces is probably the way to go.

jimtnc,

I found out that all my angles were not 90 degrees. On a tip from a friend, who is a finish carpernter, I went to rockler.com website for some recommended tools.

They have a table jig to hold the molding, tools for measuring angles and a book that gives you all the information you need to make clean and precise cuts. I found the investment in the jig, the measuring tools and book worth the investment.

Besides, they also have alot of really neat and helpful stuff if you're into woodworking. It's like being a kid in the candy store!!!!

Enjoy the journey.

eal51 in western CT

eal51 -
Naw, I'm not really into woodworking, just a homeowner trying to upgrade this ol' house the most economical way possible, room by room. I have most basic tools that homeowners have and probably more, but not major ones like table saws, etc, which I feel is overkill for my basic needs. But you are right, due to house settling and such, not a lot of good 90's in my house either. I could probably use a good angle measuring tool, but I can pick that up at the big box.

I bought this miter because I found I'm always in need of a good miter for angle cuts for some reason. There's always trim to be replaced, fixed or added I found.