A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on
Amazon are not very good. It appears that this saw may have quite a few problems.

As a novice woodworker wannabe, what should I be looking for to determine
whether this saw is a defect or return? When I start cutting with it this
weekend, I'll check to make sure the cuts are accurate. One report said the cuts
across a 12" or larger board are not square.

Not knowing how to set it up like a pro will be a disadvantage to early testing,
but hopefully with enough practice, I can get an idea of whether this gracious
gift is a loser.

Do you have any helpful suggestions for testing it out or what to look for?

On 8/1/2013 6:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on
Amazon are not very good. It appears that this saw may have quite a few problems.

As a novice woodworker wannabe, what should I be looking for to determine
whether this saw is a defect or return? When I start cutting with it this
weekend, I'll check to make sure the cuts are accurate. One report said the cuts
across a 12" or larger board are not square.

Not knowing how to set it up like a pro will be a disadvantage to early testing,
but hopefully with enough practice, I can get an idea of whether this gracious
gift is a loser.

Do you have any helpful suggestions for testing it out or what to look for?

Suggest that you DAGS on the model number of your saw plus "manual".
This usually works.
mahalo,
jo4hn

On 8/1/2013 9:52 AM, jo4hn wrote:
On 8/1/2013 6:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on
Amazon are not very good. It appears that this saw may have quite a few problems.

As a novice woodworker wannabe, what should I be looking for to determine
whether this saw is a defect or return? When I start cutting with it this
weekend, I'll check to make sure the cuts are accurate. One report said the cuts
across a 12" or larger board are not square.

Not knowing how to set it up like a pro will be a disadvantage to early testing,
but hopefully with enough practice, I can get an idea of whether this gracious
gift is a loser.

Do you have any helpful suggestions for testing it out or what to look for?

Suggest that you DAGS on the model number of your saw plus "manual". This
usually works.
mahalo,
jo4hn


IAHAM

Thanks.

On 8/1/2013 8:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on
Amazon are not very good. It appears that this saw may have quite a few problems.

As a novice woodworker wannabe, what should I be looking for to determine
whether this saw is a defect or return? When I start cutting with it this
weekend, I'll check to make sure the cuts are accurate. One report said the cuts
across a 12" or larger board are not square.

Not knowing how to set it up like a pro will be a disadvantage to early testing,
but hopefully with enough practice, I can get an idea of whether this gracious
gift is a loser.

Do you have any helpful suggestions for testing it out or what to look for?



I would say don't look a gift horse in the mouth, especially since you
have indicated that you are a novice woodworker wannabe.

Chances are that your technique might be worse than the saw.

Included instructions will surely detail how to square the saw if it is
not already so. Learn on this one and determine what features you might
like to have on your next saw.

On Thursday, August 1, 2013 6:01:32 AM UTC-7, mcp6453 wrote:
A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on

I find Hitachi saws to be generally good although they sell a lot more now and you never know what happens once things ramp up and quality can go down.

On 8/1/13 11:28 AM, Leon wrote:

I would say don't look a gift horse in the mouth, especially since you

Sometimes it's hard not to, especially if the horse is biting your hand
at the time. :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 8/1/2013 9:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
A friend just gave me a new Hitachi C8FSE Sliding Miter Saw. The reviews on
Amazon are not very good. It appears that this saw may have quite a few problems.

As a novice woodworker wannabe, what should I be looking for to determine
whether this saw is a defect or return? When I start cutting with it this
weekend, I'll check to make sure the cuts are accurate. One report said the cuts
across a 12" or larger board are not square.

Not knowing how to set it up like a pro will be a disadvantage to early testing,
but hopefully with enough practice, I can get an idea of whether this gracious
gift is a loser.

Do you have any helpful suggestions for testing it out or what to look for?

Generally the fence is adjustable to compensate for out of square.

Also be careful of opinions, I find so many berate a product when they
clearly don't know what they are doing.

--
Jeff

woodchucker wrote:

Generally the fence is adjustable to compensate for out of square.

Also be careful of opinions, I find so many berate a product when they
clearly don't know what they are doing.

Strangely enough, getting accurate results out of an $89 throw-away Ryobi
miter saw, that literally stows behind the seat of the truck, for quick and
dirty crosscuts onsite:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-7-1...4#.Ufskjcu9KSM

Biggest drawback is the absolute limit of a 2x6, and then you have to lift
the board slightly at the end of the cut, but you can adjust in any angle
and it holds it until reset. Even used it to trim in a door the other day.

Plastic fantastic ... go figure.

--
www.ewoodshop.com (Mobile)