jmay9

Hello all!
I am just getting into woodworking and love it. But now its time to buy my own tools. I found a link to a website that sells reconditioned Hitachi power tools. They are very reasonably priced. I was just wondering how the quality of Hitachi tools are or would I be better off buying different brand name tools.

Thanks.

knotscott

Like most brands, it's difficult to assess the quality of all Hitachi tools based on the handful I've tried because there's little correllation, but many are up to the task depending on the intended application. While I'm generally unimpressed with their tablesaw offerings, Hitachi's power miter saws and routers tend to be very well respected. I recently bought a refurbed 12V cordless drill and M12VC router from Reconditioned Sales and have been very pleased with both. RCS sales was good to deal with and both tools looked new upon arrival. Both were terrific purchases for the price paid. The router actually replaced a very fine Bosch 1617 that I just found too big for what I wanted to do.

sweensdv

The Hitachi SB10YI belt/disc sander is the only Hitachi tool that I own. I've been very happy with it and IMO it can't be beat when compared to others in its price range.

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Dave

Handyman

I have only one Hitachi 12v cordless impact driver and I love it. I bought it at a pawn shop in like new condition and for a 3rd the price of a new one. Been using it for about 2 years now and its holding up well.

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Collector of Old Tools
Fixer of all things broke
Expert = Drip under pressure

matthewrust

I took a leap of faith on a Hitachi miter saw last week and am very, very impressed. All of my other tools are Bosch, Craftsman, and Freud. So buying Hitachi was out of the norm for me. The saw is amazing--it has features that more expensive saws don't have and it is made of some really high quality components. I have also heard that their nailers are great.

No experience with their routers or drills though...

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Matthew Rust
Columbus, IN

Howard Ferstler

I have a 9-amp, 800 RPM Hitachi hand drill and have used it for some fairly heavy work, including operating a hole saw to install handle sets in a dozen solid-wood interior doors. Very impressive drill. Very powerful.

Howard Ferstler

TS3660

Ok. So I see every reply has been positive for Hitachi but I had a bad experience and will never buy Hitachi again. Nothing to do with the quaility of the saw though. Here's what happened. I bought a Hitachi circular saw from Lowes. I needed a new saw to build my garage. I had it for 2 weeks and it was great. Then I accidentally dropped a full sheet of plywood on it and it completely destroyed the base. I didn't expect warranty coverage because it was totally my fault. I went to Lowes and they had nothing for parts. I looked in the manual, found the base, and called Hitachi to order one. It was $15 if I remember. But the catch was they weren't available. I simply couldn't get one. There was a price but no way to order one. I pleaded with the guy and he just kept saying they weren't available. I asked if I could be notified when they become available. He said there weren't any plans for them to EVER become available. I spoke to his manager. Same story. I finally went back to Lowes and the guy was nice enough to give me store credit and I bought a Dewalt. So, I wasn't unhappy with the performance of the saw, just the unavailablity of parts. Oh, I almost forgot, I couldn't get a rip guide for it either. And none of the "universal" ones would fit.

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Bud

"Capitalism is the unequal sharing of wealth: Socialism is the equal sharing of misery"

TexasTimbers

jmay,
welcome. my advice is to shop for tools not labels or brands. I do own quite a few hitachi tools probably 6 or more and I can't think of one I do not like. the power hand planer is so-so but it was only like $90 and I don't use a hand power planer often so its fine for now.

let's say you need to buy a circular saw first. google "circular saw review" and also "best circular saw 2008" stuff like that. Google several different phrases. After you read several reviews take notice of the ones that keep cropping up at the top. Pay more attention to user reviews than editor reviews. After you get a few models you are interested in, go to amazon.com and punch that saw into their search engine. There, you will read user reviews on most of the more popular brands and models.

This is not a foolproof system but if you do not have a bunch of other users to talk to (even here few of us all have the same type of routers or table saws) then it does give alot of good usable info. I use amazon all the time for that purpose.

I also hate to see someone have a bad experience with a company and then they write the whole company off as having bad service when I know it is not true. Hitachi has world class service. Of course, any company can be represented terribly by someone at a place like Lowes. many of the Lowes folks are knowledgable caring employees, and then there are those just just punch a clock until they can get home to their 6 pack. Not saying this guy TS3660 references was that way.

But for your future reference 3660, it took me all of 2 minutes to find this link. You have 9 Hitachi servcie centers within a 50 mile radius of you, and 26 if you expand the search to a 100 mile radius. here's the link. It is too bad that they don't have the part you need. that can happen at any huge company and it is frustrating, but to write the whole company off is a little drastic IMO.

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Flame Box Elder

TS3660

Yeah, maybe it is a little drastic. And I know there are service centers but that wasn't my point. My point was that they don't (didn't) seem to even make the replacement part, at ANY price.

But you're probably right. I shouldn't just write the whole company off. But OTOH, there's other companies out there that are just as good.

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Bud

"Capitalism is the unequal sharing of wealth: Socialism is the equal sharing of misery"

TexasTimbers

I understand your frustration about it for sure.

My dilemma is, I have this double-standard I have to try and maintain.

I always claim I am not a brand man, but I do tend to like certain companies more than others. Hitachi offers a good line of power tools overall, especially for the price.

If you look at the most-used (AFA WWing) individual power tools from say 15 different brands, and I choose the number 15 randomly, and found a way to rate them with an overall score considering all the factors that users use, and add in service and price, I think Hitachi will come in, in the top 5 and maybe even the top 3.

Of course this is purely speculative and very much out of thin air. Still, I maintain that I am not a brand man because before I buy a tool, even though I already know I like Bosch probably the most overall for WWing tools, I always look at the individual tool reviews first.

But if I had had your experience, it might sour me a bit to a company that I did not have a preference for too. Did you buy a CS10 or variant thereof? I will try to get you a replacement base plate if you want. I feel pretty sure I can get you one but I have been wrong once or a 100 times before.

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Flame Box Elder

knotscott

My response was only "mostly" positive, as I'm fairly unimpressed with their TS offerings compared to the competition.

As for getting parts for your CS....I'd call a few of those service centers and see if they have any dead CS beyond repair and just use the skeleton....should be cheap if you find one. Good luck!

TS3660

I don't need it now. I took the saw back to Lowes and the guy there told me to just pick out another saw so I got a Dewalt and gave him the Hitachi. Thanks though.

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Bud

"Capitalism is the unequal sharing of wealth: Socialism is the equal sharing of misery"

Daft joiner

Ive got 2 hitachi cordless drills 14.4 and 18 volt both have the same problem the variable speed triggers both packed in and i cant seem to find a replacement part

widekerf

Gosh what lot of GREAT information. I can ditto all of it, particularly with regard to Reconditioned Sales . com. John there was particularly helpful, even to a computer illiterate like me (what is the polar opposite of geek?). I just bought a "grade C" jig saw and a small compressor from them. Both arrived ahead of schedule, and I couldn't tell them from brand new, for a price that made me feel like I had stolen something. Shipping and handling seemed to be a expensive. I suggested to john that they should just SHIP the damned things, and not HANDLE them so much----------to no avail. Very happy customer here. Will not hesitate to buy thier MS next month.

gusthehonky

I don't know if this is any help but I use their roofing nail gun, I find it to be the best on the market, also considered to be top choice for many in the trade.

mannop125

You will not gone wrong with Hitachi. We have tested these tools and they hold up. The drill have great balance in your hand. For the price you get a lot of tool.

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ben arnott

Realizing you've probably made your decision to purchase or not to purchase a Hitachi power tool by now, I figured I'd offer my opinion of their products for what its worth. I can't speak for any of their woodworking power tools, but I own a Hitachi framing gun:

- HITACHI POWER TOOLS 3-1/4 In. Framing Strip Nailer (Plastic Strip Collation 2 - 3-1/4 In.) Model NR83A2(S) -

I wouldn't trade that gun for any other gun available on the market. I've used Bostitch and Porter Cable guns and neither gun performs as flawlessly as my Hitachi. Nor do they take the abuse the Hitachi is willing to endure. The gun almost never jams.

Hope this helps.

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BHOFM

I have a Hitachi table saw and RO sander.

I like them both.

The saw is one that folds quickly and has wheels
and stores under the work bench when not needed.

It is very accurate as far as I can determine.

The sander has been to hell and back, it is twenty
five years old and going strong. It has been left out
in the weather several times. I used it to clean the
bottom of my twenty five foot sailboat every year
for fifteen years, it ran for hours without stopping.
It has been dropped a hundred times. It has run on
100 foot extension cords for hours on end. It is one
tough cookie!

dbhost

I have the Hitachi KM12VC fixed / plunge router kit and LOVE it. Very smooth and clean...

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Allthumbs27

bought a Hitachi B13F bench top drill press on clearance at lowes for $50 and love it.