Talk about fugly....at least it could be hidden under a table

[Stormbringer]

I was searching Toolseeker for electric hand planers. The Hitachi looked decent for the price so I clicked the link to TylerTool and read their description of the planers, blah, blah, blah. I decide to check out their router prices when I eye-spyed this thing.....


are you sitting down.....









hope you haven't just eaten....










say goodbye Hitachi M12V......










Hello Hitachi M12V2.....






































Features:

• 2000 W (120V input: 15 A, 3-1/4 HP) powerful motor to rout smoothly through hardwoods
• The fan of armature is made of aluminum and it has a ring-shaped junction at the outer circumference.
• Thanks to this Hitachi’s unique design, the inertia moment of the armature is increased and the class-top cutting speed is obtained.
• Equipped with a quick adjustment lever and a fine adjustment mechanism knob
• Easy-to-operate variable speed dial on the handle for easy speed adjustment
• Dust guide diverts cutting debris away from the operator
• Improved clutches of the collet chuck
• Dustproof snap switch
• Two- ball-bearing armature design for long service life
• Equipped with a pushing button(shaft lock)for easy bit changes
• Ergonomic design and soft grip handle

Includes:

• 1/2" (12 mm)collet chuck
• 1/4" (8mm) collet chuck
• Template guide
• Template guide adapter
• Centering gauge
• Dust guide
• Dust guide adapter
• Straight guide includ. Guide bar (A), Bar Holder, Feed
• Screw and Wing bolts
• 23mm wrench
• Does not include case!

Here's the Link:
http://www.tylertool.com/hiwowoto.html

[steve-u]

I am sure it is a great router but I don't understand Hitachi's need to make most everything look like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy. I saw their new finish nailers in Lowes today and the same stupid look. My only guess is their marketing team must be betting on some sort of recognition other than color and name on the tool hoping to draw attention to their products when spotted on the job site or in the shop by other potential buyers to arouse curiousity to try it out or ask about it or just to make sure that there is no mistake that the tool is a Hitachi giving their brand added recognition. The old design looked industrial. The new design looks like it is looking back at you. --- Steve

[Chadwick]

I was really starting to like their products, but the new design is driving me away. Their biggest compound sliding miter saw is a good example. I'm sure it's a good saw, but cannot get past how big and ugly it is. Looks rediculous. Part of what attracted me to their products, was how clean and simple they were. Their jigsaw is another good example. The current line of cordless drills is not so bad, but everything else looks like it's out of cartoon.

Chadwick

[jwaterdawg]

I think the idea is to scare the wood into submission.

PS: I kinda like the look, so does my 2 year old

[final_t]

Yea, the design team needs to be fired and Queer Eye for the Tool Guy brought in.
FWIW, I have that fugly SCMS, and where I have it parked nobody notices the oddness of it. When not in use it has a drop cloth over it (all my stuff does). Otherwise I'd have a riot of green, orange, yellow, blue, red, grey, and black.

[os1kne]

It's ugly, but it's probably a great router for a great price (you'll hardly ever see it once it's under the table). Does it have above the table height adjustment / bit changes? Did they get rid of those "ears" that prevent panel-raising bit use? If not, the new Freud FT-3000 may become my next purchase.

[BobSch]

Not only does it look like a tool only an X-man could like, but I see they're fudging their specs just like everyone else...

2000 W (120V input: 15 A, 3-1/4 HP)

Unless my math is wrong, 15 A @ 120 V is 1800 watts which is 2.4 HP. Looks like the marketing kiddies got to the spec writers too.

[LarryG]

Hmmm.

I thought Oscorp was a defense contractor. I didn't realize they also made woodworking tools ...

[DonHo]

"# 1/2" (12 mm)collet chuck
# 1/4" (8mm) collet chuck"

I must be missing something! If 1/4" = 8mm shouldn't 1/2" = 16mm OR if 1/2" is really 12mm wouldn't 1/4" be 6mm

DonHo

[bigsteel15]

These ugly looking tools have been up here for quite awhile now.
B&D is starting to do the same thing.
Here's the Hitachi Combo kit.
http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=432275

[LarryG]

Don:

1" = 25.4mm, so yeah, they're a little off there. I've seen 1/2" equated to both 12mm and 13mm (the latter being closer). But 1/4" is really more like 6mm than 8mm.

[Stormbringer]

These ugly looking tools have been up here for quite awhile now.
Here's the Hitachi Combo kit.
http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=432275

BigSteele,

We've had the Hitachi 2 1/4 router combo here for at least a year as well as some of their other bizarre designs. The shocker is that they decided to leave the M12v alone for so long while slowly changing everything else in their lineup. The M12V is a staple in many a router table and to see it transformed into this predator drone type thing is hard to stomach. I guess in time, if it performs as well as it's predecessor, we'll scoop them up when Amazon drops them to $115 .


Personally, I think Freud has hit the nail on the head with its new 3000. They've seem to have developed a decent table router...although I can't comment on its performance since it's not available here just yet or the size of the biggest bit it can spin. It does have built in above the table height adjustment, variable speed, soft start, 3hp, spindle lock, dust extraction...etc...

[Tundra_Man]

Mars attacks!

[BobSch]

Mars attacks!

All your base are belong to us!

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Not only does it look like a tool only an X-man could like, but I see they're fudging their specs just like everyone else...

2000 W (120V input: 15 A, 3-1/4 HP)

Unless my math is wrong, 15 A @ 120 V is 1800 watts which is 2.4 HP. Looks like the marketing kiddies got to the spec writers too.

The old one was the same wasn't it? 15 A @ 120 V = 2.4 HP. That is part of the reason why I chose the Bosch 1617 to go in my router table versus M12. I had other Bosch 1617's and wanted to keep it consistent for collet, accessory and tool changes but considered the M12 until I figured there is no way they can produce a solid 3 1/4 hp.