Hitatchi table saw @ Lowes

[tuttlejr]

I in Lowes buying some bird seed and wandered over to the tool department and came upon the Hitatchi table saw. Very impressive. Less than $500. Has a great fence and even casters. If I was through lurking, I would be tempted to buy it.

[messmaker]

It has nice features but the feedback has been unimpresssive. I have heard of a couple of guys that have bought it and been satisfied but it is not as well thought out as some other very good Hitachi products.

[Knottscott]

It has nice features but the feedback has been unimpresssive. I have heard of a couple of guys that have bought it and been satisfied but it is not as well thought out as some other very good Hitachi products.

Agreed...the feedback I've seen is mixed from owners and observers. It's in direct competition with some really good saws that offer more features or sell for less. The Herculift on the Ridgid is a considerably better design than Hitachi's spinoff from 1974, plus it has cast iron wings, a better alignment system, and arguably a better fence. IMO, the Delta has a better fence (T2), CI wings, and better mobile base too. The Grizzly has a terrific steel Biese clone fence and CI miter gauge, and the Craftsman 22114 hybrid with it's cabinet mounted trunnions, CI wings, miter gauge clamp, and indexing fence goes on sale for only $40-$50 more than the Hitachi. The new Jet 708100 hybrid has been on sale for $399, and offers the bonus of a cast metal connection shroud between the trunnions. Nothing wrong with the Hitachi per se (except for the overstated 3hp claim), but I don't see it having any advantages that give a buy signal @ $500 over some well proven competition, or better values.