Are you struggling to achieve perfect 90° crosscuts into lumber? Whether you’re an amateur or professional woodworker, read our Hitachi C12RSH2 review to find if this is the tool you were looking after.
This sliding compound miter saw is built for precision and accuracy and incorporates exclusively long-lasting components.
Intelligent design allows performing a bunch of cutting tasks, from accurate crosscuts to miter and bevel cuts in both directions and on smaller or larger pieces alike.
It’s perfect for trim work as well as multiple other projects. Thanks to a compact dimension, it also finds its place in workshops of all sizes.
You are wondering if this is the right tool for you? Check out below its main features, advantages, and drawbacks.
Contents
Hitachi C12RSH2 – Miter Saw Features
Compact Design
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Hitachi C12RSH2 is its compact design that requires little worktop space. The tool comes with predisposed holes designed for bench mounting, although it is compatible with most miter saw stands as well.
The sturdy base made of cast iron provides excellent balance and stability, keeping the arm and blade firmly in position, reducing all hazards to a minimum.
A significant feature of the design is also the fixed rail slide that eliminates the need for rear clearances.
This means you can use sliding rail extensions in a truly limited space, which ultimately means you can place the miter saw against a wall or in a really tight work area without compromising its cutting capacity.
Hitachi also considered comfort when projecting this tool, equipping it with a soft vertical handle covered in vibration-reducing elastomer grip. This not only adds comfort, but it also improves control, thus reducing risks.
The only slight downside is the heavyweight. Although ensuring stability, this miter saw is undoubtedly hard to move from one place to another.
Cutting Capacity
Designed for working with 12-inch blades, the Hitachi C12RSH2 has a vast cutting capacity majorly given by the compact slide system. This system allows the saw head to slide along the fixed rails mentioned above, requiring zero clearance.
This design, in fact, was ideated not only for compactness but above all for cutting accuracy.
At the same time, the tool also provides an excellent cutting capacity, a feature that makes it perfect for almost all woodcutting jobs.
If your primary purpose is to use this miter saw for 90° crosscuts, know it can deal with workpieces up to 4-3/16 by 12-1/4 inches.
In the case of 45° miter cuts, the saw can operate both on the left and the right, cutting pieces with a dimension up to 4-3/16 by 8-5/8 inches on the left and 4-11/16 by 7-1/16 inches on the right.
The machine is also capable of performing bevel cuts. In this case, the head can also tilt to the left or right, and the maximum accepted size is 2-3/4 by 12-1/4 inches or 2-15/16 by 10-3/16 inches, respectively.
Besides all the above, this sliding compound miter saw also performs compound cuts to both left and right.
Thanks to the rigidity of the blade, the unit is ideal for cutting through soft and hardwood alike. With specialty blades, you can even use it to cut through engineered wood materials including MDF and melamine, thin metal sheets, plywood, soft metals, and plastics.
Power
The Hitachi C12RSH2 is powered by a dependable 15-Amp motor designed to tackle even the toughest cutting jobs with ease. Outputting as many as 1520 watts, the motor spins the blade at the astonishing speed of 4,000 revolutions per minute at no load.
Although the speed drops slightly depending on the thickness and toughness of the workpiece, you will still have enough speed to cut through plain lumber, crown molds, trim work, and other pieces.
Used with different types of blades, this machine is perfect for both rip cutting and precision cutting.
Sliding Fences
This miter saw also comes with convenient sliding fences which allow it to adapt itself to most woodworking challenges. As discussed above, the main benefit of these fences is the fixed rail system the requires zero clearance for accommodating larger pieces.
The large sliding fence, on the other hand, can raise up to 5-1/8 inches. At this height, it can cut up to 7-1/2 inches crown molding vertically.
It is easy to understand, therefore, why this compound miter saw is preferred by most contractors and carpenters.
Miter and Bevel Angles
To conclude our list of features, we must now speak of the miter and bevel angle capacities. Like all sliding compound miter saws, the Hitachi C12RSH2 has the capability of performing both types of cuts.
The main advantage of this tool over the others is its flexibility. The miter head can tilt to both left and right, providing 0 to 57° miter angle cuts to the right and 0 to 45° to the left.
At the same time, the bevel angle range stays constant between 0 and 45° to both left and right, allowing you to flip the saw blade from one side to the other without moving the material from its place.
As you could expect, the miter saw also has positive stops and indicators on both the miter and bevel scales. This allows for an easy read of the measurements and quick adjustment of the settings so that you can achieve perfect cuts regardless of the project.
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
Additional Features
Besides all the features listed above, the Hitachi C12RSH2 comes with a few other features that will undoubtedly boost your user experience. Among them, we can mention:
- Laser guide: Developed to help you perform accurate cuts, the laser guide will show you precisely the trajectory of the blade. Thanks to this feature, you’ll be able to leave the guesswork out of the picture and perform perfect cuts over and over again.
- Various purchase options: The miter saw comes as a standalone tool or in a kit comprising either the miter saw and a stand or the miter saw, a stand, and an all-purpose 12-inch blade.
- Accessories: Regardless of the purchase option you choose, the tool comes complete with accessories including a dust bag, vise, a holder, and a box wrench.
- Comprehensive user manual: Even if you’re an expert, each power tool comes with its own requirements. A user manual is, therefore, essential. This miter saw comes with a comprehensive user manual that will help you discover all the machine’s functions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Miter Saw Compatible With Miter Saw Stands?
Yes. The Hitachi C12RSH2 is compatible with the heavy-duty portable miter saw stand manufactured by the same brand, as well as with saw stands produced by other brands, thanks to its universal fit.
What Is Hitachi c12rsh2’s Belt Drive System? Does It Need Frequent Maintenance?
The Hitachi C12RSH2 is driven by a Poly V belt and gear which requires regular maintenance and oiling
How Much Room Do I Need for This Saw?
Luckily, this sliding compound miter saw requires zero wall clearance thanks to its innovative fixed rail slide. Considering other miter saws need plenty of clearance from the wall, we can safely say the C12RSH2 has a compact footprint and fits even in tighter spaces.
Final Verdict
The Hitachi C12RSH2 is not perfect, but the manufacturer succeeded in bringing it quite close to perfection.
Quality builds, excellent cutting performance and outstanding power define this product that can undoubtedly satisfy most woodworkers.
Novices might find it trickier to operate, and the visibility is not the best when unmanaged sawdust starts to gather. These are definitely some areas for improvement, but overall, this miter saw can quickly meet the expectations.
It suits both rough and finished carpentry tasks, it has an ergonomic handle and is easy to use by an experienced contractor or woodworker. Able to cut an impressive range of workpiece sizes, with dual bevel and miter capability, and backed by a solid warranty, this sliding compound miter saw delivers an excellent value for the money.
