Whether you are a professional contractor, wood worker, hobbyist, or a do-it-yourself handyman around the house you need a reliable accurate saw that will get the job done to ensure you have the perfect cuts in wood. Miter saws are essentially one of a tool company’s flagship products that pave the way for their other tools. While not all miter saws are created equal this article explores two of the industry’s leading tool vendors’ products and how they stack up against each other. The DeWalt DWS780 and Hitachi C12RSH are comparable miter saws with excellent features that produce quality cuts when working with wood.
DeWaltDWS780
This saw features a 12 inch blade with the ability to bevel the saw from a zero to 49 degree cutting angle in both left and right directions. This durable saw has a solid construction and cross cutting capability with a built inLED light that lights up the work surface to show you exactly where the blade will begin cutting the material on both sides of the blade. This saw does not require calibration over time even after you change out the blade with its XPS cross cut alignment system which is said to be more accurate than many laser guides on the market. The detent plate is made of stainless steel to withstand long term use.
The motor provides 15 amps of cutting power at 3800 RPM. The cord comes out of the back through a rail for an easy power connection that will not get in your way. This tool uses 120v, weighs in at just under 68 pounds, and is 23.3”x32.8”x18.8” in size. This saw has a 6 ¾” vertical cutting capacity, a 7 ½” nested down cutting capacity, and a 13 7/8” horizontal cutting capacity. You can cut a piece of material up to 2×16 at 90 degrees and 2×12 at 45 degrees. Also included in the features is a miter detent plate which has 10 adjustable stop settings. You can lock your angle between these stop settings. When you purchase the DWS780 you get the unit, one carbide blade, a dust bag, a blade wrench, and a vertical material clamp and a 3 year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
This saw is more than capable enough to handle frame and deck projects or any project that requires constant consistent cuts at various angles. As rugged as this tool is it is still lightweight enough for easy transport so you can take it with you to your worksite whether you plan on cutting in the garage, on your deck, or even in your attic.
Hitachi C12RSH
The C12RSH has many of the same features as the DWS780. This miter saw has a laser instead of a light like the DeWalt saw. When working with materials at short distances it becomes almost a personal preference if you like having a light or laser to show you where your cut will be at. Lasers tend to become inaccurate over time and with several blade changes may require recalibration. I will explore this further in the review section. The Hitachi also features a micro adjustment on the bevel and miter, a flip fence support, a belt driven 15 amp motor that produces 1850 watts of maximum output power, and the ability to cut up to 57 degrees to the right, 46 degrees to the left, and a bevel of up to 45 degrees both left and right. Like the DeWalt, this model also allows you to flip the blade while leaving your material in place with positive stops for both the miter and bevel scale. The fence height is 4 11/16”.
The C12RSH is heavier than the DWS780 weighing in at 81 pounds which is mentioned in reviews as being difficult to move around between job sites. This saw has a compact slide feature with slide guard to protect it against dust. The sliding system allows you to place the saw flat against the wall of your workspace where space may be limited. The sliding mechanism can be adjusted so that the slide rails are behind the unit or on the side by adjusting two knobs on top of the slide mechanism. This feature is designed to save space and eliminate excessive rear clearance. When you purchase a C12RSH you get the unit, a dust bag, dust cover for the slide mechanism, vice assembly, a 12” 60 tooth TCT saw blade and a 17mm box wrench. Optional accessories include extra blades and the HTC PM-4000 PortaMate Folding Miter Saw Stand.
Conclusion
The primary differences between the two saws appear to be weight and the slide mechanism. If you need a portable saw, the DWS780 is preferred due to the weight of the C12RSH.
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Click here to purchase Dewalt Dws780 on Amazon!