Traditional chop saws are useful but they can be annoying to use when you cut larger boards of wood.
This is where miter saws such as the Hitachi C12RSH2 come in. This sliding miter saw promises smooth and precise cuts with the least amount of effort.
In this post, we will test the Hitachi C12RSH2 Sliding Miter Saw to determine whether it’s worth your money or not.
We will also provide some great alternatives that are available in the market.
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ WINNER ★ Hitachi C12RSH2 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw | The Hitachi C12RSH2 Sliding Compound Miter Saw has a much smaller form factor than most sliding miter saws. Despite that, it boasts cutting capabilities that allow you to tackle a number of different woodworking projects around the house. Furthermore, it’s much more affordable than most 12-inch sliding saws we’ve seen in the market. | Check on Amazon |
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ Alternate #1 ★ DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw | The DeWalt 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw features a 15-amp motor that is more than enough for most woodworking projects. It has a decent miter range in both directions so you can get away with many intricate cuts. Furthermore, it’s fairly budget-friendly. | Check on Amazon |
  | ★ Alternate #2 ★ Makita LS1019L 10-Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw | While the Makita LS1019L does not come with a laser guidance system, it makes up for it with a ball-bearing system for precise cutting. It’s definitely a great option if you have projects that require accurate, intricate and precise cuts. The saw has a 15-amp motor that is adequate enough for most soft and hardwoods. | Check on Amazon |
Quick Summary of the Main Product
The Hitachi Miter Saw really surprised us with its form factor since it’s much smaller than most 12-inch sliding miter saws. One aspect that really allows it to be this small is a compact slide system.
The slide system does not extend out of the back of the saw as it does with most other sliding miter saws.
When you first open the box, you get the saw itself along with:
- A 60-tooth cross-cutting blade
- A blade wrench
- A vice clamp
- A dust collection bag
The Hitachi C12RSH2 Miter Saw features a fence that is 5-1/2″ tall. With that size, you can easily cut fairly large baseboards vertically. If you dabble in crown molding, the saw is able to handle a nested crown that’d be about 7-1/2″ tall.
Features and Benefits
Cutting Capabilities
When you look at the price for the Hitachi Miter Saw, it’s very surprising to know that it’s a 12-inch miter saw that has sliding capabilities.
Normally, you don’t get that many features at the price point of the Hitachi Miter Saw which is something we were fairly impressed with.
At 90 degrees, it can cut a board up to 12-1/4″ wide. At a 45-degree miter cut, it can cut 8-5/8″ wide.
It features a dual bevel which allows it to tilt 45 degrees both left and right. This highly simplifies bevel and compound cuts since you won’t have to turn the board over when performing them.
Compact Sliding System
The Hitachi C12RSH2 Miter Saw comes with fixed rails that can be brought forward alongside the blade guard. In addition to this, the blade and motor come with an attached bearing assembly that can slide on these fixed rails.
This means that you could have the saw backed all the way up against a wall and you would still be able to get full use out of its sliding action.
It’s definitely a great option if you have a small or cramped workspace.
Adjustable Laser Guide
The laser guide is fully adjustable and serves to speed up your cuts significantly.
You can easily adjust it to line up on either side of the blade or even the middle of it. This allows for highly precise and accurate cuts.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy the Hitachi C12RSH2 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Size
The Hitachi C12RSH2 is a 12-inch miter saw which means that it can be utilized to cut much larger baseboards than 10-inch miter saws.
Even though it can tackle larger baseboards, it has a much smaller form factor than most 12-inch miter saws.
This gives it a great edge over most of its competitors.
Sliding or Compound?
As you know, the Hitachi C12RSH2 is a sliding compound miter saw.
It comes with a highly unique sliding system that ensures you can use it to its fullest potential even in cramped spaces.
Laser Guide or No Laser Guide?
The laser guide on the Hitachi Miter Saw is fully adjustable so that you have no trouble aiming your cuts.
Pros and Cons
- Great cross-cutting range
- Budget-friendly
- Small and compact
- Easily adjustable laser guide
- Highly accurate
- Fairly heavy
Social Proof
As with most of our reviews, we are not just satisfied with our own experience of the product.
We also wanted to check out what other people’s experiences had been like with the Hitachi Miter Saw. That’s why we checked out its Amazon reviews.
Most people we saw were highly satisfied with the saw; Calling it a “beast” and “irreplaceable”. Most users love how small it is and yet, it retains all the features you would expect from a full-scale 12-inch miter saw.
Here are some reviews we came across online:
Similar to Hitachi 12” Sliding Miter Saw (Recommendations)
1. Best Lightweight Alternative - DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw Review
Coming in at a price point of under $1000, the features you get with this DeWalt Miter Saw are astounding.
It comes with a 15-amp motor that allows the blade to spin up to 3800 RPM. The saw can handle 2×24-inch at 90 degrees and 2×10-inch at 45 degrees for a bevel cut.
Furthermore, it’s also one of the most lightweight saws we’ve had the pleasure of testing.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Size: It’s a 12-inch miter saw which means that you can use it to cut larger baseboards and tackle much more complex woodworking projects.
Sliding or compound: It’s a sliding miter saw which means you can utilize its sliding capabilities to perform many types of intricate cuts.
Laser guide or no laser guide: The DeWalt 12-Inch Miter Saw does not come with a built-in laser guidance system.
- Compatible with many different blades
- Powerful motor
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Wide cutting range
- No laser guidance system
Best Lightweight Alternative
The best lightweight alternative is the DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw thanks to its 51-pound weight and small form factor. It’s extremely easy to handle and you can use it in smaller workspaces with ease.
2. Best Compact Alternative - Makita LS1019L 10" Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw Review
The Makita Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw really impressed us with its performance. It features a 15-amp motor that can spin the blade up to 3200 RPM.
You can easily utilize it to cut different types of soft as well as hardwood. Not only that but it has a sliding fence that allows you to vertically cut baseboards up to 12 inches tall.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Makita LS1019L 10″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Size: It’s a 12-inch miter saw that can enable you to tackle larger and more complex woodworking projects.
Sliding or compound: It’s a sliding miter saw so you can use it to make compound and bevel cuts with ease.
Laser guide or no laser guide: While it does not have a laser guidance system, it does feature a unique ball-bearing system that results in precise cuts.
- Accurate ball-bearing guidance system
- Easy to set up
- Small and compact
- Easy to use
- Flexible cutting capacity
- Quiet operation
- Quite heavy
Best Compact Alternative
The best compact alternative is the Makita LS1019L 10″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw thanks to its small form factor and quiet operation. It produces much less noise than most miter saws which makes it a great option if you’re working at home.
Buyer's Guide
Size
When it comes to the size of miter saws, you can choose between 8 inches, 10 inches and 12 inches.
In this case, the “size” refers to the diameter of the blade of the saw.
8-inch and 10-inch miter saws are fairly standard and they can be utilized for most common woodworking projects that feature softwood.
However, if you are cutting thicker materials such as hardwood or even sheet metal, then you may want to consider a 12-inch miter saw.
Sliding or Compound?
Compound miter saws are much cheaper than sliding miter saws and they can be a great option if you’re constructing simple objects that require angled cuts in two planes.
Compound miter saws can pivot left and right to create compound cuts.
However, if you’re working with lumber, boards, and logs, then it can be a good idea to buy a sliding miter saw. Sliding miter saws can move backward and forwards in addition to left and right.
Laser Guide or No Laser Guide?
Having a built-in laser guidance system can be extremely handy to make precise and accurate cuts.
We highly recommend that you buy a miter saw that has a laser guidance system if you are working on projects that require precise cuts.
Corded or Cordless?
Determining whether you need a corded or a cordless miter saw is extremely important.
Ask yourself: does your workspace have a power outlet nearby? If it doesn’t, then you may be better off with a cordless miter saw.
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Wrapping things up
This brings us to the end of our Hitachi C12RSH2 review.
In the end, we must say that we are highly impressed with this sliding miter saw. Even though it comes at a cheap price, its features can match most high-end miter saws out there.
Not only that but its small form factor is also something that many consumers will love. The saw is very easy to maneuver in smaller spaces.
What do you think of the Hitachi Miter Saw? Let us know in the comments below.
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