Miter saw is an essential power tool that is used by professional woodworkers and DIYers for completing woodworking projects in the workshop. a sliding miter saw is the best cross-cutting tool for a robust and big woodworking project. A good miter saw can cut a wood board up to 12 inches and These saws are available in various blade sizes to range from 7-½ to 12 inches at different cost. The cost of each miter saws depends on its blade size and quality. Nowadays Many miter saws brands are available in the market but Kobalt and Hitachi are the most prominent ones. Here we are going to compare Hitachi and Kobalt miter saw with pros and cons.
Buying Guide
The best quality miter saw has a larger cutting capacity, affordability, and low maintenance. Here, we are describing some important factors that you should keep in mind before buying a miter saw.
Blade Size
Blade Size is an important factor to consider while buying a miter saw. There are many sizes of blades available in the market. The range of blade sizes comes in between 8 and 12 inches. A compound sliding miter saw comes with a large blade size that cuts the large substantial pieces. Blades with more teethes gives more accuracy. 10-inch blade and 12-inch sized blades are mostly used. 10-inch size blade comes with fewer teeth and they are less costly while 12-inch size blade is made for large projects because they offer a longer cut, even in thick material. 10-inch size blades are spin fast and they consume less electricity. Both Kobalt and Hitachi come with a 10-inch and 12-inch sized blade.
Quality
A good quality miter saw can handle difficult crosscuts. Hitachi is an older brand but it is known for making excellent blades. They manufactured one of the first sliding miters saw that run smoothly with some nice rails and bearings. Miter saws that come with vertical handles are not more comfortable to work than horizontal handles.
Stops and Accessible Bevel Controls
Positive stops are used to make accurate cuts at different angles. It can also lock the saw in any position. The best quality sliding miter saw should have stops at 0,15,30, and 45 degrees in both directions. The bevel controls at the front side are the best feature of any good quality miter saw for easy access.
Laser Guide
A miter saw that comes with a laser guiding system helps to beginners for accurate cuts. It points red light around the material where you want to cut the job. These miter saws are suitable for indoor working because it is difficult to see the laser beam in bright daylight.
Price
The price of every miter saw depends on blade size, power, and quality. These miter saws are available in the market at different cost from $140 to more than $1000. Kobalt is the most affordable option among all miter saws.
Kobalt Miter Saw Review
Kobalt has manufactured many high-quality power tools for several decades. Kobalt’s miter saw provides maximum accuracy and precision on their working tools. Kobalt offers a lightweight and affordable miter saw that is usually used in home and workshop as well. Kobalt offers real power in their models that make tools highly ideal for processes of molding and framing cuts. Kobalt is one of the best sliding compound miters saw that can be used in both directions.
Top 3 Kobalt Miter Saw
Here, we have reviewed the top three best miters saw available in the market.
Kobalt 7-1/4-in 10-Amp Single Bevel Sliding Laser Compound Miter Saw
If you have a tight budget and you are willing to sacrifice with some power and size then this Kobalt model is the perfect choice for you. This is the smallest and pocket-friendly 7 ¼ inch Kobalt miter saw that is ideal for cutting interior molding. This model is ideal for DIYers and professionals. It is sturdy and very light because it is made of aluminum material. It comes with a compact rail design system that uses less space to cut things and they also provide a large die-cast aluminum base and table. It has a hold-down clamp that improves stability during job cutting. Its bevel cuts can cut up to 47 degrees in both directions. It also comes with the mounted adjustable laser guide system that guides you and cuts jobs more precisely. the main problem of this miter saw is dust collection and poor blade guard quality.
Kobalt 10-In 15-Amp Sliding Compound Laser Miter Saw
A Kobalt 10-inch 15-amp sliding compound miter saw is an affordable model that provides excellent molding and framing cuts. it is not as powerful as a 12-inch miter saw but it provides many more features like laser cutting. It has a tool-less adjustable laser guide system on the right side of the blade that cuts your wood pieces with more accuracy and precision. Although the cost of this model is around 36 pounds, they still maintain the quality and power of the tool. You can go up to 50 degrees in both directions. This budget-friendly and lightweight model has a traditional rail system that can travel the depth of 24-inches for smooth cuts.
Editor’s choice
Kobalt 12-in Dual-Bevel Sliding Laser Compound Miter Saw
If you work regularly on substantial pieces then the Kobalt 12-inch dual bevel miter saw is the best choice for you. This large size model can cut large wooden pieces in both directions often. They offer a 15-amp heavy-duty motor with a speed of 4200 RPM that can cut anything in either direction at any angle. They provide many positive miter and bevel stops for common angles and these stops are compact, robust, and smooth for movement. Its dual bevel movement can go from 0 to 47 degrees in both directions and comes with a smart lock that prevents flicking and tinkering between angles. you can miter on this model from 0 to 60 degrees in the right direction and 0 to 50 degrees to the left direction. This model comes with a tall and artfully fence. You can cut longer pieces up to 4 ½ inches tall with the help of quick-release wings that support the material. The Kobalt 12 allows you to get a high-performance miter saw at the price of a lower-grade saw. A 12-inch miter saw can cut a robust workpiece efficiently on a regular basis. They offer a 15-amp heavy-duty motor with a speed of 4200 RPM. You can cut pieces up to 4 ½ inches tall through this saw.
Features
Build quality and Blade size
Kobalt 12 miter saw comes with a taller fence and heavy base made of aluminum. If you want to make adjustments in bevel cuts then this fence allows you to slide in sideways. Kobalt provides an outstanding 12-inch sized blade with 60 carbide-tipped teeth that can cut hard materials easily. There is also a spindle lock available for rapid blade changes. A 12-inch miter saw can cut a robust workpiece efficiently on a regular basis. They offer a 15-amp heavy-duty motor with a speed of 4200 RPM. You can cut pieces up to 4 ½ inches tall through this saw.
Laser Guide
This Kobalt 12 miter saw comes with laser marker technology that enhances the accuracy of cuts. it generates the red line across the material where you want to cut the job that helps the beginners and shaky hand person. With the help of a laser guide feature, you can do your work speedily and efficiently without compromising the quality of the job. This is the great feature every saw should have. If you don’t want to use this feature, you can turn it off.
Adjustable Bevel
You can go from 0 to 50 degrees to the left and 0 to 60 degrees in the right direction and they also provide a neat lock to prevent flicking and tinkering between angles. They provide smooth dual bevel movement with a plastic-covered lock nut at the rear for adjustment and Their Bevel capacity is from 0 to 47 degrees in both directions. They have positive stops one at 0 degrees and another at 45 degrees. Along with this, they also have seven other positive stops. Kobalt miter saw comes with a tall fence.
Easy to use and shift
If you are a carpenter and professional then this miter saw is a great choice for you. You can easily travel with this miter saw.
Dust bag and Safety features
They provide a quick-release wing that is used to support a long piece while cutting a job. A rubber-feet clamp prevents scratching and scuffing.
Hitachi Miter Saw Review
Hitachi is a lightweight and affordable model that comes with a good angle range. Hitachi is offering its product with a new name that is Metabo HPT A 52-degree angle covers both left and right direction and the 15-amp motor provides more power up to 5000 RPM. It is easy to shift and assemble due to its lightweight of 25 pounds. the main issue is that their parts are not long-lasting.
Top 3 Hitachi Miter Saw
Metabo HPT C10FCGS 10-inch Compound Miter Saw
If you are a trim carpenter, framers, and woodworkers then Metabo HPT C10FCGS is the best choice for you. The C10FCGS offers excellent features that complete their job with precision, reliability, and versatility. Its 15-amp powerful motor generates a high speed of 5000 RPM for crosscutting, miter cutting, and compound cutting of substantial pieces. This compact power tool is too light to shift and taking with yourself on the job site. It offers a large table with a vice clamping system to hold the job safely in your workplace. They also provide a large extended flip fence that can rise up to 4 inches and helps to cut the large pieces accurately. It is available a thumb actuated positive miter stops that allow simple miter adjustments. its bevel cuts have a range of 45-degrees to the left and the miter angle range is up to 52 degrees to the left and right. It also comes with a dust collector that keeps your workplace clean.
Hitachi Miter Saw C10FCH2 15-Amp 10-inch Single Bevel Compound with Laser Marker
Hitachi C10FCH2 is famous for its versatility. You can easily change the angle of the cutting blade on this miter saw for creating miters in crown molding. This model is mostly used by homeworkers for making angled cuts in one direction. Its thumb actuated positive miter stops that allow miter adjustment from zero to 52 degrees and the bevel cut range is 45 degrees to the left. Its 10-inch tungsten carbide-tipped saw blade can trim the wood pieces easily and accurately with the help of a large extended flip fence that raises up to 4 inches. It can cut large pieces up to 2-5/16 inches high and 5-21/32 inches deep. It comes with a laser marker system that helps for making exact alignment and predictable blade placement. Its 15-amp motor generates a high speed of 5000 RPM for making crosscuts and miters.
Editor’s choice
Hitachi miter saw C12RSH2 12-inch sliding dual compound with laser marker
Hitachi Metabo HPT sliding compound miter saw is one of the best 12-inch miters saw. Metabo HPT is a compact saw because it has railed at the side of the saw blade. Its miter cut can cut up to 45 degrees to the left and 57 degrees to the right and bevel cut goes up to 45 degrees in both directions. they provide a large sliding fence that can cut a large crown molding up to 7-½ inches vertically.
Features
Ergonomic Handle
Hitachi C12RSH2 handle design is highly ergonomic. Its vertical handle is comfortable to use for a long time. This ambidextrous handle can be used by both hands for more flexibility.
Speed and Cutting Capacity
The Hitachi C12RSH2 12-inch sized blade and the sliding ability provides good crosscutting capability. It can cut a board 12-¼ wide at 90 degrees and its miter cut can cut 8-5/8 wide at 45-degree. The blade of this model has 80 teeth that can cut hardwood pieces with ease. This model comes with a 5-½ tall fence that can cut large size baseboards vertically and it supports nested crown molding. You don’t have to flip the board during compound and bevel cuts. The Dual bevel cut can go up to 45 degrees in both directions. Its miter cut allows 45 degrees to the left and 57 degrees to the right.
Dust Collection
Hitachi C12RSH2 comes with a dust bag that has a port behind the back of the blade. however, this dust bag is not enough to clean your workplace. you can build your own dust shroud around the tool for more dust collection. By adding a shop vac on the dust chute, you can collect almost 70% dust.
Compact Sliding System
Hitachi C12RSH2 has fixed rails with a saw and motor that can slide forward on the blade guard. The blade and motor of this saw are attached with a bearing assembly that slides on the rail and this bearing assembly is fixed to the base. Unlike other miter saws, Hitachi compact sliding system takes less space. If you are working in a small place then this miter saw is very helpful.
Versatility and Ease of use
The weight of this saw is around 59 pounds and you cannot shift this saw easily from one place to another. This saw is not practical for DIYers to carry around from job to job due to its heavyweight. However, it has good cutting capability with many applications. It also covers less space than other sliding saws due to its compact sliding system. In spite of its heavyweight, it has a good cutting capacity and a compound sliding system that makes it a good versatile saw. The main features of this miter saw are accuracy and easiness. Its inbuilt micro-nob system makes accurate cuts with ease. Its setting angles and positive stops are easy to set.
Space and Stability
This miter saw has the zero-clearance rail system that means you can place the miter saw close to the wall. It has a small radius of usage that takes less space, even for long cuts. It comes with a stable stand that can support 400 pounds for a steady balance.
Safety and Accuracy
The Hitachi C12RSH2 is ideal for both professionals and DIYers. Its laser guide system makes accurate cuts. It comes with blade guards and breaks to improve safety.
Powerful Motor
Hitachi C12RSH2 comes with a 15-amp motor that delivers high power to cut all types of wood pieces with ease. It can cut 8/4 crown molding like a breeze. They provide a brushed motor and these brushes are replaceable. Hitachi miter saw have this unique function that allows their users to access the compartment and change brushes in the motor, that extend the life of the motor.
Conclusion
Kobalt miter saw bridges the gap between price and quality. It’s cheaper miter saws for beginners provides accuracy and even, its pricier miter saw for professionals is manufactured to keep in mind your budget and needs. Kobalt has been developing the best compound miter saw without sacrificing performance and precision. However, Hitachi manufactures heavy miter saws with better functionality. In the case of miter saws, weight is a sign of good quality and platform stability.