For any contractor or professional woodworker the Hitachi C12LDH 12-inch Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw is the by far the most complete miter saw I’ve ever used. No matter what the project, this compound miter saw does it all.

First, the Hitachi laser marker system that you can turn on before the blade starts and it’s easily adjustable to the left or right of your cut mark.

Next, the thumb-actuated miter stops allow for simple miter adjustments. And after you set your bevel angle, a micro-bevel adjustment knob provides precise angle adjustment for superb accuracy. The pivoting aluminum fence is 5–1/8 inches high making cutting crown molding a snap.

The powerful 15-amp motor provides plenty of power for any job, and the elastomer grip handle keeps all that power under your precise control. So, if you want power, flexibility, state of the art precision, and durability, this is the only saw for you. Definitely the professional’s choice.

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Choosing a reasonably priced DIY compound miter saw.

Buying a miter saw is quite an investment, and can be a difficult decision with all the choices out there, so knowing what features you’ll need and which ones you’ll use the most is crucial to making a good choice. I’ve had several miter saws over the years and have come to know what features are important and most useful, that’s why, after careful consideration, my recommended choice is the Hitachi C10FCE2 compound miter saw.

This is definitely my favorite reasonably price precision compound miter saw for do-it-yourselfers. Control is the key to accuracy and the elastomer soft grip horizontal handle gives you that control.

Another essential feature is the thumb-actuated positive miter stops, these preset stops provide easy access to the most common angles you’ll use. As well, the easy turn/lock handle provides precise locking on those in-between angles. And the large extended flip fence raises to four inches, which allows you to accurately cut larger pieces, such as crown molding. The easy to use bevel adjustment adjusts up to 45 degrees, to the left, for precision bevel cuts. Plus there’s a convenient hold down clamp for securing you work.

As far as power goes there’s no compromise here. With the saw’s 15-amp motor and 10 inch blade you’re able to make crosscuts and compound miters with ease. And while you’re making those cuts, the dust collection bag catches most of the sawdust, and is very easy to empty.

This is definitely the best all around DIY compound miter saw. The saw comes with a 10-inch blade, extended fence, dust bag, vise assembly, box wrench, and hex bar wrench. And best of all, it comes with Hitachi’s five year warranty, for years of excellent service.

So if you’ve been looking for a reasonably priced compound miter saw, look no further, this is it. Enjoy!

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The best cordless drill for the beginning DIY’er.

If you’re into do-it-yourself projects there’s one tool you must have, a cordless drill.

From hanging shelves, to building decks and porches the cordless drill is the tool to own for the beginning DIY’er.

As you may already know from reading other parts of my site, I’ve had a lot of experience with tools and have a knack for spotting the right tool for the project at hand. So today I’d like to offer my choice for the best all around starter cordless drill kit. The Hitachi DS14DVF3. Quite the long designation, hey.

When looking at all the cordless drill/drivers available out there what stands out with the Hitachi is all the great features for such a reasonable price.

Starting with the compact and lightweight design (just 4 lbs) makes it great for the Ladies, and guys with smaller hands. It’s that compact design which makes it very easy to handle, and easy to get into those tight spaces.

But don’t let it’s light weight fool you, it’s magnetic motor produces 300-inch-pounds of torque, and that translates into plenty of power to get through the toughest jobs.

It also has a two speed transmission which allows you to set the speed of the drill for precise control. For even more control the 22-stage clutch offers easy adjustments from high torque, for driving deck screws, to lower stetting for lighter less demanding jobs. For added convenience it has a keyless chuck, which allows for quick and easy bit changes, and a belt hook with an integrated bit holder. So no more searching for where you laid down that bit.

The Hitachi charger will fully charge the batteries in just 35 minutes, and you can expect about 300 charges over the life of each battery. No stopping in the middle of a project to wait for the batteries to charge. Of course, that would be a good excuse for a break.

The Hitachi DS14DVF3 cordless drill kit includes, a stand up flashlight (excellent when you don’t have an extra hand around), a seven-piece bit set, two quick charging batteries, battery charger, and a hard case for easy transport and storage. And to top it off, Hitachi’s 5 year warranty, guaranteeing that this proven workhorse will give you years of trouble free service.

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The DIY hobbyist best choice for cutting the curves, is an excellent jigsaw with all the useful features you’ll need to succeed with speed.

Having a nice variable speed jigsaw around the house or shop is great for cutting curves, notches, circles, and is also a very popular tool with hobbyist. So when I went looking for a reasonably priced DIY jigsaw, I found just what you’ll need in this Hitachi top handled model.

I like the top handle model, with the Elastomer grip, and D shaped handle, as it provides comfort and control. The ladies will really like this feature too, as many tools have to large of a handle to be comfortable and easy to control.

The top-mounted LED light makes for easy cutting in any light, and the powerful dust blower substantially improves visibility of your cut line. Both very important features when choosing a jigsaw.

The powerful 5.8 amp motor, and electronic speed control allows for easy controlled cuts in most materials including; including wood, steel, aluminum, copper, vinyl, and stainless steel sheeting. And all these features come in a jigsaw that weights under 5 lbs! Remember, less weight means more control. Very nice. Oh, I forgot to mention the tool-less blade change system. Just flip the lever, pop the blade out and replace. It’s just that easy.

With all these great features and Hitachi’s 5 year warranty you can be assured that your money has been well spent.

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The best DIY demolition tool.
If there’s demo work to be done, then you’ll need a reciprocating saw. Often called a “sawzall” (pronounced “Saws All”), this type of saw is an excellent tool for cutting studs away from plates, cutting nails and just getting into those places standard circular saws just won’t go.

A sawzall is very similar to a jig saw, with it’s foot and oscillating blade, but the sawzall blade is much wider, and longer, and a sawzall has much more power.

Most sawzalls are very similar in design but vary in power and features.

The most important features to look for are the ability to change blades quickly without the use of tools, and a comfortable weight and grip. As control is everything when using a sawzall. And of course a great warranty.

That’s why I recommend the Hitachi CR13V, as it provides all the features we’re looking for in a reasonably priced reciprocating saw.
Hitachi’s tool-less blade change system not only makes changing blades really fast, but you can also install the saw blade with the teeth facing either side of the saw.This provides extra flexibility for getting into hard to reach places. The easy grip D-handle, and a weight well under 8 lbs provides the safety and ease of control you need.

As far as power goes, the 10 Amp motor with electronic feedback control gives you all the power you’ll need for most DIY home improvement demo projects.

And Hitachi’s five year warranty completes the list of features on our list, and assures excellent service for many years to come.

The Hitachi CR13V comes with an all-purpose blade, hex bar wrench, and heavy-duty carrying case for easy transport and storage.

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