Ah, nuts!!!
Makita’s following Hitachi’s lead, putting racing stripes on their tools
What’s next, nose rings on the keyless chucks?
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I'm with you... I saw the new digital Hitachi miter saw - looked more like an alien than a tool.
And, for those of us who need the latest & coolest.....
I was at HD getting some stock this PM, when, in the Pro Desk (!) I spy a little accessory to make your mitre saw into a laser miter saw - a retrofit kit, for (I think) $12.95.
I'll take the racing stripes on the Milwaulkee .....Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
lol, I've seen that do hickey at HD as well. They have enough trouble calibrating the lasers on factory installed units to be aligned with the blade. ( at least the cheaper saws I know) nevermind fiddling around with something like that.
By the way....which HD were you at Terminal or Burnaby?
Terminal Ave.Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
do you know if they are still open 24 hrs... I know that location tried it. always wondered who would want to buy a 2x4 or whatever at 3 in the moring, lol.
Laser attachment? I've seen the things, is it like a little washer that slides under the nut that holds the blade? I can't say that I've used the new lasers but I do remember spending a day with an old Delta miter saw that came with a laser years ago. All I remember is walking away from the saw after making a cut and seeing red spots.
As for the Milwaukee with the racing stripes, I guess you didn't hear, Techtronic bought Milwaukee last year. Nothing is sacred. They also own Ridgid.
"Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd./Milwaukee Electric Tool¯ and AEG¯. In August 2004, Willkie's New York and Frankfurt offices represented Hong Kong's Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. in its purchase of the Milwaukee Electric Tool¯ and AEG¯ power tool businesses from Sweden’s Atlas Copco AB for $626.6 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of 2004. Founded in 1985, TTI is a leading and fast-growing supplier of home improvement products, employing approximately 16,300 people worldwide. TTI's global brand portfolio includes Ryobi¯ power tools, Homelite¯ and Ryobi¯ outdoor power equipment and Royal¯, Dirt Devil¯, Regina¯ and VAX¯ floor care appliances."
Ya,ya, I know. Urban legends spring eternal, like conspiracy theories.
As many times as I got on to the Milwaulkee site and "worried" about the quality of the brand, I was told "Don't worry, they will keep the quality."
About 3 months ago I was taking to one of my customers (his driveway is definately devalued when my van rolls in) about the sale, and when I told him the companies involved, he laughed at me.
With the realignment of manufacturing and money interests, and no barriers due to language and international ownership, manufacturers can select a high quality manufacturing facility in a lower wage country and still keep prices low, good relative wages in country of manufacture and profit for the owners.
He also told me that just because a holding company owns a "cheaper" quality manufacturer, when they go out and buy a better quality company, it's true that administrations may downsize, don't expect the quality will go down in the long run. Why would there be 2 parts of the company building tools the quality of Ryobi?Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
Your customer is probably right, the company has divided its product line between professional, and home duty. Quality should remain. As for the racing stripes, Makita has beat Milwaukee to the punch with a Lithium Ion cordless tool selection. Not 28v though only 18v. As other companies come on line it will be interesting to see where this goes. Would love to try one out, wonder when they will hit the shelves up north?
Do not think they own Ridgid, just make some things for them under license.
"Ridge Tool is a subsidiary of Emerson of St. Louis, Missouri. Emerson is a global manufacturer with high-quality products, systems and services for commercial, industrial, and consumer markets. With headquarters in St. Louis, Emerson has more than 60 divisions selling products in more than 150 countries."
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/About-Ridge-Tool/
You are way behind the times.Emerson (I think that it was under the Emerson Tool Co division) made most of the stationary power tools for Craftsman.Then when that partnership broke up Emerson started doing the same thing for HD and labeling it with the Rigid brand.Then about 2-3 years ago Emerson licensed the name to TT who now makes most of the non-plumbing power tools that are under the Ridgid name.I am sure that they make all of the cordless tools. I think that Emerson makes some of the hand tools (pliers and the like). BTW, Emerson still makes the Ridgid and the Craftsman shop vacs.
I stand behind my post, the quote was lifted off the linked site. I only said that they did not own Ridgid. What you say is pretty much right. The people who bring us Ryobi do the manufacturing and support for most of the Ridgid power tools.
I have the TS3612 table saw, 14 " band saw and osc sander that are pre OWT transition and am happy with them. From what I see most of the new Ridgid stuff is pretty good. I have heard that the service was not too good at first but when I got the bandsaw they were quick to send me some items I needed.
I was enlightened the day I was putting my 14" BS together..was missing some parts..remembered a magnet that came with it...said 1-800-RIDGID...so I called. Got a recorded message telling me how much "she" wanted me to slowly undress her, and fondle her...Holy What the Flark?
Seems I dialed 1-800-RIGID, left out the "D"...freaked me out. LOL Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
Sounds like you almost got serviced by customer service.
"Then about 2-3 years ago Emerson licensed the name to TT who now makes most of the non-plumbing power tools that are under the Ridgid name."
That explains why some of the Ridgid tools are actually AEG - same company - duh! So when do we get the battle of the titans - TT vs. BD? I just hope they keep competing and not doing an oil company thing on the public!!
Typing shorthand. My mistake, Techtronics, own Ridgid Pneumatics, not Ridgid Tools.
Aaron, would that laser be adaptable to an ordinary sidewinder? I want one on my Makita.
blue
No idea, Blue. She was a little too gimicky for me, & I've been too busy to go back & have a closer look.Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
I couldn't agree more about the Hitachi. It kinda looks like a cross between ET and Darth Vader, and merely functions as a conversation piece in my store.We've had it for a month and no one can seem to get past its cartoonish appearance to figure out if it is a serious tool. Haven't sold any, yet.Who are they trying to appeal to?
"Who are they trying to appeal to?"
That is a good question. It certainly didn't jump out at me as something I just had to have because of it's looks. I was comepletely turned off by it. I was thinking more along the lines of something that hatched out the queens nest in the movie Alien.
The only thing that actually got my serious interest was the digital feature. But as I thought about it, that was short lived. just one more thing I gotta wory about breaking. if it goes out then I gotta take it in to be fixed, just so I can make a simple 45 degree cut. The angle and bevel markings on my Makita LS1013 aren't going to change.
The only customers who think it's cool are homeowners.The pro's think it's stupid, and like you, figure just one more thing that'll break.
i agree totally. i'm a big fan of certain hitachi tools, especially the nailers, and i hope they don't apply that ludicrous colour scheme to them. milwaukee's and makita's 'racing stripes' are much less jarring, and would not affect my purchase choices. hitachi, otoh, has made their newer tools so ugly as to negatively impact sales, imo.
You are too late! You must have missed that episode of "Pimp My Nailer".
View Image
Edited 11/1/2005 3:15 pm ET by rasconc
damn. i've seen that one, but i'm mostly concerned about my two great hitachi loves: NR83A2 and NT65MA2. luckily the ones i have now are relatively new and shouldn't need replacing for years. i will need a 18ga nailer pretty soon, but it seems that getting the very best one of those is not as important, as all manufs seem to do pretty well on the mini stuff.
Edited 11/2/2005 8:48 am ET by climberevan
I love that gun!
blue
You are right there.These tools must be geared towards homeowners. How could you, your fellow tradesman,or your clients take you seriously if you showed up with these ridiculous, cartoonish looking tools!
It is actually an awesome saw.Lasers and LCD's seemed like a gimmick to me for a long long time but field tested, they are actually accurate. They should not be neccesary or relied upon but they work!
As far as the 45 / 45 compound miter is concerned, this hitachi PDF shows that it Is capable of that cut!?http://www.hitachipowertools.com/product/files/saws/miter_saws/MiterChart.pdfYeah it looks different than what you old timers are used to but so did the first miter saw on the market. Change is good. I thin it is pretty. Pretty ugly. one guy called it " a ninja turtule on drugs" People may laugh at first but they'll be laughing out of the other side of their face once they try it. I doubt that you will lose any clients over it.Almost every small power tool I own is Bosch (router / portable table saw, orbital, jigsaw, circ saw etc etc) I am buying the new Hitachi in the next few weeks. The main selling point was the sliding mechanism. It will fit into my new bench and share the same fence / stop system as 2 RAS's without having to set all the machines 2' from the wall. The only SCMS on the market that will allow this.You could argue all day about which miter saw is better, Hitachi, Makita, Dewalt or Bosch. They are ALL great. It comes down to personal taste and opinion. i would buy the Bosch but it wont work in my awesome new shop setup.
Diamond,
I agree that the new hitachi slider looks like a well built tool with a lot features, report back after you have used it for a while?
As for the 45/45, It will not do it as is, there is something on the saw head the runs into the fence, I can't remember exactly what but I was playing with it in a tool store a while back. You could easily remove enough of the fence to make it work, my problem with that is spending 650 on a saw, then having to modify it make it work properly....
hey now, there's a good reason for everything hitachi does and it's for pros only, no homeowners need apply.it's so they're more aerodynamic riding along there in the back of ye ol' F-150.
See post below to sly.
I agree the digitalia on the Hitachi mitre saw is goofy, but don't pass over the rest of the tool line. The Hitachi tools I've owned and used have been excellent - including some of the racing stripe series. Personally, I dislike the Ridgid line's look - massive and bulky like Soviet architecture - but they do have some well made products. Remember it's the homeowners who are supposed to be sucked in by a tool's looks, not the pros. Look for the steak and forget about the sizzle.Lignum est bonum.
Exactly.I am thinking we can thank the DIY and "reality" television shows for this. The tool companies are hoping to get their tools on the air just by wowing the producers and viewers of the shows, with the looks.
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives" -Craig Carter.
I was looking at the Hitachi at the Cloverdale woodworking show a couple of weeks ago.One problem I saw with the digital display was its resolution...only capable of 1/2 degree increments.In finishing work I am often nudging my mitre saws a quarter of a degree or so.Alan
Sly and appaldog,I had some time to play with that Hitachi C12LSH yesterday.Very poor engineering.Do you realize that it cannot make the common cut 45 degree left bevel with a 45 right miter? The fence is in the way.Sheesh we'll never be able to sell this white elephant now....
I guess I'm not committed enough to an aerodynamic ride since I've never even thought about buying a rocket science slippery Hitachi. My trusty old saw isn't so slippery but it's accurate and cuts to the limits without chopping chunks out of the fence and if a rain storm comes up on me i can throw a tarp over it without worrying about whether the lcd display gets soggy. ol Ford burns a chunk of gas anyway so i guess the lack of a slick saw won't save me or kill me.
I had a look at the saw today. Looks to me like those auxiliary fences are movable - are you saying the left one can't be slid far enough over to miss on a 45 bevel/ 45 mitre cut? I agree the laser and lcd stuff is a gimmick, but on the whole Hitachi makes good stuff, so I'm guessing that at its core this is a tough, accurate saw.Lignum est bonum.
Yep, it will not do the 45 degree left bevel with a 45 right miter because the fence is in the way.The fence does not slide. It is hinged on the outside and folds out, but it has a point that sticks up and prevents that common cut.I will try to get a picture of it today for you.(Maybe the engineers were mad because the design team got a raise and they didn't! lol)
A buddy replaced his old DeWalt 12" slider with the new Hitachi. He took it back the next day, because od the 45° X 45° x fence issue. Also said the readouts were pretty poopie<G>He got the new DeWalt big un, and is in love... What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
Seems too obvious to me ...but can't ya cut the offending part of the fence outtta the way?
I had the first 8.5 slider way back by Hitachi, sold it prior to a divorce, and never bought it back...love the Bosch 12 I got now. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" you? YOU!? Are actually listening to that CRAP????
How about? going to werk, how about"...I can't do it, it aint fair..but
HOW ABOUT THAT REZ GUY? UH HUH? ...He ain't Silesien I bet....wimp
<Seems too obvious to me ...but can't ya cut the offending part of the fence outtta the way?>Sure, YOU could. If I buy something with that obvious a design flaw, I'm not keeping it long enough to find out what the next one is, unless it's a hand tool...then it goes in my pile of stuff-that-sounded-great-at-the-time-but-ain't-worth-the-time-to-return, of which I have enough to start a a small museum of marketing genius<G> What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
lol...I dunno, I just hack away at powertools all the time. If it is in the way, cut it outta the way and carry on.
My Powerplaner ( Bosch) kept choking on shavings in the exhaust port..in 2 minutes with a sawzall, problem solved.
That reminds me, I got the EZ guide..gotta go see what I can do with it to OTHER tools..(G)
Rained in today, what a horrible weather front came in this AM..lost my NID AGAIN, and a window I just made and installed...getting to be skeered of Sundays.
Headed your way, batten the hatches. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" you? YOU!? Are actually listening to that CRAP????
How about? going to werk, how about"...I can't do it, it aint fair..but
HOW ABOUT THAT REZ GUY? UH HUH? ...He ain't Silesien I bet....wimp
We're 12" under for rain, on the year. Not a lot of time left to make it up, so, send it along, please.Did you get the fully loaded EZ? I've had the two 50" rails for about a year, and use it about once a week. Finally modified the saw case to hold the clamps, bout time.The boys will be cutting 18 door bottoms on Monday...solid core...good for young bucksnorts<G>
What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
We too are in a bad drought.
I got the whole shebang except for the table kit. Router base thingy, repeater x's 2, and 3 rails at 50''.
Still vacilatting wether to tape the base to my Milwaukee, bolt it to a New Bosch 8.25 ...or what. That loss of depth of cut has me concerened..and I really would like a new saw..but I have so many places to apply my few spare bucks....hmm.
I didn't even get the rails togther yet...maybe during football, I'll attack it.
I am going to be working as a roofer for as long as I can see, but will still be hawking the sales end of the EZ in my off time.
Dino is a helluva guy. Great product, great invention. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" you? YOU!? Are actually listening to that CRAP????
How about? going to werk, how about"...I can't do it, it aint fair..but
HOW ABOUT THAT REZ GUY? UH HUH? ...He ain't Silesien I bet....wimp
The Hitachi will remain nothing more than a conversation piece in our store, because I could never ket anyone buy it in good concience.They should just recall the entire lot and re-do the fence.
Hitachi does things like that.
My 10" slider can't crank full left to do a 45deg 'cause the motor's in the way.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
Stoopid is right.(see my post to Sly above)
Funny, we had an old Hitachi slider in the shop that bevelled both ways, I always got accurate trim cuts and bevels with it.Lignum est bonum.
Oh, I never said I could not get accurate cuts with the machine. But, if I need to lie the thing to the left, I need to remove the hold down which I consider to be a safety issue. I then have to move the hold down to the right side. Why not give 2 hold downs with the machine, or make it faster to change to the other side.
Sigh.
Oh well, it still cuts more accurately than I can.Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
I've used hold-downs maybe 10 times in 10 years when cutting with a mitre saw. Still got all fingers. Not an issue to me.Lignum est bonum.
I agree with you 100% about that saw. First thing that popped into my head when I saw it was "gimmicky."
In my experience, most things that are flashy completely suck. I bet that cute digital display works really well after a few good licks from a 2x6.
in vino veritas
If I recall correctly the digital readout is secondary to the scales on the saw, so if it break's fixing it is not a necessity.
Other then that I think it looks like a great saw, you can lock the rail in place and use it directly up against a wall, a feature no other saw has, and it has the micro-adjustment knobs for both miter and bevel, to tune your angle by a 1/2 degree, again a feature no other saw has currently. I haven't actually used one in the field so I can't say how well it really operates, although my expereince with it at JLC live and in a tool store locally both times, the tool seem to have smooth operations.
Sure it looks like a circus freak but it does has some attractive features in my opnion
The first time I saw that new Hitatch mitersaw I was trying to figure out who parked their Kawasaki rice-burner in the tool store. Tell me it doesn't look like a motorcycle.
That new line of tools looks like something that fell out of the Incredible Hulk's purple shorts to me.
I hear ya...KZ1000...and no turn signals!!!
rustbucket
I think of it as "the sneaker look," - bolts of neon colors to suggest something's happening
My tools get covered with morter, paint, abs glue, wood glue, stain, maybe a little bit of blood now and then... the fancy pin-stripes wont last anyway.