• 15 amp motor for powerful performance

• 55-degree bevel capability

• Soft rubber grip handle for comfort

• Package-includes 24-tooth carbide blade and carrying case

• Hitachi exclusive 5-year warranty

This new circular saw combines Hitachi's rock-solid construction with a lightweight and ergonomic design. The saw has a powerful and smooth-running 15 amp motor with a replaceable carbon brush for long life and easy maintenance. The saw's aluminum-alloy base bevels from 0 to 55 degrees, with positive stops at 0 and 45 degrees. Depth of cut and bevel adjustments are both tool-free operations. The handle has a comfortable nonslip grip, and at only 10.1 pounds, it's hard to find a lighter-weight saw with this much power. Professionals and serious woodworkers who prefer sidewinder-style saws will find this to be among the best of the bunch. For people who want a little more, check out Hitachi's C7BD2 model, which is this same saw with an electric brake. --Brian Trinen

This saw would have received a 5 with the exception of two issues:
1) The blade guard retracting lever is made of plastic (most saw manufacturers use plastic) that could break in time.
2) The Hitachi information label is lifting at the edges and will probably come off at some point.

26 of 29 found the following review helpful:


Purchase the Hitachi C7BD2 Instead  Oct 22, 2005 By Paul
Consumer Reports (August 2005 Issue) reviewed this saw and recommended it as a Best Buy. If your budget allows, I would recommend going with the Hitachi C7BD2 (also a CR Best Buy). The C7BD2 includes an electric brake for much quicker stopping of the blade and therefore better safety. Like the C7BD2 this saw has a powerful 15 Amp motor and a sturdy alumimum base.

I also wish both saws had better depth adjustment (there are no measurement markings to approximate the depth of cut). Lastly a Laser guide would have been nice.

14 of 15 found the following review helpful:


Not bad for the price  Feb 17, 2008 By JV "Johnny V"
I purchased new from Amazon for $69.95 which is a good deal. However if the price is over $100 your better off getting the Dewalt for an additional $15-$20. This saw is lightweight and powerful. It is a great home owner saw for occasional use. For full time construction/carpentry use, it falls short of the Dewalt, Makita, or Portacable. The carry case does not have a place for the wrench and the rip fence, which is not a big deal, but wrapping the power cord and closing the case is a challenge. The base of the saw is very sturdy and easy to adjust, the numbers are easy to read. Overall quality and feel is about a 3 out of 5.

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:


Good Value  Jan 15, 2007 By R. James "kma3211"
The saw is excellent quality and a very good deal, but I found it for minimally less expensive in Home Depot after placing my online order. The shipping time/delivery time were outstanding; only 4 days after placing the order.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:


Works Like It Oughtta.  Jul 04, 2007 By H. E. Shannon
I replaced my 30ish years old Craftsman saw with this one. The Hitachi is lighter, more powerful, easier to adjust, easier to change blades, and more comfortable to use. I don't use a circular saw too much, but for the average home owner and hobby carpenter this saw is great, especially at Amazon's price of $52. Building a deck is my latest project and so far I've cut about 150 boards with this saw. It gets the job done. Since I've never used a circular saw with a brake I didn't see the need to spend the extra money for it. If you don't get a saw with a brake, just be careful and know that you are more responsible for safety than a mechanical device anyway. A laser cutting guide might be nice, but they are only good when the battery is good. Seems like everytime I pick up a battery powered device the battery is dead. This saw cuts accurately especially when using a speed square for cross cuts at 90 or 45 degrees. For less than $100 I don't see how you could go wrong with this saw.

See all 16 customer reviews on Amazon.com