Am I going to regret a Hitachi cordless circular saw (C18DL)

[Kev]

Funny how I have no concern spending big on Festool ... but think long and hard on trivial items ... I need to fix a bit of truss work in the roof and want to take the gear up there once. I've got a couple of 18V Hitachi cordless drills sitting round, so I thought the bare C18DL would be ok. I just won a new one on Ebay for $120 (free delivery).

Will I struggle with it once and toss it in the shed? We'll see.

I can't think of another thing I'll being using a cordless circular saw for in the short to medium future ... please hold back on the chorus of "You idiot - haven't you heard of (A) a hand saw or (B) and extension lead".

 

[Holzhacker]

A number of years ago a buddy talked me into buying one of the big black 4pack 18V Dewalt boxes, fell off a truck kind of deal. It had the drill, sawzall, flashlight and circular saw. The sawzall and drill died pretty quickly. The flashlight and circular saw I still have and use. I use the circular saw very rarely but when I do use it, it's a huge help. In an attic, in a room cutting a couple pieces of trim, notching something out, it's the right tool at certain times. Would I buy another cordless circular saw to upgrade this one, No. Would I buy a cordless circular saw to have around for certain jobs, Yes.
I used to buy Hitachi tools back when they were real tools. Nowadays they seem like plastic throwaway tools like all the others. I've played with them at the store and they seem fine overall. I'm not going to be the one to yell at you about it. I'd say go for it. Besides, their tools are green and black.

 

[duburban]

Thats a lot of money for that tool. The new Makita LXT 18v bare tool saw is actually half that cost. I'd cord up for one job.

 

[peter halle]

I am not going to knock the brand or any other brand.  The two different brands of cordless circular saw that I had just didn't pan out for me.  I ended up giving them away to a charity.  Unless I see a Festool cordless saw - which I doubt - I will stick with my TS-55 and another brand of corded saw for those situations when it makes sense.

That is just me.  Everyone's situation is different.

Peter

 

[semenza]

Kev,

You idiot choice 'C' , obviously  :

Could always use it for the single job and then resell.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The seemingly high price could be a USA / Australia difference. 

Seth

 

[monte]

In doing renovations on a couple of projects I needed a cordless circular saw where my Bosch skilsaw was not practical.
I got the  Hilti 36 volt. Could not have been happier.
(and it also works with the Festool rails - cutting Hardi board for example)

 

[duburban]

In doing renovations on a couple of projects I needed a cordless circular saw where my Bosch skilsaw was not practical.
I got the  Hilti 36 volt. Could not have been happier.
(and it also works with the Festool rails - cutting Hardi board for example)

that sounds like heaven, could you perhaps give us a photo next time you set it up on a rail?

 

[Kev]

In doing renovations on a couple of projects I needed a cordless circular saw where my Bosch skilsaw was not practical.
I got the  Hilti 36 volt. Could not have been happier.
(and it also works with the Festool rails - cutting Hardi board for example)

Hadn't been aware of the Hilti 36V circular saw ... now I've had a read up, it sounds sweet. Certainly the cat's pyjamas if that's your need. Price is up there in the TS55 bracket in Oz it seems.

Nice  [cool]

 

[tbellemare]

In doing renovations on a couple of projects I needed a cordless circular saw where my Bosch skilsaw was not practical.
I got the  Hilti 36 volt. Could not have been happier.
(and it also works with the Festool rails - cutting Hardi board for example)

Where did you find that saw, Roger?

Tom

 

[Sparktrician]

That Hilti saw may be good, but I have yet to find a vendor that will give me a straight answer on price.  There's little that will hack me off more quickly than getting the reach-around and not getting a straight answer. 

[mad]

 

[Kev]

That Hilti saw may be good, but I have yet to find a vendor that will give me a straight answer on price.  There's little that will hack me off more quickly than getting the reach-around and not getting a straight answer. 

[mad]

Yeh - same issue in Oz ... very little of the Hilti stuff stocked in stores and no published pricing on the Hilti online ordering site ... I mean REALLY !!!

Festool is expensive ... but the company, distributors and resellers all tend to be open and honest.

On reflection I'm pleased that I don't need anything unique to the Hilti range.

It's also disconcerting to see a lot of Hilti brand stuff being sold direct from China on Ebay.

 

[jmbfestool]

If you sign up to Hilti website you can see the prices that's what I did couple years ago.

Dean social owns the hilti cordless circular saw I had a little feel and just pulled the trigger it has a nice soft start.   

I love how it fits on the festool rail the only little annoying thing with the same is the blade guard!  With festool TS55 you can place it any where on the rail.

But with the hilti you either lift the guard up to place it on the rail OR you slide it from the end of the rail onto the rail which then pushes the blade guard up. No big deal just little minor inconvenience.

Jmb

 

[neth27]

I have the Hilti 22v circular saw which i use on a Makita rail.. To be honest it gets used a lot more than my Mafell MT55  [blink]

John....

 

[monte]

In doing renovations on a couple of projects I needed a cordless circular saw where my Bosch skilsaw was not practical.
I got the  Hilti 36 volt. Could not have been happier.
(and it also works with the Festool rails - cutting Hardi board for example)

Where did you find that saw, Roger?
Tom

Tom,
In Southern California the Home Depots have Hilti Pro Shops, some better than others, there's also a Hilti Brick and Mortar shop in Van Nuys,
where they have everything to see. Besides the blade guard issue (more annoying than issue) the other thing to watch out for is any angling
of the blade, it doesn't have the grace of the T-55 or T-75 and could cut into your rail if your not careful. So when I use the rails with the Hilti
it's only for straight cuts. As far as the pricing you could just call the corporate office and get the price. When you start buying more from them
start shaving the price, but only by a bit.

As far as pics, I actually have some I just need to find the right memory chip. :

.

 

[tbellemare]

The BORGs here have Hilti still also. They got rid of them in some markets and had some pretty good deals at the time.

Tom