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  1. #1
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    Default Tell why I shouldn't buy an Hitachi 18V kit

    Hi

    as my signature advises I've recently moved to Canada.

    While I brought a some of my battery tools with me, the battery chargers are too "smart" to operate on 110V.
    I currently have a mix of brands, battery technology and voltage, Metabo drill and Impact driver (NiCd and NiH) and Protool/Festool (Lithium ion).

    It will cost less than $100 to get a US spec charger for the Protool, but the Metabo (1/4" impact driver) is less of no brainer.
    Besides I need to buy a 110V jig saw, and a cordless circular saw would be useful. The right kit would work back in Aus once our time in Canada is over.


    One of the "Borgs" currently has a deal on Hitachi 18V tools.
    I can get a cordless Jig saw, 6-1/2" circular saw, 1/4" impact driver, two batteries and charger for less than $350.
    Both saws are brushless, but not the Impact driver. The batteries are 1.5Ahr.
    Going to a brushless impact driver would increase the cost to about $400.
    It would cost $50 to add a drill/driver (not brushless) to the $350 kit, or another $175 if I include a brushless drill/driver (which I don't really need) and another two batteries.



    A similar kit from DeWalt, Makita or Bosch (blue) would cost approximately $3-400 more. And Metabo is hard to find.


    So is the Hitachi a good deal?
    Is $50 extra for a brushless impact driver worth the $, or would I be better off with staying with a non-brushless impact driver and adding a non-brushless drill/driver?
    The tools will mostly be used within a heated garage, though the impact driver will on occasion be used outside at lowish temperatures (down to -15 C)

    or should I pay extra to get Dewalt, Makita or Bosch? Thoughts?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Depends on what you're using them for. I have a mixture of Milwaukee, Bosch blue makita and dewalt. I use them for trade.
    Honestly, I don't find there is a massive difference in quality when buying higher end tools. That being said, I can't fault the Milwaukee gear (newest to the family and quite impressive).
    My only concern would be the 1.5ah batteries. In a drill they will last a little while, but in a jigsaw or circular saw I reckon they'd die pretty quickly.

    That's coming from a trade point of view though.
    "All the gear and no idea"

  4. #3
    crowie's Avatar
    crowie is online now Life's Good, Enjoy each new day & try to encourage
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    Default

    Hitachi always used to be a quality brand with little issues which was backed up by a friend who owns a tool & repair shop for 30plus years.
    I have 2 cordless Hitachi 14v & 18v on my bench all the time for my toymaking and both are 6plus years old and still ging good service...
    On the other hand I have a good kit on M18 Milwaukee cordless tools along with 10.8v Bosch Blue which I would also recommend..
    I hope that's some help....You prices are good so maybe worth a go..Cheers, crowie

  5. #4
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    Default

    Most cordless kit these days are pretty good.

    About the only matters of concern to me are that you're specifying some 18v cordless saws, which in my experience (quad pole, not b/l admittedly) tends toward gutlessness, and that you're specifying "only" 1.5 ah batteries, which I'm sure that you'll find frustratingly inadequate, especially when combined with current-sapping sawing duties.

    Why purchase a 110v corded jigsaw? Of all the sawing tools, these are the lowest in current demand, & therefore most capable in cordless guise. A cordless version will be more versatile, in some cases just as powerful, and won't require disposal upon your return to civilisation. Just about any brand will do, apart from the "toys" from Festo & Bosch which are pretty poorly featured & performing in comparison to others.

    In fact, apart from the abberant Bosch jigsaw, most of the traditional tool manufacturer's cordless products will perform pretty well, with some being surprisingly powerful and well engineered. The only two brands that clearly don't measure up currently appear to be Festo, with their badly limited range of rather "eccentric" designs, and Milwaukee, with terminal reliability problems from their "fuel" range of b/l product in particular proving inadequate to intensive use.

    Hitachi Koki is an enormous electrical & electronics company with massive experience and R&D resources. In my experience their tools have been fairly well engineered, tough and with high peak load capacity. Those of my colleagues that regularly use their products tend to be fanatical supporters of the brand. It certainly seems to be remarkably good value for money in comparison to its competitors. That they also tend to be some of the "ugliest" tools I've ever seen is probably irrelevant: I'm sure some may find the "transformers children's toy" styling in lime green & black livery much less unappealing than I.
    Sycophant to nobody!

  6. #5
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    I have the 18v Hitatchi kit and cannot fault it, like Gabriel use it for trade use had it for a about 6 years and the batteries show now signs of deterioration. However if the saw is something you think you will use often, I suggest pick it up and have a feel of it.

    The version I have is better suited to left handers, as in it has the motor and blade on opposite sides of most corded saws, unsure whether they have changed the design or not.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratbag View Post
    About the only matters of concern to me are that you're specifying some 18v cordless saws, which in my experience (quad pole, not b/l admittedly) tends toward gutlessness, and that you're specifying "only" 1.5 ah batteries, which I'm sure that you'll find frustratingly inadequate, especially when combined with current-sapping sawing duties.
    $85 Canadian (plus tax) for the bare tool makes the saw very attractive. Mostly I want it for cutting sheet goods.

    Yes, the limited battery capacity is a bit of a concern, but I do have an option of purchasing an additional higher capacity battery, or substituting the non brushless drill/driver and impact driver kit, with a brushless impact driver and two 3Ahr batteries.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ratbag View Post
    Why purchase a 110v corded jigsaw?
    It's really a matter of cost vs expected usage.
    Apart from two battery chargers, I didn't bring any 240V tools with me.
    My expectation is that, apart from Festool, any 110V tools I buy will end up in the bin (or will be gifted) in 3 years time. The likely resale value vs the time and effort required to sell them, doesn't suggest otehrwise. With Festool, I expect (hope?) that the retained value will make resale a viable option.

    I currently have a project where a jig saw would make life a whole lot easier. The alternatives come down to either a corded or cordless version.
    The Hitachi cordless is looking like the go.



    Thanks for your comments
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  8. #7
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    Can't speak for Hitachi cordless but I have had Several Hitachi 240 tools including a 91/4"saw that has, over40+ years, proved indestructible.

    Had I had the money when buying my cordless drill - a Ryobi, which I cannot fault - I would have bought Hitachi.

    I think you need to consider all the above comments before purchase. I would seriously look at a 4ah battery.

  9. #8
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    I would definitely go for the brushless model if possible. Lighter and more efficient.

    John

  10. #9
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    The 18V AEG stuff you can buy in Bunnings is badged as Rigid in the US & Canada; I have a few of their tools now both cordless and corded and I'm satisfied with their performance; the circular saw running on a baby 1.5AH (I think!) battery is man enough to cut a couple of 30mm thick kitchen benchtops to length and will also dock inch thick red gum planks. I moved to this gear up from 12V Blue Bosch and never looked back.

    What I hated about Bosch, Makita and DeWalt cordless tools is that they change their battery systems every few years; AEG may be regarded as being at the lower end of the quality brands but at least they don't make you change your entire system every four or five years. Plus, who else offers a 2 year guarantee on their batteries?

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chief Tiff View Post
    The 18V AEG stuff you can buy in Bunnings is badged as Rigid in the US & Canada;
    Because they are made by the same company TTI. They have bought up a number of popular brands and are now manufacturing in China, as some one else said that is not necessarily a bad thing but in this instance instead of being premium they are now over priced budget quality trying to trade on their previously good reputation.

    TTI | Our Brands

    I think this quote tells you everything...

    "Our brands and products are recognized worldwide for their deep heritage, superior quality, outstanding performance and compelling innovation."

    Interpretation - the brands used to be good and that is why we are charging you a premium.

    John

  12. #11
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    Default

    I think Hitachi has got a good reputation and I agree with most that their stuffs are solid, which is more or less what others have said. Just looking at it from the pricing perspective, if you are buying the same gear in Oz, the circular saw skin will cost 249, the jig saw skin will cost 249, the brushless drill/driver with 2x 2.5Ah batteries will cost a cool 350 (down from 500). That is a cool 850 in Aussie battlers. Your deal seems pretty good either with or without the upgrade for 350 + 175 = 525. It's quite bit cheaper than the equivalence here anyway. In fact, I would just get the brushless driver for 50 bucks extra, just the two 3Ahrs batteries alone will be worth 50 bucks. And I say youre better off getting the marginal benefits of one brushless driver and 2 stronger batteries for parting with 50, instead of parting with a further 125 to Get an additional benefit of just one brushless drill.

    Quote Originally Posted by Yanis View Post
    Because they are made by the same company TTI. They have bought up a number of popular brands and are now manufacturing in China, as some one else said that is not necessarily a bad thing but in this instance instead of being premium they are now over priced budget quality trying to trade on their previously good reputation.

    TTI | Our Brands

    I think this quote tells you everything...

    "Our brands and products are recognized worldwide for their deep heritage, superior quality, outstanding performance and compelling innovation."

    Interpretation - the brands used to be good and that is why we are charging you a premium.

    John
    It seems that the last poster said he was really happy with AEG's quality, as am I. So AEG isn't just living on their previously good reputation but is also earning their keeps with their current products. By the way, which global brand isn't trading in their premium reputation for price conscious budget quality these days. Makita is the worst culprit of all. I always thought AEG is reasonably priced rather than overpriced by the way.

    I'm old enough to remember Japanese manufactured goods used to be called Jap Crap, in the 60s, but by the 80s they are considered good quality because of the so called Demming total quality management phenomenon. Chinese only became the factory of the world after Bush's United States voted in favour of China joining the WTO in early 2000s. It probably only has been doing that for 10 to 15 years. Before that they were very backward in their manufacturing. The scale in which China has immersed into this dwarfs Japanese manufacturing in the 70s. With that much practice, it won't be long before people saying Chinese made is quality and some xyz back water is making crap and cycle begins again.

  13. #12
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    Hi Ian

    Other posters have said most of what I would say:
    Brushless (is also the current technology - I hate buying out of date technology - resale to be considered too maybe)
    Cordless saw will be able to be used back here, where a 110v will be binned or given away. Should be fine with sheet goods, and you'll have a TS55 anyway (although I bet you leave that in the CMS - it takes a while to fit or remove it)
    Can't comment on current Hitachi, but I have a 30 year old 240v small circ saw that refuses to lie down

    1.5Ah batteries: Agree that they are mostly too small BUT there are times when the lighter weight is a blessing, and also the lower overall height of the tool means it can be used in tighter spots. Dunno what the max batt is from Hitachi but most of the others are putting out 5.2Ah (even Festool, but not in Oz yet....) and I think Metabo are releasing a 6Ah (or have already). Again these are considerations for possible resale. The bigger batteries seem to be no heavier or larger than their lower Ah predecessors.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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