Customer Reviews
Well Built But Underpowered 
2003-05-13
I have had my Hitachi bandsaw for about 4 years and have used it extensively to make bookmatched panels in addition to ripping boards in the rough. When properly set up and adjusted, it has performed well but I have found it to be frustratingly slow in its cut rate when resawing 8" to 10" wide walnut or hard maple boards. It does provide adequate tension for the 3 inch blade, being approximately 16000 psi when the adjustment is against the stop (blade manufacturers recommend a minimum of 15000 psi). Note, many bandsaws cannot attain proper tension with a resaw blade of even 1.0 inch width.
The pluses of the saw is that it is well made and easy to setup and adjust (provided that you know what you're doing). The minuses are its price and the fact that it is underpowered (the motor should be a 240 volt unit of at least 3 hp).
A REALLY GREAT SAW! 
2003-04-03
I bought my CB75F about three years ago, almost getting sick when I gave my credit card number to the salesman. I was afraid I wouldn't get enough use for the money. Not the case at all! I have ended up using this machine for all kinds of rough lumber cutting, and for operations that might prove unsafe on a table saw.
This is very well designed and manufactured saw. I have not experienced the "chatter" problem the other reviewer has. This could be a matter of quality control. I have used this straight out of the box, even though I firmly believe any bandsaw needs to be tuned before you can take an accurate measure of its worth. The quality of cut I get is very acceptible and would only improve if the saw were tweaked. My biggest dislike is loudness caused by a gear used to reduce the speed of the blade. I love the table size and height, and the rack & pinion fence and blade guard.
I do agree that Hitachi could afford to put a more robust induction motor on the machine. On the other hand, however, I have never stalled the motor and have cut 10" to 12" Mahogany, Walnut and Cherry, and 8"+ Rock Maple and Oak with relative ease. The bigger motor might possibly allow for a faster feed rate, assuming the blade speed posed no problems. By "BIGGER" I don't necessarily mean "BETTER". The motor is of substantial quality. It rips thru 2"-3" hardwood nearly as fast as my Unisaw. I routinely cut wide, thin (3/16") boards, and have noticed that with the aggressive 3tpi bite, feed pressure is everything!
I have also used a Hitachi P12R planer for over 8 years with great results, and no down time. That fact, along with conversations I had with Hitachi tech support beforehand, helped me decide to purchase the CB75F. There are a lot of good bandsaws out there but this one has my vote.
I gave it 4 stars only because I believe the cost justifies a higher HP motor.
High quality..but not worth *retail* price 2003-03-26
I have had the CF75B for several years and have used it for typical curve cutting and resawing up to its 12" maximum.
Here are my observations:
1) Build quality is excellent (and durability - my saw is pushing 10+ years old).
2) Cut quality is very good if the saw is set up properly.
3) Dust collection is adequate.
4) The 3" wide bandsaw blades are pricey and unnecessary. Better performing (and cheaper) bands can be sourced from any number of 3rd party suppliers..just like any other bandsaw.
5) This is not a "tool free" design because the blade guide adjustments and trunnion adjustment requires you to use a crescent wrench.
6) The saw is under-powered given that the saw is marketed as a resaw bandsaw. It is powered by a 15A, 120V universal motor. Hitachi Support has told me the saw can handle a 3HP motor. Frankly, it should ship *with* a 3HP, 240V motor.
The net-net is that at current retail pricing, there are better choices for the money, if only for the under-sized motor issue. However these saws are often available on the used market at steeply discounted prices, which makes them worthy of consideration for the small pro shop.
I would like to know what you are talking about ? 2003-01-20
I own one of these machines. I got mine used at auction.
I feel that to buy one of these at full price you might need a big pocket book.
I have only used 1 new 3 inch blade the alt tooth worked fine if you are not going to the races. I have used a one inch metal cutting blade on this machine with coarse tooth that worked faster cutting.(but rough finish.) I will say that the used blades that came with the machine would not cut straight even when i thought they should of. they were rusty and I don't know how long they were used . To bad i didn't know where these could be resharpned at. I have used smaller machines to resaw with smaller blades also . It depends on what you want the end product to be.I would have bought one it they would have been less in price.
mine has a 3 phase moter with converter on it to single phase
I like mine. hope this helps.
over priced / horrible 
2002-11-21
Saw has terrible performance. Underpowered. 3" blade will not track streight and has huge chatter / vibration. Can get better preformance w/ other blades, hours of frusteration and patience. Hitachi offers NO support.
A Lot of Saw for it's Size 
2007-09-05
I have the older version of this saw, the B601, I've had occasion to use this saw, the CB75F a number of times, and it is one heck of a good saw.
You can cut all day with it, and it never slows down, I've cut 12" thick wet logs on it, and it never slows down. Yes, the 110V motor seems wimpy, but it is not, it is geared correctly for the work the saw does. I have also cut thin, VERY thin veneer (1 mm thick) on this saw, and it cuts very consistently, without a problem.
One thing I'll mention that I dislike about this saw the most is the noisy motor, yes, the universal motor and gear box are noisy, but you should be wearing ear protection anyway, so I do not consider this noise a deal breaker, just worth mentioning.
One day, if I get a good deal on a three phase motor, I'll swap it out, but only for the quite factor, the stock motor has enough grunt to do the work.
This saw needs to be properly set up, it is not the same as most bandsaws, as the wheels are dead flat and 3" wide, the blade is also very thin, 0.55mm while being very wide. You MUST set up the drift on this saw, on the fence, and you must make sure the tension is high enough on the saw, the tension control knob, could be a bit bigger, to make it easier to crank up.
Is it expensive, you bet, but the used one I have (the older series) is over 30 years old, and all it needed was a little paint, and a new blade, and it was slicing like it was new, and it had lived in an outdoor shed, in a lumber yard. The blades cost me about $100, here in Japan, but I get them sharpened, for about $15, and, if I don't hit a nail, they last a long time. Every second tooth is stellite tipped, (similar to carbide) which give a good cut and lasts a long time. I'll get the blade resharpened 6 to 8 times before I have to replace it.
If I were buying a CB75F, I'd try hard to find a used one, as the initial price is a bit expensive, but it is a VERY good saw for it's intended purpose, that is to cut large chunks of wood into smaller chunks, and for cutting veneer.
Cheers!
an accurate cutting , well made resaw 2007-01-14
The Hitachi CB75F gets criticized for being under powered and over priced. I agree that this saw is greatly improved by replacing the stock motor with a 5hp 1725rpm motor. As for the price, one only has to look at the 3"x3" heavy wall tubular steel frame and large shaft/bearing sizes to see its value. It is a great saw for resawing veneers and making accurate stop cuts. There is an optional blade guide for 1/4" blades, but I would keep the saw set up with the 3" wide, 1/16" kerf alternate stelite blade and cut curves with some other dedicated bandsaw. I was very satisfied purchasing the CB75F from Amazon.com and would recommend this saw for resawing and making accurate cuts which could otherwise be dangerous on a tablesaw.
Hitachi 3 in. saw blade guide bearing problems 2006-04-25
Nultiple bearing failures. Guide bearings overheat and turn blue before seizing. Failures occure in the top rear position. 4 failures
in two years. bearing should be rotated 90 degrees as in the 1 inch
guide position. This destroyes the expensive stellite blade.
The motor is too noisy.
Over priced under powered 2004-05-11
I obtained this saw from one of my Doctors hobby shop. I got it for $610.00. At this pice it is worth the money. I am a one man shop building custom furniture. It is great for matching pannels. It is underpowered for production. I was a tool and die maker with General Motors in the 60's. I took the saw apart and rebuilt it. There is no vibration and it cuts streight as an arrow. If you find a used one and need a dedicated resaw this one is great for the small shop. It shoud come with a 3hp motor and the price shoud be under $2,000 with all the guide attachments. The quality is top notch, no complaints in that department. I use a 3" carbide skip tooth blade on the saw. I never take it off. Happy Sawing.
The resaw seems uderpowered at time, but overall a fine saw 2004-04-28
I have owned the resaw for six months now. I have used the saw to resaw maple and birch. The saw cuts the 8" plus wood nicely. I knew the motor was underpowered when I bought the saw. My shop is a one man shop, with not many time restraints, so not to big a problem for me. The motor never stalls and the resaw runs smoothly
