Evolution Multi Purpose Saws

[Salty]

Does anyone have any experience with the Evolution multi purpose sliding compound miter saw? I ordered one today I hope I didn't waste my money.

[Zoomie]

I don't have the Compound saw, Just the Evolution Rage II. They work as advertised, just don't get too aggressive in the cut. They are light years ahead of abrasive saws! They don't like hardened steel or really thick metal (1/2" plus). The blade mine came with has 150 plus cuts so far and seems to be doing just fine. The replacement blades were a concern so i tracked down the Freud Diablo 14x72T blade. They get great reviews and are really more suited to what i use the machine for which is tubing and other machinable type metal/parts. I have found them for about $40 plus shipping which seems to be a bargain. i got my machine from Amazon for $199 bucks shipped with "super saver" shipping. It fills the gaps for me between bandsaw, plasma cutter and hacksaw. My only regret is not getting the SteelSaw II. Slightly bigger motor and the blade for metal only.

[Salty]

Thanks for the feedback Zoomie, I ordered the miter saw so I can cut left and right 45 degree angles and just feed the stock lengths across the table. I plan to cut mostly aluminum so hopefully the blade will last a while. Sounds like you got a great deal on the Rage 2

[Zoomie]

You'll want to get the purpose built blade for aluminum I've read. Some reviews have indicated that aluminum will gum up the multi purpose blade. Folks have used WD-40 as lube with some success. I've cut nothing but steel so far with mine.

[ScratchStart]

all I have is a no-name plate saw... but i know you definitely need an aluminum blade for the aluminum. you can cut it with a steel blade... you just won't be happy.

[ryanfull]

I bought one about a year and a half ago at my local welding supply co. just because of the versatility it has and I couldn't believe the price being so low. The first day I got it I was building a trailing out of 2x4 tubing with a 3/16" wall I believe after probably no mor than 30 cuts the blade was shot. Luckily the safety trigger then broke at the end of the day so I was able to take it back to the welding shop and got a brand new one for nothing. Since then I have went back to the trusty abrasive chop saw for metal cutting. I had the multi purpose blade on mine and don't know if the steel only blade would hold up better because for the size saw I have they don't make anything but the multipurpose blade. Other than that the saw works great for wood and other non metal materials. Also the hold down clamps are kind of chincy. Oh ya and make sure you wear safety glasses when cutting metal it throw a heck of a lot of metal shards everywhere. Oh and anothing thing on that since it was throwing so many shards of metal after the first day the glass or plastic laser sight cover got all marked up and threw off the laser sight.

[pvitor]

Has anyone tried the metal saws from Northern tools are they any good??????????

[everlastsupport]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but since on the subject of metal saws. Sears has a hand held twin cut saw ($150) that I almost bought. Looked pretty slick. Any have one or used one. Would be handy for cutting tanks, maybe floor pans too.

[Nikola Tesla]

I dont know, but I love my little harbor freight cheapo cutting saws. At $20 a pop I got one for grinding, one for wire brushing and one for cutting. I might even buy a few extra just so I dont have to change out the blades all the time.

[Nikola Tesla]

Oh, I gotta say I do love my dremmel oscilating saw. It sucks for cutting steel or anything equivelant. As far as aluminum is concerned, it cuts like butter. And its really smooth. Easy to manupulate and get into places for cuts you cant get with any kind of rotary saw. Also works on plastics. Oops, Plastics might be considered a curse word around here.

[Salty]

I got to use my Evolution miter saw today it seems to work as advertised, it cuts much faster and better than my band saw. One thing to consider is that the arbor size is 1" I had a hard time finding a 10" dedicated aluminum blade for it, but I did find a place, Just Saws Blades that had aluminum blades and would bore them to 1". So far I am happy with this saw.

[Zoomie]

Salty
This is where I got the freud Diablo I spoke of:
http://www.cripedistributing.com/fre...9a819868908f2a
Sorry I don't know how to do the little hyper link thingy to shorten it down. You might scout around on their site and find a dedicated aluminum blade.

[ScratchStart]

anyone ever try using a metal blade in a regular compound mitre saw? I have a rigid compound mitre, wonder how that would hold up? probably get filled up with metal chips/shavings and let all the smoke out of the motor.... and I have no idea where to get more magic smoke.

[Ray]

Attachment 1533

anyone ever try using a metal blade in a regular compound mitre saw? I have a rigid compound mitre, wonder how that would hold up? probably get filled up with metal chips/shavings and let all the smoke out of the motor.... and I have no idea where to get more magic smoke.

I have thought about this myself.
However a word from the voice of PRUDEnce.
First issue is the arbor size is different on a cutoff blade.
I was finishing up a wood project this last weekend, a high rise condo for my Ferret buddies. I have an old Delta miter saw that I’ve had for years, and used lots. Some how when hacking up some 2/3’s the clear guard caught on something and shattered, still not sure exactly want happened, but I felt shards of polycarbonate go flying by my left cheek. I’m still finding pieces of it in the corners of the shop, some of it flew 20 feet or more.
My point, if you notice all the chop saws have a metal blade guard, for good reason, if that blade decides to self destruct the plexi guard won’t help much, and they do do that on occasion.
My next investment someday is going to be one of those band saws that hinges down, not sure what you call them, like a compound miter band saw?? I’ve wanted one for a long time..

[everlastsupport]

My chop saw has a metal shield, but I also have a horizontal/vertical band saw too

[A/C Guy]

anyone ever try using a metal blade in a regular compound mitre saw? I have a rigid compound mitre, wonder how that would hold up? probably get filled up with metal chips/shavings and let all the smoke out of the motor.... and I have no idea where to get more magic smoke.

All dedicated metal saws have gears to reduce the rpm's of the blade and to increase the torque of motor. On metals thicker than 20 gauge, you really need a dedicated metal saw to prevent bogging down the motor. The blades have been known to disintegrate when used in a regular saw; the bonding melts and the carbide teeth become high velocity projectiles.

[Salty]

I cut some steel with the blade that came with the Evolution saw last weekend. It works good. I cut 45 degree angles on 1 1/8" x 1 1/8" x 1/8" steel angle in just a few seconds. I was able to make a frame for a shelf in about 15 minutes. I think I will be using this saw a lot. So far, so good.

[jameswswanson]

I put a abrasive blade in my 10" dewalt miter saw and it works well, except the plastic dust port started on fire from the sparks.