Does anyone have an Evolution metal chopsaw?

[Fawteen]

Thinking about splurging on one. Don't do a LOT of metal cutting, and my Milwaukee 14" abrasive chopsaw works okay, but it's dusty and slow.

If you have one (or another brand of the same tool) how do you like it?

Is it enough of an improvement over abrasive saws to be worth the $500-ish price tag? Assuming normal usage (ie not abusing it) how's the blade life? At $100 a pop for mild steel carbide blades, that's a consideration.

Other comments/input?

 

[JOCCO]

I don't, I have a DeWalt chop saw. Lost a metal band saw a while ago. I would like the bigger one like 7x10 in bandsaw.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I have an 8" Milwaukee metal saw which is a slower turning hand held and works very well for certain things. I had an Evolution miter saw when they first hit the trade shows 15?? years ago and it was a fast turning blade eater and I didn't have it long. I also have a 7x11 band saw which is about perfect size for a farm or large hobby shop. They are a little over $1000 new and half that on Marketplace. No such thing as the universal best cut off saw however the combination of a bansaw, the metal saw and a torch gets me through most of my work without wanting for something else. After using an abrasive chop saw at work I decided I could live well without one, LOL.

 

[JOCCO]

I have an 8" Milwaukee metal saw which is a slower turning hand held and works very well for certain things. I had an Evolution miter saw when they first hit the trade shows 15?? years ago and it was a fast turning blade eater and I didn't have it long. I also have a 7x11 band saw which is about perfect size for a farm or large hobby shop. They are a little over $1000 new and half that on Marketplace. No such thing as the universal best cut off saw however the combination of a bansaw, the metal saw and a torch gets me through most of my work without wanting for something else. After using an abrasive chop saw at work I decided I could live well without one, LOL.

I agree unless doing some specialized work a chop saw band saw and torch will get a shop by. Add in small tools like 4 1/2 cutting wheel and die grinder etc..

 

[timcasbolt]

It scares me to think about how much I've spent in my lifetime to make little ones out of big ones.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I have a Northern Tool version of the Evolution saw, slower turning, carbide blade.

Love how it cuts. Hate the durability of the blades. When the blade is new, it cuts through steel like butter, but the carbides pop off the teeth, and once you start losing carbides it just spirals down from there. The more you lose, the faster they fall off. I've tried expensive blades. I've tried cheap blades. Doesn't seem to make any difference.

What I really love about the saw is that it will cut wood. If I need to cut a 2x4 real quick, I just throw it on the chop saw.

It helps if you avoid cutting edges. You want the most teeth in contact with the metal you can get to reduce hammering. Lay flat stock flat instead of on edge for example.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I agree unless doing some specialized work a chop saw band saw and torch will get a shop by. Add in small tools like 4 1/2 cutting wheel and die grinder etc..

Oh yes, I forgot about my 4" long handle cut off, it's used a lot.

 

[bob p mn]

I don't own one, but we had one where I worked I used that one alot. I don't remember what make it was, been retired 10 years now. The saw we had worked good, the blades lasted a long time as long as you didn't abuse them. In a shop with multiple users it seems there is always somebody who can wreck something in short order. Starting a cut too hard on thin metal would sometimes knock a tooth off. They are nice with the clean cut they make I'm still using a Millwakee abrasive saw in my farm shop but don't do as much fabricating as I used too. If I was needing a new saw I would make the upgrade.

 

[Loosehandle]

Thinking about splurging on one. Don't do a LOT of metal cutting, and my Milwaukee 14" abrasive chopsaw works okay, but it's dusty and slow.

If you have one (or another brand of the same tool) how do you like it?

Is it enough of an improvement over abrasive saws to be worth the $500-ish price tag? Assuming normal usage (ie not abusing it) how's the blade life? At $100 a pop for mild steel carbide blades, that's a consideration.

Other comments/input?

Ellis band saw one of the best things I ever bought, a little pricey.

 

[sandhillcarbs]

I have the E-volution chop saw, I Love it, Carbide blade, Cuts great, no sparks, the piece you cut off is warm NOT HOT... I wouldnt ever go back to an abrasive again

 

[DRussell]

Thinking about splurging on one. Don't do a LOT of metal cutting, and my Milwaukee 14" abrasive chopsaw works okay, but it's dusty and slow.

If you have one (or another brand of the same tool) how do you like it?

Is it enough of an improvement over abrasive saws to be worth the $500-ish price tag? Assuming normal usage (ie not abusing it) how's the blade life? At $100 a pop for mild steel carbide blades, that's a consideration.

Other comments/input?

Yes, I have one. It's a 14 or 15 inch blade. Used to have an abrasive one, HF 14 inch. The Evolution is a great saw. Blade has lasted well for me. I'd highly recommend one.

Not sure where you are seeing the 500ish price. Amazon has the saw with a 14" blade for 379.

https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-S355CPSL-Carbide-Tipped-Accurate-Powerful/dp/B083Y544ZX?th=1

 

[Fawteen]

I have a portaband (great for small stuff) a 14" bandsaw that I slowed down and put a metal cutting blade on (better, but still a PITA for cutting off longer stock and I need to speed it up a tad) a Milwaukee 14" abrasive (noisy, slow and dirty) an assortment of 4.5 inch grinders and slitting discs and such, plus O/A torch and a small plasma cutter, so I don't NEED another way to cut metal.

But what does need have to do with anything? I went ahead and ordered the 15"Evolution while the CFO is in a generous mood. $464 including sales tax and free shipping via Home Depot with my military discount.

 

[JOCCO]

I have a portaband (great for small stuff) a 14" bandsaw that I slowed down and put a metal cutting blade on (better, but still a PITA for cutting off longer stock and I need to speed it up a tad) a Milwaukee 14" abrasive (noisy, slow and dirty) an assortment of 4.5 inch grinders and slitting discs and such, plus O/A torch and a small plasma cutter, so I don't NEED another way to cut metal.

But what does need have to do with anything? I went ahead and ordered the 15"Evolution while the CFO is in a generous mood. $464 including sales tax and free shipping via Home Depot with my military discount.

Plasma is good and prices have come down since the days of old. I have never regretted buying tools but most of the time I wished I had bought something bigger better.

 

[bob p mn]

I don't think you'll regret the purchase, I kind of forgot about those saws after not being around them for so long now. Got me thinking maybe it's time for an upgrade, let us know how you like it once you start using it.

 

[Fred Werring]

I have a portaband (great for small stuff) a 14" bandsaw that I slowed down and put a metal cutting blade on (better, but still a PITA for cutting off longer stock and I need to speed it up a tad) a Milwaukee 14" abrasive (noisy, slow and dirty) an assortment of 4.5 inch grinders and slitting discs and such, plus O/A torch and a small plasma cutter, so I don't NEED another way to cut metal.

But what does need have to do with anything? I went ahead and ordered the 15"Evolution while the CFO is in a generous mood. $464 including sales tax and free shipping via Home Depot with my military discount.

Now see what you did?
I had been looking at them, but decided I really didn't NEED one.
But now you tell me need has nothing to do with it.

Guess I'd better order one.

Neighbor has one, but he does a fair amount of metal fabbing out of his shop and could justify it.
It IS noisy, have some hearing protection.

 

[will-max dairy]

Thinking about splurging on one. Don't do a LOT of metal cutting, and my Milwaukee 14" abrasive chopsaw works okay, but it's dusty and slow.

If you have one (or another brand of the same tool) how do you like it?

Is it enough of an improvement over abrasive saws to be worth the $500-ish price tag? Assuming normal usage (ie not abusing it) how's the blade life? At $100 a pop for mild steel carbide blades, that's a consideration.

Other comments/input?

I have an evolution electric demolition saw. (12" blade)

It came with a concrete blade. I bought a carbide-tipped blade for wood and a diamond blade for steel to go with it. The diamond blade will cut steel...about as fast as an abrasive blade (which isn't very fast)... but it lasts a long time and doesn't change diameter. It also cost 70 dollars.

On a whim, last fall, I bought a 36 dollar, 12", 40tooth, carbide-tipped blade for it...

I looked at the revolutions ratings of the blade and the saw, and everything was OK...

On another whim... I took this 36 dollar blade to some steel... and it cut it like butter...

I have a 14" abrasive chopsaw as well... thinking about it... the abrasive blades get worn down to 12" pretty fast anyway... so... as long as the arbor fits, and the blade is rated for the revolutions of the chop saw... my next chop saw blade might just be a 36 dollar, 12", 40 tooth, carbide tipped blade...

Why do you have to change chop saws to change blade types?

Why do you have to spend 100 dollars for a blade, when you can spend 36?

Am I missing something here? (honest question)

 

[504]

Thinking about splurging on one. Don't do a LOT of metal cutting, and my Milwaukee 14" abrasive chopsaw works okay, but it's dusty and slow.

If you have one (or another brand of the same tool) how do you like it?

Is it enough of an improvement over abrasive saws to be worth the $500-ish price tag? Assuming normal usage (ie not abusing it) how's the blade life? At $100 a pop for mild steel carbide blades, that's a consideration.

Other comments/input?

We sell them all of the time. Not made in the USA but they are out of Davenport Ia. One of the guys here bought one that looks and works like a skill saw. He builds plate boats on the side. Hecut a fork for my FEL out of some 1/2 flat stock I had. We had almost no break downs with their products, and when there’s a problem they have fixed it

 

[mechanicfred]

I just use an old Skil saw with a metal cutting blade, cutting 3/4 plate works fine. Don't push to hard and blades seem to last a reasonable amount.

 

[Sprint 6]

I have an Evolution saw. One of the best tools I ever bought. Wear long sleeves and eye protection, the chips are heavy and hot. Cuts are very clean and accurate mitres. Great for tube steel.

 

[wh]

Had both the chop and hand held saw at school. They are cats meow for cutting. Well worth the splurge.