Best chop saw with tct blade

[Zebbedee]

Any recommendations for the best saw in the running is a makita lc1230 305mm blade at £360 or evolution rage 2 355mm blade at £285 both in stock locally the evolution s355 cps at around £295 online is catching my attention also 355mm blade any horror stories?

 

[Sharpy]

All I will say is I had an excellent Evolution mag drill, snapped the main shaft on it, phoned them to be told "we don't keep parts for that, we'll sell you a new one". This did not inspire me to buy another Evolution tool, ever.

 

[Hesston4860s]

I’ve got the evolution 355 chop saw, it’s alright but the blades don’t last long like they say they do.

 

[trev7530]

Bought a dewalt 6 months ago, don’t think you can get them now, wished I’d done it years ago.

 

[Robert K]

All I will say is I had an excellent Evolution mag drill, snapped the main shaft on it, phoned them to be told "we don't keep parts for that, we'll sell you a new one". This did not inspire me to buy another Evolution tool, ever.

I'll bare that in mind thanks

 

[TheTallGuy]

I've got several Evolution tools & never had any problems with them. I use one of their sliding compound mitre saws as a chop saw - blade life can be a bit variable, but that's probably related to the abuse I give them!

 

[bravheart]

I’ve got the evolution 355 chop saw, it’s alright but the blades don’t last long like they say they do.

Bought one of these a few years ago with a spare blade.
It eats box section for breakfast and the spare blade is still in the packet in the drawer.

What I would say is the clamp and angle setting system are a bit light weight

 

[moorender]

We have a Makita, bought it 2nd hand and then found it had a crack in the gearbox. We replaced gear box castings and fitted new bearings at the same time, all easily available, and still cheaper than new.
If it packed up would definitely get another one.
If you are going to cut stainless get the stainless cutting blade.

 

[tomlad]

I have several evo things , no issues at all , I'd have no issues buying one .
I have slide compound, good tool , from screwfix ,giving slight issues swapped for new one no questions asked.
Mate has the chop saw he's put stupid stuff thru that only possible issue is on big stuff cut slightly off , flex in blade .
I rate them.

 

[FarmerD89]

If I were you I’d be looking at a bench top horizontal bandsaw around the budget your looking at, I’ve an evolution saw and find these chop saws blades very expensive for replacements compared to a bandsaw - £9-15 versus 55-60 for the tct saw, you will find that cutting any material over 5mm overheats the carbide and they just don’t last very long and the blade will flex to find the easiest way round, whereas a bandsaw with the correct TPI will cut all day long thickness is not a factor usually if the blade isn’t being pinched.

Here’s an example of the style I mean:
FlowerW Metal Bandsaw 1000W Vertical Metal Bandsaw 0°-45° Metal Band Saw Band Saw Metal Table Top Bandsaw Table Top Metal Band Saw for Metal for Cutting Wood Metal Glass Fiber Plastic https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0832XGX59/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0RZAEb3NG5JEK

If you opt for an evolution wear goggles as these things throw sharp chips everywhere, Buy one of these they will be your workshop friend for ever, I’ve cleaned up quite a few boxes of spilt screws etc with them very quickly

Evolution Power Tools Cyclone Magnetic Swarf Collector https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003OJOGA4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LZZAEb223FHY7

 

[roscoe erf]

Bought a dewalt 6 months ago, don’t think you can get them now, wished I’d done it years ago.

running one here its been great

 

[Pan mixer]

I'll bare that in mind thanks

My evolution is brilliant for wood and I had an issue with the blade safety guard spring and so on, they had the bits in the post the next day for hardly any money.

Wouldn't use it for steel though, the blades aren't really up to it and the amount of plastic about the place would melt a bit. I cut through 2 bits of 100 by 50 by 6 box at an angle and destroyed a blade.

Maybe it is just me....

 

[tomlad]

Cut loads of 50.50
3 in my slide compound
To make its own bench
No issues I'm aware of
Cut LOADS of fire wood, pallet wood, fixed stop . Chop , brilliant. All wood same size. Love it.
Have to take it steady on big wood, but no bigy

 

[Pistonbroke]

Evolution here about ten years old. Never seems to cut square no matter how it's set up. Would it be the blade getting blunt and veering off line? Seems to cut easy enough

 

[Zebbedee]

Well bought an evolution machine so it seems pretty good so far will need a proper bench set up for it now

 

[tomlad]

The 14 " blade one ?

 

[Zebbedee]

Yea 355 mm

 

[Swarfmonkey]

I have a love-hate relationship with TCT chop saws. Use them for little jobs, and the blade lasts ages. Push them hard and you'll be spending serious money on replacing blades regularly.

It's worth keeping your eye out for a cheap old donkey saw to compliment it. An old Q&S or something of a similar vintage. Far cheaper (also a lot slower, admittedly) to feed it hacksaw blades for the big jobs than constantly replace TCT blades. Bonus is that you can put a big job on then bugger off for a cuppa, as it'll cut out when it's through the material.

 

[Nearly]

My evolution is brilliant for wood and I had an issue with the blade safety guard spring and so on, they had the bits in the post the next day for hardly any money.

Wouldn't use it for steel though, the blades aren't really up to it and the amount of plastic about the place would melt a bit. I cut through 2 bits of 100 by 50 by 6 box at an angle and destroyed a blade.

Maybe it is just me....

Well bought an evolution machine so it seems pretty good so far will need a proper bench set up for it now

The general purpose blade for Evolution isn't meant to cut steel all the time. Try and get a deal with the stainless steel cutting blade thrown in at a discount, then hang the GP blade on the wall.

 

[Zebbedee]

The general purpose blade for Evolution isn't meant to cut steel all the time. Try and get a deal with the stainless steel cutting blade thrown in at a discount, then hang the GP blade on the wall.

Aye I actually have done just that they wouldn,t knock any money of the saw but would discount a blade so I took the 36 tooth blade of straight away and fitted a 66 tooth blade instead cheers