Evolution Power tools chop saw review
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- čas přidán 12. 03. 2020
- The folks from Evolution Power Tools sent out their S380CPS Metal Cutting Chop Saw. This is a cold saw using a carbide toothed blade instead of the typical abrasive blade found in most chop saws.
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I ‘ve owned one of these for 18 months. It stopped working and I called them. They sent me a return shipping label. I shipped it off and in one week I received the saw back completely rebuilt and running better than brand new. I cannot sing the praise of Evolution saws loud enough.
New toys are always nice. Great to see that suppliers recognise your integrity and the trust that subscribers have in you is worth their giving you the opportunity to assess their kit.
Great in depth review! Thanks.
Bought one based on this excellent review + demo. Thanks John. Instant Sub. ❤
Welcome aboard!
Hi John, im glad you got your free saw because you deserve it because you give out so much information for free.
I also have an Evolution saw , and I like it ... One thing I noticed is that no , it doesn't put the dust in the air , but it throws shards instead of particles ...
I have one of those. My 34 year old Stayer TD305 is still goin strong with no bangin, ratteling or shakin inside. I simply love it.
After watching your videos for several months I have to say your videos are so relaxing. I often use your videos to go to sleep. You remind me a lot of my grandpa. Thank you for your videos sir.
Awesome video. Great speaker
Really glad you have finally gotten the opportunity to try one of these. I have had one for a little over a year now and it is really a game changer in your shop. Enjoy John!
WOW !!! THE BEST TOOL !
Perfect DIYer tool
I have this saw two months and it's a brilliant tool no workshop is complete without one 😁👌
Awesome review John and wonderful that you have a new tool in the shop :-) very nice
I have wanted one of these saws for a few years now the thing looks awesome to use.
Good morning John, I really enjoy your videos and always look forward to them. I got messed up in September and these videos have been keeping me occupied since. When I get back on my feet that saw will be my next tool purchase.Thanks bud!
Is everyone just going to ignore that cool tracked vehicle!?
Awesome review! I'm old enough to remember the days before chop saws even existed or they were way to expensive to afford in a small shop! And when these types of cold cut chop saws started to show up I too was skeptical, But watching you cut with this saw, wow! I'm a believer lol! Awesome review John, great job!
After viewing this video a few weeks ago I went to Evolution's website. I wound up ordering a miter saw from them with the same blade as your chop saw. I am very pleased with it and I am glad I saw your video. I learn a lot from you.
I'll see you on the next RMS Zoom demo. Until then, happy new year!
Great review, I'm really glad you're enjoying your new saw, you deserve it!! As I mentioned before, I have the sliding mitre saw R255-SMS and lol, my reaction was the same as your's... WOWWW!! It's a game-changer for sure and will change your shop around to accomodate it. Great review! Enjoy it sir!!
I just bought this model and can't wait to use it. I had a cheap harbor freight abrasive saw and I actually did it's job, but lots of mess, made the metal very hot and didn't always make a perfect cut. Always had to hit my edges with a bench grinder.
I bought my fury3 when they first hit the market. I love it. It’s been years and I am ordering my first replacement blade. I just love it
A new blade AFTER years of use?! That sells it for me!
I have an Evolution Fury 3 and it is my guilty secret - I cut everything with it. It feels 'wrong' dropping a mitre saw into steel but it works beautifully. I bought a spare blade assuming I would have to replace it fairly soon but it is still in it's packaging and the original blade goes on and on.
I know, the first time you cut with this it feels like you're using a wood saw on metal, and there's that little gut twinge. But after that you can't help but smile every time you use it. :) I debated getting this, now I won't part with it! (Pardon the pun LOL)
@@faelwolf1177 i know that effect....same here
I have had one of these saws for a few years. It is a workhorse. Your going to love it....
How is the blade life?
Great review John, that saw will be a helper around the shop. Thanks for sharing with us and catch you later. Fred.
I'm glad to see people wearing protection while cutting. Safety glasses are the obvious, but dust and hearing protection are ideal for long term prevention from lung and hearing issues. Keep up the good work!
I purchased a DeWalt cold cut chop saw years ago and am very happy with it. That being said, I think the Evolution saw is a superior product. Great review John, thanks for posting.
Great saw and review.
I have the step down from this one and I have been using it for a couple years as a hobbyist. I am just as impressed with it for lighter use. Super fast and I like being able to cut at angles with a pretty good degree of accuracy. Enjoy the new toy!
OK, now I am getting one. Thank You sir.
Vary good review. Looks like it should be a great addition to your tool collection
You will love that saw. I started using a different brand about 8 years ago and have literally cut over 10,000 pieces. The unique thing is you can cut just 1/32” or less and still have a square cut. Looks like a quality tool. Congratulations....Jim in Texas
WOW! Like you, the last chop saw I ever used was an abrasive wheel with minimal safety features and I used it on cast iron waste pipe for historical buildings in NYC. THIS would have been amazing to use. And considering how long, by the comments below, the blades last I would completely consider this to be the next saw. Thank you for this practical review.
I have had mine for several years and dont regret the purchase one bit . Slightly different as its older
Always have to check the manual, one thing I was taught about tools...it is a very powerful tool. Cool
Hi John I have a old 9 inch grinder I made a swing frame for I've been using it as a drop saw for about 2 years ,but after watching what this saw can do and how clean it cuts I will be looking at buying one very soon.all so the safety factors are
a must have .I hope the tool companies keep sending you tools to test . cheers
Great review and boy did you make some hook of the week supplies.
I love you little machine you are getting around with
Thanks, here is a short video I did on that czcams.com/video/2-mk_soQtlo/video.html
geeat review! I just nought this very same saw! thanks!
Hope you enjoy it!
I bought one of these 7 or 8 years ago and love it!!! does not sling chips and grinding powder every where and only turns 1700 rpm!!!
you will really like it!!!! In s. Georgia these saws and blades can be found at Tom Horne supply in Thomasville, Georgia. I am sure they will be happy to ship them to you!! Paul Spears
Very thorough review! Much appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
I own one of these, great little saw for fab work, especially if you need an accurate angle. It's the Cadillac of home/small shop cold saws at a reasonable price. Really, the next step up from this is a water cooled industrial saw, and who would need one of those at home? You can get cheaper ones, with a cheap stamped base, etc. but the cost difference isn't really that big, I'd recommend this over one of the Chinese specials. For blacksmithing, it's likely overkill, as a horizontal bandsaw can fill that need for less money, especially if you like being able to just set and forget or cut material in bulk. Just be aware that the carbide teeth can chip, so don't try to hog through a cut, and don't let a pipe rotate or angle iron flip on you, think your set up through before cutting, and keep some support blocks on hand. The blades can be resharpened, or you can buy spares at Home Depot (Diablo brand) at a good price. This is an industrial grade saw, if taken care of, it will last a hobbyist a lifetime, and likely his kid's lifetime too.
Just like a big boy with some new tools.Always fun to get new tools that work...nice impressive thanks for sharing
John I have one of those on my job site I work for a large Minnesota Electrical utility. My crew varies from 5 to 15 guys we have been using that saw for a couple years now. I maybe replace the blade twice a year, on thin flat stack it is best to cut it flat. On edge it tends to grab too much. We are very happy with it.
Nice review--looks like a good addition to the shop.
Well.. that looks like a tool to look into.. I work mostly with wood but sometimes I need a good cutter for mild steel and such.. Plus wood with nails.. I will have to check into this one John.. thanks..
I have been wanting one of these for several years. The welding school I went to had the skill saw version, it is a beast. Evolution also makes a sliding miter 10 inch chop saw for about $150, they even have some rebuilt ones. There is an area on ebay dedicated to evolution tools. I like you can cut wood and steel with the same blade, mighty handy when you are using reclaimed lumber that has some nails in it. Too me $482 is a great price for a saw that will do what that one does.
I’d love to see some new hooks of the week or anything using the material you cut off with the new saw. Thanks for sharing.
I have one for a few weeks know I love it.
Cool Saw!
NICE SAW, THANKYOU.
Yep got 1 the other day and cut a 5'' rod bar in less then 2 mins. for building a power hammer base it is that good!
I have a Dewalt metal cutting circular saw. I was a little nervous the first time I ran those teeth into a piece of metal but it cuts great. This looks like a very nice miter saw. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve always wondered if these were worth the investment... well I feel like this was the review I needed 😁 cheers!!
They have made some great improvements the vice looks better than the old one on mine 👍
It's a good thing the guard on that is so good because with how fast that thing cuts metal a stray finger would be nothing to it.
John, save all the chips that thing rips and tears off and forge weld them into a billet. Also this is fantastic, they sent you material for Hook of the Week
Great video, very well reviewed 👍🏻
Iv agree with everything you’ve said
Iv a slightly older version iv had 4or5 years now with a 14” blade it’s excellent and cuts easily as fast as the large individual band saw at work , which is amazing.
1 thing I’d like to add tho from me several years experience with 1 of these saws is they really don’t like stainless on the standard blade Evolution have a stainless blade available with more teeth which iv used on thin exhaust tubing with great success
I believe theres aluminium cutting blades available too although iv not used one.
Also very small pieces e.g. if you’re squaring up the end of a bit of shear cut angle then the 1/4” off cut has a habit of going round with the blade inside the guard knocking teeth off as it goes.
I have a tiny set of vice grips with a bungee cord attached to the adjustment screw that I clamp to any very small pieces to be cut off and pre load the cord 👍🏻
Great video review. The cost is not that bad, and if a person could afford the initial expense I think it would save them time and money in the long run. My local welding shop has one and they swear by it. First time I saw it it tripped me out.
I'm Sold I'm going to order one now.
Done its on its way
The saws cool but what you rode in on is even cooler! Man, can I be your neighbor?🤣 Love your show John! Thanks again for taking us all on your journey!
czcams.com/video/2-mk_soQtlo/video.html
I just got the Evolution 14" cut off like this. I really like it but I like some of these improved features on this model. But what I like about these kind of chop saw is the few sparks. It also turns at about 1/2 the speed of the abrasive cut offs.
I have had one for about 2 years now and i have went through 3 blades on it. It chews through everything and anything including HARDOX and abrasive resistant steel quite effectively. I made all my cutoff and a lot of punches from grader and snowplow blades. only issue I have had is the screws on the blade guard have come loose a time or 2 but that is nothing that i would look at it badly for considering the abuse i put it through. Cut everything up to 2" solid 4140 round bar for hammer blanks and 1.25" 5160 square bar I make tomahawks out of. Chews through it and keeps asking for more. Hope you enjoy using it as much as I do mine.
Wow, You're cutting a lot of stuff i would have thought it wouldn't cut. Are you annealing the grader blades first?
Hey Vaughan - funny you should mention the screws (bolts) coming loose on the blade guard. My Evolution is a model Rage 2, and I just had one of the bolts on the blade guard come loose. It has worked flawlessly for me for 2 or 3 years. Although I haven't used it continuously, I do use it frequently. It looks like it's going to be a real pain to get at. I got the blade off and the inner blade flange off and it looks like I will have to go and buy a "lock ring spreader" tool to get the lock ring off that is holding the guard on. Is this how you went about fixing yours?
@@dancrampton As You know Blue locktight works wonders on loose screws.
@@joelegrand5903 Yeah, I intend to put some locktight on it when I manage to get at the loose bolt. Might call Evolution in an hour or so and get their advice.
@@BlackBearForge nope, no annealing. I do switch out for a used blade before I cut the cutting edge, I won't use it on a new blade for the same reason I won't use a brand new grinder belt to grind off millscale. The only thing mine had an issue cutting was a 5ft pinch point pry bar. That is some seriously tough stuff if not annealed
Evolution sends tool for review,you give it some airtime,you keep tool...sounds like a great deal to me!Plus it's a good tool,I have one!
Wow that’s impressive!
John, this is a re-engineered Evolution saw; you can move the rear fence towards you to a couple of other positions, which makes it possible to cut the supplied flat stock vertically. Mountain Eagle has a CZcams video showing this feature.
Wow, Imagine if that blade lasts 50 to 1. It would be well worth it to buy them and stick it in my old saw. Good chat. Thank you for making the video and the chat.
Ken's Maple Leaf Forge, That would be nice except for the carbide blade on these cold saws spin at a much lower RPM... if you put it in an abrasive saw or a miter saw for wood you would burn the blade up extremely fast.
@@rdankers1138 Makes sense... Thanks....
I hate the dust from abrasive blades, would not use one for free. As always good video, very detailed, cut & touch test looked great. For under $400.00 it is a good deal & when I prochase one I will tell them you sent me. Thanks.
My dad broke the carbide tips off a few teeth when his job came loose in the jaw - had three new tips brazed on at the saw doctor for $30 - way cheaper than $250 for a new SS blade
Thats is sweeeet John! I saw my first evolution saw in the gentleman's forge over at old hickory forge. With you being as big of a Milwaukee fan that you are im surprised that you dont have one of theirs.
I haven't looked into one of these previously. So I didn't even know I wanted one until they sent it out.
Well the first time I used one was about 11yrs ago. I used their skill saw first then their chop saw. Smooth like butter my man.
Full face shield is the best ppe for this saw. Those chips go everywhere.
Well it might be time for me to pick one of these out. I been using abrasive cutting disc and plasma cutters mostly.
Nice review. I just purchased one line that one and it cost a LOT more than $188 dollars. Try about 475, for a top of the line 380. However, I’m glad to get one as they are in short supply. -- Covided.....
There is another CZcamsr who actually does cut a piece of Train track on one of these. Making Stuff I think is his channel name. It went through the rail pretty easily.
I cut annealed 4140 bar 1" x 2" fairly regularly.
It doesn't seem to affect blade life.
I bought a spare blade when I bought mine about a year ago.
It's still hanging on the wall.
The secret to blade life is make sure it is up to full speed, and only apply enough pressure that it keeps steady progress without any noticable slowing of the motor.
Thanks for the info
Great review John. Did you check your cuts for accuracy out of the box? Square, 45, etc?
I have also used the FEIN Slugger blades from grainger and I got a little longer life out of them on alloyed and tool steel by using the smaller toothed stainless blades
Vaughan Reigner yep! I was going to say the same thing and Diablo makes a cermeted carbide blade that I have had even a little better luck with! Either of those are (in my opinion) better than the Evo blades.
I've had an Evolution 'skilsaw' for 20 years, I cut steel plate from 1/8 up to 5/8, it's really fast cutting with minimal cleanup. I rarely use my plasma cutter for straight line work simply because there's no grinding needed, my chop saw is used for all bar and tube cutting.
How is the blade life?
Awesome saw I installed a diablo steel demon on my miter saw wow it cuts like a champ. Really would like a saw like this but there pricier and the miter saw with a steel demon blade does a great job as well
Know you are smart about dusty and partical air born you have to like it
Big questions is the cost of the operation
Looks great if affordable
Thanks for demonstrate and the saw company for showing.
I have a Morse Metal Devil. Cut the steel then touch the fresh cut end..... cool to the touch.
That’s a nice saw!
Hey, I like that tracked ATV!
czcams.com/video/2-mk_soQtlo/video.html
If you use the V block on the clamp it makes box section tube present to the blade on the corner, this makes the blade last longer than dragging it through a full flat side.
They sure do slice through metal.
I think big improvement of carbide blade is that it doesn't change the diametre while cutting
Very true and something I should have mentioned
Great review new to your channel thanks 👨🏻🏭uk
Welcome aboard!
nice review sir...im going to hopefully do my side by side comparison next week. i have this one and the evo380. the 380 is not my freind...could never get it to cut square...or nice 45s...one side note...you get longer life from your blades if you use a little lube...tap magic or anchor lube work well for me
I have a similar one and I love it. Use the abrasive saw more because it’s more convenient in most cases. I do like the quick release compared to turning the job what feels like 36 times haha
You believe the abrasive is more convenient? Damn, the specific reason I bought my evolution is for the greater convenience
I used to run a carbide blade chopsaw for aluminum where I worked and we would send the blades out for sharpening. You may be able to get it sharpened a few times at half the cost of a new blade. On a carbide blade they can even replace broken or chipped teeth.
Good suggestion
I really like the guard. Much better tan one without the bottom guard
hi nice saw
Ordered this saw, based on this and some other reviews. Evolution S380CPS: Metal Cutting Chop Saw The saw arrived DEFECTIVE,, the "lock" used to change the blade does not work. As there is not blade installed, it was a complete show stopper... How could a simple thing like this get missed ? ALSO no 15 inch blade supplied!
Bought one about a year ago. Several hundred cuts, blade still ziping through metal like when it was new.
I HATE a regular abrasive chop saw, and refuse to ever own one. Too much dust, noise and Sparks flying around. These are a great tool.
Great to know.
Hi I have those type of chop saw I was quite nervous in cutting metal what looks like a wood saw blade as I had vision of a wood saw blade hitting a nail inbeded in a old wood beam but once I got the confidence to cut metal I am not so nervous
Thought I spotted a new toy in the shop recently ;)
Built like a tank no cheep tinny base
I have had a cold cut saw for years now the only thing that I have found not to cut is rebar. the dissimilar metals in the mix ( hard and soft steels )cause the carbide teeth to chip or pop off
due to the fast reduction in blade speed when the teeth hit the hard bits in the bar. other than that I have got hundreds of cuts in all types of metals per blade. also if you are seeing lots of sparks when cutting you are pulling to hard on the saw blade.
Mike, thanks a million for pointing out the negative on cutting rebar. I myself, and probably a lot of folks, would have thought this saw would be ideal for cutting rebar. If I get one of the Evolution saws, I surely won't be cutting rebar!!
Little to no sparks is a big pluse
WOW!
Milwaukee used to make one (or rebrand someone else's) and it was a pretty great saw. Evolution is pretty much the only name in the game right now
Skill saw makes them as well. I have had both and believe skill saw is a little better quality.
It is certainly impressive for what you have demonstrated so far. As an earlier poster questioned - how about accuracy? Miter gauge angles? Clamping angle cuts? How well does the chip collector work? I noticed you didn't use it initially. At $482 the price appears reasonable. That's about what I would pay for a DeWalt 12" wood cutting chop saw.
Seems accurate and of course the miter gauge is easy to adjust. The chip collector is about 50% or a little better,