metal cutting circular saws

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I would like to know if anyone has used or knows anything about Evolution products, likes or dislikes about it.  I have a big project coming up, and I have to rip some square tubing, and a cutting torch will warp it.  I was looking at the Evolution 230, 9 1/2".    Thanks,  Simon
Reply:Oh yeah, they're nice.  We have 2 here at work we cut bargrate with and they work great.  The bargrate is kinda rough on the blades though.  I have the smaller clarke I bought at TSC and I've been very satisfied with it also.  I can't remember how deep of a cut it'll make but I think around 2".  I got it on sale for $80.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Thanks, for the feed back.  I didn't want to spend the money, if it didn't work as well as they claim on the web, like cutting through butter????Thanks Simon
Reply:We have the same saw and it seems to be a good saw. However, I'm not sure I would buy the same saw again. Evolution got a little cheap with the knobs and set screws. All the knobs are plastic and about half of them on our saw have spun the heads inside the knobs. The set screws loosen constantly because of vibration. This is understandable, but they ruined the saw with the cheap plastic knobs. Once they start to spin you have to rip the knob off and then use a screw driver to adjust it. What would decent knobs have cost them? Its a shame because other than that it is a nice saw. I don't know if any other saw is better though. Just have to look around. On another note. When you make a cut with one and get though your cut let the saw come to a stop before pulling it away from the metal. It will kick back and ruin the blade if it touches the sides when you pull it away. We ruined a couple blades before they figured that out.
Reply:Spud is right on, the adjustment knobs are junkDewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I been thinking about one for a year now, still nothin I cant do with torches, or razor wheels on my grinder.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Thanks spuddown, I'll keep searching. Evolution was the only one I found so far that had the capablity of cutting up to 3/8''. I also like the 0-45* bevel feature. I agree Tozzi about the torch, but the saw would save alot of clean up time and maybe keep it from warping. The project is to cut a 4'' strip out of the 6'' side of a 3''X6''X18' rectangular tubing.
Reply:We bought this saw to demo old tanks that we needed to be cut in half. I'm talking 10,000 gallon fuel tanks that were dug up out of the ground. They had been coated with tar and were all scale rust inside. In order to torch it we would have had to spend hours cleaning them. I could cut one in half horizontally in less than a half hour. I was getting 2 1/2 tanks before the blade dulled enough to slow it down noticeably. I think the blades are around $60.00 here. Where the saw really shines though is working with thinner material like 1/8'. No warp or clean up like with a torch. We don't own a plasma cutter though.
Reply:Hey cajun welder, I might check out this saw. http://www.lawsonproducts.com/webapp...rtNumber=64660I don't know if it comes in 9" or not or the price. A lawson salesman had one a while back but had already purchased the one I have. I'm not trying to get you to buy one or anything. It just some info as I haven't looked to close at them. I'd recommend the Evolution if it wasn't for the sorry excuse for knobs.
Reply:At our shop, we cut anodized aluminum all day long.  We have saws that are manned (some women) and used all day.  We use Hitachi compound miter saws from Lowe's, and DeWalt carbon tooth blades.  They cut fast, and easy, without a lot of burrs.We're looking into some cheaper blades, and hopefully can find something as good, but cheaper that the DeWalt.
Reply:This was an odd one - Reduce the opening size in grates. It really should have had a thread. Attachment 17048But for now, the sawing:Tigweldjoe dreamed up using masonry blades double stacked to make a wide kerf. I didn't think it would work, but it did. I made hundreds, and Tigweldjoe made thousand of cuts, with the saw and blades you see here. The cuts went fast and the saw had plenty of power. I liked using it with high pressure during the cut. Attachment 17047If interested, I'll find out what brand blades they were and how long they lasted. I believe one set of blades did the whole job.Hope it helpsLast edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:23 PM.
Reply:Thanks denrep, yes I would appreciate it. Spuddown thanks for the web site. Thanks to everyone for their help. It sure is nice to talk to other welders that has tried different types of equipment, to help you determine between whats good and whats not.   Thanks   Simon
Reply:I have one from Northern Tool.  I don't use it much.  The last time I used it to cut metal was a few weeks ago.  I ripped some 1/8x1.5 in angle  to 1 Inch.  Also, ripped some rec. tube 1/16X1x2.  Just cut the edge off.  That operation definately made ownng it better than not owning.I purchased it for cutting channel for some steel steps.  It did the job with far fewer sparks that the torch.A couple of weeks ago I put a diamond blade on it to cut through some asphalt.  It works, however I think the blades spins too slowly for that operation.  I have a few more holes do dig so I will compare it to my regular circular saw.I would not recommend the Northern saw because it has a metric arbor and a spacer should be used to make it fit on most of the blades sold with the center knock out.  Otherwise, I have no problems with its performance. TSC's saw looks the same as Norhern though I think the arbor is smaller, at least the blade has a smaller hole.
Reply:The large evolution saw worked well for me making 8 foot long cuts in 1/4 in plate steel 4x8 sheets.  However the blade didn't last as long as it was supposed to.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepIf interested, I'll find out what brand blades they were and how long they lasted. I believe one set of blades did the whole job.
Reply:Denerp, thanks for the information. That doesn't seem to bad (3000 cuts) for a set of blades.WelderDaddy, what model do you have? As for the blades, it could be that the plate was a little harder than normal. At work we use alot of plate (1/8''-3/16''-1/4'' X 6'X12') and every truck load varies in hardness. Just my .02. ThanksSimon