Evolution R255SMS-DB+ 255mm Double Bevel Mitre Saw

Verified purchase

“It's a very well-built and powerful machine, that's for sure. Assembly doesn't take long - you have to fit the slider rails (they just push in) and then attach the motor, which is also a clip-in but there's a bolt to secure it too. There are a couple of knobs to fit, a cable grip and two table extension pieces. There are two clamps too - a long front clamp and a top clamp. You can buy an extra clamp pack from evolution but I've been using G clamps along the flat edge which works perfectly. It does everything you'd expect - double bevel adjustment with release and lock, full table rotation and lock, including markings for 31.6 degrees for cutting crown moulding flat. I've used it exclusively with the HTC255STEEL cutting blade, on 5mm thick, 50x50mm S275 black mild steel angle and 6mm thick plate, 200mm wide. The steel cutting blade is just like using a high-speed horizontal miller. Very clean cuts. There is a little bit of disc deflection if you try and take a trimming cut off less than the width of the blade, but if you push down with light pressure and let it cut all the way down, this doesn't happen. You don't need much force with the steel blade to cut anyway. The discs do lose their edge. I've made two complete heavy garage double-door frames from steel including lots of additional cutting for hinge protection and of course a hefty top frame bolted with angle and additional plate to the sides. I'm on my second disc. Two warnings I would give you are: 1. Even with a new disc there are sparks. These blacken the tilt angle knob at the back behind the blade, and also the laser lens cover, and the damage can't be rectified. Perhaps a metal guard is in order if you're metal cutting, but Evolution don't supply one or offer one as far as I can see. 2. If you continue to cut with a steel blade after it has lost all it's sharpness, the disc will still cut but your workpiece will get extremely hot. I've ended up cutting angle using a lot of downforce with white-heat making the swarf curl over at the back, which of course leaves the workpiece messy and requiring a significant clean-up with an angle grinder or a hand file. The problem is that the heat in the workpiece melts the plastic relief slot cover on the table as it's only heat-resistant up to a certain temperature. Now for both warnings I've given you, it's good to know Evolution sell a range of spare parts so you can repair the machine. Some parts I've noticed are out of stock regularly, so I expect everyone using this saw is finding the same problem. The best thing to do to not cost yourself more money is to make a metal guard that fits at the back of the machine, behind the blade, and to never use a blade once the edge has gone. Having said all of that, the machine is really sturdy and you can get some nice clean and square cuts pretty effortlessly, even through thick steel. One problem if cutting heavy steel on all types of saw, not just this one, is that the workpiece can be heavier than the machine. To get the workpiece to be absolutely square onto the table and against the support edge, I've tightened down the top clamp then lifted the workpiece at the far end which also lifts the table slightly on one side, so it definitely pushes the free end of the piece onto the table and I'm as flat as I can be. Otherwise the weight of the workpiece is such that wherever the top clamp is applied it's not enough to hold it down flat onto the table. Finally, if you're cutting steel exclusively, you may like to consider a simple chop saw and save some money on the machine and also the discs.”

Verified purchase

“A very good machine. Using wood blade at the moment”