Evolution DISCCUT1 12" Disc Cutter, Orange

What an anticipated purchase. I found myself checking the tracking status of this multiple times daily like a child at summer camp or something. Well, it works flawlessly. From the time the trigger is pulled, it takes just a few seconds for the blade to ramp up to full speed. Starting cuts while the blade is in contact with work surface is counterproductive for all that I have cut, including 1-1/4" spring steel square bar (trailer axles), 2" thick pavers, rebar and railroad ties.fit and finish-5/5: I'm a Makita guy, which makes me kind of stuck up when it comes to fit, finish and overall quality.this guy here is nowhere near what I'm used to. Although, I do not have a complaint about its straight-forward design.Design---4/5 It't devoid of all kinds of slashes, lines and skulls and s***. It's kind of all business. Keep in mind thatyou will likely receive a "Childrens' Orange" colored saw , as opposed to the slick looking black one pictured.Blade runs true with no rubbing or wobble. Nothing on the saw flexes during use. trigger could be a little moreawesomer, but it feels okay...Easy to find and pull with heavy gloves.Handling--5/5 Totally uncomplicated blade change outs= less time aggravated. Brushes are easy to find and access. Handlesare pretty much in the perfect position for cutting in the widest variety of directions, bot close to the body andwith extended arms. Although extended arm use will be minimized by the weight of the saw, the extra poundslend themselves to a more stable cut, with smooth jitter free edgesPOWER--4/5-- To be fair, adding slightly more amps would likely cause problems for more users than it might solve. I can't, forthe life of me figure out WHY CAN I NOT GET TOOLS LIKE THIS IN 220V ???!!!- Probably because the sale ofgas powered machinery would PLUMMET! Looks like I'll have to come up with them ;)----BTW- I ran my saw offof a Chinese made 3500w generator without issue. it did idle up quite a bit while cutting, so a smaller generatormay perform poorly. It seems to run quite a bit more smoothly on cleaner household current.OPTIONS-2/5 The included options are flawless. The shield adjustment is idiot-proof, and in a good location...easy to reach, butnever in the way. The tension can be adjusted for the perfect interference fit, allowing you to adjust the guidewith pressure near the cutting tip. The boot/pad on the base allows the saw to be put down with the blade stillspinning, without fear of the saw vibrating over onto its side. The vacuum port seems legit, but it kept poppingopen when cutting steel. I figured that it would probably melt anyway, so I just left it open. It is also easy to get toand stays out of the way. The low score in this category is indicative of a product made for profit, as opposed to aa product made for pride. Anyone making something like this that has actually used something like this wouldlikely have been responsible enough to seal the motor and offer the option of purchasing a watering kit and adolly kit for cutting floors while standing. Spend $10 ADDING A FEW GASKETS an MAKE $20 SELLING THEWATERING KIT!...It's okay though. I'll make my own.My fingers are tired. Overall the product got 5 STARS. I didn't bother averaging category scores and such, because I bought this as a compromise. Do I buy the $800 Makita, only to look at it in disgust realizing that I never use it? OR, Do I buy one at a fraction of the price that I don't have to hesitate to lend to a friend . The value of this saw pretty much guarantees a 4 or 5 star rating from anyone who knows their way around a tool. FYI- Friction cutting blades are available at the Orange store for about $6. DO NOT use the wrong discs!!! I tried using a metal disc on masonry, only to be showered by sparks of molten glass...And the saw would not cut.Thanks for a great product Evolution. I'm excited about buying more of your gear. Please stop making things in feminine colors. I need my things in black or chrome.Thank You,Chris Thomas-Houston,TX

03.02.2020: The tool now ships with a 15 amp plug (Regular 3 Prong) After much research about the 20Amp talk, I found out from Evolution, that the tool used to ship with a 20 Amp Plug. Some of the old reviews talk about this, and it led me to purchase the 20amp Adapter, and a special extension cord. (YOU DO NOT NEED THESE), and I will be returning them. Now for the saw: The Saw comes with several "Flanges" that hold the blade in place. They are slightly different sizes. So - if you put the wrong one on, you will see a concering "wobble" on the blade. Just experiment with the flanges, so you get the best fit for the blade. (Still a little wobble is present , and even useful for the cut). Keep a check on the flange on the blade, one time mine de-torqued. DOG IT DOWN. I ran mine on a 20amp Circuit Breaker (See your main panel to get that info). If its not a 20, you should try to find one. It will leave some head space) . Having said that, I ran the saw for hours, and never had one circuit break event. This saw is just as good, maybe even better than a concrete saw. A few things tend to vibrate loose, such as the blade guard cover.. but its not much of a problem, just weird. Yes this saw is a hoss, and you need to hands, and straddle the the thing. This is not some chincy circular saw you cut wood with. It is quite a challenge to do the cut, because it take a long time and its like riding a bull. Use a paint line, or a very large sharpie, the dust will cover it up quickly. Use Hearing protection, Face Sheild, gloves, and a respirator to avoid silicosis. Plan on buying a plastic tote to store it in. I am very pleased with this saw, although I cant say I am going to use it a lot. I used it to install a Channel-Drain, and also a "Catch Basin" to PVC Drain line (2 projects). The Support Line is responsive and fanstastic. (this is where i confirmed the 20 amp plug was -"for sure not needed". Register the product right away. (3 year limited). If you are un-decided, dont be, this is a great product.The only thing I cannot comment on, is the longevity of the tool.

I am a stone mason and use grinders, worm drives, and gas saws frequently cutting through flagstone , quartzite, granite, basalt and other rocks. Ive had this saw for 2 months and so far it has been holding up to everyday use. Its lighter than my 14" gas saw and cuts well with a fresh blade...the blade it comes with lasted for about 600 sq ft of 2" flag fabrication, and about 60 feet of 8" thick vertical stone work before substantially losing cutting performance , but with a better blade this thing cuts well and the new blade is lasting longer. I am really loving the maneuverability of this 12" saw...you get the solid cutting depth of a bigger saw, with more maneuverability for cutting curves , back cutting and grinding similar to a 7" worm drive . 12" is a really useful size for stone work. I would knock off 1/2 a star if i could, because it doesn't come with a wet feed mount/attachment which would be convenient . If there was a ridged copper water feed attachment and a splash shield to protect the motor that would be great, but I managed to rig one like I do on my other worm drives. With this saw, I cut wet with an inline GFI , plexiglass splash gaurd and 3/8" waterline split on both sides of the blade, running through the vacuum port with a shutoff valve far away from the motor. The vacuum port is a good point of entry for a wet set up, but not ideal because the line gets cut through every now and then, but It works fine if you are careful and is easy to fix . Always gotta be cautious with a wet set up, making sure the lines are water tight and kept far away from the motor and have the right water pressure but it cuts twice as good wet with no dust. Ill add to this review in a year and see how its holding up then, but so far so good.