Evolution Rage III

jimcroisdale · Aug 22, 2007

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a metal saw. I need something that will cut angles accurately in 25mm box and other bits and bobs (nothing gargantuan....). That's about it really! What do you all think of the Rage III? It looks great on video, but has anyone actually used one?

Cheers,

Jim

irondarren · Aug 22, 2007

Ok I own the evolution 9" plate saw, which is the more industrial version of the rage stuff. I to have been looking at the rage cross cut saw http://www.evolutionpowertools.co.uk/uk/evolution_rage3.html
To me it looks to cheap to be any good, £180 is very cheap for what it is. My evolution 230 extreme is great cuts 8mm plate like its plywood. Assumingly the rage 3 stuff is more aimed at the DIY and jobber market, which means it has less duty cycle and wont cut as thick as the more industrial stuff. Wonder if Diywelding or weldequip have any input on the rage stuff, is it up to the job?

Alex · Aug 22, 2007

The tool itself will almost certainly be the Chinese rubbish we see time and time again (that was evident by the angle guage in the video. errrrgh!), the only difference I think is the blade will be different, but lets face it, these one for all deals are usually always a compromise, its like having a dishwasher tab with the salt in it and everthing else, doesn't work the same, what a suprise!

I seriously think this tool will have very little adjustment which is essential for any tool to give accurate results (especially Chinese ones).

If you want to cut everything, get seperate tools and quality ones at that, if you cant afford then save or get rid of sky for a few months. Take this from somebody who has bought cheap tools in the past and has ended up spending more because of it.

jimcroisdale · Aug 22, 2007

So what should I be looking at? I don't know where to start! :rolleyes:

Alex · Aug 22, 2007

Start at your local used machine shop and try to find something English, American, Japanese (recent) or german.

mixer10_1 · Aug 22, 2007

I bought a Rage2 and used it to cut 50mm x 3mm box and I think it's good gear. Sold it my mate when my back went, he uses it to cut steel aly plastic and wood plastic composite decking in his business and it gets plenty of use. Wish I had it now. Charlie.

scarecrow · Aug 22, 2007

I was looking at it in a shop just the other day for around €300 about the same price I've paid for my dewalt abrasive chopsaw it looks a lot stronger and heavier then the dewalt with a much better vice. The tct blade is supposed to be more accurate than the abrasive blade when cutting angles

Alex · Aug 22, 2007

Don't believe it. Dewalt is overated I know but its better than Chinese stuff, dont waste your money.

Abrasive is the same whatever angle you are cutting, its just a straight line as far as the abrasive blade is concerned.

jimcroisdale · Aug 24, 2007

I know it'a cheap chinese rubbish, but to cut the odd bit of inch box, what about this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/240-VOLT-STEE...ryZ20785QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would it do the job?

Cheers!

Jim

irondarren · Aug 24, 2007

Most certainly chinese, I had a dewalt version of that and the gearbox broke whilst under warrenty, it was fix and 6months latter the gearbox broke again out of warrenty. Just looked at the site and everything they sell is chinese stuff, even the knock off honda engines.

Because i used tools in a professional capacity, i tend to be very anti chinese tools, because they break to easy, despite them being cheap to buy they are expensive to own because of the unreliability issues

problem is a good one is going to cost over £200
http://www.frogpowertoolsltd.co.uk/10100/info.php?p=15&pno=0
metabo cs 14-15

bgarvanman · Sep 29, 2007

I have a Dewalt 872 tct chop saw and am very pleased with it, previously had a Bosch Gco14 abrasive disc, motor burn out at commutator twice !!
Guy in bosch service said that particular Bosch product was farmed out and manufactured in good ol CHINA !!

p.s have A 230mm bosch angle grinder which has performed flawlessly for the last 8 years under tough conditions.
On the machine plate is says "Made in Germany"

dinnyb

irondarren · Sep 29, 2007

Manufactured in china, lol nothing like a good bit of chinese made stuff, and of course chinese made products help to keep winters warm in this country, with china's total disregard to pollution.

Jokes aside it doesn't take to many failures, for a company to get a bad name.

Mikey D · Sep 29, 2007

ive got a rage 3 chopsaw ,they certainly keep it quiet that its made in china , the only place that says it is ,is on the bottom of the box :rolleyes:

for the money i think its good value ,for me the good thing about it is the tct blade , hardly any burrs on the cut metal , you can touch the cut ends right away ,no heat build up , and it cuts very quicky compared to an abrasive disc .
the only down side is that the quick release angle adjustment doesnt clamp down too tightly , ill put up with that tho

it remains to be seen how long the tct blades will last but i expect it o be more cost effective than buying abrasive discs .

8/10 rating from me and no i probably wouldnt of bought it if i had know it was made in china

but dont worry im buying a IFL fusion inverter and a portamig is on the wish list and they are both BRITISH built :hug:

cheers mike

bgarvanman · Sep 29, 2007

Ya,

I also had a look at the rage 3 and have to admit that It did look well built, even with the made in china sticker !!

Might be a bit like Ryobi I have a few 115mm mini grinders Bosch and Ryobi and they both have got through a lot of work !!
Bosch looks and feels a better tool but nearly twice the price.

The tct dry cutting saws really score regarding no more nasty abrasive particles floating about, very bad for the ol lungs

Gasman · Sep 29, 2007

Mikey D said:
ive got a rage 3 chopsaw ,they certainly keep it quiet that its made in china , the only place that says it is ,is on the bottom of the box

Perhaps it is just the box made there then!! lol
Without them what would we do for eggflied lice

......and without us they would have no foil cartons to recycle into chopsaws.

irondarren · Sep 29, 2007

Mikey D, I don't think you will be upset when you buy a fusion inverter. Mine has had a good thrashing today running 4mm rods, and it loves every minute of it. £800 odd's worth and worth every penny. Rod after Rod each as consistant as the previous one, and of course it does nice DC tig welding as well

Mikey D · Sep 29, 2007

Thats good to know darren

, my local welding shop recommended one , then weldequip came up with a better price

Im likeing this forum very much :hug:

irondarren · Sep 29, 2007

Only thing i dont have for my fusion TIG is a foot pedal, not essiantial but it would be nice. Weldequip said when i want one PM him and he will sort a good deal on a foot pedal. So when im feeling a little flush i'll get one

Evolution Rage III

jimcroisdale

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irondarren

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Alex

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jimcroisdale

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Alex

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mixer10_1

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scarecrow

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Alex

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jimcroisdale

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irondarren

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bgarvanman

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irondarren

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Mikey D

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bgarvanman

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Gasman

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irondarren

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Mikey D

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irondarren

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