Evolution Rage 2 Help Please !!!

[Tommyf]

Hi Everybody, I wonder if any one could give me some advice. I have an Evolution Rage 2 chopsaw and I used it for the first time today to cut some mitres in 40mm x 40mm x 3mm box section for the frame of a new welding bench that I am trying to make.

I have set the clamp to 45 degrees and tried to double check that with a piece of timber that I cut to 45 degrees on my wood chopsaw (which is quite accurate) , However when I laid all the cut pieces out to tack them together the mitre cuts seem to be quite a bit out on the outside edges.

Any ideas how to get angles more precise would be greatly appreciated . Tom

 

[johnakay]

thats why I sold mine to Gordon.
beside it being way to noisy ,it doesn't cut straight,
its the same with the rage 4. but since putting a fibre blade in cuts straight.

 

[Engineer1964]

The problem is the little vice that you get built into the saw is not acurate I would only ever use a chopsaw like that for cutting rough lenghts as the vibrations do tend to loosen the vice if you can call it that

 

[Shedendman]

Where in east sussex are you tommy,I have the same saw,well the sliding compound one, thing I found is the bed is not a true 90 degree butt the piece up flat to the back and place some thin shims underneath in my case 1mm that normally brings it square, easy to show than explain

 

[hotrodder]

Dunno specifically about the Rage 2 but it's basically a DIY version of their metal cutting range which in turn is very similar to others from all the usual suspects. My Dewalt is more than accurate enough to cut mitres that won't be welded (edging on glass cabinets for example). You need an angle finder/protractor to set things as the inbuilt scale isn't really even close enough for rough cutting. Force the cut and you'll get a wonky result (and shorter blade life), let the blade 'ride' the work (not enough pressure) and you'll get a wonky cut as the unsupported piece will vibrate which in turn gets the blade vibrating enough to leave a wonky edge on the piece in the vice (can usually hear the blade ringing when this is happening)

Some random photos of cuts... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=130171&postcount=14

As said if the base isn't square to the blade then you'll need to shim things first although if i'd found my dewalt was like that out of the box i'd have backed it...

 

[octo0072000]

saw

my rage 4 is not 100% accurate i use a digital angle finder ruler and use that to set it
works for me most chop/mitre saws degree scales are not 100% accurate

 

[Tommyf]

Thanks for all your replies chaps.

I have had a bit more time to mess about with it this afternoon. I drew a line with a set square at 45 degrees on a piece of timber and kept adjusting the angle of the vice until the blade lined up with the pencil line. Seems to have worked really well, I have recut the box section laid it all out and it and it fits together much better than the first time. Anyway thanks to you all again...

 

[Sub-arc]

Thanks for all your replies chaps.

I have had a bit more time to mess about with it this afternoon. I drew a line with a set square at 45 degrees on a piece of timber and kept adjusting the angle of the vice until the blade lined up with the pencil line. Seems to have worked really well, I have recut the box section laid it all out and it and it fits together much better than the first time. Anyway thanks to you all again...

Same problem here.
I did this (pic) to easily toggle between 90 and 45 degrees. Just a 3rd cap screw tapped into the plate/base once you have set the vice plate. Works well.

 

[pedrobedro]

Mine is an abrasive saw but on the clamp adjustment I welded a piece of flat to the top of the bolt to make like a wing nut (bolt though) and I don't need a spanner to adjust it now so it makes angle changes quicker.

 

[Tommyf]

Nice one , I think I'll try both those ideas ,

When you drilled through the vice part of your Rage 2 did you thread the hole underneath for the bolt to screw in to ?

 

[Sub-arc]

Nice one , I think I'll try both those ideas ,

When you drilled through the vice part of your Rage 2 did you thread the hole underneath for the bolt to screw in to ?

Do your set-up so you're happy with the squareness/angle of the cut. Tighten 2 caps and then drill and tap.
The plate is thicker than the base so not much to tap into on the base, but tapping through the two together means it's more accurate. Doesn't need much tightening either- the orig 2 cap screws do the work there.
Extra cap is M8 btw.

 

[Tommyf]

Thanks very much I'll give that a go !!!

 

[Sub-arc]

Thanks very much I'll give that a go !!!

No problem. You'll need a T type tap wrench.