Evolution R300DCT+ electric disc cutter review 

Here's a link to the saw: rebrand.ly/ghm-evo-r300dctplus Use discount code GOSFORTH for 10% off If you use the above code I earn a small amount of commission per sale. More info about affiliate links in the description.

Hi Andy I'm a senior project manager at Evolution and this was one of my projects, I appreciate your honest review of the saw and I'd like to address a few points from myself and my team. 1. Trigger sticking, this was only discovered a couple months after the product had launched (I actually had this happen when I was using the saw on a house extension) it was a result of the tolerances between the handle mouldings and the trigger. We originally spec'd the tolerances to minimise the amount of dust and/or water ingress into the product but this in turn could cause some trigger problems in a few cases. The tooling was modified early in 2021 as soon as we noticed these cases and so later models should not have this problem. You will have one of the first production units as I do. Some lubricant on the trigger area will help, copper grease or a like. 2. The saw does have an electronic brake as well as the soft start, all the NEW DCT products have this. 3. Hoses and Manifold, again we only discovered issues with hose degradation after the product had been out for well over a year, we have had a few cases of this but not a great deal, mainly after winter if the products had been stored. We are working on new hoses to resolve this issue and on this and NEW DCT products we are currently working on. Also the manifold to split the hose could be a bit of a pain and was causing kinking as you have seen. The manifold was redesigned early last year and new saws will have a different style where the outlets are angled to avoid the kinking. 4. Rust, this is the first time I have seen one as badly corroded as this. I will raise this with our QA team and work on an improvement. With regard Stainless, yes we used stainless in areas we knew would be in regular contact with water but we still have to design this product to hit a price point, so we have to make some decisions throughout development which hopefully you can understand. We wanted to make the product affordable compared to renting and allow people to own the saw outright as you have. A comment on this from my experience, I am a former ground worker and my Dad has been in the building trade his whole life so I am very familiar with these type of products and so this project was a real labour of love for me. Rust on cut off saws is fairly common, particularly on blade flanges, if you've ever rented a well used Stihl saw you'll see some surface rust. One thing I would suggest is not turning the valve to fully open, the valve only needs to supply enough water to keep the dust down and when using my personal one of these, which I do regularly, I never open it more than half and that gives enough water for suppression. Excess water will result in more water splashing on other parts of the saw as the water comes off the blade as well as more standing water on the ground when the saw is put down. This is obviously part and parcel of using water suppression but limiting the amount of water used should hopefully help reduce this. 5. Hose connectors do vary quite a lot, as well as the many many different brands in the UK we also have to consider hoses throughout the EU, USA, Australia and many other territories. I must have about 50 different types in the office that all vary slightly in dimensions. This was the reason that we sourced a good quality connector and included it with the saw to ensure that the water system would be able to work as designed. 6. Water valve knob direction - This was changed by the tooling manufacturer without our knowledge, and it annoyed us no end too as we had designed it correctly. But by the time we found out the part was tooled, and we couldn't change it without making a new tool for substantial cost and waste a brand new tool that had just been made, and as such we decided to live with it for now, as annoying as it is. This leads me to another difficult part of this project; we designed this range over 2019 and 2020. We usually spend key stages of the development on the ground at our manufacturers for several weeks at a time, however with Covid hitting this just was not possible and so a lot of the development work had to be done remotely which was frustrating for issues like this. I was supposed to fly out to China early Feb 2020 but obviously I was not able to as the world started shutting down. I hope these answers help to cover some of your comments and concerns, we are a very small team of designers and engineers based in Sheffield, and we do all the new product development for the company globally which is no small task, this was one of 10 or more projects we were working on at the time and unfortunately some things do get missed now and then, but we strive to constantly improve our products and feedback from end users is paramount in doing this. Thanks again. Best regards Will

Another advantage of electric/battery cut off saws is you can use the them inside - no petrol fumes

I would recommend blowing out the water line with some compressed air. The hose might have perished due to water freezing in the line stretching it. Might also just be a crap quality component. You can also do the same this with pressure washers to preserve the life of the pump.

So the likelihood with the two problems is as follows: You did too much dry cutting and filled the saw up with dust, which made the switch jam in the on position. I have this problem from time-to-time with electric angle grinders that are used to blow out mortar joints for tuck pointing and other masonry restoration work. I'll try your WD40 trick next time. Regarding the water feature, that won't happen if you store your saw properly, meaning, not in freezing temperatures. Alternatively, you can pump some plumbers' anti-freeze through the saw. Yes there are some electric tools that need winterization. I pump anti-freeze through my tile saw at the end of construction season, and I store the water pump indoors. If this is enough for Canadian winters, it should solve your problem as well. That's my best advice for you.

I bought mine to do an extension, absolutly love it. It has cut loads of 4" floors and more concrete blocks than I can mention. I bought the blade for cutting steel to trim x3 massive steels. I havent seen the rust that you have shown or the leaky pipe, but have had the sticky trigger issue. WD40 to the rescue. I still highly recomed it and would buy another.

Just a note on cutting depth, from a profesional point of view the standard depth of cut of ever so slightly under 4" is ideal. The fact it leaves that last 1/8 of an inch intact stops cutting in to what ever your cutting, on and when cutting through a wall not going completely through can be an advantage when trying to avoid dust or slurry going into the internals. When i renewed my stihl recently was told they would do me the larger diameter saw for the same price i said no way

Hi Andy, A good honest review on this cut off saw , It's shame for the time you had it with safety issue with the switch lock and the little pipes breaking down and to do a self repair, that's a problem too many for £400, but like you say a simple fix and at the end of the day if your happy with that's good enough and you say you would buy it again. I would not have problem being main's powered got a hose attached to I would have no problem with a cable on it , and being main's powered it's got more grunt. I am a fan of main's powered tools any way I got sockets every were in the workshop to prevent trip hazard. As always Great video mate take care👍

One way to consider the tool is that, if it was cheaper/more convenient than renting and it does the job, then the tool need only last long enough to offset the rental cost. If it lasts longer, then you have more than you would have had.

Great review. I’m buying one today to cut open my garage floor to replace the drain. I could rent one for $60 USD but then I’m pressured into rushing to get the job done so I don’t have to pay more in case I go over the rental time. Weather & life can throw some curve balls.

good bit of kit for a DIY or light trade use i.e cut through brick and block to add a window or door. obviously for heavy use i would highly recomend a petrol one good cheap-ish option is the makita range of disc cutters i personally have a husquvarna k770 amazing tool, GREAT VIDEO ANDY VERY INFORMATIVE

Thanks very much for the mention, much appreciated 😍🙏🏽. It’s a good saw and the extra depth is a game changer but I hope they see this and listen your very useful feedback over the poor quality fixings. I hate using the sthil saw mainly because you absolutely stink after as the exhaust blows back at you . We are actually sponsored by Milwaukee now and have the new battery saw and it’s absolutely brilliant. No fumes, quieter, no power cord and a extra deep cut. 🤙🏾🤙🏾🧱👍🏽💪🏼

Great review. Picked up this saw earlier in the year, but only used once so far. Good to know about the issues with the tube and bolts 👍

Builder here, got one of these and its great. Heavy but good for sites and indoor use. Saves faffing about with fuel/mixing 2 stroke, saws that wont start etc. Good to have a bigger fuel version also but is used the majority of the time. Make sure you get the water version.

Thanks for the great review. If you've got a lot of hours on your saw, I would recommend checking your gearbox lubricant as well.

Good bit of kit did our old patio with one

I own a Stihl 410. Its the business. Its like a dirt bike. I just love it. I Also own a cordless Dremel which I love too. Only reason I went with a petrol saw is because i needed it for long range cutting away from power supply

Great video again ona relatively niche topic. Btw have subscribed to bricklaying with Steve and Alex. I find it super relaxing to watch the father and son come in and fix all the problems they find.

Yep I had same one for a few months . Bought for a small extension busy on with and was going to buy a petrol saw second hand for same money but thought better of it ( no warranty etc )and glad I got this . Big advantage for me is the lack of noise and no pull cord It has already more than paid for itself. I did have the switch not realise straight away a few times when first used it but seems to have sorted itself out now. Also the hose connector not happy with hose lock and other brand connectors. They go on bu ta nightmare to get off . Might think about changing bolts for stainless. I am like you and would buy again if needed as still a brill bit of kit for the money

Great video, I have been thinking about buying one of these sawsfor some work on my house. Yes, it also makes a great water feature 😂

I have the 230mm version and it has cut paving slabs and even a steel gallows bracket when doing my loft. Really good piece of kit for relatively infrequent use. Mine can only go 90-ish mm into brick/block, but that is again acceptable for smaller projects and is only £119 on Screfix. No water supression, but I find literally someone holding a hose at very low water volume or a water bottle with a hole does the job. Again, relatively infrequent use.

Been looking at these for a while now, glad I found this vid, discount code and freebies on the link made it hard not to buy 😂

Hi Andy I’ve noticed recently that tools that are going to come into contact with water don’t have s/s screws nuts and bolts etc , we have a carpet cleaner that is the top make it the carpet cleaner world . Yet the screws you’re meant to remove as part of the cleaning of the machine are rusting away . So how daft is that , but in your case probably some copper grease might be an option when it comes to storage . Great Chanel Andy Best wishes as always. 😀👍👍👍

I've had a few stihl saws over the years when you use the water dust suppression the mess gets everywhere, god policy to clean after use especially when you're putting it away for a while after a job I looked at one of these a few years ago and it was quite a bit heavier than the stihl saw I had at the time, a builder I was working for then had a Hitachi model a lot lighter but when I asked a lot dearer about twice the price as I remember I now have a stihl 9" cordless for me as a 60 + bricklayer it's perfect

I got one of these almost two years ago. I also noticed the hose connection is a bit picky. I havent had any problem with the on-board hose cracking but I have always had mine kept in the garage so never exposed to freezing conditions. I've also never experienced issues with the safety switch. I note that the RCD unit on mine is different from yours mine doesn't have a door but has waterproof buttons. I think it's a great saw, as you say, it's been built to a price but it works very well.

I bought a 10in saw. It’s been great! Even better than the gas one we carry. But recently it has been vibrating while cutting ? Any suggestions of how to take care of this? I’m not sure if anyone has had the same issue. I’ve tighten the bolts and made sure I put a new blade.

I have the 230mm and its been great for cutting concrete

It looks as though it’s done a great job for the amount of use you’ve given it. As a DIYer I’d have to give it serious consideration. You’ve not given it any TLC and stored it in a shed, not a criticism, so I suppose it may of faired better in a different environment. Grea and very useful vid - thanks. Mike

Yes, I bought one for a small extension at home. I agree with everything you have said. Like you I wanted electric, but if I was buying again I’d go for 110v as I have the transformers ( 3 of them ! ). The other disadvantage of petrol is you have to run them at regular intervals or the carburettor just gums up. I learnt that lesson the hard way with a generator which was always a problem to start on the occasional use I needed. Inevitably this was on a site with no possibility of power too, in the days before battery tools.

My small angle grinder with cheap diamond blades is my favorite tool. Literally for $25 and a couple $2-3 blades has been my most useful tool.

Thanks for the video Andy, I would be surprised if the screws a bespoke.

i love it got 3 of them !!

Got to winterize the water system or bring inside for winter. Same thing happens with pressure washers. People leave them out in the shed over the winter and in spring, a sprinkler system.

Great cutter

i'm expecting that new tshirt and jacket on the shop now youve shown them off!

with regard to the split feed that is kinked, I suggest warming the fitting with a hairdryer and shaping them to a Y configuration rather than parallel?

loved your new water feature haha

I have a brand new Evolution R255DCT, I haven't used it yet, a bit different than yours, I'll definitely keep an eye out for some of the issues you brought up.

Can this saw be connected to mains water tap via a hosepipe or do you need the pressure tank thing that is sold also please ?

Hi, where did you purchase carbon brushes for this saw ?

My evolution R230 has the same problem with sticky button when the dust gets into it. I did exactly the same spray some wd40 in and seemed to free it up again. Definitely sounds like a common problem with them across the range

Thanks Andy, this was a real "warts and all" review and I couldn't call whether you would or wouldn't buy again by the end, as you say with most purchases there are compromises of some sort ! I know you said that Evolution were not aware you were making this but it would be good to see them respond to your findings, as it was a new model they may have made improvements in the meantime and if not they perhaps should be. Sometimes the trade of in steel vs Stainless can be shear strength which might limit the options for some fixings but I would have thought most could be substituted and it's just budget constraints, seems a shame for a few pounds cost though ! Could the hose have anything to do with frost damage or does it tend to drain down once not in use ? I had the same hose connection issues with my Alto/Kew/Nilfisk pressure washer and did the same as you - a short length of hose as an adaptor - although in theory standardised hose fittings do vary especially some of the brass ones !

I would suggest brushing copper grease onto all the steel screws before use. WD-40 is okay but won't convert rust and washes away too easily. I believe the lime in stuff you're cutting may be accelerating the rust. I will also be buying one of these for Spring. Been using an angle grinder up to now and apart from less depth of cut, the dust is a nuisance and also won't be loved by neighbours. I think you could even get into trouble with the council if they complained.

Looks like a little tlc after use wouldn’t go a miss and prevent rusting etc.. a squib of water displacement after use at least 😮

even though it was over 15 years ago i was an apprentice as a builder/roofer mainly doing council house repairs and pvt jobs ,my hearts always in the petrol cutters ,scared the crap out of me as a 20 year old ,but good fun :) and the brand hilti i believe still in many peoples hearts

A decent motor factors should have a whole selection of hose sizes to pick from

Think I'd replace all the rusty screws with stainless, the hose looks like easy to obtain 6mm ID PVC (eBay) and the switch would appear to be filled and stuck with concrete dust. That switch is the most dangerous part, and fitting an inline one to the power cable at a useful distance might be the answer. Evolution might supply an aftermarket fix - they could be held liable for injury?

I really like the usability of the saw but I've had my 255 version repaired twice as the motor gave up just cutting 50mm concrete pavers used it yesterday for the first time since last repair it seized again after a couple of hrs cutting 50mm pavers.I know of two other people who've had the same issue it appears to me that the motor is not upto the task.It's a shame as I thought finally found a saw to replace my petrol saw.I certainly would not recommend this saw if you want it to last.

I borrowed one from a friend and found it to be under powered for cutting 3 inch concrete. It did it but it took so long.

Agreed: Evolution blades are good. But you have saved me... Over decades, I've considered Evolution gear, sometimes bought, always had to return immediately on advice of supplier. It's possible that their refurbished items are a better buy as being properly repaired or remade. Last year, I had to cut up a pile of very hard concrete channels segments that had been left at the bottom of the garden of daughter's new house - 19th century terrace with DLR and a river the other side of the fence. Thought of concrete cutter, like you, hiring did not appear to add up. Decided on a 230mm angle grinder (Makita, near top of range with variable speed, twist grip, soft start plus dust cover and extractor). Wrong choice, not up to it, ended up smashing with sledge hammer (great fun but lots of pieces to clear up about 1.5 tonnes which she paid a couple of guys to take for hardcore). Since then, I've been nagged by this Evolution saw in various emails as she does have some more concrete cutting to do. So nearly bought one recently. Glad I didn't. Thanks for confirming my decision (hesitation, dithering). The weird thing is, some people must have got lucky on the Evolution quality control and have been delighted with their stuff over many years. It's a tempting price point for the prosumer. Evolution, Erbauer, and similar have never worked for me and always require instant return (except for an Erbauer jig saw which is still doing good service). I'm leaning to throw-away price stuff for some uses (refurb Magnusson inspection camera for Screwfix and a Sealey 3.6V cordless screwdriver from Euro Car Parts have both been superb) and full on professional stuff for most of my relatively heavy-duty diy for self and family. Being old, 68, modern soft start matters a lot. I did use a bigger (350mm blade?) hire concrete cutter 20+ years ago that did its job very well. The weight is good - it lets the whole thing just rest on and sit into the cut line with no effort from the operator. I'd always get 110 Volt for something like that. Outdoors, wet... it's voltage that kills you. There's a reason job sites specified 110V tools before cordless took over. Now, it's difficult to get 110V

There is a little Chinese dude who puts 5 of those tubes a minute Andy! 😂😂 The lead does not bother me on these devices, if you are attached to the mains water why not the power? Same goes with mitre saws, if you have extraction attached to the mains power why not the saw. Otherwise you need 8 batteries, four on charge while others in use, saws and extraction often using two each. Love tool discussions BTW 👍🏻

5:50 i imagine its using regen braking , since its magnets ,same principle electric bikes and cars regen :)

I have the 230 version I picked up on special for £100. Still boxed but I know exactly what I need it for (patio cutting).

Is there any chance some kind of solvent was sprayed near the saw? A little PU foam sprayed in a room will lead to solvent hitting basically everything, any thin PU (like dust extractor hose) will get wrecked.

I bought an Evolution Circular saw years ago that managed to cut wavy lines. Don't even know how that's possible with a solid, non-flexible disc. I couldn't even give it away to mates.

was probably water left over in hose freezing over winter. same thing happened to my pressure washer.

Rusty screws and bits, good derusting tip is put in white vinegar over night, I did this with some outside capliers came up brilliant

Just bought one of these - haven't unboxed it yet and I see this headline 😶

WD40 displaces the water, you most likely will be better putting something else on the metal work once the WD40 has dried off. Maybe a waxoil as used on cars?

Maybe a quick clean after using May help in it running properly as it looks 20 Yr old not 2. But that's just my thought 😮

Be interested in a follow up pimp my saw video if you decided to go down that route.

You do not want to replace the screws with stainless screws, aluminium + stainless screws is a bad mixture for your threads they will corrode much worse that with ordinary screws. IIRC then it is something about where do you want the corrosion to take place, alu+iron then the iron will corrode, alu+stainless then the alu will corrode. Maybe brass screws is an option ?

Sounds very like their Mitre Saw which has a brake, perhaps they're using the same motor internals

Is it worth another £300 for the Stihl though? Something in between perhaps?

I would spray it with wd40 every time you use it to stop the water standing on the metal work I did that with my stillsaw when using water on it

I don't think councils and contractors for utilities are up to speed with electric tools yet, I am surprised, with environmental/noise concerns ... pollution/recycling etc etc ... Not to mention dust reduction !?!?

Looks like you Hose froze up with water in it. Best to drain it before winter storage

As it’s a rotary saw wouldn’t a ‘Revolution’ blade be better than ‘Evolution’?

ridden hard an put away wet

Andy, how come you can't get a Red one for free like Keith?

I guess the Stihl would have been cheaper in the long run?

They packed in a blade with the wrong arbor size. This was the only electric saw available to me. Already frustrated as the blade that was supplied doesn't fit the arbor. The arbor says it is 1" but it clearly isn't as the blade says it is 1" as well so someone is lying somewhere.

TEFC motor ?...

Just give the tool a rubdown and squirt WD-40 on screws after every use. Only takes a couple of minutes.

If they made the tool with stainless steel parts that didn't rust, you wouldn't be able to afford it! 💲😂

I'll be that guy...don't EVER cut concrete dry unless you want to die from silicosis.

You say you look after your tools but when you pulled te spanner out of the handle I could see that really isn’t the case. This is a tool disingenuous to be used in a wet environment so yes the fasteners should be better suited to the environment it’s used in but also this is one of the lower cost saws so you should expect to have to do some preventive maintenance, spray your fasteners with a bit of wax oil and clean it after use.

Hi please wear a mask when your cutting, 8min in your cutting no mask and no water attached 😢