For 5% discount on anything from Evolution tools just use code LIONANDBEAR at shop.evolutionpowertools.com/ Zero Clearance Review Video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ik5wU-E6o3A.htmlsi=QOwG9eDildVKssgu
I'm in France and bought mine about 4 years ago from Leroy Merlin for a special offer price of around 250€ - bargain! I'd endorse your experiences. I have been blowing out the stuff trapped in the bottom of the blade guard with compressed air - messy but effective! Even with the blade fully lowered, I find there can still be a millimetre or two above the level of that flimsy insert, so I'm going to order the zero clearance to see if that improves things. I also adapted the riving knife. Mine came with a closed slot which was a pain if you need to take it off (eg to raise the blade through the work). I just cut out the bottom to open the slot. Mine came with a paddle stop button as standard but the blade cover is black rather than clear - I am going to order the clear one. The supplied push stick is only fit for the bin - but that's not uncommon on budget saws. The sliding table top is really useful but be aware it can be a pain fouling your outfeed table. Overall? For the stuff I build - minor niggles, very competent, terrific value.
I’d agree with all your comments there mate. I’m planning to build a new workbench at some point in the future and will be reinstating the space for the sliding table as I really miss that when I’ve got it set up with my current workbench/outfeed.
Ah, that’s good. Glad you got it sorted mate. I had mine sorted under warranty at one point and didn’t have a problem with it so I’m pleased you got it sorted.
Hi Ben ,the only annoying thing about this saw is the bloody mitre tracks,you cant fit off the shelf adjustable alloy ones,so have to make your own up,ive contacted evolution regards this ,but looks like same issue with there latest saw,wiah they would just listen to feed back
Yeah the mitre tracks aren’t ideal. I’ve had more success with home made strips that fit the slot made of wood and I’ve seen some people make them by cutting up plastic chopping boards that run in the mitre slots well.
Be careful. I bought the evolution stand and it was missing a part. Customer service gaslighted me saying the piece was correct, even though the other same piece was correct with a spring and detent ball. No satisfaction from evolution.
I bought mine in France at Leroy Merlin several years ago. My major complaint is that the top table was not flat enough. Not talking thousandths of an inch here. A relatively massive 1 mm dip around the throat opening and other dips less than that all over the place. I could never do anything to fix it successfully. I still use it but it is a struggle to get good results. A year ago, I contacted Evolution to buy a replacement table surface but they could not guarantee I would receive a table replacement with flatness better than +/- 1mm. In other words, if you buy one and you find it is not flat enough, they will probably not replace it under warranty unless the flatness is off by more than +/- 1.0 mm. I hope your experience is better than mine.
I was considering buying this but after this review I will pass, I expected far better quality to what is shown. I think I will keep saving and get a cast iron table saw instead
I’m pleased my review was helpful for you mate. For a cast iron topped saw you’ll need to have around triple the budget. In my opinion this is a great saw for a first table saw but it definitely has some limitations.
Hi Ben, Thanks for the review. I watched several reviews of this saw table and most complaints were minor niggles or people wanting a silk purse for the price of a sow's ear. If you've had it for 5 years, that's a great recommendation on its own. I'm just starting my journey into woodworking having retired last year and thought the Rage5-S would be a good start. So, I've bitten the bullet and ordered one direct from Evolution. Despite there being a special offer on the Rage5-S, I still managed to use your discount code and that got me another £36 off the total. I'm well chuffed! I'm looking forward to delivery later this week. Thanks again 👍🏻
Fantastic news on the discount in conjunction with the offer! You won’t be disappointed with it. I’ve loved mine for the money and have built plenty of good projects with it. A lot of the minor niggles have been dealt with on their latest table saw but you obviously have to pay extra for that so this is a great buy for what you’ll need.
hello i have this saw and i like it, i have a problem with the fence though, its not square to the table from bottom to top, so its not plumb, causing my cuts to be out of square, do you have any idea how i can correct this error, thanks in advance.
You might be able to get the adjustment you need by checking the angle adjustment lever. There’s a screw at the far end when you set it to 90° which means you can adjust it slightly to get it perfectly square. If that doesn’t work then it could either be the blade isn’t completely flat or the motor is mounted incorrectly. They’ve addressed this in their new table saw (tbl255) so you can adjust all this stuff but there’s not much you can do on the Rage5S apart from what I’ve mentioned above. Hope this helps.
I think that says more about it than anything else I mentioned to be fair mate. I’d like to upgrade it at some point but not through lack of capability, it’s primarily due to greedy tool envy 😂 Ive not used the little convertible mitre/table saw to be fair so can’t comment on that one. My dad has one of their mitre saws though and really likes it.
Do you have the saw mounted above the level of the bench to allow the sliding table to move forward? It looks like it wouldn’t move but maybe I’ve missed the point!
It’s mounted a few mm above the table but not enough for the sliding table and it’s one of the drawbacks about the way I’ve mounted it. I did router in slots for the mitre runners for a jig I’ve got and was toying with how I use the sliding table. So far my solution is just to shim it up high enough for the sliding table to work when I need it. Definitely not an ideal solution but I’ve found I only use the sliding table on occasions. This may change in the future though as I’m planning to change my workbench set up to accommodate this and a few other ideas I’ve got.
@@lionandbear Thanks for the reply man. I’m about to build my own using the r255tbl and was thinking of some kind of quick release insert plate that could be removed to allow use of the sliding table when required. Any thoughts?
@gord4067 yeah that could be a decent idea. The problem I saw with incorporating the sliding table into the workbench was needing to leave a big gap so a pop-out section could be a really cool idea.
Nice quick review. I'm 7 months into owning an Rage5s and I popped for 3d printed stop paddle, as well as the Evo zero-clearance throat plate and a 3rd party 80 tooth fine cut blade. Take care & stay safe.
Thanks mate. I’ve got the 40 and 80t blades for mine too as I don’t tend to cut anything except wood. What’s your thoughts on the stop paddle? Worth the money?
@@lionandbear For the peace of mind knowing that I can hit the stop paddle with a knee, and to not have to duck & look to shut it down, it was worth the £13 off Ebay for me. I do my roughing cuts with the multi blade as all my timber is recycled pallet or fence boards. Even after doing the metal detector trip. Then switch to the finish blade.
🤦♂️ doh! You’re the first person to mention that so thanks for bringing it to my attention. I meant to say mm and then must’ve just added the text without even properly paying attention to what I’d said. 😫 Hopefully people can tell from looking at it that there is definitely not 6.6m of cutting capacity though 😂
Just bought this saw through a black Friday sale...gone for the 3d printed push stop and pair of blades from Saxton tools. Need to consider the zero clearance insert. Glad to see that you've been happy with it. Looking forward to making some cuts with it!
Awesome, that’s a nice Christmas present to yourself. You won’t be disappointed. Make sure you take some time getting the blade perfectly straight and making the fence parallel and you’ll be all good. I use the saxton blades and they do a really nice job.
