Cheap compound mitre saw

[GMM]

I have a sliding Evolution Rage like this:

The slide etc on it seems to be pretty good. I'm sure it's not the sort of thing you would make fine hardwood furniture with but it seems to do a good job for most general purpose applciations. The TCT blade is very useful, as it will cut most metals as well as timber and I've used it a few times for things like steel tubing.

If I had been buying for myself, I might have looked around a bit more but it was a present, so I really couldn't complain. I don't think it was the price they're quoting now though - probably more like half that

- but they often discount things like this for a while.

[JimK]

?!?

Jim K

[Adrian]

No, this was a sliding one, I think 1500w. Same price.

[JimK]

Buy it :-)

PS why can't i see my own posts (via goggle gropes....)

Jim K

[Adrian]

Yeh, I'm thinking I should've...

[Adrian]

Just been back into Wickes.

The stock/price label was for something else. Oh. But the SKU was cast into the base. A quick look on their computer, then, to see what it came back with... nothing. At all.

And, no, they couldn't sell me the ex-demo one. The very helpful lass at customer service went off to find the store manager (his label said so) to check. Nope, definitely not possible. Apparently a lot of display stuff is non-functioning, and he couldn't anyway, because all the displays are controlled centrally. Hiho.

Googling the SKU comes back with one single solitary web mention of it - TMH recommending it, in 2008... £99.99 back then...

Message-ID:

Hey-ho.

[mike]

Wickes not selling the display model is a pain I've experienced before.

If the saw you were looking at was this one...

...it was a very good buy at £50.

I think it might still be around as the Draper SMS210A but dunno how much i t is.

[Adrian]

No, it was 186890 (1200w) rather than 200363 (1500w) - but I'd have bloody leapt at that for £50, I think...

£150 seems the going price...

[dennis]

how about one of these?

[Adrian]

Aye, that looks bob-on - especially at that price! Screwfix's reviews seem positive, and even their full-fat price doesn't look daft.

Anybody tried one in the flesh?

[JimK]

C grade for abt £50 too

Jim K

[Adrian]

Soddit. Only one way to find out. Bought.

[newshound]

Me too.

[Adrian]

But only 110v.

[Adrian]

...and delivered.

It's definitely been used, albeit lightly. It's the black "Stealth" (!) version. Oooh!

First impressions are that it's a very solid piece of kit, more so than the Wickes one I was looking at. I've just grabbed a bit of old 2x4 off the a rubbish pile, and it goes through it like it's not there. Beautifully clean cut.

The one snag so far? The pointer for the main horizontal rotation's a little bit bent - we'll see what their service is like.

I'm a very happy bunny indeed at the mo. BIG thanks to JimK for pointing it out.

[JimK]

/I'm a very happy bunny indeed at the mo. BIG thanks to JimK for pointing it out./q

Er believe it was our Dennis?

Glad you got a result tho :-)

Jim K

[newshound]

Mine's arrived too.

Similarly only very lightly used, seems reasonably well made. The slide isn't perfectly smooth but I guess it might "run in" and I might add some moly disulphide paste. Havn't tried it yet.

I've got the 220 mm because that was the largest 240 volt one available, with hindsight it might have been better to get one of the larger ones (currently 110 volt only), or wait to see if a 240 volt one comes up.

[Adrian]

Yep, you're right.

Thanks, Dennis!

[Adrian]

Ten minutes after they get into the office, I've got an email saying a replacement's in the post. Job's a good 'un.