As I found out when dealing with the hard English oak timber, I was forced to push this saw much harder. I’ll put it down to the multi-material blade. There are just 20 teeth on it, and they’re much less aggressive than the DeWalt DT1209 for example. Even though prices fluctuate, the Evolution R185 CCS Circular Saw is less than half the price of one of the more premium circular saws I tested. The Makita DHS680Z might be a lot lighter and more accurate, but if you’re on a budget it’s just not an option. The baseplate has a rough texture to it, and it didn’t seem very flat. After using it a few times the high spots on the shoe were getting marked already. It just didn’t slide smoothly enough. The silky smooth baseplate on the Makita HS7601J is much easier to slide across the surface of timber in comparison. One thing I really like about this saw that blows the rest of the competition away is the range of bevel degrees you can choose from. You can set the bevel on this saw to a massive 60°. This is incredibly useful if you want to build triangular objects. When it’s running this is an incredibly loud saw. Even under no load, it’s punishing. Compared with the cordless circular saws I’ve tested out; they feel like they’re whisper quiet. I wouldn’t dream of using a circular saw without proper PPE, but even with my British Army issue Peltor ear defenders on, it’s a bit too loud.

Makita 1200W 190mm Circular Saw 110V | Toolstation Makita 1200W 190mm Circular Saw 110V | Toolstation

The cable protector, the rubber boot sleeve that comes out of the body of the saw, isn’t quite long enough. It doesn’t really help to stop the cable from crimping close to the saw, which could shorten its useful working life.This saw cuts through timbers without complaining. It’s even got the most accurate depth gauge according to my unscientific tests. You can even cut through metal without shelling out for a new blade. So, for that reason, it’s quite good value for money. This Guide Rail Adaptor fits the Makita HS7601J Circular Saw and is intended for use with Makita or Festool Guide Rails. Seeing as this saw comes with Evolution’s legendary multi material TCT blade, I thought I should use it on a few different materials. It’s this saw’s ace in the hole and what sets it apart from the other circular saws on my list. As good as the Makita and Bosch saws are, you can’t use them on metal unless you buy a separate blade.

Best Makita Circular Saw Reviews 2023 - Top 8 Models Compared Best Makita Circular Saw Reviews 2023 - Top 8 Models Compared

Again, I suspect it’s down to the blade. The teeth are relatively small, and if they’re designed to work on multiple materials then they might not be fine-tuned for optimum cutting timber. I suspect that the multi-material blade is a good all-rounder but not ideal for any particular job.Moving on to the baseplate, this is where I think Evolution have let themselves down. It’s a huge and heavy cast aluminium shoe, but the casting isn’t great and there’s a rough texture on the surface. I’m not sure if this is to make it more durable but compared to the rest of the saws on my list it doesn’t slide very easily. The Evolution R185 CCS Circular Saw has got, by far, the largest motor out of all the ones I’ve tested out. The 1,600 Watt power plant is big, bulky, and counts for a lot of this saw’s weight. This massive motor spins up the large 185 mm TCT multi-material blade to 3,900 rpm. That’s a lot slower in comparison with the Makita HS7601’s 5,200 rpm. Sheffield based tool firm Evolution have been in the DIY game since 1992. Specialising in multi-material saw blades that can cut through just about anything you can throw at them, they’re loved by plenty of handy people all over.