Craftsman Table Saw – Evolv Review

craftsman evolv 28461

Editor Rating: 4.2/5

Excellent

Craftsman Evolv Table Saw

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Last modified: Nov 27, 2022 @ 12:36 pm

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

Craftsman Evolv Table Saw Review Summary:

Delivering 5000 rpm, tool-free blade exchange, and safety-boosting anti-kickback system — the Craftsman Evolv 28461 table saw’s affordable price point makes it suitable for the contractor on a budget.

Specifications:

  • Weight – 50.4 pounds
  • Dimensions – 26.9 x 19.8 x 12.9 inches
  • Power source – Corded
  • Voltage – 120V

Craftsman Evolv – The Basics


DIY-ers love this particular product, professionals not so much. It has a decent amount of basic features that offer smooth and flawless operation, but it lacks a couple of features in order to be regarded as a professional piece of equipment. Therefore, if you’re a long-time professional, you might want to look for something else, this particular model probably won’t meet the requirements.

However, as we said, beginners and hobbyists appreciate the ease of use, affordability, and overall compactness of this table saw. It doesn’t take a lot of space, safety is at a satisfactory level, and it has decent accuracy. The miter gauge is probably one of the weaker points of this unit because it’s somewhat poorly designed.

The Features


The design


One of the first things we noticed about the design is the bolted legs. While it may seem pretty irrelevant to some people, bolted legs can be quite a burden sometimes, especially on busy construction sites. If you were planning to move this unit frequently from place to place, we got bad news for you – it’s not going to happen. Although it’s not a heavy unit, moving it constantly can have consequences on your well-being. It’s also quite clunky.

The tabletop area is spacious, but the fence mechanism could have been designed better. Therefore, you will have enough space to process large wood, but adjusting the fence can be annoying sometimes, especially if you’re in a hurry.

Safety


The Evolv model features a good amount of safety mechanisms. Apart from the mandatory blade guard, it also has an anti-kickback system. The anti-kickback is quite important because it prevents large pieces of wood from flying straight into your face.

The On/Off switch is accessible and large. When these switches are in question, it’s always good to have a large one so that you can react in time if something bad happens. Therefore, instead of searching for the button, you can flip it quickly, even with your knees.

Dust collecting


This unit does not have a dust-collecting port. However, you can modify the base a bit and minimize the amount of debris. One of the best ways to do it is to make a ¼ plywood cover and place it underneath the saw to seal off the hole where dust is escaping.

craftsman evolv 28461 parts
craftsman evolv 28461 details

Pros:

N

Affordable

N

Easy to use

N

Versatile

Cons:

N

Entry-level

N

Miter gauge is poorly made

R

Things we liked about it

The main thing we liked is the price. In fact, it’s significantly cheaper than any other model in its category. However, that means it lacks quite a bit of additional features. There’s no need to worry though; it still has more than enough features to fulfill any DIY-er’s expectations.

Another thing people like is the simplicity and ease of use. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any previous experience; you’ll comprehend the way this tool works within a few minutes. Make sure you read the user manual so that you get familiar with the way it works and manage to avoid any potential disasters.

Q

Things we didn’t like

There are a few things we found quite unlikable. The first one is the quality of the miter gauge. Even though this is quite an affordable piece of equipment, the miter gauge is quite subpar.

The unit needs assembly and minor adjustments before the first operation. It’s usually not a big deal, but because it’s foreseen for beginners, one can’t expect from a beginner to be able to fine-tune a heavy-duty tool. In simpler words, if you don’t have any previous experience with these tools, make sure you know what you are doing when you decide to adjust and assemble the saw.

Also, the absence of a dust-collecting port can be an issue for some people. Even though you can modify the unit and make your own dust-collecting system, it’s probably not on your list of priorities, to say the least. Bear in mind; this model is only for outdoor use – do not use it indoors!

What Users Say About The Craftsman Evolv


The Evolv model isn’t as well-accepted among users as some other models in the same category. One cannot say it’s necessarily a bad machine, but there are better ones on the market.

However, the main element in the whole equation is – the price. If you take the affordability into consideration, there isn’t much you can expect from this unit. Once again, it does work well and as expected, but it doesn’t offer impressive performance, to say the least.

craftsman evolv 28461

Conclusion


Overall, if you’re looking for an entry-level contractor saw with a set of standard features, check the Evolv model out. It won’t serve as a professional piece of equipment because it’s not foreseen for massive projects. However, installing floors, cutting wood, and tackling small to mid-sized DIY projects is entirely possible with this particular unit.

People who are on a tight budget love investing in affordable units. It’s not a wrong thing to do, but you have to have realistic expectations. Therefore, don’t expect too much from this particular contractor table saw. On the other hand, it’s simple and versatile enough to become a part of your DIY equipment.

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