Cordless JIGSAW review - Evolution R90JGS

This is a review of the Evolution Cordless R90JGS-Li Jigsaw 18v Li-Ion EXT Inc Multi-Material Blades. Disclosure: Evolution gave me this tool for free but are not paying me to make this video. They have no editorial control and I’m free to say what I like about it.

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#powertools #woodworking #diy

[GosforthHandyman]

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[peterwalton]

I like Evolution tools - reasonably priced & decent quality

[michaelhenning]

I'm so glad I found this video as I literally had the same issue with the blade this afternoon 23/03/25. I was contemplating sending it back as I thought It was faulty but as in the video the design is a bit poor as you'd expect the lever to retract fully back like other brands of jigsaw.

[Charleighcharger]

Bought the evolution track saw. Great for cutting floors because hitting a nail isn’t an issue. The track makes the cut tidy. Also built laundry room cupboards with it. Dust collection is not great but for the price pretty good.

[peterdorr]

The Evolution brand of tools having recent bought the disc cutter with water dust suppression and 115mm deep cut I have no complaint and I watched Andy’s review of the tool. The fact spares are available is a huge indicator they are 8n for the long game. And the cut all materials blade does really sell the brand.

[raydriver]

Hi Andy. That was a nice review. Go safe and regards to your family 🌞

[andyc]

Blimey Andy, not seen another of your videos with such heated debate in the comments !

I know there have been many comments over the years about the quality of Evolution, but my experience with a sliding mitre saw with multi-material blade bought a year ago has been very good, so perhaps they've tightened up their quality control or perhaps I was just lucky !?

Btw Evolution multi-material blades are great, they cut through anything but garage floors apparently ! 😜 🤣

[shaun--mgzs]

Hi Andy, For the DIYer it's a handy jigsaw just for the workshop or jobs in the home and for the money I think it's a good buy. I see what you mean about the blade length a lot longer than standard. I have two Black and Decker jigsaws one is over 40 years old, the manufacture's date is 1980 and the other is 1986 and main's powered one is 320 watts and the other is 375 watts and I use blades made by Tool Pak a local manufacture based in Wrexham good quality for the price. As always I value your honest opinion and a great video catch you soon take care😁👍

[neilarmour]

This looks like a rebadge of the Erbauer EXT range, the battery and charger are identical. The Erbauer stuff is excellent so I would have high hopes for the Evolution stuff.

[mihaicosmingradinaru]

I am very interested on the long term opinion.
Now a little rant:
I believe that not all tools need be THE most expensive (festool and the like, track saw excluded, as the festool one is actually the best, but I digress), but there are plenty trade-grade tools: Makita, Dewalt, Milwalkee etc. that are really worth it and anything else is just a waste of money and time.
I can speak from personal experience on cheap tools, as I have Einhell tools as backup. They were on offer and I thought I can use backup tools... ended up using them for a week each about 2/3 batteries per day and: impact is gone, drill is useless, reciprocating saw is gone. Jigsaw is the only one that still works because I used it to finish 2 worktop cuts in total, 3 of the 7 batteries I bought are now not charging any more (leds at the front show full charge, but the tools don't work with them in). Obviously out of warranty as they were the spares to my mail DeWalt tools.
I would now only buy "trade-quality" tools (DeWalt more precisely as I have the batteries. You can get tge bare tools online with free delivery for £10 to £30 more than cheap tools and the difference is night and day. Even for DIY I would recommend only good brands as they will last for a very long time and actually do their job.
I have the evolution 230mm disc cutter (great tool!) and the track (again, good qualitytrack - it is just a piece of aluminium, but the clamps are awful and have bent when over-tightening them and with another brand saw), so it is a luttle in-between brand for me.
/rant over!

[Stunly]

Great, be great to see some more tool reviews, I agree the Evolution tool brand are pretty good especially with their pricing you get decent tools imo

[ianpearse]

No, the struggling was fun! Great review.

[almagill]

*adds to Christmas list* :)

I'll pass the link to the Mrs !

[ricos]

Looks alright. I've got a Makita similar to yours, it's a good bit of kit. I can't imagine buying a cordless jigsaw for a battery platform I'm not already on. You mention it being a great tool to have in the workshop for just being able to pick up and use, but if you don't use other evolution tools then it would mean having to keep a battery charged. For a non trades person, I don't think cordless jigsaw is worth it. The cord isn't much hassle if you're just doing DIY jobs, and you probably dont use a jigsaw enough to maintain the battery charging. I'd say similar about most DIY tools, like grinders and tracksaws. Drills are, of course, the main exception, so I'd almost always recommend getting a jigsaw of the same battery platform as your drill if you should go down the cordless route. Unless you use another tool regularly, then buy that brand.

[dougsaunders]

I watched a black tail studio video today, he liked the Mafell jigsaw had bought. 90 degree cut through 60mm black walnut and resin. Both more expensive than you example (jigsaw and definitely the pallet) it is amazing how these pop up 👍🏻

[vistron]

I have two Evolution mitre saws and they stand out as they have multi-material capability at a very good price point. So those have very little competition. But the cordless tool world is very competitive. I don't see how sticking multi-material blades into any other jigsaw won't do the same thing. I bought a Ferrex jigsaw using their 20/40v battery pack. It feels decent quality, was cheap as chips and does the job.

My other stuff is Hitachi and Makita. I swore I would never buy cheap power tools again but the Ferrex tools are irresistable at the price! And much of it feels and switchgear operates with a quality better than my Hitachi and some of the Makita gear. The batteries are also very reliable.

[RB-xgvz]

I have found some great evolution tools like their chopsaw with multi material blade, drywall sander and a few others. They were the first to do circular saws that could cut metal back in early 2000s
Then they do some tools that aren’t that great…

[ianfinch]

I’ve found far better to buy the best you can afford as buy cheap buy twice. My first makita mains was still going strong 10 years later used every day. Now on the battery platform and loving it even more.

[adcassim]

That battery and charger look identical to the Erbauer 18v kit. Would be intersting to see if they're cross compatible.

[garnhamr]

love the evolution multi material circular saw. £50 and cut's anything. cut up my old up and over garage door and frame into bin size pieces the other day. I like to think of pendulum is the same to jigsaws as sds is to drills