Hey guys, I'm having some real issues with my Kapex.  The bed isn't flat when at 45 either left or right.   The dust collection I feel is way over rated even with the 36mm hose(seems worse with the Tenyru blade) and it throws small moldings for fun I'm thinking.  I was working in a finished kitchen Wednesday and was tying in some base and shoe aroun a door I had just set (it was late arriving), and didn't have a block clamped to cut the shoe mold (had 3 pcs to cut).  Pop! Out it came right into the glass door on the cabinet.  Yeah, it broke.  And the homeowner was there.   Embarrassing to say the least.  I've been using my Hitachi C10FSH every since.  I can cut any material, small or large, with no fear of a kick.  It has 3 times the power and with just the dust bag I honestly don't see much difference vs the Kapex and vacuum.   I hate the fact you almost have to have the vacuum on the Kapex or you will covered in sawdust.  Am I missing a critical factor here?   The hitachi doesn't have quiet the capacity when cutting crown molding but it it's like a dream.  It's lighter and I don't have to carry that darn vac everywhere.   

Start with the obvious. Dust suction is all the way up? Is the dust shroud installed on the saw? Unfortunately, flying pieces is almost always 100% user error. Can happen with any saw and any blade. Use a sacrificial fence and zero clearance insert.

Sorry that you are not liking the saw.Yes,i have small pieces flying out but i am very careful now.I never had anything flying that hard.
As for the dust collection,i am suprise that you think is not that great.I have tried many,many saws(sliders that is) and there's nothing that can compare to the Kapex.
Now i do agree with the dust everywhere when no vac is attached.What i hate the most about it,is the miter scale gets covered with dust and I am constantly whipping it off.
My Kapex is about 3 years old now,and the fence,table and everything else is still accurate.All of my joints comes out pretty good.
But if you like your Hitachi better,by all mean,use it!

Sounds like you are talk'n yourself back into keeping it.
I had the projectiles too...nearly shite myself the first time.
Tim

Only you can tell if the Kapex is the saw that you want to use in the future.  If the bed isn't flat send it back to Festool for service.  People here have offered suggestions on how to more control the missile launches.  Personally I can't see how much trouble screwing two pieces of plywood to the fences can be, but then I am not in your shoes.  I found that I had to adjust my style of using the Kapex to maximize the dust collection.  Start the blade and then let the dust collector come on before you let the blade hit the wood.  Try it.  It might make a difference for you too.

I got good mileage out of my Hitachi's but the day the casting that controls the blade depth broke and my helper at that time tried to cut the entire metal table in half was the final fatal straw.

Good luck with your decision.

Peter

Stop cutting on the flat, that should solve most of your issues.

I use a sacreficial fence out of scrap ply. I dont screw it to the fence, I just clamp it to the fence when I need it. Takes about 30 secs.

After that,  no more flying objects.

Dust collection is the best Ive used or seen.

Is it 100% ? No , there isn't a CSMS that is.

I cut my hose to about 5 ft. It improved the dust collection tremendously.

I use my Kapex for cross cutting ply up to 12" in dia no problems.

I also cut small think moldings, no problems (after I add the sacreficial fence)

This safety video by the wood whisperer explains why things get fling around.

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/miter-saw-safety/?category_name=safety&replytocom=23361#respond

I would agree it is a safe saw other than the flying shoe.  I had it send a pc of base last week up into the guard where it would barely turn.  Jammed up really nice.  Just sorta bums me it does this. 

Seriously??   I think mine is really quiet.  Louder than the junk Dewalt brand but much quieter than my Hitachi. 

I used one of those for the first 2 projects in shop class. That would have been around 1986. 

I know this reply was more of a general comment but as for the op it may not be ideal.  What good is dust collection if it doesn't have the capacity.  The op talked about his 10" Hitachi having less capacity than the Kapex as a negative, the 7 1/2" probably won't cut, pun intended.

Kapex has a brake system to allow for fast blade stops, which allows you to let the blade stop before lifting on each cut.  Gives you a better/safer cut.

I don't see much time wasted in getting this better cut, maybe max 2 extra seconds a cut.  If I make 100 cuts in a day (to me that is a LOT of cuts), I've spent max 3 minutes extra waiting on the break for the entire day---thats not much timeprice to pay for better and safer cuts.

Its safer to me NOT to be moving the blade back through a piece while its spinning, on any saw.

Course, if you are used to a pulling back on your blade while its spinning through the work because you have worked with saws your whole life that didn't have brakes, and are used to that workflow, I can see how a change in method might at first come frustrating...but doing the math, should be enough to at least try to use the brake method...

Christopher

the kapex gets praised on here heavily but not in my local group of contractors. that being said, i want one!

I have. $400 saw I can cut anything on.    No backers.  No supplemental fences, clamps, etc.   I can cut anything I want on it and not close my eyes afraid something's gonna fly.   I no longer lug that vacuum around.   It was a no-brainer.   The Kapex is soooo over rated its not funny.  I fell into the Festool trap and regret it.    They have great products but the miter saw is a joke IMO.