A great testimonial / review of the Kapex

Administrator_JSVN

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
8,426
If you've been on the fence about getting a Kapex, this post over at ContractorTalk.com is a great read by Yannis of City Decks, Inc. who recently bought a Kapex.

http://www.contractortalk.com/f40/so-whats-verdict-kapex-makita-123008/index3/#post1588276

Regarding cost, this is what the reviewer had to say:

Cost: I know I know.....blah blah blah. This is what is cost. and as far as I’m concerned if your small with a full time or 2 employees it’s doable. Just get them used to it and keep a Mikita for the not so accurate and dirty jobs.

If you use this saw 20days a month 240/days year it’s comes out to be $5.62 per shift. Now I don’t know about you, but that’s less then sandwich or 2-3cups coffee a day.

And this was a great bit of text too:

Over all take on it is this:
Work is hard enough. Why not make it easier? Even if I can get as little as 10% more efficient through clean up, accuracy easy to set break down and to move around. 1min here and 1-there all add up to hours. Then you increase production, and overall more profitable. When is the last time you got 10% better over night with a residual.
It will make you THAT MUCH BETTER. I can’t believe I didn’t buy this earlier.

And, boy, do they do some phenomenal work. Check out their website at http://www.citydecksinc.com

I know the topic of cutting Ipe with the Kapex has come up on the forum here a few times and he addresses that in his post. It looks like they use Ipe a lot in their decks.
 
Great testimonial.  I can honestly say that I really appreciate my Kapex more after spending a day helping my dad on a project with a different brand miter saw that was not as well equipped...dust everywhere, jerky without soft-start, no clamp (because what came with the saw really did not work all that great), bad blade, no lasers and noisy.  Granted you could add an aftermarket blade and some other accessories to improve performance, but man have I taken some of the benefits of the Kapex for granted.  I appreciate my Festool tools even more after spending a weekend using other branded stuff that I would have considered as great prior to finding Festool.  It is a lot of those little intangibles that all add up taking a tool from good to great or great to superior and Festool more often than not hits the superior marks in my opinion.

Scot
 
Unfortunately by post #92 he has this to say about his new Kapex,

What can say? After of burning oak, finish ply, ipe, cedar, mahogany, 2x's for a week. . My brand new Kapex started sparking and smoking like my burt out a burnt out Dewalt Impact driver.... Can you say major suck...

I 've got ton of interior work for it this week.
I mean come on.. a week an it's dead. wtf!!!!!

Whatta a hassle. I barley got used to it


http://www.contractortalk.com/f40/so-whats-verdict-kapex-makita-123008/index2/#post1593774

Which actually led me to try and search here on FOG to see if any others have had issues with their Kapex?
 
i was just cruising at contractor talk and checked back into that thread! what awful timing!!
 
By the way, if you read the last couple of posts in this thread and didn't go visit the other site, Shane and Festool came thru for the contractor who had the Kapex with a problem.
 
I've said it before... what separated a good company from a great company? The way they handle issues with their products. Stuff happens. Even though this customer bought online, we worked with his local dealer to exchange the saw. Hopefully, that sends a message about us and even more so about his local dealer.

What he didn't say in his testimonial or calculate into his savings is what would happen if he needed to rely on a tool manufacturer for help. If it were a different brand, my guess is that he would be without a saw for weeks.

All of the credit goes to the guys in service, Lester, for taking good care of him and to his local dealer for helping out.
 
Peter, Shane and Everyone,

Since I joined The FOG I have constantly reported on the excellent and reliable production from my first Kapex. Long before Kapex was available in North America I had used them enough during trips to Europe that I pre-ordered one in Los Angeles.

That Kapex has been used 6-7 days a week, mostly cutting hardwood using the stock fine tooth blade. It has never been sent in for repairs. During my trips to Europe friends their showed me their preventive maintenance routine. It turns out a similar maintenance routine is encouraged during End User classes. I now have five Kapex in my shop, two permanently mounted to long benches and served by dedicated Tiger Stops to position cross-cuts from CNC data. Two other Kapex are on rolling cabinets we built so they can go where they are needed. The newest Kapex is kept in reserve on a UG stand when needed on site. At my home I have a year-old Kapex on one of the rolling stands we built with a CT22.

Who can say what went wrong for the person writing about a negative Kapex experience. It happens that folks buy top-of-the-line tools, fail to read the instructions, and then lash out when a service problem happens. With Festool it is so simple: Just call the toll-free Festool USA service department phone line. Besides Lester, everyone there is ready to assist customers.
 
Carroll,

One of the major reasons that I enjoy being involved here is the fact that the people who make up Festool frankly walk the walk and just don't do the talk.  The fact is that as more tools are manufactured there will be more issues.  The warranty procedures are clearly written and they could have taken the approach like other companies (as Shane posted) but instead put their resources to work and proved that although not perfect, Festool stands behind their product and their customers.

Other companies should take note.

Peter
 
Yep...Festool service has always been top notch in those rare instances when I have needed it.

Scot
 
duburban said:
whats some of the preventative maintenance you speak of?

All the preventive maintenance is quite well discussed in the supplemental Kapex manual. Also for additional suggestions phone Lester in the Festool USA service department.
 
ccarrolladams said:
duburban said:
whats some of the preventative maintenance you speak of?

All the preventive maintenance is quite well discussed in the supplemental Kapex manual. Also for additional suggestions phone Lester in the Festool USA service department.

I must be crazy but I read the supplemental manual when i first got my Kapex and again just now. There is no actual "preventative maintenance" section that I could find and even within the sections, it's mostly technique and calibration
 
You are not crazy.  i just went thru it also.  it has excellent sections on calibrating and adjusting, but nothing that I personally would think as preventative rather curative.

Peter
 
Excuse me, I must have read what I expected to read and not what was printed.

By the time I could buy a Kapex in the USA and obtained the supplemental manual, I already had learned the preventive maintenance routine.

Okay, so either there needs to be a supplement to the supplemental manual, or Lester will be getting a lot of phone calls.

Most of that is common sense and should be old news to those who have used miter saws over a period of years.
 
Carroll,

I totally agree that it would be a great idea for Festool to put together something even as minimal as a lubrication chart (if applicable) for their tools on a tool by tool basis.  Some tools wouldn't even have one, but for the rest it would be great.

Peter
 
Shane I didn't realize you posted this here. This is fun and update for outstanding service Festool has provided. BYW we love tee's.  Also posted on contractor talk with picts. 

Ok Ladies it’s time for another update.
Another slammed week I’ve been working the hell out of it this week cutting everything from 4x4, 2x12, 2x6’s pt aluminum sq tubes, finish grade ply, base and case trim. I’m working it hard like saw should and right now it’s up 5/stories enjoying a million dollar view. I have a miter saw for the 1st time in a long time out on the roof because I was sick of shlepping them up through out the house and up a ladder, but this one is a dream grabbed it with 1/hand right up the ladder onto to the roof top which is the 5th floor. I have to give Dewalt mini miter stand major coodo’s. It has a shoulder strap that allows you to easily carry both up the stairs.
I have almost no clean up. I don’t even care about what little there is left that will wash down the gutter on the next rain. Imagine making about 80 +/- repetitive cuts and only leaving a handful of dust behind in 5 x 10 work space on the roof top. I would normally be completely covered in and have it all over the place blowing over the side the house and on to peoples heads on the street. The roof door is open and I’m not least bit concerned with in going in to the house. Again the Midi is the best for my applications.

The sparks have gone down to a barely noticeable light blue which is normal just like “Darcey” said. So far so great!!!!
And if it burns out like the other then I'll simply make "1" call to get another right away like I did last time.
Dont think for 1/second because this puppy cost cost $1300 -/+ it’s made for finish work only.

I ran into a fellow carpenter Friday and we were chatting over a cup of coffee and he said that's all they used in the UK and they use them to cut everything from metal studs, 3 x oak timbers to crown. If fit on the stand he would cut it. He was Lead for TD Bank and misses his Festie package.
I wish to take the liberty of changing the name to “the Gentlemen's saw” because that is exactly what it is. Use it like you need it don’t be girl by babying it. 

Thank you again.
Yannis N. Tsakiris
www.citydecksinc.com
www.citypropertiesinc.net
 

Attachments

  • kapex roof top.jpg
    kapex roof top.jpg
    146.2 KB · Views: 1,206
  • roof top kapex 2.jpg
    roof top kapex 2.jpg
    219.8 KB · Views: 1,291
  • roof top kapex3.jpg
    roof top kapex3.jpg
    121.7 KB · Views: 1,172
Reason number 531 I want  Kapex, Festool Service and commitment to the customer. Now I just need someone convince me why I weekend warrior DIY'r who loves tools should spend $1300 on a SCMS!
 
Back
Top