Accuracy on Kapex

[Rob in Vancouver]

I guess I'm posting here for 2 reasons, to ask for help and maybe a little venting.

I have had my Kapex since May this year.

Most all festool products are known for their accuracy and repteability, however I struggle in great frustration to get this out of my Kapex.

The angle finding tool is fantastic, I love it.  The pain for me comes time to when I have to "transfer" the reading to the miter saw. When I unlock the the lever and press down the tab to turn the saw and lasers toward the angle finder I struggle to make the laser land on the line of the angle finder. It's a very painful process. I over shoot, under shoot, second guess ---- you name it.

So I call festool for guidance. My phone call to festool had someone instruct me to "gently tap it until it lines up". Really, I say to myself. This is what $1800 CAD and the world famous accuracy of festool comes down to, tapping on the saw to get lasers to line up to the angle finder.

So I wonder how repeatable this cut would be if I follow these instruction. As a test I set my angle finder to a random angle and tap away at the miter to line up the lasers. After a good 10-20 seconds of tapping back and fourth I proceed to make my cut with the lasers on the line of the angle finder. I then set the miter back to zero and repeat.  Guess what, not very fast, not very easy not very simple but most important not repeatable accuracy and very slow.

So I guess my question to the forum would be is this, is there some after market knob I can put on my Kapex so that I can dial-in my lasers to the angle finder?? This would save me about 20 seconds per cut and a lot of frustration. A knob similar to the one that adjusts bevel angles would be sweet.

I will have to sit down and run some estimates on how many minutes a day I burn on "tapping" the saw to line up with the angle finder.

Thanks

 

[#Tee]

I dont think theres saw in the market that will do what youre trying to do here.

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

Yes there is actually

The Milwaukee saw has a digital read out and knob that you can dial in.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/milwaukee-12-in-dual-bevel-sliding-mitre-saw/906228?eid=PS_GO_140203__ALL_PLA-906228&pid=906228&gclid=CNrxgYrB6cgCFQhsfgodfdAOFQ

 

[#Tee]

thats pretty cool! you should of gotten that for the fraction of the price of the kapex. granted its dust collection is 75% it claims and weighs about 20lbs more and made in china

 

[Holmz]

[member=37561]#Tee[/member] - As your reply said that such a beast did not exist, I am sensing that you have neither owned, nor used the Milwaukee?

 

[#Tee]

[member=37561]#Tee[/member] - As your reply said that such a beast did not exist, I am sensing that you have neither owned, nor used the Milwaukee?

no power tools in red but hand tools yes

 

[Holmz]

You're ahead of me then as I have no red tools by Milwaukee, but I have been a bit tempted.

Maybe there is a market for someone to make an accessory for the Kapex?

 

[Kev]

I do feel that innovation in the power tool industry is about advanced as the 60's car industry (new grill and tail lights).

The SCMS lends itself to real potential for accuracy tuning.fine calibration. It it because 90% of the demand is soaked up by choppers of 4x2's and floorboards?

 

[Birdhunter]

I don't do very much molding work so my response is questionable at best.

My technique is to use the angle finder to measure the desired angle and tighten it up good.

I lay the angle finder on the Kapex bed with one edge (leg) against the fence and move the saw blade to line up on the other edge (leg) of the angle finder. I don't use the lasers at all.

The Kapex head seems to rotate freely enough to just touch the edge (leg) without disturbing the angle finder setting.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Forget that stupid Kapex angle finder.  As you said it just wastes too much time.  Get a Starrett 505A-12 ProSite 12-Inch Dial Protractor.

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

Bruce---Very cool gizmo, thanks for pointing it out. 
And its less expensive than the Festool angle finder and looks like its made of real metal (no plastic). 

 

[Cheese]

I've used one for years and they are nice, made from aluminum.

The only downside is that the angle cannot be locked in place so you have to be careful when transporting the tool to the saw.

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

[member=37561]#Tee[/member] - As your reply said that such a beast did not exist, I am sensing that you have neither owned, nor used the Milwaukee?

no power tools in red but hand tools yes

Tee---In case you did not notice, the Milwaukee saw is heavier because it has a larger blade and base and cutting abilites.

As well, its made in Korea, not China.

I personally do not put too much credence in the "Made in Germany" ---- after all Hyundai these days have some way better cars than Volkswagen

Thanks for posting your input in any case.

 

[#Tee]

i got the info from here? http://www.homedepot.ca/product/milwaukee-12-in-dual-bevel-sliding-mitre-saw/906228?eid=PS_GO_140203__ALL_PLA-906228&pid=906228&gclid=CNrxgYrB6cgCFQhsfgodfdAOFQ

not that it matters much to me but it does to most ppl where its made. I guess everything has its trade offs with features vs price.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I've used one for years and they are nice, made from aluminum.

The only downside is that the angle cannot be locked in place so you have to be careful when transporting the tool to the saw.

No need to transport to the saw, just transport the angle to your brain... [tongue]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Bruce---Very cool gizmo, thanks for pointing it out. 
And its less expensive than the Festool angle finder and looks like its made of real metal (no plastic).

As Cheese mentioned it is made of an aluminum alloy.  There is a smaller plastic version available for less money.

BTW, it's Brice not Bruce. 

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

Sorry for the typo on your name Brice.

 

[DB10]

The angle finder that comes with the Kapex works just fine for me.
Like Birdhunter, I don't use the lasers with the angle finder I just use the saw blade to align the cut, quick and easy.

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

Maybe I did a bad job of explaining my problem or I'm not understanding your point properly.

My issue is not the lasers,  it's the ability to accurately rotate the saw to the proper miter angle. The lasers just mark where you angle is. 
The lack of a fine adjustment knob makes it difficult to the proper angle without over shooting or under shooting your angle finder.

Furthermore,  to repeat that angle cut is near impossible if you reset the miter to zero.

A fine adjustment knob would be ideal,  just like the Kapex has on the bevel adjustment.

In any case thanks for posting a reply.

 

[Cheese]

No need to transport to the saw, just transport the angle to your brain... [tongue]

Ya, while theoretically that appears to be easy to do on the surface, the older I get, I find it easier to transpose 49.5 degrees to 45.9 degrees. And it only goes down hill from there...