Actual Kapex KS 120 Dimensions? 50/60 degrees vs Center/0.

[permaN00b]

Greetings All,

The width dimension listed for a Kapex KS 120 is 28".  Is this with the blade centered (0°), or is this with the miter angle swung fully to one side?  If centered, what would be the maximum width of the saw at 50/60° (and is the width different at full left vs right)?

I do not currently own a Kapex, but planning for a future addition to the shop.  I'm currently building the Miter Station project from The Wood Whisperer Guild and would like to build in enough space to utilize the full left/right 50/60° capability of the saw.  The original plan was designed for a Dewalt DSW716, utilizing a 26" support shelf.  When Marc switched back to a Kapex, he noted it fit on the platform (? - 28" width listed) but he was not able to utilize the full swing of the saw.

Depending on how wide I need to go few extra inches would impact how I lay out my shop.  Trying to be as economical with space as and materials as possible.  If anyone has completed this build and you have a Kapex installed, I would love to hear your experiences, helpful hints, lessons learned, etc.

TIA!

 

[luvmytoolz]

With the saw in 90deg mode it's the barest fraction over 24" outer dimension, with the head rotated to the max left or right, and the fences adjusted accordingly, it's 27" outer dimension.

If you wanted to bolt it into position, and swing the head max in both directions, 28" would give better clearance all round.

I'm a bit baffled by the fact that Mark couldn't utilise the full swing in 28" of space, I just re-checked mine, and with the base fixed in position, the total combined width taken up by full swing left and right is exactly 27.5", 28" definitely is more than adequate.

I'm wondering if he had some rear obstruction that fouled part of the head or something on his bench stopping him from full swing?

 

[permaN00b]

Thank you!  This helps tremendously. 

I believe Marc left the space at 26" when he installed a Kapex. 

 

[squarecut]

See my reply to another FOG member asking for the same info last year -

At this link my reply gives dimensions -https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/ks-120-dimensions/msg661655/#msg661655

I have subsequently updated my workbenches on either side of my Kapex as shown in attached photos

 

[wmarazita]

It seems that you would want to not only check the clearance when the saw is rotated through its full travel in both the right and left extreme "horizontal" positions, but you would also want to fully tilt the saw blade left and right through its full "vertical" positions to check its clearance as well. And then do both of the above again at the same time. In other words, if you needed to make a compound angle cut using both horizontal and vertical miter angles at the same time, you would want to ensure that you had full clearance at these absolute extremes.

I recall making a work station for a Kapex for a school a few years back and I think this was an issue that needed to be resolved in the spacing, but my memory fades. Please someone correct me if this isn't an issue, since I do not have a Kapex at home and cannot confirm one way or another.

 

[ChuckM]

See my reply to another FOG member asking for the same info last year -

At this link my reply gives dimensions -https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/ks-120-dimensions/msg661655/#msg661655

I have subsequently updated my workbenches on either side of my Kapex as shown in attached photos

I also use thin plywood (1/4") as the sacrificial fence for the Kapex to minimize the loss of cutting depth, but I noticed these circular things on yours. What are they, and what are they for?

[attachimg=1]

 

[squarecut]

[member=4938]chuckS[/member]
They are called elevator bolts. (See Attachment) I used them to provide a larger surface on the bolt heads that fasten the sacrificial fence to the Kapex fence to allow for my adjustable zero clearance fence (copied from David Stanton - see video link below) to magnetically attach to my sacrificial fence. Saves me using clamps. I embedded a strip of magnetic tape in the rear face of the AZCF sections. I also made them half the thickness of Dave's. Sorry, I do not have photos of my AZCF version.

Dave Stanton link -https://youtu.be/NgEg-F38eDY

 

[ChuckM]

Thanks for the information. I hadn't seen that type of bolt before, and they seem to be quite useful in certain applications.

 

[permaN00b]

[member=26002]squarecut[/member]  Thank you very much for the info - and the inspiration!  Great photos, just what I was looking to see.  My search-foo was weak, I did not see your previous post on this topic, but thank you very much for sharing the link.  I am definitely going to copy that sacrificial fence design!