Another dead kapex 2nd time

[Tomi]

Hi I bough my kapex a 2014 after two years motor gone so went for free service as usual great customer service from festool uk. Today again motor become sparky and smell like burning cables
I’m not using it hard to be honest it was seatings in my workshop for a whole summer as I do a lot of cut roof and do not use it often. I’m wondering if other guys have the same problems. Are they designed to last 2 years? And service?
Kapex it’s a great tool when it comes to accuracy and dust collection but what’s going on with reliability on this tool?
Thanks good I kept my old Bosch it going for past 6years no problem and it taking a hardest task always.

 

[vkumar]

Tomi sorry to hear this. Was this a 110 V model or 230 V?

It is stories like this that keep me from buying a Kapex.  New model REB nothwithstanding.  The warranty is still only 3 years. so does not inspire much confidence.

 

[Tomi]

It’s 110v model for uk market don’t get me wrong it’s great saw but only when it’s working and i dony Know who design a ctl midi wit big 3pin plug on the front for uk 110v, when you pulling plug out to disconnect fro ctl midi it coming out with the whole front panel the fixing they use it simply to weak to withstand pulling power

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
It is stories like this that keep me from buying a Kapex.  New model REB nothwithstanding.  The warranty is still only 3 years. so does not inspire much confidence.

The REBs or the EBs with the new motor/parts have not been in the market long enough to tell how they'll stand up in use. But between the new REB and the EB (new motor) now on huge sale. I'd definitely choose the latter.

How come a motor two years old with below average use and others (mine for example, 4 years in regular use) could have such different fates? Did Festool really pin down the cause(s)?

 

[Tomi]

I’m thinking that a 5 year lesson that I survived with my kapex pushing me strongly to Bosch new like a swing arm chop saw way as I’m a professional tradesmen and I need a tool that is reliable and I don’t  have to treat like a baby. It a tool for earning money not for show. I do appreciate dust collection, accuracy and great customer service but I’m simply very disappointed 2nd time.

 

[Doug S]

The good news for you is Festool finally admitted that the motor had problems and have since updated it. Festool UK are supposedly repairing motors for free out of warranty with the new updated one on Kapex up to 5 years old so you might just be lucky.

My motors averaged about 18 months to 2 years, latest one was fitted out of warranty for about £75 and was the updated one, still going strong after 2 years (fingers crossed) 

 

[ChuckM]

I’m thinking that a 5 year lesson that I survived with my kapex pushing me strongly to Bosch new like a swing arm chop saw way as I’m a professional tradesmen and I need a tool that is reliable and I don’t  have to treat like a baby.

Whether it's Bosch, DeWalt or Hitachi, or you name it, their motors last 10 years plus. The motor is the heart of any mitre saw and it trumps any other features because if it dies, the saw is useless.

Due to its years long silence, I have little faith in Festool's half-hearted announcement about its new motors.

 

[Tomi]

Is the new armature compatible with the older kapex?
It’s worries me that they will do the same as last time will phone them up tomorrow and will have a chat with the Enginer if possible ?

 

[ChuckM]

The EB on sale is supposed to be installed with the new motor (including the armature).

 

[Tomi]

PM
I’m thinking that a 5 year lesson that I survived with my kapex pushing me strongly to Bosch new like a swing arm chop saw way as I’m a professional tradesmen and I need a tool that is reliable and I don’t  have to treat like a baby.
Whether it's Bosch, DeWalt or Hitachi, or you name it, their motors last 10 years plus. The motor is the heart of any mitre saw and it trumps any other features because if it dies, the saw is useless.

I’m absolutely agreeing with you kapex it’s not a heavy duty tool for professional joiner/ carpenter

 

[Gregor]

I’m absolutely agreeing with you kapex it’s not a heavy duty tool for professional joiner/ carpenter

The 220V version seems to be quite relieable (at least I havn't seen reports of them dying repeatedly), the problem looks like to be with the 110V version only (which, as of half the voltage, runs with twice the current).

 

[Tomi]

I’m absolutely agreeing with you kapex it’s not a heavy duty tool for professional joiner/ carpenter

The 220V version seems to be quite relieable (at least I havn't seen reports of them dying repeatedly), the problem looks like to be with the 110V version only (which, as of half the voltage, runs with twice the current).

Yes it is a faulty product and it’s a definitely manufacturer’s fault
Unfortunately we are still paying for that mistake

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

There have been plenty of reports, of 240 volt machines smoking, and failing.

 

[Gregor]

There have been plenty of reports, of 240 volt machines smoking, and failing.

I must have missed these. Do you have a link?

 

[ChuckM]

I did recall seeing reports of Kapex 220V version smoking, but I believe they were no where near as common as those reported on the the 110V model. Someone also mentioned about that here:
https://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?pretty;board=festool-tool-problems;topic=kapex-up-in-smoke.0

But were the causes for failure in the 220V model and 110V model the same? We would never know.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

There are reports on here and other sites of the 240 volt version having the issue.
Over a good few years out on site, and talking with colleagues, I found that there were a substantial amount of 240 volt models going down too. Maybe not in the numbers of 110 volt but, still a concern.

I did a lot of research when I first considered a Kapex, and I found no pattern from what I’d read or was told, that linked any cause of the failures. It all seemed very random.

 

[Doug S]

My Kapex was 240v that burnt up, as Jiggy says plenty of reports in UK of 240v problems.

I spoke with a Festool rep about 2 years ago who was very honest and open about the whole Kapex problem. I asked him if it was voltage related and he said not. He also told me about the armature/motor updates which has now been confirmed to be true so I have no reason to doubt what he said about the voltage.

 

[Tomi]

I there the same issues with the KS60? Any one aware of?

 

[ChuckM]

The KS60 is so new that I haven't heard of any motor issue with it.

 

[demographic]

I there the same issues with the KS60? Any one aware of?

Not that I've heard of yet and it's the only Kapex I'm interested in, the rest are a bit big and numb to cart about every day.
Would be nicer if they made a cordless version to compete against Hikoki, Makita and De-Walts offerings mind.