Another Kapex Bites the dust. Again.

[DeformedTree]

I recently purchased the dewalt power station but returned anyway I plugged my kapex into it but it wouldn’t run but I plugged my 10” hitachi miter saw and the ct 26 and it ran. Strange the kapex wouldn’t power up. Why?

Powerstation probably produces some very ugly looking AC (wave form),  kapex might see what it's getting and just say "no way".  Any DC to AC setup isn't going to be very pretty, but if it's done on cheap and small, it's not going to be the nicest looking power (less sin wave, more square wave).

 

[waho6o9]

I plugged my Bosch 4100 into my Festool dust extractor and fried a board on my table saw.

Oops. 

 

[Cheese]

I plugged my Bosch 4100 into my Festool dust extractor and fried a board on my table saw.
Oops.

.

Well that’s not good...I’ve got my 4100 hooked up to a Jet Vortex and everything is good...for now....has been for the last 7-8 years.

 

[waho6o9]

Good news!

 

[Bohdan]

I plugged my Bosch 4100 into my Festool dust extractor and fried a board on my table saw.

Oops.

Static?

 

[waho6o9]

Not static, it was lacking electricity for start up if I recall correctly.

The helpful Bosch techs figured it out and a 40.00 dollar board made the table saw useful again.

I now plug the table saw into an outlet and the dust extractor into a different outlet. 

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

I was in two different tool shops/stores yesterday, dipping into the pension fund again  [scared]

When I got to the miter saw section, the new Kapex 120 was set up in a couple of ways as a demo. Both shops/stores had them on display, and have had them since launch. I asked the assistants questions like, "are the characteristic fault risks eradicated with these now?" The first shop/store assistant said, he knew of some of the problems but, wasn't sure if there had been any electrical changes or updates? The saws look pretty much the same to me apart from additional side extensions and a few other minor changes?

The other shop/store assistant, replied in a very quiet tone, that he'd never heard or knew of any issue risk?

So, for me personally, there's nothing so far that is removing any doubt from my mind regarding the Kapex, if I were looking for a new miter saw, until I get concrete confirmation that any issues, or risk of issues has been removed, or greatly reduced, I wouldn't buy one.

It really is a shame, as yesterday Festool products relieved me of almost another £2,000. This month alone I must of spent three times that amount on tools, and two thirds of it was with Festool.

 

[DeformedTree]

When I got to the miter saw section, the new Kapex 120 was set up in a couple of ways as a demo. Both shops/stores had them on display, and have had them since launch. I asked the assistants questions like, "are the characteristic fault risks eradicated with these now?" The first shop/store assistant said, he knew of some of the problems but, wasn't sure if there had been any electrical changes or updates? The saws look pretty much the same to me apart from additional side extensions and a few other minor changes?

The other shop/store assistant, replied in a very quiet tone, that he'd never heard or knew of any issue risk?

So, for me personally, there's nothing so far that is removing any doubt from my mind regarding the Kapex, if I were looking for a new miter saw, until I get concrete confirmation that any issues, or risk of issues has been removed, or greatly reduced, I wouldn't buy one.

They won't know what might be different, unless they have got out tools and did some teardown to compare PNs within.  And like anyshop, they are going to play dumb, or low key to the idea there are issues.  Hard to sell product when you go "oh yeah, these things have a history of frying a lot".

 

[ChuckM]

In the meantime, while people are debating (which is the right word because we really are clueless about how big or widespread the motor problem is) about the Kapex, or struggling if this is the right time to get one, or wondering if, as one of the owners, theirs would smoke in the near future (I'm one of them  [big grin]), I have been cutting amazing mitres (as perfect as they can ever be) ....

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

When I got to the miter saw section, the new Kapex 120 was set up in a couple of ways as a demo. Both shops/stores had them on display, and have had them since launch. I asked the assistants questions like, "are the characteristic fault risks eradicated with these now?" The first shop/store assistant said, he knew of some of the problems but, wasn't sure if there had been any electrical changes or updates? The saws look pretty much the same to me apart from additional side extensions and a few other minor changes?

The other shop/store assistant, replied in a very quiet tone, that he'd never heard or knew of any issue risk?

So, for me personally, there's nothing so far that is removing any doubt from my mind regarding the Kapex, if I were looking for a new miter saw, until I get concrete confirmation that any issues, or risk of issues has been removed, or greatly reduced, I wouldn't buy one.

They won't know what might be different, unless they have got out tools and did some teardown to compare PNs within.  And like anyshop, they are going to play dumb, or low key to the idea there are issues.  Hard to sell product when you go "oh yeah, these things have a history of frying a lot".

Yes DT, you’re right and I never pressed the point with either of the assistants because of the points you mention.
I did find myself getting very touchy feely with the display model, and was as usual very impressed at the innovation and little touches that have made this saw legendary.

 

[JFelchlin]

And so it goes... 9 pages - 410 Replies... So far.
If Festool would fix the problems with the Kapex - I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
But, a fickle woman... No matter how beautiful and sexy -
Just isn’t worth the aggravation and unfaithfulness.

So, until Festool fixes the problems - The FOG commentary stops detailing failures -
And this - When it’s right - Apparently incredible tool - Can be trusted -
I’ll stick with my tried and trusty Bocsh 5412L SCMS.
Still cuts straight and true... Every time... At a 1/3 the price.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Well, unexpectedly we may now be looking for another miter saw in the 250-300mm (10-12") blade category.
Now, I really would love to give the Kapex 120 a shot but, even with the latest model, I haven't seen or heard anything that can eliminate the nagging doubt I have about a possible issue?

I would almost certainly choose a 240 volt version, as although I've heard of cases with both voltages acting up, the 110-120 volt seems the higher percentage?
I genuinely don't know whether to take a leap of faith, or buy a saw roughly three times cheaper? Part of me thinks go for it! but, I then think it would be just my luck to buy one, and it takes a dive out of warranty  [scared]

Up until yesterday, it wasn't a consideration, as we didn't need another miter saw but, now we almost certainly do. Being positive, I have seen a lot more good and positive, even great reports on the saw, and the great feedback definitely outnumbers the negative by a huge margin.
However, doubt is a punisher at times.

 

[ChuckM]

Can't help you on the armature issue (or worry about the armature issue (after 3 years)), but on the precision aspect, I have not handled anything like the Kapex. See the dead-on mitres in a recent project.

 

[Cheese]

Up until yesterday, it wasn't a consideration, as we didn't need another miter saw but, now we almost certainly do. Being positive, I have seen a lot more good and positive, even great reports on the saw, and the great feedback definitely outnumbers the negative by a huge margin.

Well the nice thing about the Kapex is, if you set it up properly and never use it....it will never fail...what's not to like about that?  [poke]

 

[DeformedTree]

Up until yesterday, it wasn't a consideration, as we didn't need another miter saw but, now we almost certainly do. Being positive, I have seen a lot more good and positive, even great reports on the saw, and the great feedback definitely outnumbers the negative by a huge margin.

Well the nice thing about the Kapex is, if you set it up properly and never use it....it will never fail...what's not to like about that?  [poke]

Well, if you never use it, you save a lot of money on not buying a CT for it and still keeping it dust free, which in turns makes the overall cost of owning a Kapex much less.

 

[Cheese]

Well, if you never use it, you save a lot of money on not buying a CT for it and still keeping it dust free, which in turns makes the overall cost of owning a Kapex much less.

Excellent...I think we're on to something here that's called value added.

 

[Doug S]

Well, unexpectedly we may now be looking for another miter saw in the 250-300mm (10-12") blade category.
Now, I really would love to give the Kapex 120 a shot but, even with the latest model, I haven't seen or heard anything that can eliminate the nagging doubt I have about a possible issue?

This is where Festool have really shot themselves in the foot. Even if they have fixed the issue they can't say they have because that is admitting that there was one.

 

 

[jimbo51]

Well the nice thing about the Kapex is, if you set it up properly and never use it....it will never fail...what's not to like about that?

This is similar to the Elio car company approach. People put down a $1000 deposit and never have to pay a cent more to operate their Elio. Of course, they do not actually have a Elio in their possession, but that seems like a trivial point.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Up until yesterday, it wasn't a consideration, as we didn't need another miter saw but, now we almost certainly do. Being positive, I have seen a lot more good and positive, even great reports on the saw, and the great feedback definitely outnumbers the negative by a huge margin.

Well the nice thing about the Kapex is, if you set it up properly and never use it....it will never fail...what's not to like about that?  [poke]

[big grin] [big grin] [big grin] Look here Mr Cheese, I’ve only just started my love affair with plastic. So now I also have to get used to the idea of buying tools to look at, but not use?
You might have a point though, I could just buy one, perch it on the bench, right in the centre, pride of place etc. Then buy a cheaper saw, with no known risk, and use it for everything, and wipe any stray dust off the Kapex.
Then in ten years, I can say “My Kapex has never missed a beat!”
[doh]  [tongue]

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Well, unexpectedly we may now be looking for another miter saw in the 250-300mm (10-12") blade category.
Now, I really would love to give the Kapex 120 a shot but, even with the latest model, I haven't seen or heard anything that can eliminate the nagging doubt I have about a possible issue?

This is where Festool have really shot themselves in the foot. Even if they have fixed the issue they can't say they have because that is admitting that there was one.

That’s been my thinking lately Doug