Checking out the new Kapex

[MarkV1]

That was what he said when he told me earlier this week when he said it was going to be a few more weeks (ordered around Feb 20) before I would see my Kapex.

So, while I'm _patiently_ waiting... and thinking that Festool had to turn the little knob to "Make Kapexi Faster" is there an unboxing link or article that discusses what a new owner should check out on their Kapex to make sure it is within spec?  I've seen various individual issues, but not any comprehensive list of "look for these things"...

Thanks!

[ edited - Shane ]

 

[Stoli]

Don't lose the laser alignment hex key!

 

[Sean7a]

A lot of the small doodads etc are covered in the supplemental manuals.  We include them with shipouts of all Festool tools for which there is a supplemental manual available.  Below is a link to the Kapex supp. manual.  Probably some goodies in there that'll help ya get started

Kapex Supplemental Manual

 

[Cheese]

Don't lose the laser alignment hex key!

Good news, the hex key for the Carvex also fits the Kapex.

 

[johnleve]

This might be helpful:

 

[Slartibartfass]

Search: "KAPEX wings" or "KAPEX extension" or "KAPEX miter station" or "KAPEX UG Stand" for useful info.

 

[Worm Drive]

Use the specs in the manual, to build a zero clearance fence and some inserts, while you're waiting.

 

[Scorpion]

I used my Kapex for 2 full days before I realized the laser on mine didn't work. 

Then I realized I didn't even know how to turn it on.

Then I realized I never even peeked at the manual.  So I did...laser works. 

I love my Kapex.

 

[MarkV1]

Thanks for the replies.

My Kapex showed up today and I'm going through the supplemental manual.  One safety question...

"Clamp the offcut side of the workpiece when using a length stop."

I'm a miter saw noob!  I use a table saw, a TS55 track saw, and a jigsaw.  I'm careful about making sure the wood can not bind on the table saw when using the fence and have a riving knife as well as a cross cut sled.  I don't worry about kickback with the TS55 or jigsaw.

I assume this is

Offcut | Blade | Wood | Length Stop

Why does one clamp the offcut in this case?  I would have thought the wood between the blade and length stop would have a bigger chance of binding and causing some sort of kickback.  The offcut has no pressure on it and should just fall away harmlessly much like that on the table saw?  I guess I'm running a blade through the wood instead of vice versa, so maybe this is valid as the offcut is being pushed up against the fence and could spin.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Rick Christopherson]

"Clamp the offcut side of the workpiece when using a length stop."

.........

I assume this is

Offcut | Blade | Wood | Length Stop

This is simply a misunderstanding of common terminology. The piece that should be clamped is the side that is constrained by the length stop (as you correctly surmised). The use of the word "offcut" I guess could be confusing in this case. The reason why it was chosen is because when making cuts with a length stop, it presupposes multiple cuts of the same length, and therefore, the "offcut" is actually your saved piece (as opposed to a tablesaw, where your offcut is almost always the waste side of the cut).

This is actually a little more evident when you look at the whole safety message instead of just the introductory clause:

Clamp the offcut side of the workpiece when using a length stop. An unsecured offcut can bind between the length stop and the saw blade.

I must admit I'm impressed. You actually read the safety messages at the beginning of the manual. No one reads those.  [scared] It caught me off guard and I had to search the manual just to find the passage you were referring to, and I wrote the darned thing.  [big grin]

 

[rljatl]

I thought offcut always referred to the waste piece.

 

[MarkV1]

Thanks for the response. I've seen several threads where it has been reiterated to read the Kapex supplemental manual... so I am!

I wasn't able to come up with a name of the part of the workpiece that wasn't the offcut. A little googling says it's the main work piece that isn't the offcut.

I'd rather be using it, but I've got some shop reorganization to do first, so I've got to settle with reading the manual - front to back.

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I thought offcut always referred to the waste piece.

With a tablesaw that is definitely the case because your saved cut is almost always between the blade and fence. With a miter saw it is a little less defined because there isn't anything that truly establishes which is a saved piece versus the waste piece as far as your handling of the piece is concerned.

You may be holding the saved piece or you may be holding the waste piece. So the term offcut is generally used to signify the piece you are NOT holding. In the case of a length stop, it is usually not a good idea to be holding that piece because that places your hand too close to the blade (unless the stop is far from the blade).

 

[peter halle]

I learned something new today - offcut doesn't necessarily mean scrap based on what machine you are using.

At least I'll know if this question comes up again.

Peter