Does anyone have any idea what exactly was changed in the Kapex motors to Increase the service life as they put it. I called their customer support the other day and I really want reasons to purchase the new model, but I want to understand what changes were done. The tech told me that they heard that in America we are aggressive with our tools where in Europe they let the saw do the work. I understand what she was saying however, other miter saw manufacturers like Dewalt don't have motor issues like this with normal use. I understand proper maintenance and care for the saw to maintain the rail smoothness and other associated parts, but the motor should not be affected by pushing down too fast and hard if other manufacture motors can handle it. If they would say what the changes were made I would feel better about a purchase. Does anyone have any other info. I searched the site but didn't find any concrete answers for this, That might be because there isn't one.
Exact Kapex Motor Changes?
- Thread starter MarcV
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MarcV said:
I doubt that you will get a response from Festool on this. It would perhaps be an internal or marketing situation which they generally do not speak about on the internet.
I am closer to Festool than many (please note that I am not an employee or compensated by Festool) but I have not heard any specifics. My guess is that anything written will be speculate or hearsay here.
Peter
deepcreek
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There isn't one. I babied my Kapex. The motor still went out after eight years. I ended up with a new one. It's worth it to me but may not be worth it to others. I get it. The Kapex is overpriced compared to similar miter saws. It is in a class by itself. It should not go up in a puff of smoke. I still love it. Kapex = Contradictions
Worth taking the risk with the new motor if you can get it through the discount offer (still available?).
Despite all the reviews (videos or written) including those by one-time users comparing the Kapex to other common brands, the Kapex is hard to beat for anyone who wants furniture quality results with the best safety features included. Of course, "hard-to-beat" does not cover the price comparison. If your main interest is garden benches, basement renovations, etc., you don't need a Kapex.
Despite all the reviews (videos or written) including those by one-time users comparing the Kapex to other common brands, the Kapex is hard to beat for anyone who wants furniture quality results with the best safety features included. Of course, "hard-to-beat" does not cover the price comparison. If your main interest is garden benches, basement renovations, etc., you don't need a Kapex.
DeformedTree
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The only way it would ever be known is to have a Kapex from many years ago, and a new one procured, and sent to a proper teardown/analysis company/person and have them go thru it all. And even then they may not have a conclusive answer or they may come back with a list of parts that have changed and various theories on what did what.
If you don't own a Kapex, just buy the new model that came out/coming out. If you buy the old model, just be aware it could go bad and hope the warranty is still good if it does. If your not concerned, buy any Kapex and use it and if something happens, something happens.
If someone is truly worried about this and driving purchasing concerns of a older Kapex, just do a cost analysis verses your mental health. If a new one cost a few hundred bucks more, but you just stop thinking about a failure, just buy the new one. Spending hours/days searching for answers, and stressing over this just isn't worth it. If you find a really good price on an old one, buy it and just go into it with the idea it could die quickly, but you saved a bunch of money and got to experience/try out the Kapex for a while.
If you don't own a Kapex, just buy the new model that came out/coming out. If you buy the old model, just be aware it could go bad and hope the warranty is still good if it does. If your not concerned, buy any Kapex and use it and if something happens, something happens.
If someone is truly worried about this and driving purchasing concerns of a older Kapex, just do a cost analysis verses your mental health. If a new one cost a few hundred bucks more, but you just stop thinking about a failure, just buy the new one. Spending hours/days searching for answers, and stressing over this just isn't worth it. If you find a really good price on an old one, buy it and just go into it with the idea it could die quickly, but you saved a bunch of money and got to experience/try out the Kapex for a while.
Thanks for the responses. Yeah I do like some of the features on it that you cannot find on other saw as well as the cut capacity to size ration. I will give it a shot with the new model. If something happens then it happens and I will come back here and warn everyone.
Rick Herrick
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Can I assume that any new Kapex out there now is the newer model? I am still confused about parts of this discussion, especially with regards to this saw and the package with the mobile cart that is coming out. Is it a different version of the Kapex?
I don't have near the skills to justify the Kapex but the biggest reason I recently jumped on the FT train was for dust collection. With my TS 55, CT26 and a couple of sanders, my shop is very, very much improved, dust collection wise. I am trying to find a way to not use my table saw (DW745) and my current miter (Bosch 12" Axial glide), at all. Yesterday I had to do just a few cuts on both and jeeeeez... the dust from those 2, especially the Bosch, are just unacceptable.
I would gladly pay $1500 for the Kapex if it really did come in almost dust free.
I don't have near the skills to justify the Kapex but the biggest reason I recently jumped on the FT train was for dust collection. With my TS 55, CT26 and a couple of sanders, my shop is very, very much improved, dust collection wise. I am trying to find a way to not use my table saw (DW745) and my current miter (Bosch 12" Axial glide), at all. Yesterday I had to do just a few cuts on both and jeeeeez... the dust from those 2, especially the Bosch, are just unacceptable.
I would gladly pay $1500 for the Kapex if it really did come in almost dust free.
Rick Herrick
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Cheese said:
This review examines which brand has the best dust collection:
Why Kapex was not included in the comparison even though the Kapex was there in the shop is anyone's guess.
But this one (2015) put Kapex #1 in the dust collection category:
https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/head-to-head/10-inch-sliding-miter-saw-head-to-head/5/
Why Kapex was not included in the comparison even though the Kapex was there in the shop is anyone's guess.
But this one (2015) put Kapex #1 in the dust collection category:
https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/head-to-head/10-inch-sliding-miter-saw-head-to-head/5/
Doug S said:
It was her nice way of saying that we abuse our tools and don't use the correct tool for the job. I cant imagine that workers are that different from country to country. The only thing that ever made sense to me was the 110V kapex being hooked to a festool vacuum plugged into a 15amp circuit. The math of the amperage needed for both tools doesn't add up, so one of the motors has be starved of needed amps. Im not a electrician but it seems to make sense to me.
MarcV said:
Tons of people, including the official response, don't think that matters.
Experts (at least some) think that wearing masks won't help you during this virus outbreak. I don't care what they think or say; I wear a mask when I'm in the public. It's my lungs, not theirs, and so I have the final say.
Same for the Kapex, I use the Kapex with a dedicated 15a outlet regardless of what others say. Five years old, my Kapex is still working well. It's my saw, not theirs, and so I do it my way.
Rick Herrick
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ChuckM said:
Hi Chuck, I am with you 100% on the mask deal.
Is your Kapex the only thing on that 15a circuit or are you hooked to a FT vacuum as well? My shop is still in its infancy and I only have 1 15a circuit, period.
Once the virus is slowed, my neighbor (30 year electrician) will help me add a few more circuits (all 20a). I have blown my 15a so many times when using my table saw with my vacuum together
Rick Herrick
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Thats very good to hear. I had not realized the weight difference. The Kapex is 47lbs and my Bosch is 65lbs. Big diff for sure.Cheese said:
Michael Kellough
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ChuckM said:
[member=57948]ChuckM[/member] which “experts” say that? I’d like to know who to ignore.
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Getting past the virus discussions...
I've had mine since 2010. It was a tough financial nut to crack to buy one. I didn't plan to. I am not an early implementor when things come out. But my other saw had a massive fail on a job and I had to use my lunch time to drive 50 miles round trip to get one. Luckily at that time I had enough money in my bank account. I am a tiny contractor who was hurt in the years after the recession.
I love my saw and if it was stolen I would buy a new one in a heartbeat. If my just needed repairs I would send it in. I have spent time with the service guys and seen the repair facilities. I have spent time talking about the repair procedures and seen the quality controls they have in place. If a Kapex were to come in for service there are employees specially trained just in case. I've met them, spoken with them.
Dust collection is so much better than any other saw I have had since 1983. But if anyone is expecting perfection - good luck. No saw is perfect. Technique with the Kapex will totally help as well as having a larger diameter hose on your vac or dust collector. But I will offer that all too many in my opinion look at the dust or debris on the tool and don't notice the lack of the dust in the air. That is really where the Kapex shines - your lungs.
As others have written, if you are doing a home improvement project or 2 a year, the Kapex with its price might not be for you. Perhaps it is tool to work towards. Perhaps a reward for a project completed when you didn't have to pay someone like me. I would be totally ok with that if one of my customers told me their goals.
Peter
I've had mine since 2010. It was a tough financial nut to crack to buy one. I didn't plan to. I am not an early implementor when things come out. But my other saw had a massive fail on a job and I had to use my lunch time to drive 50 miles round trip to get one. Luckily at that time I had enough money in my bank account. I am a tiny contractor who was hurt in the years after the recession.
I love my saw and if it was stolen I would buy a new one in a heartbeat. If my just needed repairs I would send it in. I have spent time with the service guys and seen the repair facilities. I have spent time talking about the repair procedures and seen the quality controls they have in place. If a Kapex were to come in for service there are employees specially trained just in case. I've met them, spoken with them.
Dust collection is so much better than any other saw I have had since 1983. But if anyone is expecting perfection - good luck. No saw is perfect. Technique with the Kapex will totally help as well as having a larger diameter hose on your vac or dust collector. But I will offer that all too many in my opinion look at the dust or debris on the tool and don't notice the lack of the dust in the air. That is really where the Kapex shines - your lungs.
As others have written, if you are doing a home improvement project or 2 a year, the Kapex with its price might not be for you. Perhaps it is tool to work towards. Perhaps a reward for a project completed when you didn't have to pay someone like me. I would be totally ok with that if one of my customers told me their goals.
Peter
Michael Kellough said:
[member=57948]ChuckM[/member] which “experts” say that? I’d like to know who to ignore.
[/quote]
"If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with COVID-19."
W.H.O. -https://www.who.int/emergencies/dis...9/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
This is the latest version. Before they updated their guidelines (a week ago?) , they even said wearing a mask could be worse than not wearing one! No kidding.
Our Chief Public Health Officer essentially said the same thing (because more or less she followed W.H.O.'s advice) until recently when she also changed her tune.
Their earlier advice was complete opposite to that given by medical experts in countries like Singapore, Taiwan, etc. I have been wearing masks since mid-March...not taking my chances.
Rick Herrick said:
I use the Kapex with a shop vac/dust deputy and the IVAC auto switch (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/workshop/dust-collection/parts-and-accessories/63013-ivac-automatic-vacuum-switch). The switch is plugged into two 15a outlets, hence providing a 15a supply to the saw and another 15a supply to the shop vac. I can't say if that's why my Kapex in regular use has not smoked. But I sleep better with that power hook-up. ;D
