My son gave me his Festool mitre saw. I like the saw thus far but I may have found an issue that makes using this saw a no-go for me. Does the mitre saw only use proprietary blades? I am reading the arbor on this saw does not accept the standard blade sold in the big box stores? If so, where is the best place to buy a replacement blade other than Festool direct?
Festool ks 120 eb Blade Replacement
- Thread starter ODawg
- Start date
260x30 is not proprietary. Dewalt, Makita, Bosch all use that. There are also other companies like CMT selling 260x30 blades.
Hipplewm
Member
tons of places make the saw blades
Orange CMT
several chinese brands (I assume Tenryu is chinese, but I could be wrong)
I doubt you will find it at a big box store, but you are also def not locked into Festool only
Cheese
Member
Forrest also offers an 80 tooth & a 90 tooth ChopMaster blade for the Kapex.
You can also send your Kapex blade to Festool for sharpening.
You can also send your Kapex blade to Festool for sharpening.
tjbnwi
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I’ve tried various manufactures blades on my Kapex's. Always end up going back to the Festool (Leitz) blades. Between sound and cut quality I have not found a better blade.
I bet the blade from my original Kapex has been sharpened 10 times. I have extra blades of each configuration so the saws are not down when a blade needs service.
The Festool blades are no more expensive than any high quality blade.
I like the Leitz blades so much they are the brand I use on my table saws.
Quinn Saw in St. Louis (they are who Festool uses for their sharpening service) does a fantastic job servicing the Festool blades.
Tom
I bet the blade from my original Kapex has been sharpened 10 times. I have extra blades of each configuration so the saws are not down when a blade needs service.
The Festool blades are no more expensive than any high quality blade.
I like the Leitz blades so much they are the brand I use on my table saws.
Quinn Saw in St. Louis (they are who Festool uses for their sharpening service) does a fantastic job servicing the Festool blades.
Tom
Hipplewm
Member
I am the same way, but with Orange CMT - I liked them so much I use them on my table saw now as well - to each their own
At the end of the day there are options outside of FS though
luvmytoolz
Member
I've never bought Leitz blades but have bought CMT over the years and have been extremely happy with them. Every CMT product I've bought has been absolutely stellar, great brand.
tjbnwi
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I have a ton of Orange tools. I find the CMT blades for the Kapex to be louder than the Leitz, I also think the Leitz lasts longer between servicing and the cut quality is better.
I did not have the CMT blade serviced, I don’t know how many sharpenings is in the carbide.
I know all of the above is subjective.
Tom
I did not have the CMT blade serviced, I don’t know how many sharpenings is in the carbide.
I know all of the above is subjective.
Tom
Michael Kellough
Member
…except when you bought a Festool blade.
Jim_in_PA
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As has been noted, they are standard blades...most of the world is metric.
You can easily purchase alternative blades from a number of manufacturers online if you prefer not to buy OEM. The OEM blades are not really very far out of line price wise with premium blades from other manufacturers, however...about the same as I paid for the 12" 1" bore blades for my sliding table saw.
luvmytoolz
Member
Are all the ranges of Festool blades Leitz blades?
tjbnwi
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Cheese
Member
I believe the answer is yes...I do know that's the case for TS 55 & Kapex blades. I have CMT & Forrest blades but do prefer the Festool/Leitz blades. They seem to cut cleaner and keep their edge longer.
luvmytoolz
Member
Good to know, I'll buy the Festool blades going forward then.
Cheese
Member
FWIW...when I first purchased the Kapex in 2015, I contacted Forrest Blades in Massachusetts and asked them if they could sharpen the standard Kapex saw blade OR if they were willing to rebore their ChopMaster blade to fit the Kapex. Both answers came back as no...understand...Forrest at that time was NOT producing a blade for the Kapex...however, times change and now they are. That little detour made me rethink the options and I came to realize that I'd had the best results from the Leitz blades. As of today, the Forrest blades reside on the table saw & radial arm saw while the Leitz blades reside on all of the Festool saws.
I do wonder who produces the Mafell blades as they are also excellent.
However, I also noticed that they tend to rust/tarnish easier than the Festool blades.
I do wonder who produces the Mafell blades as they are also excellent.
However, I also noticed that they tend to rust/tarnish easier than the Festool blades.Attachments
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tjbnwi
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According to Google Mafell manufacturers their own blades.FWIW...when I first purchased the Kapex in 2015, I contacted Forrest Blades in Massachusetts and asked them if they could sharpen the standard Kapex saw blade OR if they were willing to rebore their ChopMaster blade to fit the Kapex. Both answers came back as no...understand...Forrest at that time was NOT producing a blade for the Kapex...however, times change and now they are. That little detour made me rethink the options and I came to realize that I'd had the best results from the Leitz blades. As of today, the Forrest blades reside on the table saw & radial arm saw while the Leitz blades reside on all of the Festool saws.
I do wonder who produces the Mafell blades as they are also excellent.
Tom
