Just in case you guys missed it, here is a cut and paste (I don't have a clue how to point to a previous posts) of my brief review of the Kapex on June 15th:
Played with a Kapex myself today, actually I had to put up crown molding in one room as part of a larger cabinet job. Someone kindly offered to loan me his Kapex for the job.
So I made maybe 12 cuts with the wonder machine......
First maybe I should point out that I did not receive a free kapex for this review.
My own cheap little miter saw is from Dewalt, a company I'm not particularly a fan of, since they make their share of junk tools, but I will use it for comparison.
first reaction: There's that nasty grinding noise and excessive drag while trying to adjust the miter, actually the miter lock does not work very well because it's a cheaply made piece of stamped steel that in it's relaxed state grips the outer edge of the gauge, press the release lever and an overcenter cam pushes it down slightly to release it's grip on the gauge - something I would expect to find on a tool with "chicago" in it's name (not a comment on that probably fine city, it's a common brand under which the worst examples of Chinese manufacturing technology are sold).
so I checked my own cheap Dewalt when I got back to the shop, nice brake system which clamps to a machined face on the outer face of the cast table itself (not a bolted on thin piece of sheet metal) - even more amazing is that should the dewalt ever get too loose or too tight (and grind) the tension is adjustable.
I also (because square corners in houses are never actually square) often needed to clamp just to one side of the detent - an annoying process with the Kapex since there is no way to lock out the detent, when you get close it'll jerk over and drop in - My humble Dewalt has thumb flip levers on both sides of the table handle to lock out the detent (for righties and lefties I guess) however it's right there at your thumb tip whenever your adjusting and decide you don't want to be locked in at the detent position.
The compound part of the equation (all that stuff piled up on top of the machine) is probably excellent, it's certainly fun to play with, knobs to twist and neat big scales, locks to stop you at places you might want to stop at. Frankly I don't use the tilt mechanism much, I buy compound saws because you usually get a better machine. now be honest with yourself, how often do you actually "tilt" your saw? (because that seems to be where all the money went in this model).
Dust control: Festools big (usually) advantage over everything else out there - Well, today's experiment resulted in exactly the same pile of sawdust on, around, and under the saw that I would expect from my Dewalt (Kapex hooked up to a CT22).
Smooth cuts? no detectable difference from my Dewalt (which is still on it's original blade despite having been fairly abused (aluminum extrusions etc)
Quiet? yes I think it probably is quieter than my dewalt, soft start is nice (Dewalt tends to bang on when you hit the trigger)
Control quirks? That thing with the trigger and button, frankly I read about concerns about it on here, but in my own use (Maybe because I've been using a TS55 a lot), I simply was not aware of it, I didn't have to pause and remember to push this - then pull that, simply did what came naturally and the saw started.
Conclusion, Festool has made a magnificent effort and produced a truly fine half a machine - there's nothing that comes close to competing with it from the blade shaft up. unfortunately everything below the blade shaft is cheap, unergonomic, poorly thought out, and badly made. I would not be surprised to discover that they made a top-down design approach and simply ran out of time, money, and enthusiasm before they got to that table and it's truly inferior controls.
no, I'm not knocking Festool out of habit, frankly I couldn't run my business without them, I literally rely on their fine products to earn my living. I'd love to expand my collection and will as soon as I discover (or they produce) more tools that will make my life easier.
But they've got to be better.
Not just more expensive, not hyped up by announcing in advance when they will be available. just make a better tool. (this ain't it).
