Here go guys a Kapex problem....

[lagunaboo]

I was working on thursday installing some doors and windows.

Nice warm sunny day (UK weather).

Cutting the beads for the windows on the Kapex and slid the fence extension out of the way. The left hand one jammed solid and would not move.

Strangely enough, the client is an aircraft engineer and helped me remove the stuck fence extension.

While I was working away he checked out the fence and said that it looks like if you get a little bit of sawdust into the channel, it allows the end of the sliding part to bring up a burr and this when sliding the fence out (even a mm) almost fuses the fence together as the tollerence is so small.

He rubbed it down with various grades of 'wet & dry' and improved the situation but it still catches.

As a sideline he also said that the casting is quite a soft grade of alloy (nearly but not quite aircraft grade) and it will always be prone to this problem.

I can see the burr clearly when I remove the fence sides.

I however had great service from Festool UK.... They asked if I wanted the saw collected or whether I would be happy to be sent a complete new fence to fit myself.

As I use the saw daily I opted for the latter, they didnt have a problem with my client (maybe as his knowledge was extensive) trying to sort the problem out as a tempory fix.

Just thought I would give you guys the heads up...

Mark

 

[Eli]

I did comment on this. We had this problem with the saw at work, so when I got mine I was savvy to it and took them off before using it and rubbed a piece of paraffin up and down the groove until it looked like it was covered with fake snow. Seems to have worked fine, but then I vac down the whole saw after use and have been known to rub it with a baby wipe.  ;D

 

[lagunaboo]

Same as me Eli, kid glove treatment with the vac and the wiping down, but the chip got in while I was working, so little I could have done.

Must admit I hadnt applied wax, I have now of course, but a bit after the 'horse has bolted' syndrome.

Mark

 

[Eli]

never too late for wax. I like silicone too. doesn't pick up any crap.

 

[jonny round boy]

Nice warm sunny day (UK weather).

I believe that the two statements above are mutually exclusive, and should never appear together in a sentence...

But then I am from 'up north'

 

[lagunaboo]

Thursday was nice and warm in the morning, bloody rained hard in the afternoon.

But you know JRB its always wet North of the Watford gap...

Mark

 

[Fred West]

Hey guys, thank you for the heads up on the fence issue. I will be sure to either use paraffin or silicone on the fence groove. I currently own the LS1013 and also always vacumn and wipe down after every use so this will not be new with the Kapex. I mst say though that I am glad to not be wherever Eli is working as apparently without using silicone or paraffin his saw is picking up crap. Are you working in a horse or cow barn Eli??? ;D Fred

 

[erikfsn]

Does it seem strange to anyone that a saw designed to cut wood
would be harmed by a little sawdust?

Does anyone know if Festool is addressing this?

Kind of puts a damper on my thoughts of buying this tool for $1300
when it gets to the US this summer . . .

 

[lagunaboo]

It would certainly seem that (as my aircraft engineer client noticed) the alloy is a little soft when trying to get such a close tolerance on the sliding part of the moving fence.

It does look like a grain of dust or something will throw out the balance and cause the fence to rub, this in turn pulls up a burr which then because of the alloys softness almost fuses it together.

I mentioned this to Tooltechnics (Festool uk) who said he will report it to HO. I will follow up with an email. I think the alloy could be much harder on a tool of this price.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Hey guys, thank you for the heads up on the fence issue........

Does it seem strange to anyone that a saw designed to cut wood
would be harmed by a little sawdust?

Does anyone know if Festool is addressing this?

Kind of puts a damper on my thoughts of buying this tool for $1300
when it gets to the US this summer . . .

     

Seems like Festool USA won't be releasing the fence extensions here in the US so it isn't going to be a problem we will face.

 

[lagunaboo]

Sorry Brice, but it will be......

Both myself and Eli are refering to the normal fence... the higher rear sliding parts...

So get ya wax ready now.

 

[nickao]

You know that has happened to me on other saws. My Ridgid actually gets stuck like that and I think my old DeWalt(about 10 years ago) had a similar problem, I think it was a De Walt. Anyway it is a small price to pay for me to get the good dust extraction.

Does this mean the dust extraction is not as good as we are told, 91%?

9% of the dust causes this problem. I can see it on the Ridgid where 100% of the dust flies all over the place.

Nickao

 

[Frank-Jan]

Thanks for the heads up, I just checked mine, luckily there was no burr yet, so I cleaned it with air and sprayed some dry silicone on both parts.
I always vacuum the saw after use, (small effort when the ct is standing next to it) So far I didn't have a need for the babywipes...

 

[lagunaboo]

The dust extraction is good.

I couldnt tell where the grit, crap or dust come from, it may of not even been crap, just unlucky.

 

[ireland]

Hi lagunaboo

Thanks for the tip, I have had mine a few months now and not had the problem yet but I will be sure to put some wax on now.

Cheers

Paul 

 

[Eli]

Does it seem strange to anyone that a saw designed to cut wood
would be harmed by a little sawdust?

Does anyone know if Festool is addressing this?

Kind of puts a damper on my thoughts of buying this tool for $1300
when it gets to the US this summer . . .

It's hard to say if it's from dust. It could just as easily be a burr raised from dinging inside of the track while reinstalling. With the right precautions I've never (knock wood) had the problem with my personal saw. I wouldn't let it bum you out, it's still quite a fun gizmo.

I'd also like to point out that it may be possible to cut into the fence if you set it all the way in and flop the saw the wrong way. You really aren't paying attention and deserve to cut a chunk out of it if you do, but this would be my guess for the 'soft alloy' (doesn't seem really soft to me). It's better to cut a chunk off the fence than send carbide teeth flying around the shop. 

 

[lagunaboo]

Thats a fair point Eli. A harder grade alloy could be more brittle also and shatter if hit by the teeth.

I think its one we are gonna have to live with and keep the channel well lubricated.

It is pretty rare that I move the fence side's so you just have to go easy...

 

[mrwilby]

I've had the entire fence extension assembly replaced on my kapex (I'm in Finland).

My LHS extension took a hammer to get loose (by my dealer). The right was a little easier, I managed to work it free myself.

In my case the quality control was dire on the LHS extension. It was machined *very* badly and rough aluminium flakes had managed to badly damage the track in which the extension rides.

My replacement, I might add, is not that much better in terms of free movement. I'm keeping an eye on it, but it'll go back again if it still isn't better.

IMO, they have used either aluminium that is too soft, or then they shouldn't have used aluminium at all for this specific part.

 

[lagunaboo]

Ohhhh it just goes on and on.

I spent Sunday, while waiting for the fence replacement realligning the left laser, as it seemed to be out slightly.

Then it went right out, the alignment that is. Could I get it back in true, could I Boll**ks.

Phoned festool uk this morning and reported the fault.

Once again excellent Cust' service. The sent a courier to collect within 3 hours.

Will get it back on Thursday, new lasers (they said the early ones did have a problem??), new fence and new blade for my trouble.

Lets see if they hold true to their word....

I think they will but I will report.

 

[WRWoodworker]

never too late for wax. I like silicone too. doesn't pick up any crap.

Not anything to do with the jammed fence, but I understand silicone is a real no-no around wood.  I've read silicone products cause real problems when applying finish to wood work projects.  Sounds like wax would be the way to go.  Just my $ .02