How much extra counter width for a Kapex miter saw

[Doug Warrick]

I've order my Kapex miter saw and presently building my built in cabinets for my home woodshop. I'm struggling to locate the preferred side space that allows the miter saw to swing far left to far right. I know the saw is 24"1/4, but not sure how much additional space do I need to make sure it swings correctly. Also I will install counter side fences so the additional side space would be take this into consideration. Thanks in advance for the help.  Doug

 

[Packard]

I don’t have a Kapex, but the one thing I regret was when I set up the miter station, I did not leave enough room behind it for dust collection.

I really needed something like this:

 

[jstout]

I did 26 5/8" which is enough for angled cuts, but I recently found it's not enough for compound angles. I can't tell you the exact measure but I'd take an educated guess that you need at least 29" and possibly 30".

... wish I asked the same question first.

 

[tjskinny]

Take a look at Ron Pualk’s smart station.  He has some youtube videos going through the measurements for mounting the Kapex that might be of assistance.
=983s

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I'm not sure what anybody else is measuring but I'm seeing about 715mm overall when the handle is slid all the way to the Right and about 660mm when slid all the way to the Left.  This is measuring the back piece where the cord wraps around to the Black handle on the front.  You may want to wait to cut your wood to be sure as I remember somebody cutting and then having to make some nasty gouge in their cabinet to make it work after the fact...

 

[rjboch]

If it helps, my Kapex sits within a 27"x27" recessed space. I have 40" of cabinet counter to right and 110" to left and purposefully did not add additional cabinet mounted fence (I believe not needed since you should reference off saw fence). I have experienced no issues with any angled cuts (swings), including cutting 12' trim pieces. For dust collection, I drop a hose down behind saw to a dedicated CT15E. The beauty of the Kapex is that you can place it pretty close to wall and I see no need for additional dust hoods. The dust collection is excellent (not perfect). Over the last year I have used my Kapex to build all new kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, closet built-ins, support gut remodel of half the home (2x4's, 2x6's, and 2x8's), cut all trim, and cut over 2,000 sqft of engineered hardwood. Overall dust collection was great with minimal daily vacuum of saw during clean up time.  Eventually I will embed a short piece t-track into counter for placing a stop block for repeatable cuts. I currently just clamp a piece of stock to do this.

 

[semenza]

I've order my Kapex miter saw and presently building my built in cabinets for my home woodshop. I'm struggling to locate the preferred side space that allows the miter saw to swing far left to far right. I know the saw is 24"1/4, but not sure how much additional space do I need to make sure it swings correctly. Also I will install counter side fences so the additional side space would be take this into consideration. Thanks in advance for the help.  Doug

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

        Just to confirm ..................  you are talking about width (left / right ) not depth ( front / back ) ?

Seth

 

[twistsol1]

I built ~24' of cabinets along a wall in the shop and the Kapex is centered on a shorter 36" wide cabinet so the table of the Kapex is at equal height to the counters on either side. I have full length fences on either side, only for the stops. They are set back from the Saw fence about 3mm so cutting always references the saw fence and not the extensions.

The only problem I have is that I can't get the sliding fences off the Kapex since they run into the ends of the fence extensions, but the saw swings and tilts to its full range.

Finally, I left almost no space behind it for dust collection, and built the cabinet with v shaped trough with a 20mm wide slot. The trough has a 6" dust collection fitting piped into the shop DC to pick up any "overspray" from the saw. I have a CT 15 in the cabinet beneath the saw with a 36mm hose to the dust port on the Kapex.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
Finally, I left almost no space behind it for dust collection, Snip.

My setup is different, and the Kapex is not mounted on a bench or against a wall. But if I had to do that, I, too, wouldn't leave much extra space behind the saw. The reason that I like the Kapex and similar designs is that I don't need to allow space behind the saw. It'd defeat the purpose of such design if the saw is not to be or can't be mounted close to the wall behind.

 

[Doug Warrick]

I don’t have a Kapex, but the one thing I regret was when I set up the miter station, I did not leave enough room behind it for dust collection.

I really needed something like this:

Thanks, good to know. dw

 

[Doug Warrick]

I've order my Kapex miter saw and presently building my built in cabinets for my home woodshop. I'm struggling to locate the preferred side space that allows the miter saw to swing far left to far right. I know the saw is 24"1/4, but not sure how much additional space do I need to make sure it swings correctly. Also I will install counter side fences so the additional side space would be take this into consideration. Thanks in advance for the help.  Doug

Yes its the width dimension, and I'm new to the forum which is excellent and a big help! dw

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

        Just to confirm ..................  you are talking about width (left / right ) not depth ( front / back ) ?

Seth

 

[Doug Warrick]

If it helps, my Kapex sits within a 27"x27" recessed space. I have 40" of cabinet counter to right and 110" to left and purposefully did not add additional cabinet mounted fence (I believe not needed since you should reference off saw fence). I have experienced no issues with any angled cuts (swings), including cutting 12' trim pieces. For dust collection, I drop a hose down behind saw to a dedicated CT15E. The beauty of the Kapex is that you can place it pretty close to wall and I see no need for additional dust hoods. The dust collection is excellent (not perfect). Over the last year I have used my Kapex to build all new kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, closet built-ins, support gut remodel of half the home (2x4's, 2x6's, and 2x8's), cut all trim, and cut over 2,000 sqft of engineered hardwood. Overall dust collection was great with minimal daily vacuum of saw during clean up time.  Eventually I will embed a short piece t-track into counter for placing a stop block for repeatable cuts. I currently just clamp a piece of stock to do this.

Exactly what I needed, thanks! very helpful.  My goal is very similar to your cabinet including the dust extraction being underneath. dw

 

[ChuckM]

snip.

The only problem I have is that I can't get the sliding fences off the Kapex since they run into the ends of the fence extensions, but the saw swings and tilts to its full range.snip.

Unless I misunderstood your point, you can remove the fences off the fixed fence by backing up the small screws on the fences.

 

[Packard]

[…]. For dust collection, I drop a hose down behind saw to a dedicated CT15E. The beauty of the Kapex is that you can place it pretty close to wall and I see no need for additional dust hoods. The dust collection is excellent (not perfect). […]

I might have room for that.  If I do, I will give it a try.  Thanks. 

Packard

 

[twistsol1]

snip.

The only problem I have is that I can't get the sliding fences off the Kapex since they run into the ends of the fence extensions, but the saw swings and tilts to its full range.snip.

Unless I misunderstood your point, you can remove the fences off the fixed fence by backing up the small screws on the fences.

I should have been more clear. The Kapex fences bump into the extension fences built into my cabinets which is why I can't get them off ... not that I really ever need to.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.....since you should reference off saw fence).Snip.

An important point missed by so many miter saw users who include long fences on either side of the saw.

 

[squarecut]

See my reply to another FOG member asking for the same info last year -

At this link my reply gives dimensions -https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/ks-120-dimensions/msg661655/#msg661655

I have subsequently updated my workbenches on either side of my Kapex as shown in attached photos

 

[Coen]

I don’t have a Kapex, but the one thing I regret was when I set up the miter station, I did not leave enough room behind it for dust collection.

I really needed something like this:

Huhuuu, mitre saw in a tent? Well, the DeWalt might need it. But if you don't yet own a dust monster like the DeWalt is, buy a Kapex or Makita and forget about the tent.

Just compare how much dust the DeWalt DW780 spews around compared to the Makita LS1219L; night and day. Kapex is not a 305mm-bladed saw, but is also very good in dust collection.

 

[ChuckM]

He cut a hole in the wall to use the tent (with a 5HP DC system):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=9&v=sxpZGbsh4Q0&feature=youtu.be

Saw hoods are great for indoor jobsite use. Outdoors? My neighbor spent over an hour yesterday crosscutting on his driveway. Wind was his best dust collection weapon! [tongue]

 

[Michael Kellough]

I spent some time about 40 years ago coping with the dust from a Bosch SCMS that had no built-in dust management. Even after constructing a chute to channel the worst of the dust to a vac it was still a mess.

Basic design was to make a wide shroud around the back of the saw and a port at the bottom for the vac, similar to that Rousseau pictured above.

Quickly found that hard materials (even relatively soft ones like cardboard) caused some the dust to bounce back into the wind created the saw.

Tried urethane coated nylon and even that seemed like it could be improved.

Filter cloth was better and that’s where I stopped. The worst of the wind from the blade can pass thru the filter cloth and bounce back is greatly reduced.