Its unbelieveable

[glass1]

I bought a ford pinto and got rear ended and it did not blow up therefore there is no defect
Your kapex has lasted many have not
In the USA, Festool charges more than double for its respective tools compared to the others
Should I not hold them to a higher standard
Should their tools not be superior in every way ?
They advertise as professional tools for professionals
If I sold my wife's 2015 Dodge Journey and replaced it with a new Audi wagon it better be Better in every way.
Festool charges more and more every year yet the plastic on the vacuums and sustainers gets cheaper. Where else are they cutting corners?
Just saying

 

[Potts17]

I bought a ford pinto and got rear ended and it did not blow up therefore there is no defect
Your kapex has lasted many have not
In the USA, Festool charges more than double for its respective tools compared to the others
Should I not hold them to a higher standard
Should their tools not be superior in every way ?
They advertise as professional tools for professionals
If I sold my wife's 2015 Dodge Journey and replaced it with a new Audi wagon it better be Better in every way.
Festool charges more and more every year yet the plastic on the vacuums and Systainers gets cheaper. Where else are they cutting corners?
Just saying

You know you do have the option of not purchasing the tools if you don't think they are superior or worth the price. Obviously we all have to make decisions what to buy and what not to buy. I buy Festool because I believe they are the best tools for me. Not everyone may feel that way. Are they expensive, yes, is it my choice to spend that much, yes. Just as it is your choice to buy Festool, Milwaukee, Dewalt or Ryobi. To each there own.

 

[Johncarlo]

It's not about free items, it's about knowing the repair will work! I love Festool and believe they make great tools (I have a ton of them) but I also believe there is a major problem with the Kapex. I'm out of warranty and all I want to know is when I spend $900 to repair my saw it will be perfect! Let's give up on this abuse of tool thing, PLEASE! I use my tools to earn a living and that can't happen when they're in need of repair. I don't baby my tools and polish them after 3 hours of fun. I use them hard for 8 to 10 hours a day and at Festools prices point they should last!!

 

[Chance Beasley]

I agree that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Festool just happens to be an expensive lunch and it should be a really good lunch.  [big grin]

But seriously, would you guys guess they would be coming out with a newer version for two reasons: (1) its been many years since it was introduced and historically its probably time for a newer/updated model and (2) to eliminate some of the possible "bugs" that people may be experiencing with burned up motors?

What... has it been 8 years or so since the Kapex was introduced in NA?

 

[TylerC]

I haven't responded to this post yet for a few reasons, but I've been following it and have made sure that it's seen by others. This is something that we take very seriously.

Because there isn't an actual question here, I'm going to move it to "Festool Tool Problems".

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Man I miss these threads so much......

 

[glass1]

I spoke with a dewalt rep recently. He said dewalt is making active moves to bring its manufacturing of many of its tools back to the USA. What are your thoughts ?

 

[Xoncention]

I spoke with a dewalt rep recently. He said dewalt is making active moves to bring its manufacturing of many of its tools back to the USA. What are your thoughts ?

Companies manufacture off shore to keep their costs down so that they remain competitive with their competitors.  The cost of labor is something built into the cost of anything made.  I think with modern manufacturing there is scope to keep production in-house.  Components can be accessed from multiple sources to reduce costs, and the tool assembled in the local country.  It is a compromise solution.  These companies are listed and answerable to share holders.  They are driven by bean counters.  There are examples in industry where there has been a transitional restructuring of production and manufacturing to best deliver a reasonably priced tool and the sentimental ethos of a locally made tool.

 

[oakhilltop]

While I think it would be great to bring manufacturing back, my fear it is happening because there are more and more slaves in the USA now. The leaders are finding more and more ways to cut the effective wages of workers, by reducing hours so that they don't have to pay basic benefits etc.

I hope that they will bring it back and pay their employees a good living wage for doing quality work. There is a saying that I like,

Everybody does better when everybody does better.

 

[Just F Me]

I spoke with a dewalt rep recently. He said dewalt is making active moves to bring its manufacturing of many of its tools back to the USA. What are your thoughts ?

Does it make you feel warm and cozy inside that this Dewalt rep told you that they're "making active moves" to move manufacturing back to the USA?  Dewalt obviously makes a pretty good product and has a strong brand and I'm pretty sure that all their stuff is made overseas.  Why fix something that isn't broke?  If it's working well, as in people are buying the product still, failure rates are low, brand loyalty is strong among buyers, etc, why change it? 

Just work on even better design and make sure that manufacturing continues producing good products.

Lastly...it sounds like you were happy with the Kapex...I think you've had the saw for awhile, you've found some things you didn't like as you continued to use it.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/ok-i-did-it-i-bought-the-kapex/

This is what you said on

Feb 14, 2015...
"I took advatange of the 10%  Bought the kapex and ct26. Here are more first impressions from the ultimate doubter.  Flatess deck I ever have seen. Fences are square. Cuts pine and poplar like butter. Dust collection is remarkable. Blade guard hangs up on points. I could care less about the casting marks. I will keep everyone posted about this saw. Besides my building job I am working on my own house and am tired of the dust. I will compare the kapex to my all time favorite scms the makita ls1211. let the war begin."

Feb 15, 2015
"Thx. I have never been a laser on the saw guy but it seems to be a useful feature on the kapex. The right laser projects clean but the left ever so slightly hangs up on the blade kerf. I guess I am in for some adjustment. The vertical blade adjustment seems right on. The miter is close I will update. Even so the factory settings are closer than any saw I have purchased new to date. The standard blade seems good so far. I think 60 teeth is good for 10" blades. I think 80 is good for 12" . Personally I feel people put too high tooth counts on these scms as they are all lightly powered machines more teeth requires more power."

 

[Cheese]

I've had an iphone 6 for 2.5 years now...still works perfectly fine and...Made In China.

Designed in the USA, manufactured in China to USA specifications.

 

[Just F Me]

I've had an iphone 6 for 2.5 years now...still works perfectly fine and...Made In China.

Designed in the USA, manufactured in China to USA specifications.

And nothing wrong with that.  It's when you don't stay on top of the Chinese that they start to slack off and produce shitty products.  I deal with our Chinese manufacturing at my company all the time and you constantly have to whip them into shape.  They'll make a great product, slowly get worst, and if you don't say anything, next thing you know, you get a container full of crap and they say "we haven't changed anything"

 

[Cheese]

I deal with our Chinese manufacturing at my company all the time and you constantly have to whip them into shape.  They'll make a great product, slowly get worst, and if you don't say anything, next thing you know, you get a container full of crap and they say "we haven't changed anything"

Could be a compelling reason to bring the manufacturing of that product back to the US.

 

[Xoncention]

I deal with our Chinese manufacturing at my company all the time and you constantly have to whip them into shape.  They'll make a great product, slowly get worst, and if you don't say anything, next thing you know, you get a container full of crap and they say "we haven't changed anything"

Could be a compelling reason to bring the manufacturing of that product back to the US.

Many companies who manufacture in another country often have their own people scrutinizing the quality of the manufactured product before it leaves their manufacturing plants.  At least those who have been caught out by the slipping quality control of their shipped orders.

 

[glass1]

I was mistaken. I really wanted to like this saw as there are many good things about it but too many flaws and too expensive. Not up the quality of my original ft midi, c 12 drill(nicad still works like new), 850 planer, domino xl.

 

[sheperd80]

I got in some good hours on a Kapex at work awhile back and wanted to love it because i loved the dust collection. The price wouldnt bother me if it werent so...goofy. The accuracy and cut quality were nice, but not game changing compared to my $300 Ridgid saw (any decent saw can be fine tuned to some degree).

But the over engineered controls and safeties are just annoying. Its way too slow and clunky for fast paced work, even in its owners hands. I watch him, and guys on youtube, and myself fumbling and screwing with the saw instead of cranking out cuts. Its also too small for the occaisional 11" crown or other oversized moulding i do. Then you look at the mobile stand (mandatory for me), which has nice features but is rickety, slow to setup and absurdly priced.

Even if the motor was fixed and they chopped the price in half...no thanks. Its not a question of being worth the price for me, its not worth the spot in my truck. For home shop fine woodworking use? Sure...if the new Bosch didnt exist.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[JHZR2]

I spoke with a dewalt rep recently. He said dewalt is making active moves to bring its manufacturing of many of its tools back to the USA. What are your thoughts ?

This is actually one of the reasons I've started to buy Festool, and also why I've bought some dewalt cordless and corded drills.

Because they are made in the first world. 

Festool is obviously a premium price point compared to say, Dewalt, where you can get a "pro grade" USA-made drill at a box store for no real price difference to the Chinesium item next to it.

I'll also say though,,that there's a lot of things that I just don't understand the benefit from in the Festool range.  That is, to spend a premium just because "it's a system" (which to me is a somewhat weak argument)... Useful benefits to make jobs easier, workflow smoother, or safer? That's good.

Yes, tools made in the first world is important to me.  And Im just a hobbyist...  But I hate to see manufacturing jobs go offshore (be they US or German jobs).  I'm spending money with dewalt on US made stuff, and Festool stuff, as a result.

 

[Xoncention]

I spoke with a dewalt rep recently. He said dewalt is making active moves to bring its manufacturing of many of its tools back to the USA. What are your thoughts ?

Yes, tools made in the first world is important to me.  And Im just a hobbyist...  But I hate to see manufacturing jobs go offshore (be they US or German jobs).  I'm spending money with dewalt on US made stuff, and Festool stuff, as a result.

Back in the early 60's and 70's Japan is where China is now.  Manufacturing outlets seem to rotate through countries and over time their quality improves.