Kapex 120 - inaccuracy with bevel cuts

[amt]

So if one really wants that cut to be dead on, what is the alternative here?  A track saw or table saw?

 

[woodie]

Mafell has their KSS saws. They're similar to a track saw, but the saw can be attached to a precision crosscut rail allowing it to be used like a miter saw.

 

[Jalvis]

So if one really wants that cut to be dead on, what is the alternative here?  A track saw or table saw?

Sliding Table Saw

 

[Blakkness]

Festool France told me to send back the Kapex for being adjusted by their technicians of the service department.
I'll keep you informed in case my "issue" could serve someone else.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I am still in awe that Rick as a Northfield Unipoint...what an awesome machine.  

Scot

You're right. It is a totally awesome machine. However, it was too big, even for my shop. I sold it after restoring it. I bought it at an auction for $600 because there weren't supposed to be any power tools there, so the only person bidding against me was Amish and was going to pull the motor and run it from a line shaft.  [scared]

Here is an interesting aside though. Two months ago I visited my old high school woodshop for my son's 9th grade orientation. The new shop teacher (small engines, woods, drafting, graphic arts) is the son of my old shop teacher (small engines, electronics, drafting, but not woods). The wood shop wasn't part of the open-house, but the teacher gave me and my son a private tour.

I was shocked to discover that the shop is fully intact and virtually unchanged after all these years. Within 1 second of stepping through the doors, my eyes fixated on the big radial arm saw still sitting in the exact same location. OMG!!! After all these years, I had never realized it had been a Northfield Unipoint all along!!!

The teacher told me that the school board had once tried to get rid of the saw because it was missing a screw on the blade guard.  [scared] Instead of replacing a $0.20 screw, they were going to dump a $15,000 saw!! Thankfully the teacher prevailed and the saw was repaired.

I was so impressed with how complete the woodshop remains after all these years, I got Festool's permission to donate one of the extra TS55REQ saws in my possession to the school. (They don't have any guided saws, but do teach cabinetry classes.) I just need to figure out how to get them a guide rail, because I don't have any spares myself.

There's still a school shop in existence?!?!?  [jawdrop]

I'm in awe.  I thought American children had been fully sissified?

 

[Serge]

Festool France told me to send back the Kapex for being adjusted by their technicians of the service department.
I'll keep you informed in case my "issue" could serve someone else.

Any news from Festool about the problem ?

 

[Deansocial]

Yeah it would be interesting  to know what they have changed

 

[GPowers]

[popcorn]

 

[kelauben]

I was so impressed with how complete the woodshop remains after all these years, I got Festool's permission to donate one of the extra TS55REQ saws in my possession to the school. (They don't have any guided saws, but do teach cabinetry classes.) I just need to figure out how to get them a guide rail, because I don't have any spares myself.

Rick, 

Are you still looking for a guide rail?  I have a spare and would consider a donation.

Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

Karl

 

[adugas]

Festool France told me to send back the Kapex for being adjusted by their technicians of the service department.
I'll keep you informed in case my "issue" could serve someone else.

What did you ever find out?

 

[peter halle]

Festool France told me to send back the Kapex for being adjusted by their technicians of the service department.
I'll keep you informed in case my "issue" could serve someone else.

What did you ever find out?

Just as a FYI the OP has not been active here since December 2013 so it may take a while to get an answer.  Of course he could be visiting the forum without logging in.

Peter

 

[adugas]

Festool France told me to send back the Kapex for being adjusted by their technicians of the service department.
I'll keep you informed in case my "issue" could serve someone else.

What did you ever find out?

Just as a FYI the OP has not been active here since December 2013 so it may take a while to get an answer.  Of course he could be visiting the forum without logging in.

Peter

Thanks for the update Peter, and I hope all is well. I'm doing my homework about possibly getting a kapex what are the pros and cons, problems trying to justify more green. [scratch chin] [scratch chin]

 

[#Tee]

ill be more worried about blade deflection...that margin of error will be covered with glue or puddy barely if that.

 

[WarrenWeldon]

I am surprised by this thread. The first thing I did was check how accurate the bevel and compound cuts were right out of the box it was the best I have ever seen. It makes the Dewalt I previously had look pretty bad. I have used it for months now and it is still dead on. I think anyone sitting on the fence that has any serious daily experience will wonder how they ever lived without it..

 

[Dunn wood]

I am surprised by this thread. The first thing I did was check how accurate the bevel and compound cuts were right out of the box it was the best I have ever seen. It makes the Dewalt I previously had look pretty bad. I have used it for months now and it is still dead on. I think anyone sitting on the fence that has any serious daily experience will wonder how they ever lived without it..

X1

 

[NEW2FES]

What model Dewalt did you have and what exactly were the measurements it was off? Why couldn't it be adjusted?

I see threads like this and wonder why anyone buys a Kapex with all the excuses and live with it issues. Yes, the OP should be upset that he paid 2-3x's more then the most expensive miter saws out there and the cut should be as accurate as possible. The saw should also be as close to red on out of the box as possible.

I have used the Kapex and like some features of the saw but I am lost as to what this great accuracy is compared to another just as dialed in saw? Stop the excuses and maybe Festool will step up.

 

[NH-Engineering]

I have a pretty good Metabo  KGS 315 PLUS. This saw is great because it has a big capacity. Height 120mm length 320mm. However it is not accurate when it comes to bevel angle adjustment because of a small scale, I would say that accuracy is not better then 1 deg and the mechanism has a little looseness. Also the lazer will easy come out of calibration, however I always check where the blade actually hits before cutting. I am thinking about buying a Kapex, but it is expensive so I am reading with great interest here to make my final decision.