Kapex 120 On Other Brand Saw Stands?

Jmacpherson

Jmacpherson

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How compatible is the Kapex 120 with other manufacturers mobile folding saw stands? eg. Makita or Dewalts

Background, I have a Bosch 254mm saw from their DIY range which in hindsight was a bad purchase, even though I have 80mmX335mm capacity at 0 deg.
Even at 0/0 it is not 100% accurate and that is after it was sent into Bosch for alignment.
I have the HKC55, so anything below 55 is dead accurate at any angle but above we have some problems.
As my salesman said to me earlier, I'm trying to find workarounds to avoid using the Bosch instead of just replacing it with a better tool. He made sense.

If I am going to replace it I don't want to make the same mistake twice in going with a cheaper option but at the same time I don't want go the KS120 route if I don't really need to. Or get caught in the "actual cost" of getting the KS120.
I've used and played with a KS120 at a Festool open day and know how accurate it is and how great the DE is.

I'm down in South Africa so I will be sold a 240v model so I wouldn't be concerned about the 110v motor.
What does concern me is the price tag at 28k in our currency. For comparison, a TS55+1.4m rail is just under 10k.
By default it has no support extensions that pull out. Yes I can build my own or use sys1's but it does kind of push you towards the cart and arms.
I like the idea of being able to collapse the saw and transport it, the other day was busy with thin stock at the back of the house and thought how convenient it would be to have the saw right there instead of walking back and forth.

The UG cart by itself is another 10k.
If I chose the set option, with saw, cart and extension arms nice round figure of 42k. Would probably get discount etc. but working on MRP.

A Dewalt or Makita alternative mobile stand is about 4k and those stands tend to be universal, hence the title of the post?

I have a CT17 so would need a CT26 or 36 for the KS120 which boosts the price tag even further since it works better with Festool vacs I believe.
Do I want to spend 50-60k at the end of it all on another mitre saw+DE, only I can answer or justify that.
Or can a midi do the same DE job?

The salesman also suggested that I look into the Makita LS1216L DXT with 107x363mm which 25k+4k stand so would give me everything I want with greater cut capacity, worse dust collection at the price of just a KS120
 
In my opinion if you buy a KS120 and your usage will involve moving it to jobsites then the UG cart and extensions are an essential part of the system.  I'd go further and say that the easy portability of the Kapex/UG system is the only compelling reason to choose a Kapex and if your SCMS usage is stationary in your shop there are other much less costly alternatives than Kapex that will do the job!
 
The accuracy and dust collection of the Kapex led me to giving away my old miter saw even though it was a nice one. I can now make dead accurate cuts inside my shop rather than making "close" cuts outside. The UG Stand and the low weight allow me to move the Kapex if I need to do so without screwing up my back. Also, the Midi vac fits snugly under the UG stand.

If you get the Kapex, get the shortened 36mm non-static hose and the after market zero clearance inserts. The short wider hose greatly improves dust collection.

The Kapex tends to throw cutoffs if you lift the head before the blade completely stops.
 
I think you need to try to perform the alignment on the bosch yourself.  If it doesn't have the necessary adjustments accessible to the end user, another saw should (Makita, Dewalt or another Bosch).  You can (and some have) run into alignment issues with the Kapex and being able to get everything dialed in goes with the territory regardless of the tool you choose. 

If you like the Kapex or a particular feature, that's fine, get it.  But your justification seems to be something you don't like about your current saw and I'm not sure the same issue wouldn't apply to any other saw.  So without consideration to the costs at all, it doesn't seem prudent to buy something else yet.
 
[member=60975]kevinculle[/member] - thanks for the feedback re the UG cart and extensions. 99% of the time saw will never move, just nice to be able to move it to where I'm working as opposed to cutting and then taking all the wood there. KS120 is either all in with accessories or not all  and go another route.

[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] - the dust collection is a major benefit I have to admit and using festool sanders+dust extractors and then switching to something different is a huge disappointment. Thanks for info about the Midi vac, so I can get away with small unit.
I have a rsi in my right wrist so hence the whole collapsible stand train of thought instead of lifting the saw.(should I need to)
I am a little concerned about the KS's handle/switch design with my wrist in mind but I know Peter Parfit loves his and has mentioned before in one of the threads I started that he suffers from arthritis so I should be OK?

[member=21249]RKA[/member] - originally I fiddled around for days trying to align the saw, then it was sent in which improved it but it isn't great. It is just a cheap saw with limited configs and going the cheaper route back then is now coming back to bite me. I have a TS55 and a HKC55 which both cut 100% square. My current miter saw doesn't cut 100% square @90 degrees and @45 (lets not even go there).
I'm used to using the TS55/HKC55 so I've been spoiled by their accuracy, my current scms isn't at that level.

When I replace the saw with whatever model or brand I want to do this once and it must last me for years to come.
 
I had it mounted on the DW stand for a while.

    [attachimg=1]

Seth
 

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I am probably in the minority of mobile Kapex owners.  I don't have the Festool UG cart.  I also don't have anyone else's.  (I do have an old Hitachi stand stored up in the rafters of a shed though.)  I don't use that.  I rarely have the need to cut repeatable lengths.

I use a Keter folding table, or two, or three, and then use Systainer 1's or the Sys 1 with the MFT top on them.  If I do need multiples of a size I can use clamps and blocks to achieve my goal.  A quick few number of random cuts are on the floor with just the Systainers.

It ain't glamorous but I have been far too optimistic when making tool buying decisions in the past and have too many tools sitting around waiting for the right occasion.

I am not knocking those who do use a stand - any brand.  I choose to use the height system of the Kapex and the Systainers.

Peter
 
I just mounted it to a Milwaukee Contractor stand that previously held a Milwaukee chop or slide saw. I made a plywood adapter plate from 1/2" Baltic Birch. It gives me a place to put a pencil, tape, square, an extra saw hold down and also holds the 2 hex wrenches used for adjustments.
 

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Thanks for the photos, so I would need to make a platform which attaches to a 3rd party stand/KS attaches to platform - makes sense.
 
I have mine mounted on a Bosch gravity T4B stand which makes it easy to wheel around and setup quickly especially given the built-in feed supports. Works fine for transport, although it is a tad heavy if you don't have a ramp to get it into a vehicle.
 
I had it on the DeWalt stand for a bit but the alignment is off just enough to warrant the purchase of a Festool solution. When small stock is placed against the Kapex fence, they are just barely not supported by the extensions on the DW.
 
Thanks again to everyone for their feedback and input, it has helped a lot and answered a lot of my questions and confirmed many things I needed clarity on.

I've had a demo on the KS120 already, my tool supplier is busy setting up a demo with some Makita saws so that I can compare different price points and then have a better idea of what which direction I will be happier with.
 
The Kapex will go on a Dewalt stand if you use plywood strips as an intermediary between the Dewalt mounting brackets and the Kapex deck.  It will not fit directly.  I found when I did this using 3/4" plywood, it raised the Kapex deck above the Dewalt extension supports so they could not be used without additional riser blocks.  OK in a pinch, but not a long term solution.  Now the Kapex lives in the shop on a dedicated countertop, and the Dewalt saw is back on the Dewalt stand for rough duty only.
 
tazcubed said:
I have mine mounted on a Bosch gravity T4B stand which makes it easy to wheel around and setup quickly especially given the built-in feed supports. Works fine for transport, although it is a tad heavy if you don't have a ramp to get it into a vehicle.
Click to expand...

[member=39399]tazcubed[/member] did it fit on the Bosch T4B straight or with some sort of platform between the saw and stand?

I've ordered the Kapex120 and the Bosch stand.
Thanks again for everyone's input
 
Jmacpherson said:
tazcubed said:
I have mine mounted on a Bosch gravity T4B stand which makes it easy to wheel around and setup quickly especially given the built-in feed supports. Works fine for transport, although it is a tad heavy if you don't have a ramp to get it into a vehicle.
Click to expand...

[member=39399]tazcubed[/member] did it fit on the Bosch T4B straight or with some sort of platform between the saw and stand?

I've ordered the Kapex120 and the Bosch stand.
Thanks again for everyone's input
Click to expand...

I managed to fit it directly to the rails although I did have to drill out the mounting holes a little bit to accommodate the bolts from Bosch. The holes on the Kapex should actually fit, but it narrows a bit midway. If you're unsure of drilling it out, I would mount it onto a platform. I cannot see that it would void any warranty but don't quote me.
 
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