Kreg, sorry to hear your bad luck with the kapex continued.
I actually had more issues with our makita ls1013 than with my kapex, which was similar priced back then as the kapex is now. (fence that cracked, slide lock not working anymore).
Issues with my kapex sofar: lasers not staying dead on when the saw is moved, I had to adjust the saw's miter gauge after about 6 months of use, I recently noticed the table inserts cupping slightly.
My guess is you have the larger makita saw, since the 1013 weighs exactly the same as the kapex.
Main reason I wanted the kapex in the first place is that it adressed some (mostly minor) issues that bothered me after years of using the makita: the times when I had to set it up in a narrow hallway, and couldn?t back it up against the wall; the way I had wrap the cord around the saw, having to reach around the saw to adjust the bevel sighting the blade to a angle transfer thing, only to find out I forgot to move the upper piece of the fence, so I had to start over, because you can only move those with the saw at 900; the hold down clamp that was so annoying I didn't bother using it; the table extensions that got bend upwards after someone used them as carry-handles; the only two times I had to install crown (as an exterior detail, never had to do crown inside) I had to research the bevel and miter 0 for cutting it on the flat, while the kapex could have cut those in position;...
and off course the nifty angle divider that stores in the saw
(which I understand is useless for finish carpenters in the US, who work with cutlists, but when I have to run base I cut them piece by piece anyway(I first have to scrape the plasterwork, and the long walls can't be cut out of 1 piece of base).
I still use the Makita for exterior work, because it?s much quicker to set up in combination with the Dewalt stand, and it isn?t as sensitive to moisture (unlike the mdf of the mft800); and the kapex extension wings also make my CS70 more likely to be used instead of bringing in an extra cms when I need to do rips anyway. But when I do use the kapex, it still puts a silly grin on my face.
I am very happy with my kapex, but if I lived in the US, and the price difference with others saws was that big, I probably wouldn?t have gotten it in the first place, but multiple other saws instead, like for instance a non sliding 12?, and a smaller slider, which both would be lighter than the kapex, and would be less expensive total. (Or the new Milwaukee, with which you can dial in the mitersetting, and also has good dustcollection (but is heavier, and lacks the lasers))
In your case, your patience so far has shown you really want one (that works), and in that case I would get the last one you had. I don?t think it?s likely there will be a complete redesign (or KapexII as they say) and if (God forbid) other issues would show, they will be corrected within the 3 year warranty.
Anyway, what I really wanted to ask before I got carried away...
Those improved inserts, that are supposed to solve th cupping issue, do they look the same as the old ones, or are there significant differences? (My guess would be a little more play, shorter inserts with larger holes for the screws)
