Kapex adjustment and tolerance

[Epoch_now]

Hi everybody,

I’m new to the board but have had my festool stuff for quite awhile now. I did search this topic and I did come across lots of results but I’m wondering if I have a larger problem than just adjustments.

I started with a standard miter adjustment and got the left side of the saw to what I would call acceptable, then I went to the right side of the saw and noticed it was way out. From there I found out that my fence base (the part that bolts to the base) was very badly “v” shaped pointed words the back of the saw. I took a good straight edge and managed to wrestle it to straight to the point where I can’t fit a .004” feeler gauge anywhere. From here I started squaring again I have quite a list of 5 / 4 cut method results and I’m wondering if I’m going Ahab on this or if there is a problem.

My last results for the left of the saw were as follows:
Length- 184mm
Left side width - 15.15mm
Right side width - 16.18mm
Err - -0.0802

The right side of the saw is:
Length - 183mm
Left side width - 14.03mm
Right side width - 12.70mm
Err- 0.1041

So with all the adjustments I’ve done I can either get them split somewhere in the middle like it currently is, or I’ve managed to get my error result on the left side all the way down to -0.0022 but then the right side is 0.1805.

My question is am I chasing ghosts trying to get them closer? If so am I just to expect non parallel cuts on long material if I cut from left side and right side of the saw with a material that can’t be flipped to allow cutting all from one side?

Thanks in advance this has been driving me crazy messing with my kapex. Although I am happy at the prospects of getting it dialed in if that’s possible.

 

[Birdhunter]

If I butt the wood against the left side of the Kapex fence, I can get a near perfect 90 degree cut. Then, the right side fence produces something less than 90 degrees.

I can't find any individual side adjustments. I think the fence is actually all one casting.

I have not worried all that much as I rely more on my mega sized table saw for perfect cuts.

 

[RKA]

If you can’t get the fence straight, I would add a subfence and shim it as needed to get a flat reference across the back of the saw, then dial in the miters.  But to answer your question, I would want it dialed in a little tighter.

 

[ChuckM]

I am not aware of any significant differences in square cuts made on the right side vs the left side of the blade. I will check on this next time in my cuts. Meanwhile, I stepped into the shop and found the squareness of both sides of the fence dead on for all woodworking purposes (repeated using a CNC machined square). Please see images.

 

[Epoch_now]

Thanks for the replies guys, glad to know that I’m not the only one that thinks it’s not acceptable atleast .  As for squareness and straightness of the fence it’s pretty straight. The right side shows a little bit of out of square in places.  But it varies so from 1/4” to 1/4” where ever I check it.

Not sure if I’m doing photos right. 

View attachment 1

 

[ChuckM]

Yours don't look as encouraging, as mine show squareness practically from the base to the top of the moveable fence. 100% dead square on the base portion on either side, my photos show.

QA issue?

 

[peter halle]

If the fences are not inthe same plane and you are in the warranty period then you should contact Festool about sending in for service.

Peter

 

[ChuckM]

The base portion should be dead square, flat and straight across on both sides. That is a minimum requirement in my book for a high-end mitre saw like the Kapex. At least that is the case for my Kapex (as checked with a straightedge laid on the bed as well as with the straightedge elevated close to the top edge of the base portion).

Elsewhere, someone complained about similar issues about his brand new Dewalt fences...but that was a Dewalt!

 

[Epoch_now]

Yeah I had the extensions off because I had a sacrificial parts attached to them. With the sacrificial part is off and the extensions in place it definitely makes the problem more pronounced. The left side looks realitively good most of the way. And the right side is over 90 the whole way.

I bought the saw quite awhile back  so I’m pretty sure it’s out of its warranty period I’ll have to look though.

 

[ChuckM]

If you're in Canada, the warranty covers 5 years (based on other Canadian users' experiences).

 

[Epoch_now]

Close but not quite Alaska.

 

[harry_]

couldn't you just put a tiny shim under the back of the fence base to tweak it forward?