Brent Taylor
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- Aug 5, 2014
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I hope I will not have to get another nag out of the barn. Happy Holidays, y'all [wink]
Kapex Base Casting
- Thread starter Drich
- Start date
There isn't a right or wrong opinion or thought here. Different people = different views and opinions. Please recognize that not everyone reads every thread or every post and some might not have seen the other threads. And like in the other threads please feel free to post your thoughts and opinions - BUT do it in a way that respects other members and their thoughts and opinions also.
Thanks in advance.
Peter Halle- Moderator
Thanks in advance.
Peter Halle- Moderator
WarnerConstCo. said:
No, I get the impression Drich seems simply curious and actually intends to use the tool to cut stuff.
Drich, those marks are typical, the only time I'd personally care is if they were sharp and creating an injury hazzard. Enjoy the new saw!!
Thanks to all for posting your thoughts on this matter. I did use it this morning and had to make a correction on the 90 setting. Pretty simple to do. Im cutting 150 thousandths of a inch off and with only 1thousand off over 6 inches wide so I feel that is petting darn good for a wood saw. I'm not super impressed with the crown wings as I lay a straight end across the top and tighten them up the ends seem to lift up and raise the straight edge. I may return them and buy a set of the multiblade saw helper brackets instead and make my own for a lot less cash. Thanks Again
Iceclimber
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I had the same experience with the crown wings as I'm sure all whom own them also have had.
I also was not impressed as the crown stops are a great idea as is the way they can be taken on and off the saw. With all the innovative things Festool is able to employ i would think this would be something they could have easily gotten right.
On the other hand if you just dont crank them down tight they do sit flush with the saw and so far they don't move when i have stock on them. I do have my saw in a dedicated miter station stand though. I wonder if i did not and was using crown stops would i have problems..
I should add i freaking loooove my Kapex regardless of the above mentioned....
I also was not impressed as the crown stops are a great idea as is the way they can be taken on and off the saw. With all the innovative things Festool is able to employ i would think this would be something they could have easily gotten right.
On the other hand if you just dont crank them down tight they do sit flush with the saw and so far they don't move when i have stock on them. I do have my saw in a dedicated miter station stand though. I wonder if i did not and was using crown stops would i have problems..
I should add i freaking loooove my Kapex regardless of the above mentioned....
WarnerConstCo.
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I have cut an installed 1000's of feet of crown moulding with the old style wings and crown stop brackets. Never an issue.
Cleaning castings is a miserable job. It is hard, hot,and dirty work. I personally would not wish anyone be required to do that work on a tool I buy if it brought no functional value. Others may prefer all traces of the casting process be removed but might might change their mind if they had to actually do the work for a day.
Rollin22Petes
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- Nov 10, 2014
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To add to what greg just said this would also add to the cost of the saw that is already double most other saws. How many people would pay more just for looks but no added functionality just my opinion.
FinishingCanuck
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It's like buying a Mercedes with a blotchy paint job or buying an Armani suit with frayed stitching.
FinishingCanuck said:
I don't agree at all with this. You are buying a tool, not the furniture.
I machine castings for a living so I may have a different perspective. While our company is well respected for attentionto detail, like de-burring sharp edges that could slice an operator when he assembles components inside the casting, I consider that as a value add. If there are casting imperfections that do not impact function then they are left as is. Even if the Kapex were offerred with the casting features polished out I would say, "don't bother." It adds no value and is a miserable job I would not wish on anyone. I've said enough and don't want this thread to go south on my account so......
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Scott B. said:
Well, I can only speak for myself. Being a long time Apple fan, I've come to expect excellence in both appearance and function. IMO, when a vendor accepts less than excellence they are compromising, and have room for improvement. I personally believe this is the case with the Kapex casting.
Considering the reputation and cost of the tools, I simply expect something closer to excellence than what is currently shipped. While I agree that the casting is 'good' - and certainly 'good enough' - I don't believe anyone would label it as 'excellent'?
AlexThePalex
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FinishingCanuck said:
Heard this argument before. I find it amazing how people put production tools in the same category as luxury goods.
A more proper analogy would be to buy a forklift and expect it to have the same finish as a mercedes.
I agree it is a tool not a piece of art. The problem is we have a tool that costs 3x what a comparable miter saw sells for. I think the OP has every right to be upset that he does not see what appears to be a quality tool. All those little items add up and give the tool a cheap look to it. If you bought it from Harbor Freight it would be acceptable but not on a $1800 tool.
Festool has some great products but what they are doing is following the Toyota way which is to make a product that is a hollow shell of what it looks like. Yes the knob will work but it has zero quality to it. I feel bad for the younger generations who just don't understand what it is to feel a quality product that was produced with the idea of making the best not one that was worked over by the accounting department.
Why anyone would argue that an unfinished part is acceptable is beyond me. Then again that is why they keep getting cheaper and cheaper in quality. Some accountant figured 3 in 10 people wouldn't care and that is an acceptable loss ratio. As a consumer you should demand the best for your money.
That said see how the saw performs and in the end if it does not do any better then the 1/3rd cost saw return it. Festool monitors these and any forum that mentions their name. Why send the message that we accept cheap quality? I agree it cuts nice and has the best dust collection but side by side next to a Bosch there is a lot of cheapness to the Kapex that is hard to look past at that price.
Cut some wood and make a decision.
Festool has some great products but what they are doing is following the Toyota way which is to make a product that is a hollow shell of what it looks like. Yes the knob will work but it has zero quality to it. I feel bad for the younger generations who just don't understand what it is to feel a quality product that was produced with the idea of making the best not one that was worked over by the accounting department.
Why anyone would argue that an unfinished part is acceptable is beyond me. Then again that is why they keep getting cheaper and cheaper in quality. Some accountant figured 3 in 10 people wouldn't care and that is an acceptable loss ratio. As a consumer you should demand the best for your money.
That said see how the saw performs and in the end if it does not do any better then the 1/3rd cost saw return it. Festool monitors these and any forum that mentions their name. Why send the message that we accept cheap quality? I agree it cuts nice and has the best dust collection but side by side next to a Bosch there is a lot of cheapness to the Kapex that is hard to look past at that price.
Cut some wood and make a decision.
FinishingCanuck
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Alex said:
Alex said:
You clearly have never seen Any brand new heavy equipment. Even farm equipment comes with a perfect paint job. When you are comparing a $150k machine to a nearly identical machine from a different manufacturer for $250k the things like paint and visually appealing welds make a huge difference to the customer. These "little" thinks shows a lot about build quality and pride of the manufacturer. You can deck out heavy equipment with chrome just like semi trucks and Mercedes
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So, it sounds like a "I paid top dollar for this, everything about it better be perfect in every way" argument.
I am glad my customers don't expect the back sides of their drywall and trim to be as perfectly finished as the faces.
[scared]
I am glad my customers don't expect the back sides of their drywall and trim to be as perfectly finished as the faces.
[scared]
FinishingCanuck
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Hmmm. It's seems like the pics show the casting defects are on the front of the saw. By your comparison it would be like leaving brads that aren't counter sunk on the face of your trim
Scott B. said:
I don't think it is just "top dollar" - how about 3 times the price???
I just picked up my Bosch 12" Glider that I paid $500 for a couple of days ago and it looks perfect and cuts extremely accurate. If I paid what the OP paid for the Kapex - I would be upset also.
Too many KoolAid Drinkers here... That finish is unsatisfactory in my book
