Kapex base not flat

[Johnny5]

So, I have had a few issues with the Kapex.  All to this point have been resolved with the help of others here, my salesman, and Festool service.  Everything seemed fine with the saw, then I saw some posts about issues with base flatness so I decided to check mine out and see how it compared.  Well, it's not even close to flat.  Haven't really noticed any ill effects on accuracy, but haven't used it much since it came back from service.  Here's a couple pics, the center of the saw is dramatically lower than the left or right side, maybe 1/32" or more.

The level sits on the outermost edges of the table and the gap gradually gets larger towards the turret.  Not sure what to make of it anyone seen one out this much?  Planning on checking it out a bit more then contacting service for another repair or exchange.  Just sucks that I'll possibly be without the saw for another week.....I think this thing has spent more time in the service department than it has in my van.

 

[peter halle]

Please contact the service department.  But I have to ask if whereas you have been using it for some time if it has it mattered in the quality of work that you have produced since you had it?

Peter

 

[John H]

Well - if he starts cutting smaller pieces of wood and has to slide the piece on to the left or right wing, I would definitely think there would be a problem with the wood catching on the lip....

 

[Johnny5]

I've only had it for a little over a month now, a week of that was spent in the service dept getting the mitre plate dialed in.  Honetly, I never even thought to check the base for flatness.  I assumed (my bad) these things got checked before leaving the factory, and I requested the service dept give the saw a good checkout (since it had taken a bit of a harsh ride in shipping to me) to make sure everything else was within spec.

I've only worked with longer material since I got it back, and haven't really had the chance to give it a good workout.  Longer stuff seems to be pretty accurate, but it's been paint grade so my level of scrutiny is not nearly as high.  I'll run some more through it today, and put a good eye on it.  I imagine since longer material isn't affected much (and its supported by the wings and kinda floating over the table) that shorter stuff will be off if resting on the base.

I'll report back later with my findings, but service will definitely be getting a call.  Hopefully this can get resolved as easily as the first issues, and with the least downtime possible.....

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It won't make a bit of difference.  I would rather have the center section a touch low then high. 

It's been 6 years, maybe I should check mine, nah.

 

[FinishingCanuck]

Whoa! That looks like it could cause a serious kickback when cutting larger lumber. I would definitely be worried about this.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Whoa! That looks like it could cause a serious kickback when cutting larger lumber. I would definitely be worried about this.

Why is that?  I am going to need a good explaination for that reasoning.

 

[Jaybolishes]

If the board you are cutting falls down even a bit at the cut, the top of the board will pinch the blade.  This will throw small offcutts and is very dangerous any time you have a pinching blade.  If the turret was higher instead you wouldn't have a danger issue. But having the turret lower is obviously a hazard. My axial has a perfectly flush turret and it has never thrown a small cutoff ever. Same with my old dewalt, and even my father in laws cheap ryobi.  If people notice missiles of small wood coming off the saw (which has been posted numerous times) I'd check to see if the turret is low, or if the end supports are high.

 

[rljatl]

One of the guys at the local Woodcraft told me he did not like to use the store's Kapex because of the kickback.  At the time,  I chalked it up to user error.

 

[Scott B.]

In a perfect world, it's flat.

I do find that no matter what chop saw I am using (several in my life), I am most interested in square at the blade. What is happening 16" to the left of my blade kind of doesn't matter as long as it is square in the blade, which I feel occurs by bracing the piece into the fence with my left hand during the cut.

No one really "slides" material through a chop saw, do they?

 

[jools]

Mines slightly lower using a steel rule and a feeler gauge. It's a compound mitre saw not a race car engine [wink]Not going to worry about it. The only kickbacks I have suffered are not making zero clearance insert and fence before using it and not using hold downs properly (hand or clamp). Most kickbacks IMO are caused by the operator not the saw

 

[Scott B.]

Folks have cut boards square their entire lives with skills saws dangling boards off a sawhorse. Ask Tinker.

If someone cannot cut square with the Kapex, it may be more someone's fault than the tool's.

Working with wood is not THAT much about the tool.

Just kind of thinking out loud. I don't look at the laser, either.

 

[Scott B.]

It won't make a bit of difference.  I would rather have the center section a touch low then high. 

It's been 6 years, maybe I should check mine, nah.

I was taught to cut crown up, so that actually makes a lot of sense in so many ways.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If the board you are cutting falls down even a bit at the cut, the top of the board will pinch the blade.  This will throw small offcutts and is very dangerous any time you have a pinching blade.  If the turret was higher instead you wouldn't have a danger issue. But having the turret lower is obviously a hazard. My axial has a perfectly flush turret and it has never thrown a small cutoff ever. Same with my old dewalt, and even my father in laws cheap ryobi.  If people notice missiles of small wood coming off the saw (which has been posted numerous times) I'd check to see if the turret is low, or if the end supports are high.

That fat 1/32" of an inch is not going to cause any blade pinching issues.  That is also not what throws the offcuts.  Study the saw and how it cuts.  That tiny difference in height will cause no such issue.  Spent a crap load of time in the last 6 years with my Kapex. 

 

[FinishingCanuck]

If the board you are cutting falls down even a bit at the cut, the top of the board will pinch the blade.  This will throw small offcutts and is very dangerous any time you have a pinching blade.  If the turret was higher instead you wouldn't have a danger issue. But having the turret lower is obviously a hazard. My axial has a perfectly flush turret and it has never thrown a small cutoff ever. Same with my old dewalt, and even my father in laws cheap ryobi.  If people notice missiles of small wood coming off the saw (which has been posted numerous times) I'd check to see if the turret is low, or if the end supports are high.

That fat 1/32" of an inch is not going to cause any blade pinching issues.  That is also not what throws the offcuts.  Study the saw and how it cuts.  That tiny difference in height will cause no such issue.  Spent a crap load of time in the last 6 years with my Kapex.

You are wrong. He won't be able to cut 2x10 the way he should. He also won't be able to properly cut baseboard in position, if it doesn't bind it will burn.
This is an obvious manufacturing flaw and should receive an exchange or a refund even if he is past the 30 days.
@johnny I'd sudjest an exchange. I also had issues with my first kapex but I took it back to lee valley and they gave me a new one. The second one was good and I love it

 

[Gwerner]

I don't care if it affects the cut or not, if I spend $1,400 on a miter saw, the deck better be perfectly flat.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If the board you are cutting falls down even a bit at the cut, the top of the board will pinch the blade.  This will throw small offcutts and is very dangerous any time you have a pinching blade.  If the turret was higher instead you wouldn't have a danger issue. But having the turret lower is obviously a hazard. My axial has a perfectly flush turret and it has never thrown a small cutoff ever. Same with my old dewalt, and even my father in laws cheap ryobi.  If people notice missiles of small wood coming off the saw (which has been posted numerous times) I'd check to see if the turret is low, or if the end supports are high.

That fat 1/32" of an inch is not going to cause any blade pinching issues.  That is also not what throws the offcuts.  Study the saw and how it cuts.  That tiny difference in height will cause no such issue.  Spent a crap load of time in the last 6 years with my Kapex.

You are wrong. He won't be able to cut 2x10 the way he should. He also won't be able to properly cut baseboard in position, if it doesn't bind it will burn.
This is an obvious manufacturing flaw and should receive an exchange or a refund even if he is past the 30 days.
@johnny I'd sudjest an exchange. I also had issues with my first kapex but I took it back to lee valley and they gave me a new one. The second one was good and I love it

Sorry, it will not cause any issue.  Been making saw dust with mine for 6 years, looks like mine has been a touch low the whole time.  Never once has this caused any issue you describe.  I have cut just about anything under the sun with mine.  Thick lumber, short pieces, small pieces, nested crown, base in position, etc., etc. etc. 

 

[Jaybolishes]

I just got knocked senseless so I get it now. The low turret is actually better than having a flat one.  It actually is bad to have a surface flat on a slider. Festool did many tests I heard and concluded having a lower turret is safer and so much better. I sold my other saws because they were too flat.  It cuts square and will never pinch and throw wood ever.  If it does the user is totally at fault. But even if it did, there's so many cool things about it you shouldn't care.  In fact having a low turret keeps the wood FROM pinching the blade. And who cares about this wimpy blade pinching anyway, just cut wood and go away.  It cuts 90 degrees and whatnot.

However, an easy fix would be to make your own insert a little taller  to make it flat with the outer edges. This isn't a problem for some, but for the ones it is, that's a good solution.  that's the great thing about this forum, finding solutions.  Not sentiments to accept it and sweep the thought under the rug and go away.

 

[FinishingCanuck]

Has anybody noticed the crown stop in the second pic is also low? Is this also a non issue?

 

[John H]

LOL - they way some people go on about how great "Festool" is while they blindly ignore any defect....  Low turret is actually good, electrical cords that are burning and shorting out at the connections aren't a safety issue, crude castings on a tool that cost 3x what a decent tool cost.... 

But again, Festool sure likes to hand out the swag so I guess I can see why these idiots keep on endorsing their stuff

Don't get me wrong - I have my share of Festools, but some of these posts are really amusing