Kapex - bevel action problem

[Repsac]

I bought a new Kapex for a couple of wood projects just before Christmas.

Out of the box, the saw generated loud metal scraping noises and had a very uneven resistance feel when setting the bevel angle to either side. I talked to the shop where I bought the saw, and was told the saw had to be sent for repair! Could I not just get a replacement? - No, just had to wait for the repair on my brand new saw, that I never used...  :'(

Then I had to wait 14 days(!), before I finally could pick it up at my local shop again. Apparently Festool in Denmark has an agreement with an external company, which do all their repairs. Was told that the bevel brake had been cracked, and it had been replaced. Took the saw home, and right out of the box, it still has the same bevel problem! A bit less, but still loud metal scraping noise and uneven resistance when beveling to either side!  ???

Called my local shop again and complained. Then I was told that this thing was normal for the Kapex(!?), as the metal to metal scraping is a feature that keeps the saw from falling when tilting it to set the bevel angle. This sounds very strange to me, since the I thought the parts 2 x 473505, "Pressure springs" were to keep the saw from falling. Not some sort of metal to metal scraping that makes the saw feel like a DIY cheepo to 50$?... The Kapex is actually, I guess, one of the most expensive mitre saws on the market.

Now, is this really the quality feel I can expect from Festool? My TS75 quality certainly feels a lot better! Or is the repair shop and local shop just trying to get me stuck with a bad saw and is just giving me some hot air??...

I now that the Kapex still is NAINA, but to those who have it: How does your Kapex's bevel action feel?

PS: LOVE my other Festools! 

BR,
Casper,
Denmark.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I got my kapex the 7th of december, and used it almost daily the first few weeks. Only thing I noticed about the bevel was that I had to switch the button to 0-45 to put it back to zero, the bevelling itself went smoothly and I used the knob all the time instead of just swinging it around. I just went to check and when I beveled it to the left, whithout turning the knob, the knob went round by itself, and I could hear the rack and pinion. When I beveled to the right, I did hear a scraping sound at aproximately 30 degrees, which then came and went when beveling from one side to the other.

In your case I would contact the festool service department for your country directly and explain your concerns, and ask if they can confirm the explanation you got from your dealer. (Just go to the festool site for your country, there'll be a contact link)

I was very happy with the saw when I was using it, and looking forward to the next time, so I can use the extra work supports I got for the stand.

If you contact them, could you please report back here with the outcome, to put other kapex owner's minds at rest?

Good luck,
Frank-Jan.

 

[Eli]

I think there are three settings on the bevel lock at the back of the saw, one side, middle, the other side. (0-45, 0, 0-47?)I'm being totally unscientific because I just woke up and I'm too lazy to go out to the shed, much as I love all of you.

I found that when the bevel lock was set for the left bevel, if you bevel it to the right the scraping is there, but not otherwise on my saw. This was the only time I've heard any scraping (read: was able to replicate this noise), and it is still performing well. I'd buy it again.

 

[Frank-Jan]

The settings are 0-45, 45-45, 47-47; not that it matters, it's just that in the other 2 settings there isn't a stop or detent for 0, so after a right bevel I select the 1st setting en turn the bevel know right; which was the only bevel related thing I could remember.
I just wanted to check that mine beveled smoothly and silently, the way I remembered, and now it makes a not healthy sounding grinding noise, which appeared to have moved to the left bevel, when I walked over again to check the darn setting button 

I'm still happy I bought it, and if there would be a real problem, I have no doubt it will be fixed within the warranty.

 

[Eli]

So you are confirming that when the bevel lock is set for 0-45, there is scraping when you bevel to the right? And there is no scraping otherwise (in the other two settings, 45-45 and 47-47?)

 

[Frank-Jan]

When I first went and checked there was no grinding to the left, but a bit of grinding when I beveled to the right (started at about 30 degrees) when moving the saw back and forth (Left and right) the grinding noise didn't occur at the same spots. When I went back the noise was made beveling to the left. (The side that did not make noise earlier). I'll have a closer look when I have the saw set up (it's on the ground in a corner, I have the mft setup for something else). The way it isn't at the same spot makes me guess there's something (sawdust/filings?) in between the rack and pinion mechanism.

 

[Repsac]

Thanks for the replies to my subject! This forum (and the people here) is really such a good resource to have! 

I have checked my saw once again. The scraping noise is independent of the green angle-mode selector's position (0-45, +/-45 and +/-47 degrees) on my saw. However, as Frank-Jan describes, the points when the scraping starts to occur is not always the same. They seem to move around a bit, but mostly getting worse the more I try to bevel the saw (left or right).

The saw I have has never been used or even started. So for my part it cannot be accumulated sawdust in the mechanism.

I will try to contact Festool in my country directly tomorrow. I'll post a follow-up here.

Casper,
Denmark

 

[Eli]

And I checked my saw again. The 'scraping' (light metal on metal) on my saw is not independent of the bevel setting. As I thought before, the 0-45 setting allows an unconstricted left side bevel only. The other two settings allow for free flopping both ways, one to 45 either way, and one beyond both ways. I have no noise or feel any contact at all in the 'both way' settings. So for me anyway, the noise makes sense. If you are getting the noise when the bevel selector is at any setting other than the 0-45, I'd say there is a problem.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

      Assuming there is in fact something wrong with the saw. I can't see why this should be a warranty repair issue. I think it should be returned for another saw.  If for some reason Festool won't do that,  then there is that 30 day deal.

Seth

 

[Bill in seattle]

One thing that you might check is that when you are beveling/tilting the saw side to side, check to see if you have fully unlocked the miter release lock.(lever on top)  Make sure it is lifted up fully 90 degrees to the stop point. If you have the lever just open, or some where in between the two, which "WILL" allow the saw to begin to tilt , the brake/lock may not be fully released and account for the scraping noise you say. I can replicate a scraping noise that comes from the rack and pinion area, but "only" if I put the lever somewhere in between. More when just released less when up more. It varies from side to side and is random like described. But not when fully up.  It also makes beveling past 30 feel different and unequal side to side. If you don't release the brake/lock fully it could drag metal on metal, this might be why you hear the noise.
I don't feel this is a problem with the saw but fully understanding the operation of the features of the tool. Its not to say that you don't have something wrong with your tool, but check to make sure your using it as fully intended. Get to know your tool. Sometimes the obvious is not obvious until its pointed out. Most problems I have are when I get a new tool and unfamiliar or when its worn out.
I really like the springs that keep the saw from falling over. My other saws didn't have this feature and always managed to clunk over. There is slight more resistance past 30 or so but I'd say that is the springs doing their job. More mass being supported and the springs compressed more only makes sense to me.
Front mounted bevel control with rack and pinion, dual large easy to see angle gauges and positive locks are big in my book. I'll keep them.
Contact your local festool people, they will do you right.
Remember thou that even a brand new bmw or porsche can have a issue. Its just frustrating when your excited about a new item and struggle to go out and play with it right away.
Regards
Bill

 

[TomCrawford]

So Bill,
Is this another sighting of a Kapex in the wild in North America??

 

[Eli]

heh, heh. Just couldn't keep it quiet could you?  8)

 

[Bill in seattle]

Tom,
UMMMMM,,,,,errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,,ahhhhhh, oooooohhhhhhhhhh,, wwwwellllll ,,,, dddddduuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
I hate it when people ask such direct questions. I'm not good at beating around the evergreen either. Right now, the beast is being taught how to act tame here in seattle and not out howling in the wild.
Gathering all my opinions, reviews and real on the job use, then will post my line of ducks in awhile.
Bill

 

[Bill in seattle]

heh, heh. Just couldn't keep it quiet could you?  8)
[
busted
sometimes we mean to well ahead of ourselves./quote]

 

[Eli]

At least now somebody in NA understands why I can't shut up about the saw 

 

[Eli]

Rick, more importantly, you have had your hands on the saw, what is your experience re: tilt scrape?

 

[Frank-Jan]

Rick, thank you very much for taking the effort of posting that picture.
From the looks of it the noise comes from the pressure plate dragging a bit on the clamping plate.
I haven't noticed any weird noises during use on the jobsite, and the first job I used it for was installing 21cm wide fascia boards, so I did quite a lot of bevelling back and forth.
I always release the clamping lever fully, and put the bevel dial in the appropriate setting (after a right- bevel I first bevel the saw back beyond 0?, then put the dial back to 0-45 to put it back against the detent).
Altough I don't like the sound, from the looks of it, it can't do much harm.

 

[powertoolworld]

I have only just found your post so I hope that your Kapex is sorted.
If it is still making the noise take it back to the dealer where you bought it from and it should get repaired/replaced as this is a known fault on the second batch released in Europe.

I returned 10 in 1 week!

 

[Frank-Jan]

Oops, so it does need repair? I haven't experienced it as a problem, and I couldn't notice it when I actually used the saw, instead of checking for noises. But my saw has another of the known issues for which I have to bring it in and have it fixed (the wandering laser-issue). I'll put the noise on the list with problems to report when I turn it over to the dealer I got it from then. (Mine was bought in december 2007, like the TS's saw)