Kapex bevel lock doesn't

[johnbro]

I keep my kapex on the ridgid SUV miter stand. The stand folds up vertically so the saw is hanging horizontally when not in use. I've noticed that when I set it back up the bevel has shifted about 5 degrees to the left, in spite of the lock. I've ruined some cuts by not consistently checking this.

The lock lever itself seems like it doesn't put a lot of force on the saw in the locked position. I can unlatch it easily with one finger.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does my saw need some kind of adjustment, or is this something I'll just have to live with?

John

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

John, give our service department a call at 800-554-8741, they will be able to help troubleshoot and resolve any issues with your Kapex.

Thank you,
Shane

 

[johnbro]

thanks, Shane, will do.

 

[johnbro]

So per Shane I called Festool CS today. First call I was on hold with no human contact for about 30 minutes before I gave up. Phone rings about 10 times before the auto attendant answers, then you get to be on hold.

Second time (later in the day) phone again rings about 10 times, finally somebody answers it, I can't understand what he says, I think maybe I dialed the wrong number so I ask is this Festool? He says yes, I tell him I have a problem with my Kapex and he transfers me to hold again [crying]

This time I get someone in about 5 minutes. I tell him what's going on (use the saw on the Ridgid MSUV, bevel lock slips when the stand is vertical.

His answer is to disassemble the back of the saw and stretch out a spring. Or put some kind of spacer in there to increase the tension  [eek] All the tension is supplied by a spring, and since my saw is slipping, it's only going to get worse. However, apparently there's nothing wrong with my $1300 (plus tax) saw--this is perfectly normal, although he's never heard of this happening.

I point out to him that my $500 Makita didn't do this; that these miter stands are popular in the USA, and that I would expect a saw designed for professional use would not slip when moved on a stand. Especially a $1300 (plus tax) saw.

I'm not too keen on taking my saw apart and attempting to modify it to compensate for a design flaw. The alternative apparently is to send it to Indiana so someone can work on it, although he doesn't think there's anything wrong with it so why send it in???

So this is the greatest miter saw ever and you can't move it without it getting out of adjustment? Is it just me, or does this seem wrong to you? First time ever calling Festool CS and this is what I get? The saw slips off bevel and too bad???

To say I'm underwhelmed would be like saying the Cubs have had a rough couple of years...

 

[EcoFurniture]

I'm sorry to hear!
Maybe the person in charge wasn't in today and the person next in line wasn't sure what to say? Sometimes it happens that a company has a "cluster fuck" day....

I'm sure Shane will be all over this issue in a couple of seconds!

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

John, I can only assume that your saw is within the first year of warranty.  Please send me an email or PM and I will make immediate arrangements for a call tag to have the saw picked up and brought in to be fully checked by our service techs to check for any issues and make the necessary repairs.  Please let me know if that's an acceptable resolution to the issues you've been experiencing.  There's no expectation for you to disassemble your saw.

Edit: PS - I am very sorry to hear about what must have been a frustrating experience with our phone system. I don't have an answer about what may have happening to cause the long waits but I will see that it is addressed.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I keep my kapex on the ridgid SUV miter stand. The stand folds up vertically so the saw is hanging horizontally when not in use. I've noticed that when I set it back up the bevel has shifted about 5 degrees to the left, in spite of the lock. I've ruined some cuts by not consistently checking this.

The lock lever itself seems like it doesn't put a lot of force on the saw in the locked position. I can unlatch it easily with one finger.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does my saw need some kind of adjustment, or is this something I'll just have to live with?

Personally, I think that you're abusing the saw by hanging it with the baseplate vertical, the head horizontal, and then presumably trundling it across rough ground and/or putting it in the back of a truck in that position and driving over bumps. And if you do treat it like that, you are expecting too much of it not to shift a bit.

What angle do you have the bevel and mitre set to when you hang the saw with the baseplate vertical?

Forrest

>

 

[EcoFurniture]

I keep my kapex on the ridgid SUV miter stand. The stand folds up vertically so the saw is hanging horizontally when not in use. I've noticed that when I set it back up the bevel has shifted about 5 degrees to the left, in spite of the lock. I've ruined some cuts by not consistently checking this.

The lock lever itself seems like it doesn't put a lot of force on the saw in the locked position. I can unlatch it easily with one finger.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does my saw need some kind of adjustment, or is this something I'll just have to live with?

Personally, I think that you're abusing the saw by hanging it with the baseplate vertical, the head horizontal, and then presumably trundling it across rough ground and/or putting it in the back of a truck in that position and driving over bumps. And if you do treat it like that, you are expecting too much of it not to shift a bit.

What angle do you have the bevel set to when you hang the saw with the baseplate vertical?

Forrest

very interesting thought! But it makes sense.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I keep my kapex on the ridgid SUV miter stand. The stand folds up vertically so the saw is hanging horizontally when not in use. I've noticed that when I set it back up the bevel has shifted about 5 degrees to the left, in spite of the lock. I've ruined some cuts by not consistently checking this.

The lock lever itself seems like it doesn't put a lot of force on the saw in the locked position. I can unlatch it easily with one finger.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does my saw need some kind of adjustment, or is this something I'll just have to live with?

Personally, I think that you're abusing the saw by hanging it with the baseplate vertical, the head horizontal, and then presumably trundling it across rough ground and/or putting it in the back of a truck in that position and driving over bumps. And if you do treat it like that, you are expecting too much of it not to shift a bit.

What angle do you have the bevel set to when you hang the saw with the baseplate vertical?

Forrest

I am going to have to agree with Forrest on this one.

I had both a makita and a bosch mounted on that exact rigid stand.
Both of the saws would have the bevel lock come undone and the heads would bounce around on the saw.

I had to resort to bungee strapping the saw heads down on both saws.

I have always thought that that stand was hard on the saw mounted to it, whether stored upright or stored flat.

 

[justinmcf]

have you guys seen the new kapex stand?

i think it hangs the saw vertically also?

regards, justin.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

have you guys seen the new kapex stand?

i think it hangs the saw vertically also?

regards, justin.

I see that but, there may be one difference.

The rigid would bounce about 1/2" up and down because of the slop in the latch and the gas shock.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

have you guys seen the new kapex stand?
i think it hangs the saw vertically also?

Indeed it does...

...but note how the head of the saw is in the locked-down postition, and how the mitre set to the fully right position (which is 60 degrees) when it is mounted on the stand for transportation. These reduce the moment/torque of the head on its axis.

Forrest

 

[justinmcf]

thanks forrest.

a picture says a thousand words.....

regards, justin.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Like Forrest pointed out, the Kapex should be secured in the transport position when being moved.  The manual, section 7.1 (pg. 25), provides the specific instructions.  These instructions should be followed even when the Kapex is attached to a mobile stand/cart.

7.1 Transport

Securing the machine (transport position)

-Press the on/off switch (4.1).
-Swivel the saw unit downwards until it reaches the fence.
-Press the lock (4.2). The saw unit now remains in the lower position.
-Tighten the rotary knob (4.3) to secure the saw unit in the rear position.
-Wind up the mains cable into the cable holder (5.5) before transporting.
-Stow away the Allen key (5.4) and the bevel (5.3) in the holders provided.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Set it to 60 degree miter as well?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Well, the manual doesn't specifically state setting it to a 60.  But, I do know that they are shipped that way, at 60 degrees.  I believe the reason is to make the saw footprint more compact in that configuration.  I suspect the same is true for why the Kapex cart (UGG) is designed that way -- to make it as compact as possible for transport. 

I don't think it's significant to transportation in any other way.

 

[mastercabman]

My old Bosch on my gravity rise stand allways got loose on the bevel.I do not have my Kapex on any stand for transport.Never had that problem.

 

[tbellemare]

It's a lot easier to carry and seems much more "locked down" by following the instructions.

Like they say, RT_I...

Tom

BTW, there are handles on 3 sides and often it makes a difference...