Kapex challenger

R

russ_1380

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
50
Hi all,

I'm new on here so please don't bite my head off (I imagine this will cause a few ruffled feathers with fellow festoolaholics).....

I was thinking a Kapex would be nice for crosscutting boards, say up to 10 inch.

Realistically Kapex is way out of budget for me.  As a result of this, do you guys believe there is any competition from other makers to challenge the Kapex's throne at a cheaper price?  I read on some sites that the Dewalt DW717 is meant to be a fairly close competitor, but a few hundred pounds cheaper.  There aren't many of them in the UK yet.

I would only want a sliding mitre saw that can guarantee accurate cross cuts/mitres and would have adjustments to tweak them if the accuracy is slightly out.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thank you

Russ

 
Hi Russ,

Like you i am new to this forum.  I have had many chopsaws over the years including Makita, Dewalt & Delta.  I now have the Kapex & can honestly say it is worth the extra money.  I was hesitant also because of the price but once you understand the quality & presion, you wont go back.  Afraid to say i am hooked now  :-\

Cheers, woodguy.
 
I've also owned a bunch of different chopsaws. I currently use the 12" Bosch compound miter saw. It's big, it's heavy, it sucks to move around ... but it works really well. I'm very happy with the fence, adjustments and everything else. Dust collection with the bag is a joke, hooked up to my Turbo II DC is good. I'd love a Kapex just for the size reduction. Can't justify the price though. I'd rather spend the saved money on other tools.
 
Hi Russ

I have a ten year old Hitachi 8 1/2" compound slider....I just had it rebuilt and it's running better than ever.  I' cut all trim on the flat, so I don't need a larger capacity saw than what I have.

I just field tested the newest version of this saw (for a construction magazine), and I must say it is a decent substitute for my old one.  It is lighter, and the price isn't bad.....~$400 US.  I can get the model numbers of both saws if you're interested.

There are a lot of Festool tools I'm slated to buy, but the Kapex isn't one of them.
 
Russ, I think most people that have used a Kapex would agree it's probably the finest miter saw on the market today. That doesn't mean that the other saws aren't good too and maybe one of them is a better value for you. For the most part all of the major brand miter saws are good, it comes down to personal preference. I'd recommend you go out try a few saws if you can.

I think you'll find that the guys here are pretty reasonable about other brand tools for example there are a lot of members that prefer the Bosch jigsaw over the Festool, I'm one of them.  
 
I like my 12" Bosch Slider alot, except it is heavy.  Gravity rise stand took care of that.

I want a Kapex but, I am waiting on a couple of upcoming jobs.

The main reason I want it is for its size and its dust collection.

You guys that have used it, you are right, it is the best saw out there.
I have had the pleasure of logging quite a few hours on my buddies.
 
I had a makita 10" before my kapex.  (ls1013fl maybe?)

It was a wonderful saw-- straight & square out of the box, beautiful cut with the stock blade.

The only things about it that I didn't like:

  • Fence wasn't tall enough
  • laser only on one side of blade
  • dust collection

but I really did like the light on it.  and the cut quality.  Blew the dewalt slider that I had away.

edit-- I re-read this and i thought that it sounded like I was slamming the makita-- quite the contrary, it was an excellent saw...
 
I have the new Milwaukee 12" slider, and love it.  The digital miter readout and fine adjust are excellent.  The downside - weight and size.  It is a beast to move around.  The lifting points are well placed, so it isn't that hard to carry.  It is just a lot of weight to maneuver into some tight spots (up and down narrow stairs especially).  The dust collection is equal to or better than the Kapex, once you make a vac adapter.  

I have a Kapex for site work, and the Milwaukee has been dedicated to the workshop.  Both are excellent saws.

I can also recommend the Makita LS1013.  I sold mine when I bought the Milwaukee, but only after many years of great service.  JRS' comments are right on the mark. 

 
You'll also want to consider the 12" Milwaukee slider with a digital display.  After I added a good blade it makes very smooth cuts that are dead on.  It is a very smooth saw and very well finished all over.  Probably it's biggest downside (for a contractor) is that it is a heavy saw to move from site to site.  Milwaukee has provided several built in "handles" & so it isn't unreasonable to move around -- but no doubt not as convenient as the Kapex.  If you watch for sales it is available at about 1/3 the cost of a Kapex which I applied the savings to other tools that I wanted.  I actually prefer the Milwaukee's "horizontal" handle to the Kapex vertical grip -- it just feels better to me. 
 
hi russ. i have lost count of the scms i have bought over the last 19 years butchering wood for a living. i have bought 1 lemon (hitachi), and i have had saws stolen off work sites, and from my van. i have used every type of saw that you can think of, and i always come back to the makita LS 1013.  i dont like the weight of 12 inch saws, the amount of times you need that extra cutting capacity, would be very small in my opinion.

using the kapex is a luxury, and i love using it, but i didnt want to get it knocked about in my trailer, thats why i buy and recommend makita. it is a sturdy machine, will take a few knocks and is a precision saw also.

regards, justin.
 
Russ,

I believe that a Kapex is the best you can buy, period.  Are there other SCMS's on the market?  Sure.

Maybe an extreme example, but is a Chevy Cobalt a challenger to a Bentley?  Sure is.  They will both get you to work and to the grocery store.  The question is, how would you rather get there?

Your choice.

Neill
 
Any experience with the Makita LS0714  7-1/2-Inch Slider?  I have a very, very small shop.  I'm also old and getting older, so the light weight is a big plus.  I mostly make furniture, boxes, bookcases, desktop accessories, etc.

People seem to like the old Hitachi  8 1/4 inch slider, but like the new model less so.  And the Makita is lighter.

Tom in SE Pennsylvania
 
Another vote for the Makita 10" slider.

Accurate out of the box, the blade is very good, ($90 blade, apparently) and it has enough cutting capacity for what I need. We have an old 12" DW radial arm saw in the shop... but it doesn't have the capacity to handle fir 4x4 beams. The Makita does, and it cuts them quickly and easily. The fence is a little low, but it really doesn't bother me, I don't do a lot of large moldings.

I borrowed the dust shroud idea from the Kapex, and used an old truck inner tube to make the shroud. There are still a few spots here and there where the dust gets through, but I'd say collection is in the 80% range now, when hooked up to my CT33/Dust Deputy setup. I had to fabricate an adapter to connect the two, but at this point, I'm getting pretty good at making adapters and reinforcements from epoxy soaked rags. (poor man's hi tech composite material)

The Makita is portable... but it's about as large as I'd want to go before it becomes unwieldy, or a 2-man job. I have an easier time hauling my 90 pound DW 12" planer around than some of those huge 12" miter saws. It's not so much a question of weight as of shape and size.
 
Any experience with the Makita LS0714  7-1/2-Inch Slider?
Click to expand...

I have used one, but only in passing.  Probably the smoothest operating SCMS I have used, but I couldn't deal with the capacity limitations.  If you are just cutting small stuff, it would be great.
 
James Watriss said:
Another vote for the Makita 10" slider.

Accurate out of the box, the blade is very good, ($90 blade, apparently) and it has enough cutting capacity for what I need. We have an old 12" DW radial arm saw in the shop... but it doesn't have the capacity to handle fir 4x4 beams. The Makita does, and it cuts them quickly and easily. The fence is a little low, but it really doesn't bother me, I don't do a lot of large moldings.

I borrowed the dust shroud idea from the Kapex, and used an old truck inner tube to make the shroud. There are still a few spots here and there where the dust gets through, but I'd say collection is in the 80% range now, when hooked up to my CT33/Dust Deputy setup. I had to fabricate an adapter to connect the two, but at this point, I'm getting pretty good at making adapters and reinforcements from epoxy soaked rags. (poor man's hi tech composite material)

The Makita is portable... but it's about as large as I'd want to go before it becomes unwieldy, or a 2-man job. I have an easier time hauling my 90 pound DW 12" planer around than some of those huge 12" miter saws. It's not so much a question of weight as of shape and size.
Click to expand...

My experience was similar as far as dust collection.  I also built a larger shroud than came with the Makita, and it helped considerably.  Not as good as the Milwaukee or Kapex, but I could live with it.  Almost all of the fine dust was captured.
 
Tom Ryan said:
Any experience with the Makita LS0714  7-1/2-Inch Slider?  I have a very, very small shop.  I'm also old and getting older, so the light weight is a big plus.  I mostly make furniture, boxes, bookcases, desktop accessories, etc.

People seem to like the old Hitachi  8 1/4 inch slider, but like the new model less so.  And the Makita is lighter.

Tom in SE Pennsylvania
Click to expand...

Hi Tom

I have  Makita LS0714  7-1/2-Inch Slider,  And I am really happy with the saw. I have had it fore over two years and I love it, any time I have to work like on third floor or in limited space.  This saw doesn't like wide planks especially in a hard wood, cause the blade is too thin it lives marks.  Also blades are cheap for it .
 
mwhafner said:
Any experience with the Makita LS0714  7-1/2-Inch Slider?
Click to expand...

I have used one, but only in passing.  Probably the smoothest operating SCMS I have used, but I couldn't deal with the capacity limitations.  If you are just cutting small stuff, it would be great.
Click to expand...
I think that Makita is comming out with a 10" version of that saw.Check out AMAZONE.COM for details.
 
(hi new to the forum ) went to buy the kapex i like yhe rails and adjustment but i dont think it would last long for a joiner and price isint realy worth it but a good saw for the workshop if the owner is using it and the stand isint practical for on the road and takes to long to put up but it is the best saw in the market but a big price tag.
walked away with the big dewalt with the shadow and stand ,a dream to work with ,weighs 23kg the shadow is brill dead on and no adjustment needed ,stand is brill for on work ideal but no good for big workshop. so theirs ma wee bit ;)
 
I would not buy the dewalt and it in my opinion is not even it festools class.  default as I call their tools, I have never had so many problems with numerous dewalt tools more than 3 times than any other tools I have owned.  bought a brand new 18v dewalt drill $289 bucks at the time... drilled a hole and pulled the drill out and the whole chuck was stuck in the wall!  table saw mini, pieces have broken off etc.  on and on.

buy the makita if you want a  a good saw and cannot afford the kapex.
 
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