Kapex Clamps

[Birdhunter]

I made auxiliary fences for my Kapex per the instructions in the supplemental manual. I used 3/4" oak. The fences work well.

My problem is that the hold down clamps don't extend far enough out to clear the auxiliary fences.

Anyone have a cleaver solution?

 

[rnt80]

I have a drum sander and I sanded my fences down until they were slim enough so that the clamp will work.  I think they ended up being 3/8" thick.

 

[Flatsawn]

I used masonite

Mark

 

[ear3]

Haven't built any for my saw, but the videos and/or pics I've seen demonstrating the auxiliary fence usually use 1/2" material.

 

[nclemmons]

I made mine with 1/4" baltic birch ply and the clamps clear those easily.

 

[joiner1970]

6mm MR MDF on mine and clamps work fine

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

 

[Birdhunter]

How do you attach the thin auxiliary fence to the Kapex metal fence?

 

[nclemmons]

I use flat head machine screws.  I think I used 8-32 with nuts and washers on the back.  Slight countersink and they work and hold well.

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks,  I'll try that

 

[#Tee]

I used 1/4 acrylic

 

[LDBecker]

I found some 3/8" Baltic birch ply that seems ok for the fence. The clamp clears ok when it is at about 90 degrees, but it won't rotate much to hold down things at angles, like it does without the fence. I may cut some vertical grooves in the fence to allow for a bit more flexibility in positioning the clamp. I bought some Incra 1/4-20 knurled knobs to attach to the back of some flathead screws, countersunk in the face of the fence.
I really recommend making the fence- I had two nasty kickback episodes my first week before I made the fence. The first one actually knocked loose the little spring-loaded dust shroud that is INSIDE the blade guard. I didn't notice it right away and it slipped into the blade and cut it in half... Sigh... Festool is sending a new one. This saw seems more prone to kickback than my old Makita - maybe because the factory fences are movable and easily left too far apart? Probably user error... But the zero clearance fence and insert for below the blade seem to help the cuts a lot.