Kapex Deck NOT Flat on Left Side

[Nvcraftsman]

[attachimg=1]Hi Fellow Festoolians.
I just picked up my new Kapex say a couple of days ago and wanted try her out today. I noticed that the left hand deck was not flush with the turret. The right side is dead on flat. It doesn't look like there is any adjustment for this. I had it bolted down and thought that might be pulling it out so I unbolted it to make sure, but no change. When I slide a board to be cut from the left the face of the board catches at the turret. Any Suggestions?? I have attached a picture, I am thinking that I may be taking it back on Monday if I can't figure a way to fix it. Im a little disappointed. Any helpful comments would be appreciated.

 

[jmarkflesher]

$1400.00. Take it back, but don't give up. Finalize the return than buy a new one, different serial number. Check EVERYTHING out before 90 days. MARK

 

[BBuild]

$1400.00. Take it back, but don't give up. Finalize the return than buy a new one, different serial number. Check EVERYTHING out before 90 days. MARK

You meant 30 days right?

 

[Gary in Texas]

30 day return policy.....

 

[Serge]

how much is the difference ?
first try to slide the saw towards you and measure again, sometimes the
mid section has too much clearence and moves up and down when you slide the saw towards you.

 

[jmarkflesher]

30 days  (OUCH). $1400.00 SHOULD be 90 days. Problem is if base is out that much in a picture, even if you could adjust to 90 degrees if you spin it 45 left or 45 right blade will not be coming down at a 90. GET A NEW ONE! How much is that out with a feeler gauge? MARK

 

[Nvcraftsman]

UPDATE: I took the Kapex back to Apex Saw today, they were great, we pulled out a new one out of the box before I took to the shop. The deck is square and true on both sides. I will get it fired up in a couple of days and get some projects finished up. One thing I noticed about the one that was screwed up is that it had a few yellow stickers on it that where not in english? Anyway, all fixed Im happy camper now.

 

[QuailRider43]

Hi Fellow Festoolians.
I just picked up my new Kapex say a couple of days ago and wanted try her out today. I noticed that the left hand deck was not flush with the turret. The right side is dead on flat.

Did I just receive your saw as a refurb when I bought my Kapex last week?  [wink]  I just opened the box and set it up this weekend, only to find the EXACT same issue you report.  The left side is 0.5-0.75 mm lower than the center (estimated), while the right side is dead level.  While it doesn't sound like much, it does rock the material a bit, and catches when you slide from the side plate up to the blade.  Very very annoying as the place I bought from is about 30 min drive away each way, and it makes me wonder about quality control on these saws.  Does it matter?  Well, I would argue that it has the potential to affect a miter cut, and if I'm paying 3x the cost of a regular saw I expect a perfectly flat base.  I'll call the shop I bought from tomorrow.  I hope they have a flat one in stock so I can exchange it without too much downtime.

 

[vin]

Had the exact same problem- received my Kapex and the left side was lower than the center so the material sat at a slight angle on that side. I contacted Festool and they asked if I had tried making cuts on it to see if they were off. I didn’t see how they couldn’t be but they explained the saw is designed with a “floating” turntable and it “self levels” as it cuts. I had a hard time understanding this but tried several cuts on each side. All of them were off when cut from the left side and square when cut from the right. I was then told if I’m not happy with the way the saw cuts I should return it or send it in for service. I just received the saw so I returned it and ordered another one- I’m hoping this one is okay because it seems like a great saw otherwise. I have many Festool products and I’m impressed with all of them but this was a bit disappointing.

 

[clutzer]

I just unpacked my new Kapex and it has the same problem.  Dead flush on the right, 0.1mm or so off on the left.

 

[clutzer]

Poll: is this amount of unevenness normal?  Are there kapexes out there that are *perfectly* flush?

 

[glass1]

Is the square not also rocking to the right side but a little less. Is the turntable designed to be slightly higher ?  Better than slighly low?

 

[clutzer]

It does rock less on the left side than the right.  I agree lower is better than higher, but for a $1400 saw, it needs to be perfect.  So, I'm interested in finding out from folks in the FOG if they have a "perfect" deck, or if it's like mine.

 

[andvari]

Mine showed up the same way. Low on the left side, ok on the right side. Looks pretty much exactly like the OP.

It's disturbing this isn't adjustable. Even if I swap it for another it seems to me to be questionable as to whether it would stay flat.

The laser is sloppily adjusted too.

 

[glass1]

What are you guys using this saw to do ? Just curious. Could you post some work. My turntable is about one sheet of paper higher than the wings. Maybe ever so higher than the right side. I ask this because I once had a shop space next to a super exacting wood worker and I mean crazy. He used a monster old cast iron 7.5 hp sliding table saw for large precise cuts. The only miternsaw he had was a 10" non compounding hit aching for little stuff. I think the kapex is for carpentry. Albeit nice carpentry. I got my saw tuned up real good quite easily. Now to delve deeper take your hand and guide it across the turntable along the fence. You will notice that close to the sacrificial strips the table slightly dips in like a very shallow bowl. Very purposeful precession casting. Your saw maybe off but me thinks the turntable is just meant to be ever so high like my saw by a sheet of paper?  I have done some pretty tight work in both glass and wood. Check it out: www.boarglass.com and bengthokanson.carbonmade.com
I would like to see a little more focus on this website on what we are producing with festools rather than what festool is producing. Cheers.

 

[clutzer]

There are definitely "forum rooms" (aka boards) for all the cool things we are making with the tools--but this rooms if for festool problems, so... =)

I'm going to be more scientific about this and create a poll.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have had mine for almost 6 years, i still haven't checked the base. It probably has enough paint worn off to make a difference now.  It has never rendered a piece usless its cut, i may have messed up a time or two though. 

Pretty sure the appearance of my saw would embarrass a good percentage of the posters here.

 

[glass1]

Ok ok. But if it doesn't effect your work........

 

[jacko9]

You ask the question about what we intend to do with the Kapex.  I'm  furniture builder and I have a DeWalt for just breaking down long boards but, I wanted the Kapex to get furniture quality cuts when I have a lot of short (12 - 20" long) that I want to be the "exact length".  In other words, I bought the Kapex as a precision miter saw to replace a framing carpenters miter saw.  Since mine won't arrive until Thursday I don't know what the accuracy is yet.

Jack

 

[clutzer]

Ok ok. But if it doesn't effect your work........

It will affect my work, I'm doing intricate crown work and baseboards.  I don't need a wedge-gap showing up when I join two pieces together.  What I'm curious about is if the UG extensions would sit flush with the turret or the sides.  If they sit flush then I could probably live with this gap.

Lesson learned: DON'T buy this type of thing online.  I was excited to save the tax buying from Toolnut in NY, but that savings has been completely canceled out and then some with lost time and hassle shipping this one back.  Not to mention, trying to ensure that I get a flush one next time...