Kapex dust extraction hose

[ssticks2stones]

Good day,
After using my Kapex for awhile now I'm not all that happy with the dust extraction.
I talked to the local Festool rep he said I needed to use a 50mm hose.
Before I spent the money on this I thought I would run it by you guys first. I love my Festool products but dropping $190 on  a hose is still a lot of money.
Besides I'm trying to save up for my next order, or shipment of tools, like my wife calls it

 

[GarryMartin]

Haven't ever seen anyone recommend the 50mm...

The 36mm hose is the sweet spot for the Kapex, especially if you shorten it to about 1.5m (there or thereabouts depending on where you dust extractor is relative to the Kapex itself).

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Todd

Use as short a piece of 36 mm hose that you can and have it go direct into your CT.

If you cut green or poorly seasoned timber, especially pine, you can get a build up of sticky sawdust. You will see it first on the rubber boot at the back of the blade. I used an old bottle brush (with the power off on the saw) to clean as much of the dust collection path that I could reach.

Make sure that the rubber boot is properly fitted.

Let the DC come up to speed before starting a cut.

Check that your DC is on max speed and the bag is not full.

If you have sacrificial pieces attached to your rear fences then make sure that they are not oversized and blocking the route of the dust.

Peter

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Dust collection (or perceived lack thereof) on the Kapex has long been a point of debate. If you are expecting 99% collection, please be prepared to be disappointed. If you are looking for a miter saw that has "great" dust collection, then you're in luck, the Kapex can do that!

As stated above, you will be best served by a 36mm hose. I've always used the stock length, though you can certainly shorten it.

The amount of dust collected by the Kapex is directly related to the orientation of the work, the material being cut (Pine vs. MDF, for instance), the feed rated, the hose used, and the vacuum.

 

[TOOLTOWN]

As mentioned, a short 36mm hose will greatly increase dust collection performance.

Instead of hacking up a hose you own and use, or buying a full length hose just to cut it in half, we stock pre-made short kapex hoses.  (It would be about half the cost with shipping vs. the $190 for a new hose as you mentioned).

Give us a call today or Monday if you want more information.

Ken

 

[mike_aa]

[member=58571]sticks2stones[/member]

There are some threads about Kapex Dust Collection that offer some tweaks.  Here's one that features a modification to the dust boot (see reply 13).

Mike

 

[Corwin]

Bob Marino's Kapex Hose for $90

 

[ssticks2stones]

Thanks for all the help.
I'm going to Oder a short 36 mm hose and go with that.
Thanks again for the help

 

[ear3]

Recently I was going to get the short run of 36mm hose, but I did a test with an extra 1 7/8 Ridgid hose lying around, and it actually works pretty well connected to the saw with an adapter and some tape:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-10-ft-Pro-Grade-Universal-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-Hose-Kit-VT2570/100375877

There is certainly a huge difference in dust collection b/w the 27mm hose and the 1 7/8, and I think the 1 7/8 is even more effective than the 36mm.

 

[Scorpion]

Dust collection (or perceived lack thereof) on the Kapex has long been a point of debate. If you are expecting 99% collection, please be prepared to be disappointed. If you are looking for a miter saw that has "great" dust collection, then you're in luck, the Kapex can do that!

As stated above, you will be best served by a 36mm hose. I've always used the stock length, though you can certainly shorten it.

The amount of dust collected by the Kapex is directly related to the orientation of the work, the material being cut (Pine vs. MDF, for instance), the feed rated, the hose used, and the vacuum.

Completely agree.  I too was disappointed with the amount of dust collected the first time I used my Kapex.  It's really exactly as stated above - material, feed rate, cut/material orientation, and suction are all factors.  Get the above conditions handled optimally and you'll only have minimal  dust go uncollected.  Cut some MDF on a 45 with a fairly aggressive feed rate using a CT MIDI on nearly a full bag and a 27mm hose...you'll wonder if any is getting collected (ask me how I know).

Remove the hose and cut and you'll realize, even in the worst conditions, just how much actually gets collected.  I'm occasionally reminded when I forget to hook up the hose.

I got a cheap Bosch non-static hose and Festool ends.  Cut off 3 feet and ended up with enough extra for another hose for another use.

 

[Toolpig]

You absolutely do NOT need a 50mm hose.  Get the 36mm and push the slider a little more slowly to give the vac more time to suck up the dust.

Good day,
After using my Kapex for awhile now I'm not all that happy with the dust extraction.
I talked to the local Festool rep he said I needed to use a 50mm hose.
Before I spent the money on this I thought I would run it by you guys first. I love my Festool products but dropping $190 on  a hose is still a lot of money.
Besides I'm trying to save up for my next order, or shipment of tools, like my wife calls it

 

[Lewis Carpentry]

I use the bosch 35mm hose on my kapex. I bought the 5 meter hose and cut it in half. One half is used for my kapex the other goes to my jobsite sawstop when I want to use it with the vac.

Bosch 5 meter - 35 mm hose

 

[ssticks2stones]

Thanks for additional comments. I actually haven't gotten the shorter 36mm hose yet with the holidays, been busy six grandkids.
I'll try one of my other hoses I've got around here before I make a decision.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[rnt80]

Todd, I've had the Kapex since it was released and while I've had some issues with it I've found the dust collection to be far and above the best on any miter saw I've used.  I didn't have it long before I went to Lowes and bought a 50mm Shop Vac hose to use on the saw.  I'm not sure what percentage of the dust is collected but I can tell you that when the vac is full or on the rare occasion that I use the saw without dc the difference is substantial.  The hose I bought at Lowes was cheap, compared to Festool standards, and works perfectly with the saw.  Good luck.

 

[DB10]

My vote would be a 36, wouldn't a 50mm hose start to feel cumbersome attacheched to theKapex especially whilst making compound cuts.

 

[ccarrolladams]

My vote would be a 36, wouldn't a 50mm hose start to feel cumbersome attacheched to theKapex especially whilst making compound cuts.

A always recommend the shortest 36mm AS hose possible. My experience has been that there is not only no benefit to the 50mm hose, it is not flexible enough to allow the Kapex to slide normally. As you wisely point out, "especially while making compound cuts".

 

[DrD]

I use the bosch 35mm hose on my kapex. I bought the 5 meter hose and cut it in half. One half is used for my kapex the other goes to my jobsite sawstop when I want to use it with the vac.

Bosch 5 meter - 35 mm hose

How did you get the end(s) off the Bosch hose?  I have the Bosch 5 meter hose but cannot remove either end - AND I certainly do not want to use all 5 meters for the Kapex.

All help/replies are appreciated.  Thanks