kapex extensions

808tradewinds

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Joined
Oct 2, 2008
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Can anyone review the new Kapex extensions, or pass along comments that compare them with Sawhelper?  Aloha Cliff
 
Cliff, very few people have the Kapex extensions here in the US and the folks overseas that do have don't have the Sawhelper. I don't think you'll get much of a response here.
 
I received my Kapex extensions a while back, but I haven't had a chance to try them out.  I'll post a review once I get a chance to use them.

Several months ago I tried to order the Sawhelper system, but it appears they are currently out of production.  It looked like a pretty neat set up, and hopefully the manufacturer will find a way to bring them back.  I got tired of waiting, so I went with the Festool solution since is now available here.

John
 
Thanks, I would love to get your read on it.  I haven't heard a bad word about the Sawhelper, but last I checked shipping to Hawaii puts it at a grand.  It looked more durable than the Kapex extensions, and I would haul this accessory to job sites (I'm a general contractor).  I'll stay tuned....Aloha Cliff
 
I've got two on the left side (gives over 3 metres measuring) and one on the right.  The plus points are that they are easily transported to site, fairly quick to set up and the measuring tape is actually a special tape measure that rolls out as you pull out the extensions.
The down side is that they were Festool expensive and that they are not very solid.  It's not that they won't support heavy stock, its just that as the fix to the saw with a single machine screw and metal slot, they are very easy to knock out of true.  In the shop I have a long aluminium box section handy for re-squaring them as every time I or a piece of wood bumps into them they go out of square.  Other problem is that the shortest piece you can measure is about 35cm from memory.  Other think is the stop has about a mm or maybe two of flex in it.  I used to have a Kreg set up - much better IMHO.
I would say if you want to be able to take them with you they are not bad, if you want to make a permanent saw station you can do better.
 
hi 808, i have the crown moulding stops and like them very much. i do not use a saw helper, but i have seen them being used by various chippies on youtube.

here in oz, the most popular dropsaw bench is  made by a company in brisbane, they are called a "tommy tucker bench". i use it with a makita 10 inch dropsaw evrey day and it is a great piece of kit.

very solid aluminium bench, lots of roofing and framing chippies use them too.

i made my own custom mdf bench for my kapex and then decided to buy the crown moulding stops, they do increase the amount of timber you can place on the kapex, but they are very expensive.

you can still work perfectly without them,  it all depends if you can justify spending all that beer money on another festool toy!

regards, justin.
 
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