Kapex ( Greek for Spending my Childrens Inheritence)

Llap Goch

Member
Joined
May 5, 2007
Messages
190
I promise this is not a gloat as the Kapex belongs to Simou but I hope these first impressions of his saw might be of interest. Incidentally, the documentation does speak of a 110v US version so it will arrive on your shores one day albeit with a slightly different blade guard mechanism.

I did post a wee while back that the dust extraction was excellent and after numerous cuts, some in anger and some in a testing mode, I am delighted to say that it is….for an SCMS. I must have had one or two Malts too many when I replied to Lou that the chip deflector and the blade trench were connected to the rear or top outlet. This is patent bolleaux and I can only think that in a haze of Highland Park I looked at the Symetric saw where the two are connected. Mea Culpa.

The top vacuum connector ( which swivels in a cheeky yet controlled manner to either side ) is connected to the chip deflector, which is heavy duty rubber, and the vacuum inlet close to the blade. In a miracle of Teutonic engineering or pure German luck, the sawdust which falls off the blade does not end up in the blade trench/table insert. Well a bit does but a blind man would be glad to see it. So very good dust extraction and again good enough to take into a house proud persons place and cut on the job.

I will dwell on a few things that have not been covered in the excellent review of Waka’s. Set up is truly easy even for a numpty like me. This shot shows that a Rotty can operate the saw.

The weight is +/- 21 kgs but carrying it with the cable wound up and with a hand on the table leg and one on the cable reel handle is surprisingly easy. The rubber feet slot exactly into the MFT holes and if you do not have the bolt under clamps (I do not) then the Festool F clamps do just as well. The working height on the MFT is perfect and very stable.

The Kapex is not a massive saw but it is still a big beast. This photo shows it

against the Symetric to give you some idea of its size.

Waka showed the top clamp to alter the vertical angle. It is amazingly simple, highly accurate and once set can be further adjusted using the rotating handle on the right slide arm. Once locked it stays locked. I used the saw straight out of the box but checked it first for accuracy with my Wixeys digital gauge. Spot on in all angles which is a first for me.

The horizontal movement is again a paragon of smoothness and accuracy and in between angles can be set and locked out of the pre-set and indented ones. Scales are etched, very clear and can be adjusted for wear or future alignment.

The sliding mechanism, on two rigid polished arms is very smooth and the saw itself is nicely balanced when lifting to cut. The saw can be stopped and secured along its travel should you wish. There is a very clever lever which you engage to secure the saw head away from the rear fence. This allows you to cut 120mm high materiel. A further lever disengages the clamp and returns the saw to slide mode.

The laser beams are excellent. This photo 

shows the windows in the blade guard which allow the laser beams to fall onto your work piece with the guard down. The beams are exactly the width of the blade kerf and can be realigned. The laser window is removable for cleaning.

Cutting action is very smooth, well damped and controlled. The blade leaves a very fine cut for a general purpose one though I will get a finer one later. The blade runs absolutely true to the fence.

The depth adjustment for trenching is very quick to set up but I am disappointed that it is limited to about 23mm. I would have preferred to be able to trench in bigger stock. It is however rock solid once set with none of the creeping of adjustable nut mechanisms.

Right I’m parched and have probably used all of the forum space for photos. I will do some more once sober and Simou has figured out the rest of the instructions.

If anyone has any questions on the saw then please ask.

 
I screwed up with the photos and will try again

Simou and his saw

The Blade guard

Size comparison Kapex/Symetric

I am noe off to have a small snifter to steady my photo posting nerves

Pat

 
Pat, thanks for that review.

One question though... The pictures make it appear to be rather sunny there in Wales. I didn't think that happened very often?

Nice looking saw(s) and nice looking dogs. Send Simou my regards...
 
Thanks Lou

Today was a scorcher which is unusual for Wales and why I had to get the trusty camera out to take some mementos for my old age and to be able to say, " I was there on that day that the sun shone!"

Simou thanks you for your regards as does Megan who is watching nonchalantly in the backgound.
 
Simou is obviously one proud new Kapex owner.  He isn't getting into your retirement to pay for all these toys, is he?  It's also great that Megan can be so tolerant and just allow the boys to be boys and play with their toys.

By the way, what's that Australian-looking orange support stand beside the saw?

Nice of Simou to let you play with his saw long enough to write the review.  Best regards to him.

Dave
 
Dave

Megan is a very understanding lady. She is into fast cars and has never been bitten by the Festool bug.

The Triton stand was bought as I believe in supporting third world countries whenever possible ;D and because, along with the superjaws it is a particularly effective piece of kit.

Pat
 
Greetings Sir Llap (as well I don't studder or it'd be Llap Llap :o)

One quick question. Is Simou left or right pawed and does this affect the results of his sawing? ??? In other words does a 45 left vitre become a 45 right mitre?

Regards,

Uncle Albert
 
Gilpian Sahib

Himself is ambipawrus.

(Grateful you keep the Sir bit to yourself as Her Majesty is, as we speak, touring one of our Dominions and has been unable to do the sword tapping bit. So I am still plain old Mr Llap Goch at the mo'.)
 
We are now well into our second day of sunshine in Wales which has caused something of a minor panic amongst the population and a stampede to buy factor 1 sun cream and Dai Bans (the Welsh equivalents of Ray's finest sunglasses).

Two more photos on Simou's saw which show the laser. This is a new fangled addition for me as the lasers I have used in the past have aided the delivery of stuff which lands with a very big bang and eliminates grid squares at a stroke. I suspect that this is nothing new to most and that lasers are fitted to all SCMS but this is a first for me and I have been tickled pink at how accurate the two beams are.

As I showed earlier the blade guard has clear windows to allow the laser beams to penetrate to the work piece. Photo 1 shows the beams on some oak with the saw in its working position and the blade guard closed. I have seen some SCMSs where you have to retract the guard to get a focussed laser beam. This means that you can adjust the workpiece without holding the guard up and inadvertantly switching on the saw. Note how the beams are serrated as they follow the open window pattern of the guard. The blade kerf follows the lines exactly.

Photo 2 shows the angle guide that is fitted into the left leg of the saw table. It is very similar to the Swedish NOBEX guide and you can measure both internal and external angles. Once you have measured the angle, place the guide on the fence, move the saw to the centre of the guide, turn on the laser and align the beams to the lines printed on the guide. This is done with the blade guard closed. Once aligned, lock the table and cut. You repeat for the other side. Simple I know but then it is ideal for me as I am particulary simple.

The angle cut is excellent but I do wish that Festool had incorporated the adjustable and automatic bisecting fence of the Symetric saw. Whilst the Symetric is a limited capacity saw it cuts angles to perfection and you would be hard pressed to see the difference between trim cut on the saw and those cut on a guillotine. Wish number 1.

Wish number 2 is for an induction motor rather than the noisier brush motor fitted to the Kapex. The motor is not excessively noisy but it is not fitted with the electronic brake that is so effective on the TS range of saws and the routers and for the price I would have liked to have a braked induction motor fitted. Rant over as it is still a cracking saw.

Kind regards from the Principality

Pat and the only Kapex owning Rotty in the World.

 
Llap Goch said:
Incidentally, the documentation does speak of a 110v US version so it will arrive on your shores one day albeit with a slightly different blade guard mechanism.....

Dose the documentation show how the guard will differ?

.....The top vacuum connector ( which swivels in a cheeky yet controlled manner to either side ) is connected to the chip deflector, which is heavy duty rubber, and the vacuum inlet close to the blade....

Do you find the vacuum hose interfering with swinging the saw to set the miter angle?

....The blade leaves a very fine cut for a general purpose one though I will get a finer one later....

Do you have information on the blades Festool has for the Kapex?

  Thank you for taking the time to show us the where the children's Inheritance has gone. Hope all are enjoying the sunshine.

 
Llap Goch said:
Incidentally, the documentation does speak of a 110v US version so it will arrive on your shores one day albeit with a slightly different blade guard mechanism.

Now that's intersting, Sounds like a UL issue. makes me wonder: If the US guard mechanism sucks, can we order said mechanism from Europe? hmmm.

I'm always interested to see how badly a US safety standard can destroy a great European design (The US Lamborghini Countach with funky bumpers comes to mind ;) )
Or, for a better example, if you want to use an overarm (SUVA) guard on your table saw, that's fine if you are self employed, but if you have employees, You need an OSHA guard (* the last time I checked this was the case).

Then again, in Europe a dado head is anathema because its "blind cutting" or something like that.
 
Hi Brice

To answer your points:

1. The Festool brochure front page shows the US blade guard and an arm which seems to reach down to the blade spindle nut. Euro versions just have a screw head and washer where the arm fits. The brochure can be downloaded here:
http://www.festool.co.uk/images/gb_downloads/brochure_kapex.pdf

2. The dust extractor is angled to route the vacuum hose away from the saw head. It does not impede the saw at any angle either left or right or at an compound position. Hopefully the photos will show the hose position when swivelled to the right as you look from the rear. The clearance should you have your vacuum to the left is the same.

3. The brochure details the available blades. The Kapex is delivered with a universal blade which cuts very well but you can get a fine, laminate and a metal blade should you wish. Again details are in the brochure.

On the point that fcraven makes. This is a small pay back for the horrendous black rubber bumpers that the nasty R Nader Esq demanded be fitted to our beloved MGBs and Midgets. You know the cars that had electrics by Lucas the Prince of Darkness. ;D

Looking at the arm I cannot fathom what it does but it could be a beer can ring puller.

Regards from Wales where the weather has reverted to a proper Welsh Summer, ie it is phissing down.

Pat and the Lad
 
Llap Goch said:
Wish number 2 is for an induction motor rather than the noisier brush motor fitted to the Kapex. The motor is not excessively noisy but it is not fitted with the electronic brake that is so effective on the TS range of saws and the routers and for the price I would have liked to have a braked induction motor fitted. Rant over as it is still a cracking saw.

In this brochure already mentioned in another message in this thread it says:
"MMC electronics.
With variable speed pre-selection,
smooth start-up, safety brake and
overload protection the MMC
electronics minimise working
stress and adapt machine
performance to the working
material."


I'm somehow confused now.
Does you Kapex run at 110 V or 230 V?

Regards,

Christian
 
Hi Christian

How the omission of two words in a post can confuse! I left out same superb before electronic brake in an attempt to compare the very effective brake in my TS's and routers. The sentence should have read:

The motor is not excessively noisy but it is not fitted with the same superb electronic brake that is so effective on the TS range of saws and the routers and for the price I would have liked to have a braked induction motor fitted.

The Kapek does have an electronic brake but it is not an instantaneous STOP. The blade runs for about 3.5 seconds from switch off. The brake on my Elektra Beckum SCMS, fitted with an induction motor, is almost instantaneous.

The point I wanted to make (and obviously failed miserably at) is that whilst I am in no doubt that the Kapex is a wonderful saw, for the price charged I would have preferred an induction motor which is not only quieter but can be fitted with an almost instantaneous electronic brake. Sorry if I confused you!

The saw is 230/240v. 110v is a safety requirement for site use here in the UK.

Regards
Pat

PS  My only excuse is that I did say earlier that I was simple. Case now proven!
 
Quick Question Llap, (do Welsh keyboards have a Ll key?)

Can Simou speak/understand Indonesian. I suspect he may be part Simoutran tiger ::)
 
Uncle Albert

Simou is a very talented Rotty but his natural tongue is English/German. He can however, say "I am a tad famished" in most languages and Indonesian is one of them. He has some difficulty with pronunciation but I can clearly hear,

" Saya Lapar Pat"

when I am cooking one of our favourite dishes, Nasi Goreng with Duck and Chicken.

As for the keyboard.  Yes they do.  I have put an additional L on the L key with some Tippex but strangely it only works when I hit it twice.

Regards
Pat

 
Hi pat,

One question. I have the extension arms which i am using with my basis or my MFT. Do they fit on the Kapex?

riri
 
Bonsoir Riri

Malheureusement non. Le bras de table de MFT est trop bas.

In an effort to ensure that the impoverished owners of Festool GmBH earn enough money to spend their childrens inheritence in their twilight years they have cleverly engineered the Kapex to only accept the extendable trim support (Guide but?e KA-KS 120, part number 494354). It consists of an extendable bar, a measuring scale, two legs and a trim stop and is very expensive. ($540 in the UK)

However, not content with relieving you of a that considerable amount of money, they have come up with an even more ingenious way of taking even more money off you. The trim support will only attach to the Kapex if you purchase the Crown Moulding table (Elargisseur de but?e AB-KS 120, part number 494369). It costs $112.

Oh how they must laugh at Schloss Festool.

I think it is a purchase too far and will not be ordering the supports. This is Teutonic Urinus Extractus on a grand scale.

Regards

Pat and the Llad

(who will continue to use that masterpiece of Australian design, the TRITON Multistand, as our Kapex support arm and break wind in the general direction of Herr Festool. We will also get the warm glow of charitable patronage by purchasing an Australian product thus helping that poor third world country feed its hungry millions ;D)

Th
 
Thanks Pat,

Is it a mere question of height in which case the 2 steel stands can be replaced by 2 longer steel tubes or is it a question of attachment?

riri
 
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