Kapex is DEAD

[Johncarlo]

After 3 years and 3 months of light use my Kapex has die. Not what I expected from a premium tool and large price tag. I'll be calling service to get a rough estimate. I guess a shipping cost also and hope for the best. If the numbers don't add up I guess it's a new saw and I can tell you what saw it won't be...

Sad day when the most expensive saw on site dies first. Egg on my face!

 

[bobfog]

On the one hand you never see people making a post to say their Kapex is working fine and lots of them, probably massively more than break down, last a long time compared to those that break. So now with that stating the obvious defence out of the way...

It must be statistically impossible that there isn't a problem with the Kapex saws. The sheer number of post in the last year prove that it must by law of averages be a big problem. It's one of Festool's most expensive tools and yet you hear about it breaking down on a weekly basis. The only way this logic could be wrong is if the cheaper tools that Festool sell more of are breaking down just as often, but people don't post about it.

When are Festool going to face up and do the decent thing and fix/recall them? I really would like to buy a Kapex, but not until there's an official admission and rectification of the faults!

 

[rjh]

On the one hand you never see people making a post to say their Kapex is working fine and lots of them, probably massively more than break down, last a long time compared to those that break. So now with that stating the obvious defence out of the way...

It must be statistically impossible that there isn't a problem with the Kapex saws. The sheer number of post in the last year prove that it must by law of averages be a big problem. It's one of Festool's most expensive tools and yet you hear about it breaking down on a weekly basis. The only way this logic could be wrong is if the cheaper tools that Festool sell more of are breaking down just as often, but people don't post about it.

When are Festool going to face up and do the decent thing and fix/recall them? I really would like to buy a Kapex, but not until there's an official admission and rectification of the faults!

This speaks my mind. As a person just getting into a large amount of festool, I am very concerned by these quality reports.

 

[live4ever]

As mainly a hobbyist whose saw gets relatively light use and is out of warranty, it's hard not to be concerned hearing these failures.  I too hope Festool comes up with a solution for existing customers. 

 

[duburban]

I've been absent from the forums for a while, what is FESTOOL's current position on this? 

 

[Coosbay Dave]

Go through the process.  Contact Festool, get their shipping box and packing materials, ship the thing and expect a turnaround that's reasonable (couple of weeks).  THEN post anything negative that happens.  You got an expensive tool, it will be expensive to fix.  Afterward, you will still have an expensive tool.  Isn't that what you wanted when you began with Festool?

 

[waho6o9]

Go through the process.  Contact Festool, get their shipping box and packing materials, ship the thing and expect a turnaround that's reasonable (couple of weeks).  THEN post anything negative that happens.  You got an expensive tool, it will be expensive to fix.  Afterward, you will still have an expensive tool.  Isn't that what you wanted when you began with Festool?

Welcome to the FOG

 

[Michael Kellough]

Go through the process.  Contact Festool, get their shipping box and packing materials, ship the thing and expect a turnaround that's reasonable (couple of weeks).  THEN post anything negative that happens.  You got an expensive tool, it will be expensive to fix.  Afterward, you will still have an expensive tool.  Isn't that what you wanted when you began with Festool?

I buy Festool based on the old saying that you get what you pay for.
I certainly don't buy just for the sake of owning an expensive tool.

Hoping that the old saying is true I'd expect an expensive high quality tool
that is lightly used to never break down.

On the other hand, I thought that heavy use of a Festool sander to the point of bearing failure would be economical in the long run because it would be "worth fixing". I thought because the price of the tool was so high (relative to other makes) the cost of repair would be a small fraction of the cost of replacement. I was wrong in the case of my old ES 125 E. The estimate was over $100 to replace one bearing when a new tool only cost about $60 more.

I've used a Kapex and it's a really fine saw but I'm not willing to risk that much money to own one knowing that the most expensive kind of failure is not so uncommon.

 

[ajones]

Go through the process.  Contact Festool, get their shipping box and packing materials, ship the thing and expect a turnaround that's reasonable (couple of weeks).  THEN post anything negative that happens.  You got an expensive tool, it will be expensive to fix.  Afterward, you will still have an expensive tool.  Isn't that what you wanted when you began with Festool?

Welcome to the FOG

Interesting for a first post I doubt you will post again in the future.

 

[SS Teach]

After reading about too many failures with the Kapex I went with a Bosch Axial Glide. Being a hobbiest the price was too steep for a saw that seems somewhat problematic.

 

[Johncarlo]

I know I buy Festool for the quality of tool. I fell in love with their sander first and now own a large number of their tools. I only had one vac in for service with warranty which was a great experience with a four day turn around. Just sad the most expensive tool is the one with the most problems. I had a Makita for 7 years and sold it to a friend when I purchased my Kapex 3 years ago. The Makita is still going strong with no issues today. The kapex seems like a major problem that pops up every few months.

 

[glass1]

will this be discussed at the fraternity party slash if you attend only you can buy the reconditioned tools event.

 

[Cheese]

The kapex seems like a major problem that pops up every few months.

Well, let's just say these oem German armature short comings have resurfaced every month...for at least the last 24 months, so it's probably time for Christian (if he really does gives a damm, and more importantly, if he is actually aware of the daily issues, and not just hawking the Festool mantra) to revisit, who should be the new oem armature/motor supplier and who should be written off as "last weeks left over bad news."

In a small to medium sized company the CEO/President can have a profound impact on the actions of his/her employees through empowerment, in a large company (think 3M, GM, Ford...) not so much. I would consider Festool to be hugely influenced by their customer feedback and thus they can react accordingly...they just have not reacted as they should yet...however, their silence tells a tale and is deafening.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I really would like to buy a Kapex, but not until there's an official admission and rectification of the faults!

After reading about too many failures with the Kapex I went with a Bosch Axial Glide.

I too contemplated buying a Kapex, but the high number of failures mentioned here on the FOG put me off. That was 4 or 5 years ago, and I can safely say that last year's posts surely haven't changed my mind yet. It's unbelievable Festool can't seem to address this issue.

 

[jmbfestool]

I've been absent from the forums for a while, what is FESTOOL's current position on this?

I think this I posted abit ago might help.  Although my origional post I edited because I went on a little and I need to rewrite it. 
Basically my first post was. 
Kapex burnt out for second time. First time just past 3 year warranty then had it repaired cost me alot  and that lasted another 3 years and burnt out again.  Repair costs and delay with out a kapex wasnt worth it so the kapex has gone into a skip. 
I went on about other festool tools aswell mainly happy things.

I found other posts on Fog about people having kapex failure but they didnt get much notice so I decided to post about my kapex failure.  I gave festool benefit of the doubt when my kapex failed the first time and never posted it on fog but second time taking the ....! 

Here is the linkhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-problems/the-life-span/

 

[Tinker]

A year or so ago I saw a copy of the Kapex @ Sears. Of course it was a whole lot cheaper and probably no where near as acurate. Of course it happened to have been "made in China." I was not interested.  Makita has a SCMS that is made something on the idea of Kapex with a double slide arrangement so it does not take up so much space in back of the saw.  I have not looked at that saw close up, but I think it is only a matter of time before saws are out there that will be just as accurate, just as light weight, and even take as little space as the Kapex.  If Festoy does not address the issue of burnout soon .........................!
Tinker

 

[Johncarlo]

[eek]It's going to cost between $500 and $900 to repair plus shipping!  Speechless .....

 

[safety1st]

Wow, that is hard to swallow. I was hoping that Festool was taking care of things behind the scenes but I guess I am not so sure now.

I have a Kapex that gets used occasionally and now I wish i hadn't sold off my Makita!   Feels like a ticking clock.

BTW, are the failures recent? Kapex has been around for a while, why are the failures hitting some sort of crescendo now?

 

[Oldwood]

I have been using miter saws to make a living for over 40 years and until the Kapex I had not heard of a saw armature burning out! Bearings yes, brushes sure, switches etc.

I am very surprised Festool has not stepped up to the plate on this issue.

Gerry

 

[Carquest]

Will definitely keep this diy guy from buying a Kapex with all the motor issues I've seen on this forum. Is it only an issue with the 110v versions of this saw?