Kapex is DEAD

[rizzoa13]

[thumbs up] [thumbs up] I applaud the sheer ghetto ingenuity of your 2x4 track saw trammel arm JMB. That shouldn't go unnoticed in this thread.

 

[Tinker]

I do like your trammel solution tho.
Tinker

 

[duburban]

Perhaps we should let this thread survive strongly by avoiding bickering about such things?

I do not own a Kapex. I would like to give FESTOOL more money than I should for one, when it has been proven robust enough compared to cheaper, conventional name-brand saws.

Perhaps... we can even create some empty space in here for FESTOOL to respond in some fashion to yet another "flare-up".

And, ultimately, leave space for the OP to keep everyone updated on the unfortunate status of his Kapex.

What might be interesting, in this thread or another, is a survey of the brand saw and how long it has lasted under what type of use to help put things into perspective.

 

[Cheese]

What might be interesting, in this thread or another, is a survey of the brands of saws and how long it has lasted under what type of use to help put things into perspective.

Whoa....you don't even want to go there, because it will not be pretty. I'm a big fan of Festool but a Kapex longevity survey versus all the others will not bode well for Festool. I even think Festool would discourage this type of competitive event...second thought this could be interesting, but then again....................... there isn't a problem, so why would this even be necessary?

 

[Michael Kellough]

What might be interesting, in this thread or another, is a survey of the brands of saws and how long it has lasted under what type of use to help put things into perspective.

Whoa....you don't even want to go there, because it will not be pretty. I'm a big fan of Festool but a Kapex longevity survey versus all the others will not bode well for Festool. I even think Festool would discourage this type of competitive event...second thought this could be interesting, but then again....................... there isn't a problem, so why would this even be necessary?

"The counting of votes that are of questionable legality does in my view threaten irreparable harm to petitioner Bush, and to the country, by casting a cloud upon what he claims to be the legitimacy of his election."  Justice Scalia

 

[Cheese]

Michael, you have either a great memory or a great search engine... [not worthy]

 

[duburban]

The idea of the survey is to address the idea that cheaper tools fail and are thrown away never to be discussed. I have not seen that as true from my experience on jobsites.

I am 30, have owned 3 saws, Bosch, Makita, and Hitachi for about 10 years without failure. The older fellows I work with replace saws when they have been too badly disfigured from transport and abuse, not use.

Survey is a bad idea, I get that. I also get that comparative saws do not fail and disappear from memory as suggested.

 

[Cheese]

The idea of the survey is to address the idea that cheaper tools fail and are thrown away never to be discussed.

The older fellows I work with replace saws when they have been too badly disfigured from transport and abuse, not use.

Hey duburban...I'm in your camp. I think it's absolutely ludicrous that a $1500 mitre saw only lasts for 3+ (they seem to usually blow lunch after the end of the warranty period) years. If these were $200 sanders then these probably would be thrown away never to be discussed, but unfortunately they're $1500 saws. If my 3 year old Kapex bites the dust in a few years, I will become a  VERY...VERY disgruntled Festool owner and will question the sanity in purchasing more Festool tools.

Inspite of Festool's protestations to the contrary, I don't believe for 1 minute that the repair/service/failure record for Kapex saws is the same as the rest of their tools. If that were the case, we'd be seeing multiple discussions on a daily basis of sanders/drills/track saws failing. That just doesn't happen, instead we see failed Kapex items being discussed on a weekly basis and I would hazard a guess that they sell 30+ ETS sanders for every single Kapex that's sold. Something just doesn't ring true here.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

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!

Never?  I just heard they have a new ETS 125, and it's on sale!

 

[rizzoa13]

Just saw this post again and wanted to remind anyone on the fence about this saw that nothing's been done about the motor for a time span measuring by in the years now. Yet completely new tools have been developed, new service protocols have been put into effect, almost all metric tools in the US are being switched from metric to imperial and now Festool has run a massive discount sale on sanders to increase market penetration in the United States.

That's quite a lot of activity from then that has nothing to do with a mechanical failure issue on their most expensive saw. After thinking about it like that I really have no respect for them anymore.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

Just saw this post again and wanted to remind anyone on the fence about this saw that nothing's been done about the motor for a time span measuring by in the years now. Yet completely new tools have been developed, new service protocols have been put into effect, almost all metric tools in the US are being switched from metric to imperial and now Festool has run a massive discount sale on sanders to increase market penetration in the United States.

That's quite a lot of activity from then that has nothing to do with a mechanical failure issue on their most expensive saw. After thinking about it like that I really have no respect for them anymore.

They have made a lot of head way with the Kapex.  Festool states that motor failures are cause by repeat cuts in thin material...... So we are not supposed to use the saw for trim?  Or any other repeat cuts in thin material.  Why buy the Kapex? 

 

[Bohdan]

If they burn out on thin material I wouldn't want to use one on some thick stuff.

 

[safety1st]

Just saw this post again and wanted to remind anyone on the fence about this saw that nothing's been done about the motor for a time span measuring by in the years now. Yet completely new tools have been developed, new service protocols have been put into effect, almost all metric tools in the US are being switched from metric to imperial and now Festool has run a massive discount sale on sanders to increase market penetration in the United States.

That's quite a lot of activity from then that has nothing to do with a mechanical failure issue on their most expensive saw. After thinking about it like that I really have no respect for them anymore.

I wonder if Festool could provide some sort of status update on this. It is not too much to ask I think. If remember right the last official sort of update was asking for users to provide data about their saws and that was sometime ago.

 

[antss]

Give them a break guys.

They are really busy packaging up sanders to deliver to all you by Nov.1.  [big grin]

 

[amt]

I wonder if anyone with a still unrepaired saw would be willing to send it to an independent lab for analysis. It would be very interesting to find out exactly what is breaking, instead of the "armature" which IMO is not specific enough.

Since Kapex has been out for quite a long time and Festool does not seem totally forthcoming, it makes me wonder if there's a new saw in the works, perhaps with a brushless motor.

 

[antss]

Brushless miter saw ???

Now that would be something interesting.  Is a motor large enough even practical ?

 

[bigdogmedia]

For those whom the warranty has expired. would it not be cheaper to get the armature rewound by a company that specializes in doing this type of work? I'm sure that the cost would not be anywhere near what Festool is charging to fix it.

 

[Brice Burrell]

For those whom the warranty has expired. would it not be cheaper to get the armature rewound by a company that specializes in doing this type of work? I'm sure that the cost would not be anywhere near what Festool is charging to fix it.

Festool replaces more than just the armature.  Other repair companies won't have the parts needed to make the repairs. 

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I have had my Kapex for a number of years. Works well. BUT, it has been my practice to get it running to full speed before lowering it to the wood. And not rush the cut. Thick, or in my case mostly thin. I remember reading somewhere that that is the proper way to treat these motors (electronic controlled).

A while ago I had a  carpenter doing some work in my home. He was about to do some miter cuts on 2X4s and other thin stock outside on some sawhorses.I told him he could use my "miter saw" in the shop...save setting up etc. He was delighted. So the wood was set against the fence and he proceeded to grab the trigger and start the saw whilst lowering it on to the wood. The result was, to say the least, not good. The vac (connected) did not have time to come up to speed (dust all over) and the cut was very coarse. Lots of tear out. But that is how I suspect most folks in the trade use a "chop saw".

Needless to say I cut the rest of the wood.

I know people have said they baby their Kapex, but I wonder if  technique might be a factor.

BTW, after reading this thread, I also am somewhat anxious about the longevity of my expensive saw.

Cheers,

Peter

Have you ever heard that quote "Never lend your tools, your wife, or your car, as they will not be returned in as good a condition."?

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Whatever the failure rate is its statistically significant enough that festool won't just cover the costs of the burnt out motors. I run a small business and while I'm not in sales i do sell myself on quality. If I had a few issues with my work id RUN back to fix them and save face. If I had a larger amount of issues and was going to lose my shirt then I might keep mum on the issue and just hope it goes away. (I wouldn't do this no matter what)

We are dealing with a company from another country.  There may be a cultural component preventing admission or gratis resolution.  Teutonic pride!