kapex july 1st

[dltflt]

Dan,
  I hook up my CT33 to the chop saw all the time.  It doesn't need to be a Festool to connect
[/quote]

I just got my CT33 over the weekend and that was the first thing I did after I tried out the Domino was to hook it up to my belt sander and palm sander.  I thought about circular saw but did not feel like pulling it out, but I will be using it this weekend.

 

[Eli]

the angle guide (or whatever they call it on the Kapex) is probably one of the biggest reasons to buy that saw, the other being dust collection. Watch the video on You tube and you will see what a great feature it is.

It's okay, I haven't found too much of a use for it.

I hear allot of negatives about lasers on other saws or aftermarket lasers which don't work unless the blade is spinning. If Festool improved on this feature that would be help

The Festool saw is supposed to be lighter then the rest. When I did the moldings in a suite I used my MFT 1080 and TS 55 cause I didn't want to lug the big saw up the stairs. If the Festool saw was lighter that would help

Last weekend I was working on a house which is being renovated. The renovation is nearing completion and not having dust all over the place would have been nice.

If I was a pro I'd build one into the price of a job. My clients would love me for it. I am a hobbiest but do allot of work for others (more work then for myself). I get paid for some of these jobs and in a perfect world I'd like to own the KAPEX. Just not sure how to justify the cash at this time

Dan Clermont

The Kapex laser is turned on by a button on the handle. It's always on, but automatically shuts off after about half hour of inactivity.

It's lighter than any other saw I've carried around, but more importantly, it locks securely and is relatively ergonomic to carry, so much easier. There's a molded handle at the back where the cord wraps for the right hand, and your left hand can use the trigger handle to carry.

I just did a new hardwood floor at the bottom of an open staircase that is attached to our living room and kitchen. There has been zero airborne dust that made it up the stairs. Every few hours I'd unhook the hose and vac up the stuff on the table and floor. Was a very clean job.

 

[jo041326]

Today, I'm going for my Kapex. It will be for 2200$ in current rate of sinking dollar. It's funny how you are shocked by your price which is almost 50% lower than in the rest of the world.
Josef

 

[Warrior]

the angle guide (or whatever they call it on the Kapex) is probably one of the biggest reasons to buy that saw, the other beeing dust collection. Watch the video on You tube and you will see what a great feature it is.

The angle unit is pretty cool but if you're trimming out an entire house how in the world could you have any efficiency using it? It would mean walking back and forth from every angle in the house to the saw and back. That is a lot of walking. I will use it occasionally, if at all.
The features I feel are important and very valuable are:

1. The lasers look to be actually functional and accurate. = increased production
2. The dust collection looks great. = less clean up time and the ability to set up the cut station in areas you wouldn't otherwise havebeen able to.
3. The bevel adjustments and bevel cutting I would estimate to be twice as accurate as the competition. = minimal refitting of joints.
4. Smaller foot print (less dead space behind saw). = increased efficiency
5. Lighter in weight. = increased efficiency.

Depending on your level of production I think the saw's features above would pay for the saw in less than a year. After that you will owe Festool an additional 1000 per year of use. ;D

Eiji

 

[Steve Jones]

The angle unit is pretty cool but if you're trimming out an entire house how in the world could you have any efficiency using it? It would mean walking back and forth from every angle in the house to the saw and back. That is a lot of walking. I will use it occasionally, if at all.
The features I feel are important and very valuable are:

Walking back and forth is the only way to do it when putting up crown or base. I don't think I've seen a corner yet that was actually 90%, you pretty much have to measure each piece for length and each angle to custom fit it. Besides, you have to go there to hang the piece you just cut then you measure for the next piece.

 

[Eli]

Well before you guys get carried away on the walking back and forth argument, remember that the saw is in the same room or the hallway most likely, and not in the garage or the front lawn!

Eiji, you're pretty much dead-on.

 

[danrush]

Eli,
When you use the dust collector with the Kapex, do you have the vac on full?  I'm using a ct mini on the job, and I wonder if it will still effectively pull the dust.  I have a 22 at home, but prefer the mini to travel with.  Thanks for your input, it's good to hear "real world" tool reports.

Dan

 

[joraft]

On the weekend I used a Dewalt 12" using a CT-33 and although it collected some dust. It caught nowhere near the dust the KAPEX would catch

Dan Clermont

The dust collection on my 12" DeWalt (DW 708) is very poor, even when hooked to my CT 33  (one possible reason to consider the Kapex).

I cannot find an add-on laser guide system for the DeWalt that I am happy with (another possible reason for the Kapex).

And the DeWalt is very heavy and bulky to move around (reason number three).

On the other hand, the DeWalt has plenty of power, and holds calibration very well. And based on good reviews, I just recently acquired a Bosch T4B Gravity-Rise stand for it. This fine piece of German engineering  has far exceded my expectations. Through a clever series of levers and fulcrums, this stand folds up and down with almost no effort at all, even with the heavy DeWalt. The footprint is large enough that the stand is very stable in the up position, so I can now just wheel the whole thing into the corner for storage. And it's rock solid as a mitering workstation. And best of all, the saw mounts are very adjustable, so one day I just might find a new Kapex sitting on it.

John

 

[Steveo48]

I love my mft. Use it everyday. For cutting, I only use it for square cuts. Never trust the angle guide. How about cutting crown molding on an mft. I don't think so.

Yup, why make crown molding any harder.

If I was banging out a lot of trim like that I might consider it, but only if I was a high volume finish trim installer.  Unfortunately, most people accept a lot of garbage (they don't know it's garbage though).  ;D

 

[Steveo48]

the angle guide (or whatever they call it on the Kapex) is probably one of the biggest reasons to buy that saw, the other beeing dust collection. Watch the video on You tube and you will see what a great feature it is.

I saw the video and THAT feature makes that kapex really different.  I wouldn't buy one without it........ not that I'm going to anyway though 

 

[Steveo48]

I burnish my outside corners, they look pretty good.  I do love high ceilings!

The angle unit is pretty cool but if you're trimming out an entire house how in the world could you have any efficiency using it? It would mean walking back and forth from every angle in the house to the saw and back. That is a lot of walking. I will use it occasionally, if at all.
The features I feel are important and very valuable are:

Walking back and forth is the only way to do it when putting up crown or base. I don't think I've seen a corner yet that was actually 90%, you pretty much have to measure each piece for length and each angle to custom fit it. Besides, you have to go there to hang the piece you just cut then you measure for the next piece.

 

[jonny round boy]

Eli,
When you use the dust collector with the Kapex, do you have the vac on full?  I'm using a ct mini on the job, and I wonder if it will still effectively pull the dust.  I have a 22 at home, but prefer the mini to travel with.  Thanks for your input, it's good to hear "real world" tool reports.

Dan

I use mine with a CT Mini, and the dust collection is fine. There is some dust evident after using it (as I've just been doing), but the extractor catches most of it, especially the finer (usually airbourne) stuff. With the Kapex, I doubt that even the CT22/33 catches everything.

 

[Eli]

second that. I do use it on full, with a 22

 

[Per Swenson]

Hello all,

I seem to end up in every Kapex thread.

And yup, I am gonna tell you why.

I keep 3 miter saws working most of the time, tough

with only two hands but we manage.

I scratch out a modest living with these gigs and any thing that will

either increase my profit margin or productivity is weighed against cost.

Now I am not talking about the cost of the unit at purchase,

I am talking about how much it costs to operate it.

Er....move it.

Up the stairs or on the truck.

Gotta take the F350 for any saw in the arsenal now.

It needs plugs and gets 7 miles to the gallon around town.

Much cheaper to drive the Saturn with a systainer to the job.

Oh yeah, the up the stairs or load them on the truck part?

I am getting tired.

Clean up at the end of the day?

That is another half an hour could be used for more billable purposes.

So in the long run.... no matter what the initial unit cost of this saw is......

For me, it would not pay, not to own one.

Per

 

[Madtown Rob]

I got to fondle a Kapex today.  It sure seemed nice and liked the easy adjustment etc. (super top secret and I'm not tellin' where!) :-*

I had talked myself out of a MFT3 since I just got my 1080 a few months ago - but the height and stability of the MFT3 may find it's way into the garage - I mean - shop in the future - at least i hope!

 

[billybokay]

The sticker shock is starting to wear off a little

Lets see I have to pay $1300...but only once

and then I can keep the machine, and use it ,how long?  Forever?

maybe it's not that out of the question. 

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

I too had the opportunity to play around with a Kapex recently..... I must say that I am impressed!! Right now, I am using a Makita LS1214 12" SCMS, which by the way was just ranked #1 by Fine Homebuilding, so that's the benchmark I am comparing the Kapex to. The things I am most excited about the Kapex are:

1. Finally, a LARGE bevel scale where you can pretty easily adjust to within around a 1/4 degree or so, which would make cutting really tall baseboard much easier on the flat.

2. The Bevel adjustment knob looks nice. It's been done before (Hitachi C12LSH), but the Kapex version is much more ergonomic.

3. The deep throat behind the arbor is a really nice feature. Again, it's been done before (DeWalt).

4. Ability to bevel past 45 degrees, something my Makita won't do.

5. Dust collection. I haven't actually seen it, but I've heard dust collection is nearly 90%, which is basically unheard of for a SCMS!!

6. The V-groove at either end of the table make for a VERY handy point for which to mount aftermarket accessories..... I've already seen one clever manufacturer take advantage of this!

Things I'm not impressed by:

1. The angle finder looks nice, but it's certainly nothing new. In fact, when I was playing around with the saw I found that, with the angle finder stored on the saw, it limited the maximum miter range of the saw..... Is this just my perception? What do current Kapex owners say?

2. The laser seems nice, but if I had to chose between a light (like on the Makita) and a laser, I'd chose the light. I work primarily on-site, and so I don't get the kind of great lighting you'd find in a well-equipped shop, and I don't really like staring into a halogen lamp all day either. I know it seems hokey, but that little snake light mounted on the Makita is VERY handy!

3. The 45lb weight sounds nice, but my Makita 12" SCMS weighs a mere 52lbs, so I won't be shedding a lot of weight.

So, from my brief (around 15 minutes) session with the Kapex, here are my two cents: The Kapex appears to be a great saw that takes many great features already existing in other saws, and combines them into one very well designed unit with a few extra tricks up it's sleeve. Is it worth $1300 to me to get these features, or am I better off waiting for Makita and Bosch to release their next generation saws, which MIGHT be every bit the saw the Kapex is for half the price? Or, even if they're not quite the same as the Kapex, maybe they'll include many of the features? I'm not sure yet..... oh well, at least I have several months to waffle!!

Edit: I imagine that between now and July the sticker shock will have a chance to fade.... besides, it'll be nearly impossible to resist when Festool starts releasing their snazzy videos for the Kapex!  ;D

 

[Terp]

Waffler! 

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

;D

 

[Warrior]

Quote  Walking back and forth is the only way to do it when putting up crown or base. I don't think I've seen a corner yet that was actually 90%, you pretty much have to measure each piece for length and each angle to custom fit it. Besides, you have to go there to hang the piece you just cut then you measure for the next piece.

I dont think so.

I make a cut list for an entire room or even an entire floor. I measure each inside and outside corner while measuring the lengths and notate the angle measurments on the list. Then go to the saw and cut all the trim (base or crown or whatever). Once I have got an entire room cut, I take the pieces and place them in the room. My cut list is in reverse order of install so that last piece I cut for a room is the first one that gets installed. that piece happens to be on top of the pile that is in the room and the rest of the pile is in the correct installation order. Once I have cut and placed all the mouldings. THEN I install. No walking back and forth. Ever. I can do an entire house and not have ro recut a single piece. It is called measuring accurately and measuring all the angles of every corner and putting it on a list. In the style of the Master, Gary M. Katz.

Eiji