Kapex just died

[JCLP]

My Kapex just died. Strated blowing my circuit and now won't even spin. Definitely an electrical issue with the motor. Anyone know the number for Canada service?

Almost to the day, purchased Mar 25, 2014. 1 year past warranty. Middle of a kitchen project, now what do I do. This will take at least 2 weeks to ship, fix and ship back. Last thing I want to do is buy another one for these two weeks. Thank goodness I kept the box.

JC

 

[ChuckM]

In the U.S. and Canada, call us toll-free at 888-337-8600 on Monday-Friday between 8a-5p EST or contact us via email at service@festoolusa.com.

This is on the Forum page where I saw your post. Can't you deal with your problem through where you bought the saw?

Sorry to hear about the untimely trouble. Yours made me look at my Kapex receipt:
Purchase: 2/18/2015 10:56:32

Just past the warranty period by about a month!!!  [eek]

I was using it for a couple of hours yesterday. I don't know if I have kept the box.

 

[JCLP]

Thank goodness I kept the box and foam packing. Only issue is, Festool is doing maintenance on their web pages and I am not able to start a tool repair request. My dealer has offered to ship it for me. Hopefully I can get it to them today.

Also, in Canada, I don't know about the US, the motor has a 5 year warranty, everything else is 3 years.

Cheers,
JC

 

[Michael Kellough]

Buy a new one and return it in less than 30 days.

 

[Ajax]

Certainly nothing wrong with the Kapex design. 

I have a Kapex in a basement workshop that I use sparingly and a cheap Craftsman SCMS in the garage that I use more frequently for quick cuts of everything.  It's a work horse that is not used with delicate hands.  The Kapex gets treated like a queen.

My bet is that the Craftsman saw will last longer than the Kapex.  Pretty sad given that the Kapex cost me 7x the price of the Craftsman.

 

[semenza]

Buy a new one and return it in less than 30 days.

I know that Kapex motor failure pops up a lot on FOG but I wouldn't say that a free rental is really the intended use of the 30 day try out period.

However maybe the dealer that JC is working with has a display saw that could be borrowed? Up to the dealer of course.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Thank goodness I kept the box and foam packing. Only issue is, Festool is doing maintenance on their web pages and I am not able to start a tool repair request. My dealer has offered to ship it for me. Hopefully I can get it to them today.

Also, in Canada, I don't know about the US, the motor has a 5 year warranty, everything else is 3 years.

Cheers,
JC

This is interesting. Is that a Canada thing or a Festool thing?

Seth

 

[Ajax]

Buy a new one and return it in less than 30 days.

I know that Kapex motor failure is a problem but I wouldn't say that a free rental is really the intended use of the 30 day try out period.

However maybe the dealer that JC is working with has a display saw that could be borrowed? Up to the dealer of course.

Seth

True.  However, one would expect a saw costing 2 to 7 times more than the alternatives to last more than a few years.

I look at the 30 day trial period as being baked into the exceptionally high price of Festools.

 

[live4ever]

Is there a way to get the box and packing materials?  I didn’t have space to store and of course there didn’t seem to be as much of a need to retain packing materials back

when I got mine. 

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Sorry to hear that you're having problems with your KAPEX.

Only issue is, Festool is doing maintenance on their web pages and I am not able to start a tool repair request.

The maintenance on the website is done, and the site is live again. You can reach the repair form directly here:https://service.festoolcanada.com/account/repair/

Also, in Canada, I don't know about the US, the motor has a 5 year warranty, everything else is 3 years.

All tools in Canada include a three-year comprehensive warranty.

(Tyler)

 

[JCLP]

All packed up, repair order generated, delivered to dealer and he will ship it to service depot for me.

The 30 day money back program is not a rental program and I would never take advantage of that. I may just use my neighbours saw. It's not a Kapex, but it should work.

Cheers,
JC

 

[ChuckM]

Also, in Canada, I don't know about the US, the motor has a 5 year warranty, everything else is 3 years.

Cheers,
JC

That was news to me, but a good one. Thanks.

 

[ChuckM]

The 30 day money back program is not a rental program and I would never take advantage of that. I may just use my neighbours saw. It's not a Kapex, but it should work.

Cheers,
JC

I think that suggestion was just a sarcasm. I have seen it before in this Forum and I wonder if too many people have really done that.

 

[JCLP]

For well over a year now, I have been reading a lot of threads by others who have had motor issues with their Kapex. I felt very luck and happy that my Kapex has not had any issues until today. I purchased my Kapex on March 25, 2014 and it has been running like a dream until it died early this morning. When the threads starting popping up, I may it a point to blow out the motor with compressed air at least once every month so to try and not get any motor issues. Well, in hind sight that was a waste of time. I think Festool has to own up to the fact there is a problem with their motor design for the Kapex and send the engineers back to the drawing board and fix it once and for all. I have owned a Ridgid and Dewalt sliding mitre saws and never had any issues. I sold both of them to purchase a Kapex. In hind sight again, I should have kept one. Paying top dollar for a tool, one would assume it would last. I had 2 ets125 die on me shortly after their 3 year term due to over use. Thank goodness they are cheap enough that I can just go purchase another one.

If any of my sanders end up kicking the bucket shortly after their 3 year warranty is up, I will be going to another brand that is cheaper and I know will last probably a lifetime.

Now for the Kapex. If Festool service comes back to me and says that it will cost $500.00 or more for repairing my saw, I may tell them to keep it for spare parts and I will be seriously looking at going with another brand that I know will last for much longer, just like my previous saws before I sold them and purchased a Kapex.

My rant for the day,

JC

 

[JCLP]

I just read somewhere that if the Kapex, or any other tool for that matter, is not able to draw enough amps, that you do run the risk of motor burn out over a period of time. So this got me thinking and decided to some reading.
The Kapex manual, US version, says that the Kapex draws 13A ( 1600 W ) of power and the US manual for the CT26/36 says that the total connected load is 12A ( 1440W). I'm not an electrician but something smells fishy here. Kapex wants 13A but is only getting 12A. Can someone please explain this? My understanding of this is that the Kapex should not be connected to the CT26/36 and should be on it's own outlet, thus eliminating the Auto start function.

Cheers,
JC

 

[manuc]

I’ve been wanting the Kapex for about a year now but have held back just because of this. Won’t buy one until they redesign it to correct the issue.

Hopefully Festool will eventually listen.

 

[justaguy]

Me as well...  [sad]

I’ve been wanting the Kapex for about a year now but have held back just because of this. Won’t buy one until they redesign it to correct the issue.

Hopefully Festool will eventually listen.

 

[ChuckM]

I just read somewhere that if the Kapex, or any other tool for that matter, is not able to draw enough amps, that you do run the risk of motor burn out over a period of time. So this got me thinking and decided to some reading.

Cheers,
JC

I don't know if it helps, but having read the same thing you wrote about in your post, when I use my shop vac and the Kapex with this automatic switch:http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=63013&cat=1,42401,72660 , I use the 30amp set-up.

In addition, to play safe, I use a 12 gauge (15 amp), 10' long extension cord, also from LVT.

 

[duburban]

I really have to push back on this response from you.

That is exactly what Kapex owners should do. Yes... its morally questionable but so is the response from Festool over the unsound motors.

Buy a new one and return it in less than 30 days.

I know that Kapex motor failure pops up a lot on FOG but I wouldn't say that a free rental is really the intended use of the 30 day try out period.

However maybe the dealer that JC is working with has a display saw that could be borrowed? Up to the dealer of course.

Seth

 

[JCLP]

I just read somewhere that if the Kapex, or any other tool for that matter, is not able to draw enough amps, that you do run the risk of motor burn out over a period of time. So this got me thinking and decided to some reading.

Cheers,
JC

I don't know if it helps, but having read the same thing you wrote about in your post, when I use my shop vac and the Kapex with this automatic switch:http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=63013&cat=1,42401,72660 , I use the 30amp set-up.

In addition, to play safe, I use a 12 gauge (15 amp), 10' long extension cord, also from LVT.

Hi Chuck,

Do you plug this switch into two separate 15 A circuits?