Kapex KS 120 - Videos

[Stone Message]

Peter:

I've never watched one of your videos before, but I've gotta say I was impressed. I've also never seen a demonstration of the Kapex.

You, sir, are a bad influence - now I want one!!!

Gosh, I am so sorry - or should I be apologising to your spouse?

Go for it - the Kapex will not let you down. If you need to justify this purchase...

If you are working with wood for a living or get income from your work then the increased speed which you can work, the portability, the dust collection, the high quality cuts and ease of use mean better productivity and more bucks.

If you are a DIYer or hobbyist then it is a no brainer - your principle hobby is the one that should give you the most pleasure and it is the route to your overall enjoyment of your leisure time. In order to get the most out of it you need the very best kit that you can afford. Remember, even a hobbyist can turn a buck or two, especially with tools that make it so easy and such a pleasure. So, the extra cost that takes it out of your financial comfort zone could easily be recouped through a bit of ingenuity and hard work.

Peter

 

[HermanZeGerman]

WOW Peter!! Thank you for the brilliant video. Its great to see these because I learn so much from it. The trick with the hold downs for the small pieces is fantastic. You sir have probably saved my fingertips from getting slashed in the near future. And for that, I thank you.

 

[Slartibartfass]

Great video. Although I have a Dewalt 12" CSMS I ultimately might a Kapex based on your review when I have the money...

 

[BMH]

I am happy to say that I bought the Kapex before your video and cannot, for once, blame you great review for this expenditure. 5 months ago I added the UG stand and wings and it is an incredible addition to the system. I just installed 800 feet of molding on a recent project in my house. The ability to measure once, transfer that measurement to the UG wings stops and cut perfect miters or length of molding is amazing. I didn't have to redo one cut a, very unusual experience.

I had my CMS lined up with the UG stand and could cut 16 feet length of trim then run them through the router using the same support, these tools are expensive, but when you add the quality of work you can produce and the productivity you attaint they are very cost effective.

Bruce

 

[shed9]

Great video Peter, as always.

Like others, your reviews have always assisted me in my Ferstool purchases. I do hope your suitably 'thanked' by Festool  [smile]

Also to add to the discussion above and for those yet to use a Kapex, the aspect of waiting for the blade to stop is not just to ensure good cut finish; this is key to mitre saw safety and in particular to the Kapex.

Not sure if its just me, but the Kapex is the only mitre saw I have ever had kick back on. Not a problem as such because the only time it has kicked back has been when I didn't let the blade brake before lifting - this was more of a habit of using lesser saws in the past. I always wait now and no problems at all.

Dust collection and blade deflection (or lack of it) were my core reasons for buying the Kapex and it has excelled my expectations on both counts.

 

[neth27]

Did you get a new Kapex to review? that one can't be 3 years old..

John..

 

[Stone Message]

Great video. Although I have a Dewalt 12" CSMS I ultimately might a Kapex based on your review when I have the money...

Many thanks - You could sell the Dewalt, get a paper round or sell the car!

When you are able to afford the Kapex you will not be disappointed.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

Great video Peter, as always.

Like others, your reviews have always assisted me in my Ferstool purchases. I do hope your suitably 'thanked' by Festool  [smile]

Also to add to the discussion above and for those yet to use a Kapex, the aspect of waiting for the blade to stop is not just to ensure good cut finish; this is key to mitre saw safety and in particular to the Kapex.

Not sure if its just me, but the Kapex is the only mitre saw I have ever had kick back on. Not a problem as such because the only time it has kicked back has been when I didn't let the blade brake before lifting - this was more of a habit of using lesser saws in the past. I always wait now and no problems at all.

Dust collection and blade deflection (or lack of it) were my core reasons for buying the Kapex and it has excelled my expectations on both counts.

The kick back should not happen if you have zero clearance sacrificial rear fences separated only by the width of the kerf (and you let the saw come to a stop).

The only time I had kick back was when I ran the saw up for the first time before I made the sacrificial rear fences.

Many thanks.

Peter

[added later]

Sorry, forgot to address the other "kick back" point...

I am absolutely adamant that I only make videos of kit that I am prepared to recommend to my very best friends - this is my golden rule. I bought and paid for this Kapex and every extra that went with it. I had a meeting recently with a very large international tool company who want me to look at some of their kit - I made absolutely sure that there was no doubt in their minds whatsoever - if the golden rule cannot be achieved then no video - full stop. This even applies to videos where I just use tools without saying what I think of them.

 

[Stone Message]

Did you get a new Kapex to review? that one can't be 3 years old..

John..

Hi John,

That is my original Kapex bought over 3 years ago. I have always looked after my tools (one of my major lessons from my army days was to look after my kit). It also has the benefit from being in a workshop where video work is regularly undertaken as everything gets a regular clean before the start of each film.

Peter

 

[neth27]

Did you get a new Kapex to review? that one can't be 3 years old..

John..

Hi John,

That is my original Kapex bought over 3 years ago. I have always looked after my tools (one of my major lessons from my army days was to look after my kit). It also has the benefit from being in a workshop where video work is regularly undertaken as everything gets a regular clean before the start of each film.

Peter

I better not post pictures of my tools  [big grin] they looked wrecked after 3 weeks.

John...

 

[Stone Message]

I better not post pictures of my tools  [big grin] they looked wrecked after 3 weeks.

John...

Hi John,

I had a tour of the Festool UK HQ about 2 years ago and I remember the repair shop...

There was a Kapex there that looked as though it had had a starring role in Saving Private Ryan. I could not believe how wrecked it looked. The firm that owned it used it almost exclusively for metal cutting. The engineer doing the repair said it only had a minor fault and when he did the adjustment checks (which they do before a tool is returned) found that it was spot on. On closer examination I could see that it had just lost some of the paint and was pretty dirty. I wonder if JMB owned it!

One other point about visiting the repair shop - there were 3 guys, one may have been the goods in / good out person and the other two were engineers. They usually did a 24 hour turn around (unless they have to wait for a part) and they were not that pushed. Now that says a lot about the reliability of the kit.

Peter

 

[richh666]

Hi guys,

Peter its such fantastic coincidence that you produced your Kapex video as I am looking into buying one at the moment.

Great videos, always viewed them before considering any Festool purchase!

I am after some advice and opinions about the Kapex 120 along with the foldable rolling stand and leg extensions.

I generally do a lot of site carpentry, framing, cut roofs, 1st and 2nd fix work, with a few cash jobs and bits for myself. I currently have a dewalt 717xps mitre saw with the dewalt stand. Reason for change is that im not happy with squareness of mitres in wider materials.

What I want to know is, is this saw too nice and and fine a machine to be using on large construction sites? With wet timber and the worry of theft etc
I would use all the features, and accuracy is everything i want in a mitre saw along with a rolling stand etc, I'm just worried that its too fine a machine to be using for cutting wet timber such as 8x2 rafters, or wet 4x2 for studwork etc then going onto 2nd fix skirting, Architrave etc.

I know all about the all inclusive service, and i have answered some of my own questions by knowing i would benefit from features.

i use all my other Festool equipment on site and find it a joy to use and that they are built to be rugged, but i do worry about it.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[CarolinaNomad]

Hi guys,

Peter its such fantastic coincidence that you produced your Kapex video as I am looking into buying one at the moment.

Great videos, always viewed them before considering any Festool purchase!

I am after some advice and opinions about the Kapex 120 along with the foldable rolling stand and leg extensions.

I generally do a lot of site carpentry, framing, cut roofs, 1st and 2nd fix work, with a few cash jobs and bits for myself. I currently have a dewalt 717xps mitre saw with the dewalt stand. Reason for change is that im not happy with squareness of mitres in wider materials.

What I want to know is, is this saw too nice and and fine a machine to be using on large construction sites? With wet timber and the worry of theft etc
I would use all the features, and accuracy is everything i want in a mitre saw along with a rolling stand etc, I'm just worried that its too fine a machine to be using for cutting wet timber such as 8x2 rafters, or wet 4x2 for studwork etc then going onto 2nd fix skirting, Architrave etc.

I know all about the all inclusive service, and i have answered some of my own questions by knowing i would benefit from features.

i use all my other Festool equipment on site and find it a joy to use and that they are built to be rugged, but i do worry about it.

Many thanks in advance!

I have both the Kapex and the Dewalt miter saw.  The dewalt was my first purchase and enjoy using it.  But hate the stand and the non existent dust collection.  Hence, why I purchased the Kapex.  I tried selling the dewalt but could not get more than half of what I purchased it for even though it's a 3 year old machine and it's a 12" miter saw.  So, I use it for rough carpentry. 

I would definitely get the kapex with stand and UG Extensions.  But I would also keep the Dewalt miter saw.

As for the squareness of the Dewalt, have you adjusted the miter saw for squareness.  It could have been knocked out of alignment.  Especially since it gets moved around a lot.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi guys,

Peter its such fantastic coincidence that you produced your Kapex video as I am looking into buying one at the moment.

Great videos, always viewed them before considering any Festool purchase!

I am after some advice and opinions about the Kapex 120 along with the foldable rolling stand and leg extensions.

I generally do a lot of site carpentry, framing, cut roofs, 1st and 2nd fix work, with a few cash jobs and bits for myself. I currently have a dewalt 717xps mitre saw with the dewalt stand. Reason for change is that im not happy with squareness of mitres in wider materials.

What I want to know is, is this saw too nice and and fine a machine to be using on large construction sites? With wet timber and the worry of theft etc
I would use all the features, and accuracy is everything i want in a mitre saw along with a rolling stand etc, I'm just worried that its too fine a machine to be using for cutting wet timber such as 8x2 rafters, or wet 4x2 for studwork etc then going onto 2nd fix skirting, Architrave etc.

I know all about the all inclusive service, and i have answered some of my own questions by knowing i would benefit from features.

i use all my other Festool equipment on site and find it a joy to use and that they are built to be rugged, but i do worry about it.

Many thanks in advance!

I understand your concern about having such a lovely saw in and out of the van...

First of all, yes it is a lovely looking machine but it is very rugged - I hope some of the true Festool road warriors will back me up here - it has been designed to be lugged around from site to site.

I use mine for all sorts of wood, including tanalised wood dripping with preservative, green oak and many other hardwoods. Just look after the blade and clean the resin off. I also cut Perspex and formica bonded chipboard and ply.

Theft may be a worry but a lot of that is down to common sense. Most thefts that I have heard about on sites have mainly been nice little gizmos that are easy to slip into a tool bag. If the Kapex is going to go then that is going to be noticed and take some time to move. You will be covered by the Festool insurance as long as you register the purchase with Festool. I have had no experience (thank goodness) with the insurance but I understand that you pay the first £100 towards a new replacement. I have a record of all the serial numbers of my tools and I have photographs too.

I know nothing about the UG stand except what I have read here on the FOG - I believe that it is a good bit of kit.

I agonised for about 6-8 weeks making my mind up about the Kapex and boy am I glad I bought it.

Peter

 

[neth27]

Hi guys,

Peter its such fantastic coincidence that you produced your Kapex video as I am looking into buying one at the moment.

Great videos, always viewed them before considering any Festool purchase!

I am after some advice and opinions about the Kapex 120 along with the foldable rolling stand and leg extensions.

I generally do a lot of site carpentry, framing, cut roofs, 1st and 2nd fix work, with a few cash jobs and bits for myself. I currently have a dewalt 717xps mitre saw with the dewalt stand. Reason for change is that im not happy with squareness of mitres in wider materials.

What I want to know is, is this saw too nice and and fine a machine to be using on large construction sites? With wet timber and the worry of theft etc
I would use all the features, and accuracy is everything i want in a mitre saw along with a rolling stand etc, I'm just worried that its too fine a machine to be using for cutting wet timber such as 8x2 rafters, or wet 4x2 for studwork etc then going onto 2nd fix skirting, Architrave etc.

I know all about the all inclusive service, and i have answered some of my own questions by knowing i would benefit from features.

i use all my other Festool equipment on site and find it a joy to use and that they are built to be rugged, but i do worry about it.

Many thanks in advance!

I have the Kapex with the foldable stand and extensions. It gets used on site and put in and out of the back of a van daily. It usually has all sorts sat on top of it in the van, doors, 4x2 etc and never had any problems with it...  [big grin]
  For first fix work i just fit a cheap Trend blade on it and the festool blade for second fix and kitchens etc (it takes seconds to swap the blade)
The only problem with the saw is the twin lasers are a bit useless when using the saw outdoors in a bit of sunshine.

john...

 

[richh666]

Sorry for the late reply,

Thank you to all for your views and help! I definietly will get a kapex with stand, hopefully will purchase one when all the second fix starts at the latest site, all top end materials so will be good to have something i can rely on!

Thanks to all again,

Rich

 

[England]

I use the kapex with UG set for first and second fix, copes with all that's thrown at it with ease. Used a big dewalt flip over saw the one with the 305mm blade before purchasing the kapex and I would safely say the kapex is capable of much more witch is hard to believe as it has a smaller blade!
Obviously it don't transform into a table saw but my TS55 has all most made the need for the table mode redundant.
No point me talking about the features of the kapex as Peter has covered it all in a well detailed video
What I would say is i tend to treat it with a little more care than I did the dewalt when using it for larger timbers, although the kapex seems to be very robust the UG set is built to be a light and portable unit the UG wings are all Ali construction, that said the UG wings are almost a must have piece of kit in there own right as usable with the MFT/3, CMS and trimming saws, always have them in use with my MFT/3 and router cms

mark

 

[wow]

I'm brand new to the Kapex...or it's new to me ... so please pardon my ignorance, but are the UG 'wings' also called the "KA-UG-R-L Both sides for the Kapex base (set)"?

 

[tbellemare]

Yes, they are!

Tom

 

[ifit]

The stand is better than the saw - its a must have

Here is mine showing an extra wing added on to support longer timbers