New member and first post,
If this is not in the right section, apologies, moderator please move it.
it is past time for me to upgrade my mitre saw. Currently I've only got a big nasty 12" AEG that is barely good enough for framing and a complete PITA for anything requiring finesse. After a (stupid) incident not long ago which resulted in a bent fence and blade, this saw is on death row, awaiting its last meal.
After eliminating a bunch of other options I am deciding between the KS 120 and the KS 60 E, both on the UG stand with the wings.
I am a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, and do a range of work, but for this tool I need it onsite mostly for framing, flooring, decking and finish (trim, skirting, architraves, etc- Australian vernacular). For home work, owning a big 70's timber house that needed everything renovated, there is also a lot of work for it, kitchen and bathroom fit-out approaching, and always more jobs and uses.
I've used a bunch of festool stuff before, and mostly really appreciate it, and own some festools (rotex 125 etc) and regret buying some tools instead of the festool version (makita track saw etc), and have plans for some more.
I don't want to buy another mitre saw for a long time and can (just) scrape the funds for either purchase right now. I want this to be my do-all saw (yes, a compromise), used for heavier and more precise work. Although I mostly set up outside, dust control is one of the things I like about festool and I usually hook up most of my tools to a vac when possible.
I also live on a hill (cliff) where I am absolutely sick of carrying heavy stuff up and down the steep driveway, and, when working at home I set up saws and workhorses and roller stands and the like outside my garage on the top flat spot of the driveway- so the light weight and portability of the Kapex's and the UG stand are some of the points that sell them to me.
I suspect that given the regular outside use I will put it to, the 120 lasers are likely to be better for me than the 60 shadow line- and this issue is almost a deciding factor for me. I have played with both (though I haven't been able to actually do cuts on a 60 yet- hopefully next week), and so far I much prefer the twin lasers, but I can very much appreciate the simplicity and lack of adjustment needed on the shadow line. Inside a tool shop I found it hard enough to see the edge of blade tooth, but I assume this would get better/easier with use. However, the 60 does feel really really nice as well. I almost prefer the feel of the handle and the buttons and most of the adjustments.
As far as capacity goes, I think I could live with the 60- it doesn't really make a difference in how I would cut most of my framing material (90x45 usually) and when it is not enough there always seems to be other ways to get the job done. I've never done crown moulding and don't expect to any time soon.
I know this is an expectable, and kinda difficult thread to start and answer. The KS 60 is brand new and few will have tried it, let alone put it to any good use right now. Plus they are different capacity saws. I have watched the youtube videos of Dave Stanton and Peter Parfitt, and amongst many other videos even tried to guess my way through the german Mikes Toolshop two videos (I wish there was a way to properly translate what he is saying).
For this thread, while I would appreciate some responses to my individual predicament (or is it privileged choice...?) until I decide what saw to go for, please also feel free to use this thread as a more general discussion about the comparison between these two models and any other issues that this raises- that might actually be more important for me.
As it is right now, I am very slightly leaning towards the 120, primarily for the lasers for outside use, the not falling over bevel adjustment, and for the safety of getting the bigger saw 'just in case'. But I really like the 60, I am tempted to buy a 'sufficient' saw (capacity wise), and money too is a serious factor, with a young baby and not quite enough work right now the 120 package is a real stretch for me.
Either way I need to decide in the next week or two for my next job.
I could make this post longer, but I should probably just start it here, please ask me questions if you feel I have missed any important info, and get discussing...
cheers,
If this is not in the right section, apologies, moderator please move it.
it is past time for me to upgrade my mitre saw. Currently I've only got a big nasty 12" AEG that is barely good enough for framing and a complete PITA for anything requiring finesse. After a (stupid) incident not long ago which resulted in a bent fence and blade, this saw is on death row, awaiting its last meal.
After eliminating a bunch of other options I am deciding between the KS 120 and the KS 60 E, both on the UG stand with the wings.
I am a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, and do a range of work, but for this tool I need it onsite mostly for framing, flooring, decking and finish (trim, skirting, architraves, etc- Australian vernacular). For home work, owning a big 70's timber house that needed everything renovated, there is also a lot of work for it, kitchen and bathroom fit-out approaching, and always more jobs and uses.
I've used a bunch of festool stuff before, and mostly really appreciate it, and own some festools (rotex 125 etc) and regret buying some tools instead of the festool version (makita track saw etc), and have plans for some more.
I don't want to buy another mitre saw for a long time and can (just) scrape the funds for either purchase right now. I want this to be my do-all saw (yes, a compromise), used for heavier and more precise work. Although I mostly set up outside, dust control is one of the things I like about festool and I usually hook up most of my tools to a vac when possible.
I also live on a hill (cliff) where I am absolutely sick of carrying heavy stuff up and down the steep driveway, and, when working at home I set up saws and workhorses and roller stands and the like outside my garage on the top flat spot of the driveway- so the light weight and portability of the Kapex's and the UG stand are some of the points that sell them to me.
I suspect that given the regular outside use I will put it to, the 120 lasers are likely to be better for me than the 60 shadow line- and this issue is almost a deciding factor for me. I have played with both (though I haven't been able to actually do cuts on a 60 yet- hopefully next week), and so far I much prefer the twin lasers, but I can very much appreciate the simplicity and lack of adjustment needed on the shadow line. Inside a tool shop I found it hard enough to see the edge of blade tooth, but I assume this would get better/easier with use. However, the 60 does feel really really nice as well. I almost prefer the feel of the handle and the buttons and most of the adjustments.
As far as capacity goes, I think I could live with the 60- it doesn't really make a difference in how I would cut most of my framing material (90x45 usually) and when it is not enough there always seems to be other ways to get the job done. I've never done crown moulding and don't expect to any time soon.
I know this is an expectable, and kinda difficult thread to start and answer. The KS 60 is brand new and few will have tried it, let alone put it to any good use right now. Plus they are different capacity saws. I have watched the youtube videos of Dave Stanton and Peter Parfitt, and amongst many other videos even tried to guess my way through the german Mikes Toolshop two videos (I wish there was a way to properly translate what he is saying).
For this thread, while I would appreciate some responses to my individual predicament (or is it privileged choice...?) until I decide what saw to go for, please also feel free to use this thread as a more general discussion about the comparison between these two models and any other issues that this raises- that might actually be more important for me.
As it is right now, I am very slightly leaning towards the 120, primarily for the lasers for outside use, the not falling over bevel adjustment, and for the safety of getting the bigger saw 'just in case'. But I really like the 60, I am tempted to buy a 'sufficient' saw (capacity wise), and money too is a serious factor, with a young baby and not quite enough work right now the 120 package is a real stretch for me.
Either way I need to decide in the next week or two for my next job.
I could make this post longer, but I should probably just start it here, please ask me questions if you feel I have missed any important info, and get discussing...
cheers,
