Kapex life span

It is painful to get "quality" and have them not last.
However I am assuming that you consider that you got acceptable life out of the drill and track-saw?
Or how long should they be expected to last? (3 years?)
 
I've had mine over 8 years now, and it's still fine (though I suppose mine doesn't get quite as much heavy use as yours does!).

It went back to Festool twice (IIRC) in the first 3 years; once for the fence locking problem, and I honestly can't remember what the other one was for.

Holmz said:
Or how long should they be expected to last? (3 years?)
Click to expand...

I would think, given the cost, 3 years is too short. I think it's reasonable to expect something to last at least twice as long as the warranty, but it does depend on the level of use.
 
Relatively speaking the KAPEX is not a complex machine ... electric motors these days last for ages and ages. Bearings also have extremely long lives (if the right bearings are used). In my opinion the KAPEX should last 10 years with reasonable maintenance and brush replacement before it needs major repair at the very least.

[member=5671]jmbfestool[/member] I'm assuming yours is 240V ??
 
Reading on hear there seems to be more problems reported with the 110v Kapexs over the 240v. Maybe the 110v's in the UK have a harder life being site tools, I don't know.
I would expect at least 8 years use out of my Kapex as my old Makita lasted that long and cost less than half the price of a Kapex.
 
Been a long time guest follower of this forum and own a number of Festool products including the Domino XL, Rotex 150, TS75, and others. All have served me well in a hobbyist environment. I have also been keenly following posts on the Kapex as I would like to upgrade to it for improved accuracy and dust collection.

I just registered to the forum in order to post this note as another data point for Festool product management. This is not meant to cause argument among members but to get Festool to understand that the amount of conversation related to the Kapex and its problems is causing me (and I  assume others) to defer or avoid its purchase. In my case I am waiting for a new release of the saw. I realize that this may be off in the future; but I am not compelled to buy at this time given the list of recurring issues.

Hopefully, this feedback has value to product management and we will see a new an not only more reliable but better functioning version of the Kapex.
 
Kev said:
Relatively speaking the KAPEX is not a complex machine ... electric motors these days last for ages and ages. Bearings also have extremely long lives (if the right bearings are used). In my opinion the KAPEX should last 10 years with reasonable maintenance and brush replacement before it needs major repair at the very least.

[member=5671]jmbfestool[/member] I'm assuming yours is 240V ??
Click to expand...

All my tools are 240v
 
Holmz said:
It is painful to get "quality" and have them not last.
However I am assuming that you consider that you got acceptable life out of the drill and track-saw?
Or how long should they be expected to last? (3 years?)
Click to expand...

I know how much I have used the drill and track-saw  over the years.  I do think they have served me well and although I would have liked them to have lasted me longer I do accept things wear out.

However I just done think the Kapex is living up to my expectations.  I know how much use the kapex has had over the years and I really dont believe it has lasted me long enough.  Remember this is the second time the kapex has burnt out.  The first time I just accepted that sometimes things break just annoying it happens outside of the warranty.

I never make it struggle, as soon as I hear the motor wanting to bog down I slow the cut down immediately.
Yet with the track saw and drill I have quite often pushed them to the limit. 

So I am torn.  I do like using the kapex and I love the Ug-stand brilliant for transporting.  Its compact size etc
Yet its ALOT of money for a tool with a short life span. 

I would have expected it to at least last as long as my track saw. Yet the kapex is newer and has burnt out twice. Yet the track-saw although is playing up is still working to this day.
 
I have a 8 ish year old ts55 that's seen plenty of hammer every day more or less. It's still going, dad's using it now. Heard alot of issues with the ts55r so I avoided that one.

Fingers crossed my kapex is ok at the moment. I would be seriously pi$$ed if that happened to mine after a couple of years!

Given all the horror stories I wouldn't buy another. I would go for the big bosch slider.
 
I believe Festool guarantees to have replacement parts available for at least 7-8 years after a model is discontinued, so that gives some idea of the expected lifespan.
 
Supposed to be 10 years I believe but I have a Protool chp 26 I bought 5 years ago and can't get a switch for it as it's not on Ekat france ....
 
Self employed subcontractor carpenter here.
I bought a little Makita compound mitre saw in about 2003 or so and its still going strong with the usage I put it through.
I might not use it for a month then use it a lot the next month and when I'm fitting internal door linings/casings I don't use packers and instead make lots of slow slope wooden wedges which is quite hard on the saw.

So, I'd expect something that cost 8 or so times as much (mine cost £180) to last as long as that at the least.
 
demographic said:
Self employed subcontractor carpenter here.
I bought a little Makita compound mitre saw in about 2003 or so and its still going strong with the usage I put it through.
I might not use it for a month then use it a lot the next month and when I'm fitting internal door linings/casings I don't use packers and instead make lots of slow slope wooden wedges which is quite hard on the saw.

So, I'd expect something that cost 8 or so times as much (mine cost £180) to last as long as that at the least.
Click to expand...

I totally agree.

My Makita is still going strong so why doesnt a Kapex last?

I havent had time yet but when I get 5mins I am going to take my kapex apart and see whats up.

Im 100% its going to be obvious what the problem is because it felt and sounded like something just dropped out of something.

 
[member=5671]jmbfestool[/member] I think this, above all other KAPEX issue threads brings home the question ... "If Festool brought out a new and improved KAPEX, would you buy it?"

A brand grows on it strength and a particular product on it's reputation. If Festool are currently working on a KAPEX replacement/upgrade it could be a sales and marketing disaster simply because of the negative attitude brewing towards the KAPEX today. I would put myself in the "very happy KAPEX user" class, but even I would be hesitant over a new KAPEX until it was solidly proven (possibly over a couple of years).

The only way I think Festool could successfully launch a new KAPEX is to launch it with an unconditional 7 year warranty.

ARE YOU LISTENING FESTOOL?
 
Kev said:
[member=5671]jmbfestool[/member] I think this, above all other KAPEX issue threads brings home the question ... "If Festool brought out a new and improved KAPEX, would you buy it?"

A brand grows on it strength and a particular product on it's reputation. If Festool are currently working on a KAPEX replacement/upgrade it could be a sales and marketing disaster simply because of the negative attitude brewing towards the KAPEX today. I would put myself in the "very happy KAPEX user" class, but even I would be hesitant over a new KAPEX until it was solidly proven (possibly over a couple of years).

The only way I think Festool could successfully launch a new KAPEX is to launch it with an unconditional 7 year warranty.

ARE YOU LISTENING FESTOOL?
Click to expand...

I would not buy the version that I keep reading about.
But I would consider one that seems more durable.

[member=13058]Kev[/member] What is the model number of that Metabo SCMS?https://sydneytools.com.au/metabo-k...less-216mm-8-1-2-crosscut-mitre-saw-skin-only

??
 
That's great value with the free battery and charger.
  I really liked the original blade that came with the Metabo unfortunately my local Metabo dealer doesn't stock these blades.
  I spoke with the Metabo rep and he said he could order them in but it would take a while, so I have been using the Irwin blades and am happy with those, They cost about $35 a blade, compare that to running the Kapex every day with $250 blades.
 
JMB,

It depends. If your using it for 8 years for production jobs every day getting your money's worth out of it. Tools wear out. Mines because I don't do production and use it sparingly compared to you will last a lot longer.

So quit being cheap take it in get it repaired and buy the second one and get back at it.
 
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