Here is a positive review from a very positive chap who bought one of the first Kapex saws to be introduced into the UK. One who wrote a very simplistic review for the Original Mathew's FOG back in 2007 to satisfy the demands of the NAINA posse who were positively trumping (there's prophecy for you) at the bit for any morsel of news of the Wundersage of Wendlingen.
That chap was me spending my children's inheritance, a quest which still occupies me and causes much mirth and merriment. I used and abused that Kapex for three years without the slightest hiccup or whiff of armature smoke and, when I received an invitation from HM the Queen, along with a few thousand others, to a party in a hot and humid place with loads of sand, (no RSVP required), I decided to sell the Kapex. I sold it to a very good friend who still uses it to this day and he too has never had the slightest problem with it. They do say never sell to friends, especially those who are from a similar background of legal force and destruction, but on my return from the dusty climes of a far away place, he still spoke warmly to me and I retain all my external digits and dangly bits to this day.
He has used 'our' Kapex almost every day to divide expensive wood in two and has done many thousands of cuts. He has replaced the plastic guard due to a high velocity wayward off-cut which cracked it, a return spring and has bought two blades which he has sharpened several times. The saw still produces glass like cuts, does so with a precision that satisfies his exacting professional standards and has been a pivotal part of his business of cutting wood, assembling it and then selling the finished article at an outrageous price. He loves the Kapex, plugs it into a CTL36 (240V), and has always (like I did) run it up to full revs before making the cut and allows it to stop before removing the workpiece. He cuts all thicknesses, from thin to thick, never uses an extension cable and like me, has kept the saw clean and, as we say in darkest Wales, tidy.
Two months ago, and in pathetic desire to spend even more of my children's ever dwindling inheritance, I removed my belt-fed Visa card and bought another Kapex. I read of the problems some had experienced during my wilderness years and, based upon my initial experience and that of my original Kapex, bought another which I named Simou in honour of my late best mate. It is a bit of a time warp, deja vu feeling with the saw. Still built like a brick sh*thouse with the deft and delicate touch of a grey, green and black goddess of lurv and it is performing superbly.
When I bought my original saw it came with a 2 year warranty, this one has 3 and a whole ruck of other bits of service goodies. I never needed to use the warranty back in 2007-2010 and I hope I never need to use it for this saw. But should I do then I fully expect Festool UK to honour their commitment to me. Nuff said.
The Kapex is a belter of a saw, I would and did recommend it to anyone who demands precision, a relatively dust free working environment ( better than any other SCMS I have used or have seen being used ) and the feeling of using a really well engineered and designed piece of kit. I know there have been problems and I appreciate that some have had a less than excellent experience with their Kapex's. Buy one, use it for 15/30 days and then sack it if you are not 100% satisfied. I do not know of any other manufacturer who gives such a period of use with no questions asked.
I only wish Mercedes Benz had followed such a customer focused approach when my AMG C Class decided to play silly buggers. Resolved reasonably rapidly, but not in a spirit that endeared me to the automotive side of the Teutonic engineering fraternity. Which only goes to show that every now and then a rogue passes merrily through the mysterious place they whisper and call, the 'Final Inspection' on Planet QC.
Pat
