Kapex or not?

[City Properties Inc]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how there Kapex is holding up?
I am seriously considering buying the Kapex because I'm getting tired of the inconsistencies with my  hitachi 10” slider that I had for long time and Dewalt 12” slider which isn’t too bad but big and on the heavy side of about 52lb.

Everything I find about the Kepex talks about how perfect the cuts are and the great dust control which as far as I’m concerned should be a given at $1300.
I need to know how it will last in the real world and not in a nice controlled environment at someones home cutting crown or snuggled up on a shop bench.
How it is in the real world.
How does it handle with light framing, although most of our is done with a worm drive it is helpfully to have miter on site for the repetitive cuts and small blocking and so on.
How does it handle they day to day set up and breakdown from truck to job, job to truck along with the bumps and potholes in between.
Do you find yourself regularly adjusting and checking for accuracy?
Is it a high maintenance,  temperamental or fussy?

Let me explain further.
The saw would used primarily by me and not the crew.
My business consist of about 70% decks mostly roof top which we use more IPE then anything else, composite and cedar. I really need better dust control especially for the IPE. Our tools are left out side under a tarp overnight where it rains, hot humid and let's not forget the cold.  
Our business consists of:  
15% residential renovations which covers framing to finish work.  
15% light commercial which is similar to residential except not willing to leave tools on site over night due the high traffic and fear of walking off.

I would also buy the UG cart which looks perfect, wondering how much modifying it would need for another miter incase the Kapex is not for my scope of work.
BTW I do the wings are a little wimpie. I would like to be able to consolidate some of my efforts by using 1-miter saw that’s lighter, more compact to move through customers homes especially when your going up/down 3-4 flights of steps.

Again feel free give me your thoughts.

 

[Festool Hill]

Well I have been a carpenter for about 7 years now and over that 7 years I have had a number of different sliding compound mitre saws. I currently have a 12" DeWALT and the Festool Kapex. I must say that there is no comparison. It's like day and night. I'm not just saying that but it really is. I have been using the Kapex for about 2 months now and I absolutely love it. I'm almost considering buying another one to replace the DeWALT. For instance...I have been using my kapex 6 days a week for the last month and the mitres are tight, accurate and so simple. This weekend I had a small job to do and I left my kapex on one site and took my DeWALT to the other. I was totally messed up. My mitres werent nearly as good and the weight of the saw was huge, not to mention the features of the Kapex are unbelievable. The nicest thing that I can say is try it for the 30 days and if you don't like it, return it. I know you won't because it's like driving a BMW M5 and then going to a pinto (no disrespect to pinto fans) you'll go back to the BMW. What can i say the Germans know their stuff.  The benefit of the Dewalt I can cut a 6x6 pressure threaded post but that's the only thing that is keeping it in my arrsonal. If you are using it for what you mentioned the dust collection alone should sell you on it.  Best of luck with your decision.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have had mine for over 2 years.  It sees duty in the shop and the job site.  I have built several SA hardwood decks with it.

It rides in my trailer, my suburban, in the 4runner, back of the moped.....

Mine is dirty, I have spilled stain on it, paint and some blood.

I have yet to have to do any adjustments to it, besides play with the lasers a time or two.

I took it to festool after a year to have something I broke is a freak occurrence repaired.

When they brought it out to me the service tech said they always check them for accuracy and adjust if needed.  He said mine was still spot on.

 

[tallgrass]

i have the glide for about a year now and love it.

 

[Kev]

Hello City Properties Inc ...

[welcome]

I'm not a commercial user and I treat my tools with respect - recently I've been using my Kapex + UG set for 200x100m framing, cutting down 4m+ lengths. Everything is solid as long as you're not throwing the timber at the saw. There is slight movement, but what's important does stay perfectly square.

I regard the KAPEX as robust compared to my Hitachi ... accuracy has been perfect out of the box and remains so.

I've got no idea how robust tolerances for things like the laser would be if it was continually bounced up and down several flights of stairs on a trolley - but personally I wouldn't do that. Even though bumps in a vehicle can seem severe - shock transfer on a trolley could be much greater without the vehicle's suspension softening the blows ... Anyone had experience in this space?

 

[JPF Woodworking]

Iecho everything that's has been said about the Kapex here and on many other threads as part of this forum. I really can't remember anyone saying anything negative about this saw. Like you I had a Dewalt 12" saw that served my quite well for many years and like you I really, really deliberated over this MAJOR purchase. For me, $1300 is serious cash. The only thing I can say looking back is why did it take me so long to pull the trigger. This saw really lives up to its reputation. I would only add that's took the time to build a dedicated (portable) table (thank you Ron Paulk!) which in and of itself makes the saw so much easier to setup and use. I would strongly suggest that you look at Ron's table which is all about "on-site" Kapex use.

best regards,

John

 

[Timtool]

Mine is from 2007, only problem i have had is a broken circuit board at the end of it's fourth year. As mine is one of the oldest ones i don't exclude that this may be the illness of the kapex and that it may eventually happen to all models. Even though i replaced it myself it wasn't cheap around $100

I do get poor DC when coupled to my 2hp dust collector, the problem may be that the short piece of 36mm hose connecting it to my DC system is too small and takes away too much pressure.
Mine rarely leaves the shop and the accuracy is great and so are the features, i do have a friend who uses it on jobsites daily with the UG stand and he has problems with the saw frequently going out of square.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I took delivery of my first Kapex just after midnight the day Festool USA allowed dealers to release pre-orders to customers. In those day I rented space in shops belonging to other woodworkers, so my first Kapex was moved from place to place several times a week until I opened my current large shop in mid 2010. Since then it has been bolted to a bench. That Kapex has been used at least 5 days a week since I have owned it. It still makes outstandingly accurate cuts without ever needing factory service. Between then and opening my shop I purchased 2 additional Kapex new from my primary local dealer.

When I opened my shop the cabinet maker working for me who specializes in face frames, cabinet doors and drawer fronts preferred to use his personal Kapex. Way back when he was just ahead of me in line when the dealer could let us take of Kapexes home. Because his work needs more Kapex cuts daily, I am sure his Kapex has seen more action than any of mine. In May of 2011 I bought Tiger Stop systems. Both are installed on the two Kapex in my shop which are bolted in a fixed location. My face frame specialist was very interested in having a Tiger Stop while he still preferred his personal Kapex. So, I bought it from him. He now has a newish Kapex at his home.

The Kapex I bought immediately after opening my shop is the one we keep on a UG stand ready to be taken to customer sites for cabinet installs.

All of my Kapex have been ready for use daily, missing only a few minutes once in awhile for routine preventive maintenance. All of these Kapex have been connected to dust extraction virtually all the time.

 

[City Properties Inc]

Thank you all very much for the time taken the time to reply. I greatly appreciate the feedback. It appears that Kapex could handle the vigorous day to day work and for the most part maintain accuracy. As far as the laser goes if it needs tweaking then it needs tweaking. Although I must give Dewalt compliment on the led light which never needs adjustment. It just lights up both sides of the blade and the shadow line becomes your cut line. It’s very nice feature.
I think for the portability, weight, accuracy, and dust collection it’s hands down on the Kapex.  Looks like I’ll be paying my local Kapex Dealer a visit.

Thanks again,
Yanni
City Properties Inc.
City Decks Inc.
Philadelphia, PA

 

[peter halle]

I have had mine for about a year and a half.  I had to wait for my Hitachi to give up the ghost.  The Hitachi served me well and I abused it in transit thru the years ( Sorry Hitachi), but when the casting that limited the depth of cut broke off the saw and I attempted to cut the base in half - that was too much.  I can joke about it now, but that scared the heck out of me.

I went an purchased a Kapex at lunch that day and have used it as my only miter saw since that time.  It travels in better conditions than the Hitachi did, dut it still has to endure the bumps and vibrations of rural Virginia roads.  Still accurate.  It has cut framing lumber, pressure treated lumber, composites, trim, hardwoods, exotic hardwoods, etc.  no complaints from me here compared to my Hitachi or any of the other saws I have used since 1983.

Peter

 

[EWTHeckman]

i do have a friend who uses it on jobsites daily with the UG stand and he has problems with the saw frequently going out of square.

That contrasts so thoroughly with all the other responses that I just have to ask…

Could there be something wrong with his particular saw? Or could it be getting severely abused?

 

[chippy1984]

has anyone here used the milwaukee ms305. ive had mine for just over 2 years now, and i love it. i do all types of work from hardwood decking, framing, finish work and some furniture making. with brilliant results every time.

i was wondering whats the comparison to the Kapex? as the kapex is over twice the price. $1100 australian dollars for the milwaukee saw and stand set up, and $2300 australian dollars for the Kapex and stand set up.

id love to purchase one but cant see it being twice as good as the milwaukee.

 

[peter halle]

Please note that I removed the poll attached to this thread.  The poll did not contain questions that could be answered.  The thread has more substance.

Peter

 

[builderbob]

Here's where I stand with the Kapex. Granted, this is just my stance...I work solo, both in the field and in my garage workshop (as a career). I have owned a Kapex since first release in the US. I have been very tired of unloading the saw, bringing it into the shop & setting it up...then reloading it for field work.

I had been recently looking to buy a second saw...either use that in the field and put the Kapex in the shop or vice versa. I purchased the Makita LS1014 or whatever the newer version is. I brought it home, set it up and used it in the shop to give it a test run. After finally squaring it up & hooking the dc hose, I ran about 20 cuts, packaged it back up & returned it. I went to woodcraft and purchased a second Kapex! I wasn't thrilled about dropping another $1300, but what I came to realize is that for me, I'm very happy with the Kapex & I'm very used to already owning one. The dc is very good...if you don't believe the statement, find someone with a Kapex, make 5 cuts without dc & 5 with dc and you'll see the difference. It's not dust free but it is what works well for me.

Just to be clear, here are the items I was displeased with on the Makita.
1. Laser was awful and couldn't get it to come to a square 90*
2. The body of the saw is curved, thus making it very challenging to mount a saw helper type stand.
3. The dc is awful (not that anybody claimed it was good).
4. The saw on the rails felt kind of gritty like something was messing with the sealed ball bearings.

Yes I have a lot of Festool. I do not only buy Festool...if I feel there is a superior product in a different brand, I would certainly purchase it (case in point for me is the Trion 300...I have it but don't really find it to be superior).

There's my story & I'm sticking to it!

Bob

 

[Kev]

has anyone here used the milwaukee ms305. ive had mine for just over 2 years now, and i love it. i do all types of work from hardwood decking, framing, finish work and some furniture making. with brilliant results every time.

i was wondering whats the comparison to the Kapex? as the kapex is over twice the price. $1100 australian dollars for the milwaukee saw and stand set up, and $2300 australian dollars for the Kapex and stand set up.

id love to purchase one but cant see it being twice as good as the milwaukee.

I looked at everything local (Sydney) ... I was initially looking to replace my dying little Hitachi with a bigger one ... I looked at all the brands and none seemed to have the precision and features of the KAPEX. The investment in the KAPEX (and generally Festool) for me is about accuracy and minimal mess. Specifically for me the KAPEX is a rapid setup and takedown in UG + extensions format.

"Twice as good" is an interesting benchmark ... I'd look at "worth the additional cost" - I may seem to be splitting hairs, but the fact that I can wheel mine out of the garage and be cutting accurately within 5 minutes ... then packed away and clean in another 5 minutes means that I use it in time constraints I would never have used it before!

If you you leave your mitre saw set up, you don't care about very high precision cutting and mess isn't a major concern - the KAPEX is probably overkill ...

Kev.

 

[VictorL]

It is THE saw. I've bought mine second hand.  It's precise and easy to use. Dust collection is very good.
What I like most is small footprint and light weight. My shop is one car garage and these parameters are essential.
What I very like are accessories.  Angle transfer device is simple and precise. I do have two hold down clamps and two crown stops They are EXTREMELY helpful.
What I'm still looking for are extension wings.

VictorL

 

[chippy1984]

the milwaukee has the digital readout which is accurate to 0.1º and it still is spot on after 2 years of constant loading and unloading. milwaukee states that the saw has up to 75% dust collection. but i dont think its as much as that. possibly 60%.

The reason i would choose the Kapex over milwaukee next time is its superior light weight (its almost 10kg lighter) and the DC. i just wonder if it would stand up to the same heavy treatment.

 

[Kev]

It is THE saw. I've bought mine second hand.  It's precise and easy to use. Dust collection is very good.
What I like most is small footprint and light weight. My shop is one car garage and these parameters are essential.
What I very like are accessories.  Angle transfer device is simple and precise. I do have two hold down clamps and two crown stops They are EXTREMELY helpful.
What I'm still looking for are extension wings.

VictorL

[attachimg=#]

I can't imagine you with wings Victor  [eek]

(just pulling your leg)

 

[VictorL]

It is THE saw. I've bought mine second hand.  It's precise and easy to use. Dust collection is very good.
What I like most is small footprint and light weight. My shop is one car garage and these parameters are essential.
What I very like are accessories.  Angle transfer device is simple and precise. I do have two hold down clamps and two crown stops They are EXTREMELY helpful.
What I'm still looking for are extension wings.

VictorL

[attachimg=#]

I can't imagine you with wings Victor  [eek]

(just pulling your leg)

If it will work, I definitely need them

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have been thinking about getting another just to keep in the shop too.

A new one is still a heck of a lot cheaper then an Omga. [eek]