Kapex owners

[joiner1970]

Hi all you Kapex owners,

Now you have had your saws a while what do you think ?

Are they worth the money ?

I ask because I was about to buy a Makita LS1013 for around ?440 but I have been offered a very special offer from a Festool dealer on a new Kapex  ;D .

I have been thinking long and hard about it but its still way more than the Makita.

Yes I know its a better saw but is it really that much better ?

 

[jonny round boy]

I've had mine since June '07, and I'm glad I got it. I've never once wished I'd gone for the cheaper Makita or Bosch. I've used a couple of LS1013's while working for employers previously, and always liked that saw. If the Kapex didn't exist, I'd probably have that one.

The Kapex is definitely better to lug around on a daily basis than the Makita. In terms of features, the Kapex wins on ease of setting/adjustment, trenching, and the dual laser is definitely a worthwhile addition.

Obviously, the cost is much higher, but that's a one-time hit. You soon forget about that.

It IS a better saw - whether it is "that much better" is only something you can decide. For me personally - yes, it was worth spending the extra. If you haven't already, get yourself down to your dealer's & have a play with one for real. Keep us posted on what you decide on in the end...

 

[jo041326]

Hi,
I had also a special offer on Makita 1013. But when I looked at the small bevel angle scale nearly hidden behind the fence, the screw clamps (would drive me crazzy to screw it up and down), the bars positioned close to each other and sliding back and forth... Nothing what would make your cuts impossible but a little annoying. Kapex's price was terrible (2200$ in current rate) but it is paid just once at the begining. I believe the saw is good enough to last for years, so why to spare some money and make compromises from the begining?
I'm totaly happy with ease of set up, quality of cut, dual laser and portability.
Josef

 

[lagunaboo]

Is the Kapex better... I think so. Being in England, like Johnny Round, we have to pay even more than our US cousins but the benifits outweigh the cost in my oppinion.

The best thing for me is as mentioned a lot is the dust free environment. I really try these days to connect everything to gain good dust extraction.

You know, when we were younger we didnt care about the dust or the noise, but as we get older it seems much more important.

It is no more accurate than my LS1013 but soooooo much nicer to work with. The lasers work perfectly and here's the thing, I trust them.

Its lighter than most saws of this size and that makes it easier to move about.

Mark....

Just noticed that Joiner1970 is UK based so price difference wont / will apply to him

 

[Markus K.]

I've got the Kapex for nearly one Year right now, it's really a great Saw! In our Company we have a  Bosch GCM 12 SD for cutting Cable Trays made from Plastic. The Bosch needs so much more Space in the Truck and on Site (Rail System). Also the Angel setting is not so good and exact like Festool's Kapex. And a must have is the Laser! I don't know anything about the Makita, but if that Thing has no Laser, you should decide to install one by yourself.

Markus

 

[dirtydeeds]

lasers on saws, i used to say rubbish. now i say dont leave home without it, no more sneaking up on cuts

my makita LS0714 (except the noise) is perfect for second fix

why no kappex yet?

im still working on the 3 drawbacks for me, weight 20kg (the makita is only 13kg), i dont see the need for such a large blade for second fix and the price........................

what dont i like about the kappex, whats not to like?

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Please no one take offense, but this is what drives me nuts about opinions about tools. Everyone says they like the saw, OK, how about some details. Almost all of the reviews I've seen were from people that wouldn't know what a good saw really is. I've seen one decent review of the Kapex, Gary Katz, however it is not a very complete review.

  So, you guys that have the saw, what is so great, not with a vague description but with some detail this time.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi Brice! Let me preface this by saying that I have not yet had an opportunity to make cuts with the Kapex, I've just swung it around for around 20 minutes. From my brief time swinging the Kapex around, I found it to be a very ergonomic saw. Everything felt comfortable. Once I got over the initial (around 5 minutes or so) learning curve on where all of the adjustments are, the Kapex was a very intuitive saw to adjust. It seemed to me that a carpenter could very quickly and precisely adjust the saw to a variety of bevel and miter positions. As to actual cutting accuracy, Gary Katz indicated that the Kapex cuts "smoother and straighter than any 10 in. miter saw I've ever used, and much better than a 12 in. saw". Plus there's the dust collection..... But, yes, I agree with you that it would be great to see an in-depth review of the saw by a Fogger. It seems most of the magazine reviews are more concerned with sales and filling pages with pretty pictures than actual information.

 

[Brice Burrell]

......But, yes, I agree with you that it would be great to see an in-depth review of the saw by a Fogger. It seems most of the magazine reviews are more concerned with sales and filling pages with pretty pictures than actual information.

  I like what Jerry Work has done for Festool in his manuals. He shows what the tools can do, how he uses them and lets the potential buyer decide if the tools are right for them. Thats what I've models my reviews after, I don't want to try to "sell" you the tool.

  In depth reviews is what is important to me so I can make an educated decision. There is a local company that makes and sells their own mattresses, their slogan is: "an educated consumer is our best customer." Give the consumers a good education on the tools and let them decide!

 

 

[Gene Howerton]

To second what Brice said above, I have only purchased the Festool items after I have read what Jerry Work has written.  The way he explains it makes it easier for me to make the investment and see the use of the tool.  I am the same way with the Kapex purchase.  I will not buy one until I read the reviews after it is out.  Hopefully Jerry will do a manual or how to on it and the trim router after I read those then I will make a decision.

 

[Ned]

This thread is beginning to go OT.

While I agree with everything Brice has said, the original topic was a request for information from Kapex owners.  We've veered off into giving Festool marketing advice again. 

When I first saw the thread this morning, I was delighted.  FOG had a thread going, with six different posters, none of whom were North American!

I'm not saying that no one else should post, but at the moment the only people with Kapex experience who are completely free to talk about it are themselves NAINA ( ).

Keep talking.  We in North America are listening.

Ned

 

[jonny round boy]

  Please no one take offense, but this is what drives me nuts about opinions about tools. Everyone says they like the saw, OK, how about some details....

....So, you guys that have the saw, what is so great, not with a vague description but with some detail this time.

Brice,

No offence taken - I understand what you're saying. Unfortunately, writing simply isn't my thing, and I do quite often have trouble transferring things from my head to the page (or screen). If I was capable of writing a full, detailed, informative tool review, then I'd be doing that for a living - the money's probably far better! ;D

This won't be the answer you're after, but all I can say is that the Kapex just 'feels' right - Wait 'til you get your hands on one, and you'll know what I mean. And you can then explain why in your review, which will be far better than anything I could scribe...

 

[Brice Burrell]

Ned, as usual, you are right.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  I understand what you are saying Jonny.

 

[lagunaboo]

Okay guys,,,, I would love to do a full review on the kapex but and im being honest here, I am going away for Easter... lucky me, and as anyone in the UK will know its gonna be some bad weather...

But there is one thing that really annoys me about the Kapex, well almost all chop saws, but you would have thought Festool would have sorted it.

The work clamp.... It is the best ive used, no scewing down and it holds pretty much rock solid, But... when I set up a non standard angle I always forget to move the clamp to the other side before I swing the saw to the angle and lock it off. I then realise that I need to move the clamp to the other side but I then cant remove it without swinging the saw out of the way and resetting the angle.

But to be honest, thats about it.

I justified the price by carpentry being my trade and as I work in customers houses I like the ability of setting up really close to the work. It saves time and also I dont generally like my tools (festool or not) being in the front drive, on display, just asking to be lifted.

Mark

 

[jonny round boy]

Mark,

Welcome to the FOG! Nice to have another native aboard!!!

 

[lagunaboo]

Thanks Johnny, Now that wouldnt be the same johnny with a head like wallace would it..

Mark

 

[jonny round boy]

It would, yes.

 

[Eli]

Sorry, I've been away, and worked thru last weekend. What do you want to know specifically. I'm not sure I'll write a full review, but I'll answer any questions you have.

I've said a lot of it already in other threads though.

 

[ireland]

I have had the kapex for two months now and I use it every day. So let me share with you my 2 cents.

The only thing I did'nt like about it was that I had to make it square when I first set it up it's only 3 screws to adjust and takes about 60 secs but when you splash out big money like that on saw you would think it would come square.

Aside from that little inconvenience it is by far the best saw I have ever used and I have used dewalt's, Makita's. Bosch's, Metabo etc
So here's a little list of why it is so much better than the others.

1) Dust extraction it works really well.
2) Angle adjustment is so smooth and precise, the positive stops have no play whatsoever and the scale has offset lines at half a degree for fine adjustment.
3) Bevel adjustment is also smooth and precise with a fine adjuster on the right front rail and a simple up and down lever for locking it in position.
4) Dual laser lines are spot on and a really good feature much more accurate than others I have used witch means you will use them and learn to love them.
5) Special cutting position is an absolutely brilliant idea and together with the crown stops it makes cutting cornice much easier and more accurate.
6) Motor is so smooth and runs true. ( C12 owners will understand if I say it runs as true as the centrotec chuck )
7) Bevel on-board dissects internal and external angles and is really well made.
8) Electric brake, Blade stops almost instantly
9) High fences slide sideways to accommodate bevel cuts with just a simple up and down lever. ( no screws to undo )
10) Saw base is the same height as a systainer 1 so you can use them as hold ups for long pieces. ( altough I have mine on the dewalt stand so the brackets add height )

In use the saw preforms really well and is really well made. I was very reluctant to use the workpiece clamp and laser lines at first but when I did I quickly realised that their not just gimmicks but they actually work. So I would definitely reccomend you buy this saw if your on the market for a new one you won't be disappointed.