Kapex owners

[Forrest Anderson]

I'm very surprised that no-one has mentioned Rob McGilp's review of the Kapex on Brice's own website! Rob is an Australian member of the FOG who owns the saw, and his 1650-word review has 19 clear photos taken in a real workshop. That's even longer than Gary Katz's review (although Gary has 24 photos).

Forrest

 

[joiner1970]

Hi guys thanks very much for all the replies, I have never seen so many quick replies to a topic WOW

One question I do have is the portability is it much easier to carry around than say the Makita LS1013 ?

I don't know if I should post the price or deal that I have been offered here in the UK as I have been told to keep it under my hat as it is a good deal  and you know how Festool don't like dealers discounting  stuff.

Maybe if someone with a UK Kapex wants to PM me we could discuss what they payed for theirs.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'm very surprised that no-one has mentioned Rob McGilp's review of the Kapex on Brice's own website! Rob is an Australian member of the FOG who owns the saw, and his 1650-word review has 19 clear photos taken in a real workshop. That's even longer than Gary Katz's review (although Gary has 24 photos).

Forrest

  Both Rob and Gary did a nice job. Gary's review was quick and he didn't have the saw all that long before his review.

  As a trim carpenter you'll there are a lot of small things about a miter saw that matter. If you aren't a trim carpenter you'd never think about them. While I drive a pick up and I'll eat any slop you put in front of me, I am a miter saw snob! So I guess I expect a lot out of a review, maybe too much.

 

[dirtydeeds]

if you are picky about chopsaws and do mainly second fix (english for trim)

there is only one choice

if you cant afford it look at a makita ls0714

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Both Rob and Gary did a nice job. Gary's review was quick and he didn't have the saw all that long before his review.

As a trim carpenter you'll there are a lot of small things about a miter saw that matter. If you aren't a trim carpenter you'd never think about them. While I drive a pick up and I'll eat any slop you put in front of me, I am a miter saw snob! So I guess I expect a lot out of a review, maybe too much.

Once the Kapex has been released in the USA, I am sure we'll see a lot more reviews. Hopefully someone with a pre-release version in the US is working on an enhanced manual at this very moment. I really do hope so, since I am confident that the excellent TS55 and Domino manuals by Rick and Jerry have been instrumental in considerably increasing sales of these machines, both at home and abroad. I know that they were a major factor in my own purchase.

Forrest

 

[Brice Burrell]

  DD, we in the States tend to prefer a 12" blade for miter saws. There is a move towards larger trim here, especially crown. That may make the Kapex a harder sell to some guys here.  I have the Makita 1214, best on the US market today (my opinion). I've think the older versions, the 1212 and 1213 are better saws. I work with another contractor who has a 1212, I've used his saw a lot over the last few years on the jobs we have worked together. His saw has held its accuracy very well with everyday professional use. So far my saw has too.  I don't like the scale on my 1214, its on the side, not in the middle. When you put stock on the saw you can cover the scale. There is a little deflection of the rails on compound miters that need to be accounted for. No saw will ever be perfect, but my 1214 is pretty nice.

 

[dirtydeeds]

brice

in england the tradition is for cornice moulding to be made of plaster so carpenters rarely install it

timber crown moulding is avaliable but avaliable stock sizes means i can cut it laid on its back with a 7~1/4inch saw with a 300mm crosscut

the saw can deal with 12inch 1 piece skirtings (baseboard) finished 1~1/2 inch thick (the biggest one piece ive installed)

so im the opposite to you, the kappex is a bit big and heavy for my needs

 

[nickao]

The table seems so little on the Kapex compared to the Makita ls0714. I have the Ridgid slider which I actually detest, but I love the table being so big. I guess I mess around at the saw more than most and like its size . I never remove the Miter saw from my shop. I realize guys that have to lug the tools around probably want the weight reduced, but that table look extremely small. Maybe the smallest I have seen on this size capacity saw.

Has anyone noticed anything about the actual table size bothering them in this respect? Is it just the pictures?

nickao

 

[jo041326]

Hi all,
I don't really know what's going on. Your price is much lower than in the rest of the world, you have 30 days money back guarantee and you have hard times to justify the cost of Kapex like if you are buing a house.
Brice, this is my first mitter saw so I can hardly give you some qualified answers or deep review. I think it's a saw and that's it. It's not like many accessories where you can find many ways how to use it.

But just a few personal views:

1. Dust collection
I am impressed with the dust collection of my TS55. Not the case with my Kapex. It blows clouds of dust and chips behind the saw. I must say I was disappointed a little at the begining. But once I unplugged the vac hose. Just once. After I cleaned my socks, pockets and protective glasses, I realized what a good job they did at Festool and can't imagine how could just a small bag on Makita or Bosch be sufficient. The rubber  mudguard is annoing a little (see later).

2. Dual laser
When I switched on the laser I liked it. The dotted line looks interesting. But when you have just a small pencil mark, the dotted laser line is worthless. You must lower the saw and than the dotted line changes to continuous. But it shines not in the whole range. So you must move the saw back and forth to see the whole path of the lasers. Sometimes the laser is obscured and you can see just one line or only a part of the line so you must move with the saw. During this movement the rubber mudguard catches the piece you want to cut and moves with it  . That's also because the lower the saw is the thinner the laser line. In the upright position, the laser is good but not so good like when the saw is closely to your workpiece.
The lasers were spot on from the box. But if you want really precision cuts, you will need some ruler with rigid stops. I'm cutting mostly just according the lasers, but you are still on the thin ice if you want to cut something really preciselly.

3. Electronic brake
I am totaly impressed with the brake of my OF1400. Kapex's brake is MUCH slower. I don't know how quickly stops the blade on Makita or Bosch, but it looks slow to me on my Kapex.

4. The weight
It's not light but perfectly ballanced. I have no restricted space for my Kapex, so I still moves it. The handle is perfect. Just don't forget to lock the saw at 60 degrees position.

5. Setting up
All scales are big, perfectly visible and all adjustments are easy and quick to do. I would prefer horizontal holder instead of vertical, but it's probably a personal issue.

OK. The cuts are extremely smooth even with the universal blade, the motor runs smooth and it's quite silent. Everything was spot on directly from the box. I think you can't go wrong with Makita or Bosch (though I can't say personally - didn't even try them). I am happy with the Kapex. It's easy to adjust, precise and smooth and that's all I want from the miter saw.

Josef

 

[semenza]

Hi all,
I don't really know what's going on. Your price is much lower than in the rest of the world, you have 30 days money back guarantee and you have hard times to justify the cost of Kapex like if you are buing a house.
Brice, this is my first mitter saw so I can hardly give you some qualified answers or deep review. I think it's a saw and that's it. It's not like many accessories where you can find many ways how to use it.

But just a few personal views:

1. Dust collection
I am impressed with the dust collection of my TS55. Not the case with my Kapex. It blows clouds of dust and chips behind the saw. I must say I was disappointed a little at the begining. But once I unplugged the vac hose. Just once. After I cleaned my socks, pockets and protective glasses, I realized what a good job they did at Festool and can't imagine how could just a small bag on Makita or Bosch be sufficient. The rubber  mudguard is annoing a little (see later).

2. Dual laser
When I switched on the laser I liked it. The dotted line looks interesting. But when you have just a small pencil mark, the dotted laser line is worthless. You must lower the saw and than the dotted line changes to continuous. But it shines not in the whole range. So you must move the saw back and forth to see the whole path of the lasers. Sometimes the laser is obscured and you can see just one line or only a part of the line so you must move with the saw. During this movement the rubber mudguard catches the piece you want to cut and moves with it  . That's also because the lower the saw is the thinner the laser line. In the upright position, the laser is good but not so good like when the saw is closely to your workpiece.
The lasers were spot on from the box. But if you want really precision cuts, you will need some ruler with rigid stops. I'm cutting mostly just according the lasers, but you are still on the thin ice if you want to cut something really preciselly.

3. Electronic brake
I am totaly impressed with the brake of my OF1400. Kapex's brake is MUCH slower. I don't know how quickly stops the blade on Makita or Bosch, but it looks slow to me on my Kapex.

4. The weight
It's not light but perfectly ballanced. I have no restricted space for my Kapex, so I still moves it. The handle is perfect. Just don't forget to lock the saw at 60 degrees position.

5. Setting up
All scales are big, perfectly visible and all adjustments are easy and quick to do. I would prefer horizontal holder instead of vertical, but it's probably a personal issue.

OK. The cuts are extremely smooth even with the universal blade, the motor runs smooth and it's quite silent. Everything was spot on directly from the box. I think you can't go wrong with Makita or Bosch (though I can't say personally - didn't even try them). I am happy with the Kapex. It's easy to adjust, precise and smooth and that's all I want from the miter saw.

Josef

Hi,

    Thanks for the review. I think there are some points here that have not been brought up yet.

Seth

 

[Brice Burrell]

Josef, thanks for taking the time to reply. Like Seth said you've made some points not brought up before.

 

[joiner1970]

Hi all,
I don't really know what's going on. Your price is much lower than in the rest of the world, you have 30 days money back guarantee and you have hard times to justify the cost of Kapex like if you are buing a house.

It was me who started the thread and here in the UK it is not the lowest price in the world quiet the opposite and we dont get the 30 day money back guarantee either.

 

[joiner1970]

Went to a big Festool dealer to look at the Kapex today and yes it is good ;D

I folded it all up and tried carrying it around and it seems much lighter and more manageable than the big Makita.

Couple of dodgy bits the bevel when in its stowaway blocks the saw from going to 50 degrees on the left and I heard that the rear sliding fences can jam up for no apparent reason but other than that it cannot be faulted.

 

[nickao]

Went to a big Festool dealer to look at the Kapex today and yes it is good ;D

I heard that the rear sliding fences can jam up for no apparent reason but other than that it cannot be faulted.

That better not happen on a 1300.00 saw. With the lead time for the US availability you would think that sort of thing would have been worked out by now, but definitely before the July 1, 2008 date.

Can someone comment on the table size, preferably someone who has used the saw for a few projects. It looks so darn small.

nickao

 

[jonny round boy]

Went to a big Festool dealer to look at the Kapex today and yes it is good ;D

I heard that the rear sliding fences can jam up for no apparent reason but other than that it cannot be faulted.

That better not happen on a 1300.00 saw. With the lead time for the US availability you would think that sort of thing would have been worked out by now, but definitely before the July 1, 2008 date.

nickao

I think I've read something about that somewhere - basically, if you really, really overtighten the fence, then the two aluminium faces can, over time, sort of 'melt' together a little bit. From what I've read it's not terribly likely to happen under normal circumstances, and it's no more likely on a Kapex than on any other machine with two pieces of aluminium in contact with each other...

 

[joraft]

2. Dual laser
When I switched on the laser I liked it. The dotted line looks interesting. But when you have just a small pencil mark, the dotted laser line is worthless. You must lower the saw and than the dotted line changes to continuous. But it shines not in the whole range. So you must move the saw back and forth to see the whole path of the lasers. Sometimes the laser is obscured and you can see just one line or only a part of the line so you must move with the saw. During this movement the rubber mudguard catches the piece you want to cut and moves with it  . That's also because the lower the saw is the thinner the laser line. In the upright position, the laser is good but not so good like when the saw is closely to your workpiece.
The lasers were spot on from the box. But if you want really precision cuts, you will need some ruler with rigid stops. I'm cutting mostly just according the lasers, but you are still on the thin ice if you want to cut something really preciselly.

In an episode of "Ask This Old House" I saw today, Tommy was using a Kapex (the brand of the saw was never actually shown or mentioned) for the installation of crown moulding. There were several tight close-up shots of him lining up the cut marks with the two laser lines and it appeared that the blade came down dead center between the lines and exactly through the mark every time. I know that problems and mistakes are generally edited out of these shows, but in what was shown, the Kapex appeared to make it fast and easy to get very precision cuts. The performance and accuracy of this saw came across as VERY impressive.

And, although I couldn't see what was being used for dust collection, there wasn't a trace of sawdust anywhere.

Lately it seems that everywhere I turn I see a Kapex, or positive discussion (except for price) about them. I'm beginning to think it's a conspiracy. Lucky for me that I have so much will power, and that I don't really need a new miter saw right now.

John

 

[Dixon Peer]

Lately it seems that everywhere I turn I see a Kapex, or positive discussion (except for price) about them. I'm beginning to think it's a conspiracy. Lucky for me that I have so much will power, and that I don't really need a new miter saw right now.

John

[/quote]

Festool is very good at creating a kind of suspenseful excitement here in the US about their very good, very expensive tools.  It seems as though there are a lot of people out there that are chomping at the bit to unload their wallets of $1300.

 

[honeydoman]

I just got back from the JLC convention.;  journal of light construction convention in providence.  and every demo booth and training seminar booth had the Kpex being used with the saw helper stand.

I got to use the saw again, and I admit it cuts very well, and will sell very well here in the usa.  it will also set the standards for all other saws to raise the bar to.

and I am sure all the other saw makers will be scratching their heads as to why people are going to spend double and tripple the investment on this saw.  becuase it is accurate and a professional saw put together very well. 

oh, I also got to meet steve thomas from this old house, old reruns.  he is starting a new show on green building on the new discovery channel should be out in may.

 

[Dan Clark]

Kreg,

Was the Kapex a good match to the SawHelper stand and wings?  Were there any Kapex's there with the Festool stands and extensions?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

The Sawhelper will have new brackets that utilize the V-shaped groove at either end of the Kapex's table, so if you buy a Kapex and want to connect it to a Sawhelper you can just get the new style brackets. My understanding is that all of the Festool reps displaying the Kapex will have it hooked up to a Sawhelper, I think they realize that the existing Festool wings can't compete.