KAPEX Poll regarding motor

[Michael Kellough]

Morts10n, there has been some talk about how one uses the saw could have something to do with the motor's life expectancy. They say letting the motor get up to full speed before cutting is better than cranking and chopping.

Don't know if there is any truth to that but how would you characterize the way you used (quickly or slowly) the saw?

 

[KescoNY]

Own (3) Kapex  1 in the garage with rare use and 2 on job sites constantly being used  Never had an issue with motors or anything else on them besides the laser sight needing occasional cleaning

 

[Doug B]

Coming up for 7 years, regular use, very pleased with the saw

 

[morts10n]

Michael,
As I mentioned, saw is never abused. Saw gets up to speed first. Motor is never overworked by "chopping" into work piece. I wonder if using the saw with a dust collector strains the electronics in some way

 

[Michael Kellough]

Michael,
As I mentioned, saw is never abused. Saw gets up to speed first. Motor is never overworked by "chopping" into work piece. I wonder if using the saw with a dust collector strains the electronics in some way

I imagine there are some people who think chopping is not abuse. Not me.

 

[MrGinCT]

I bought mine used and I've had it 5 years now without any mechanical issues.

 

[Holmz]

... I heard the negatives, heard the positives and now needed to quantify the numbers, that is where I find comfort in large purchases, which this is for me. It is not my intention to waste time, words or take up server space.
...

There are 2 fundamental flaws with your approach:
1) This is a Festool Forum, and so it is likely that the poll will be biased.
2) There is Confirmation Bias .

For the first one, then ideally you need some poll, or statistics, from a more neutral distribution of owners.

I am not sure how to address the second one.
(I really like the design as it is good on many levels, but I would not use one enough to 'need' it.)

 

[Gregor]

The only way to decide if there really is a problem or not would be to have direct access to data (both from Festool and from other manufacturers, to be able to compare): Machines sold, machines repaired (including state they were in), defective machines discarded (same data as for repairs) - all indexed with date and serial numbers.

We can't do that without being the NSA (and hopefully they can't too), so the only sane approach is to the following:

( how much is a certain device when you buy it minus how much will you'll get on average for it after warranty ends ) divided by length of warranty.

Lower numbers are better, offset the whole by what you get out of the machine (feature/ease of use/accuracy wise) and you'll know what machine is right for you.

 

[alice]

My motor was replaced at 18 months 120 v

 

[WPeters]

First motor burnt up within two years of purchase.  The second burnt up 9 months after the first.  The saw is taken care of and receives moderate use in our cabinet shop.  It has never been abused.

 

[rizzoa13]

Mine gave up the ghost after 3 1/2 years. ~ $550 to repair.

 

[Davesbuildtips]

A question for all who are responding to this thread. Are you using the kapex with a festool vac or another brand or no vac at all? I ask because I believe that the Festool vacs maintain a constant power supply to the kapex when it is under load and Third party vacs do not.

 

[Svar]

A question for all who are responding to this thread. Are you using the kapex with a festool vac or another brand or no vac at all? I ask because I believe that the Festool vacs maintain a constant power supply to the kapex when it is under load and Third party vacs do not.

If you use a third party vac you likely plug your saw it into the wall and not the vac.

 

[Just F Me]

Personally, I don't think anyone but you can make the decision to purchase this saw.  Armed with a 30 day return policy and a solid 3-year warranty, I'm not sure why you don't simply purchase the saw and start enjoying it's capability.  As already suggested, when you near the end of your 3-year warranty, if your still concerned, sell your saw and purchase another one.  If this is for business, you can write off the costs.

Not a bad idea.  With how popular used Festool products get snatched up, I'm sure you could buy a new one today for $1500, and in 3 years, sell it for $1000, and then buy another one.  $500 for 3 years of usage and "peace of mind" is a small price to pay.  $166.67 cost per year of usage, $13.89 per month.  Not a bad deal.

 

[nickao]

A question for all who are responding to this thread. Are you using the kapex with a festool vac or another brand or no vac at all? I ask because I believe that the Festool vacs maintain a constant power supply to the kapex when it is under load and Third party vacs do not.

If you use a third party vac you likely plug your saw it into the wall and not the vac.

Not true at all, I have used the Fein collectors and plugged a Kapex into them for years. Anyone with a Kapex mostly likely has a high end collector. There are several 3rd party dust collectors that come to mind that a Kapex would get plugged into. I  don't think  many with a Kapex use a shop vac or collector that doesn't have the auto on feature.

I

 

[Svar]

A question for all who are responding to this thread. Are you using the kapex with a festool vac or another brand or no vac at all? I ask because I believe that the Festool vacs maintain a constant power supply to the kapex when it is under load and Third party vacs do not.

If you use a third party vac you likely plug your saw it into the wall and not the vac.

Not true at all, I have used the Fein collectors and plugged a Kapex into them for years.

You meant "not necessarily true", that's why I said "likely". I'm sure most third party vacs are not Fein or Mafell. Besides, would't Fein maintain a constant power supply?

 

[nickao]

A question for all who are responding to this thread. Are you using the kapex with a festool vac or another brand or no vac at all? I ask because I believe that the Festool vacs maintain a constant power supply to the kapex when it is under load and Third party vacs do not.

If you use a third party vac you likely plug your saw it into the wall and not the vac.

Not true at all, I have used the Fein collectors and plugged a Kapex into them for years.

You meant "not necessarily true", that's why I said "likely". Besides, would't Fein maintain a constant power supply?

I think a anyone sends 1500.00 on a saw likely spends the money to get a collector that turn on with the saw, no matter the brand.

All I know is the Fein works fine, I have a Turbo on one right now in my brothers shop and has been on there for at least two different Kapex going back years.

All I care about is that the colletor turns on and off and collects the dust. I prefer the Fein and my old Festool CT 33 over over My CT 48, the darn thing turns off way too soon. The Fein and CT 33 stay on a nice full 6 seconds or so, the CT 48 barely 3 seconds.

 

[bobfog]

I would expect that any vac that has a take off for power would maintain constant power supply provided that the tool doesn't exceed the rated load for the vac.

 

[nickao]

The only issue with the Fein is they are very sensitive to turn on. if I use my Milwaukee slider and the little LED is on its enough to turn the Fein vac on, the Festool CT doesn't turn on unit I pull the trigger to the saw. As operation the Fein is a high quality tool, in some way I prefer them over the CT's. I don't know the ratings on the Fein auto start, but the saws and even the RO sanders and OF2200 don't effect the operation of the Fein Turbos or tools connected to them. No noticeable drain or anything like that.

As far as the Kapex motor, mine never went out. I returned three of them over the years myself for other reasons, but the one at my brothers shop still works and the motor seems to be perfectly fine, it's 2 or 3 years old.

 

[Cheese]

As operation the Fein is a high quality tool, in some way I prefer them over the CT's.

I agree, I use a turbo for my Kapex...no problems and we're going on 3 years.