Kapex Question

[Medickep]

Hello!  New to the site. 

After years of dealing with a huge mess with my Rigid miter saw, I finally bit the bullet and bought a Kapex miter saw!  I'm sick of everything being covered in dust and bringing it into my house. 

I'm still waiting on my saw, but was wondering if it was worth the price to buy the larger 36mm Festool suction hose.  I have a 27mm hose, which came with my CT36, but the saw will be mounted to a work station and I thought it could be convenient to have a separate hose "preplumbed" so I can just wheel my CT over when using it. 

They want a lot for these hoses, so if anyone knows a cheaper alternative, that would be nice, but I imagine the fittings are expensive too!

I have a dust deputy lying around from my old system, which I thought did nothing until I looked in the bucket and saw it was half full.  I thought about using this with my Kapex as the Kapex would most likely fill the bags in my CT faster than my sanders!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Birdhunter]

I switched to the large diameter short hose and got significantly better collection. I have a Kapex Mini dedicated to the Kapex. Seems to get a lot of use before needing a new bag.

 

[ChuckM]

The larger dia. hose is a must. I cut a section of a pool hose bought from Lowes (.ca), like this on the .com site:

-https://www.lowes.com/pd/EASTMAN-1-...yethylene-Pool-and-Spa-Vacuum-Hose/1000180595

or

-https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kokido-1-5-in-9-ft-Filter-Connector-Hose/1002637314

I enlarged the inner tube a bit with a Dremel sanding drum.

Cost-wise, it was a fraction of the Festool Anti-static hose. A shorter hose is preferred.

Edit: Auto switch used (Cdn site shown), and powered 15amp each for the saw and for the vac:https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...ccessories/63013-ivac-automatic-vacuum-switch

 

[ear3]

Welcome to the FOG!
As has already been remarked, the larger diameter hose makes a huge difference on the Kapex. I run DC for my saw off a 6.5hp Ridgid shop vac, and use a 1 and 7/8 orange Home Depot hose, whichh is hooked it into the kapex with an adapter.  I find that the combination of the larger hose and more powerful vac actually makes for better dust extraction than the Festool hook up (though no auto start unless you build your own system). Though the ct+36mm still works really well when I'm working with the saw outside my shop.

 

[Thompmd]

Welcome to the FOG.

I’m also new and recently purchased a new a Kapex a couple months ago using a CT36. I used a 5’ section of 36mm and it works well.

To be fair I never tried a 27mm. Everything I read suggested a 36mm hose cautioning about keeping it as short as possible.

 

[Mrcurlik]

My first post as a hobbyist.

I have purchase a Kapex saw and one of the main reasons I chose Festool was their claim of superior dust extraction. You could use it in the job site living room - dust extraction was so good was their claim. Well my shop dust extraction with their HEPA vac was so poor I called to Festool service to complain. Their solution was my 27 mm hose was inadequate for dust extraction so I purchased the next largest hose 36mm. Well to my disappointment nothing improved.

Can anybody give me some advise as to how to improve my dust extraction?

View attachment 1

 

[ChuckM]

1) Hose too long. 3 to 4 feet or so.
2) When cutting, pull the saw head all the way out (towards your body), lower the saw down and push to cut. Don't use it like a chop saw.
3) Buy a spare rubber dust shroud/hood and add stache to it. Available from Fastcap etc.https://www.rokhardware.com/fastcap-2-saw-stache.html

(Previous thread:https://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?pretty;board=other-tools-accessories;topic=fastcap-saw-stache.0)

 

[aloysius]

It's a Mitre Saw.  The geometry & physical characteristics of the saw will always be "compromised".  It's just the innate nature of how a x-cut saw operates. 

If you think the Kapex extraction is disappointing, then don't try any other!  Simply put, for all its faults, the Kapex's dust extraction is pretty well unrivalled.  In most cutting situations, a Kapex fitted with a larger diameter & foreshortened vac hose when fitted to a good quality vac extractor will be far superior to any other alternative that I've ever seen or used.

Nevertheless, it will never be anything even approaching dust-free in operation.  The clown who suggested that it's suitable to use in a client's living room is basically lying!

 

[semenza]

It's a Mitre Saw.  The geometry & physical characteristics of the saw will always be "compromised".  It's just the innate nature of how a x-cut saw operates. 

If you think the Kapex extraction is disappointing, then don't try any other!  Simply put, for all its faults, the Kapex's dust extraction is pretty well unrivalled.  In most cutting situations, a Kapex fitted with a larger diameter & foreshortened vac hose when fitted to a good quality vac extractor will be far superior to any other alternative that I've ever seen or used.

Nevertheless, it will never be anything even approaching dust-free in operation. The clown who suggested that it's suitable to use in a client's living room is basically lying!

Hi,

      I am not sure what "clown" at Festool may have said this. But it is possible that you read here on FOG posted by this clown, me. The simple true fact is that  I  have used it in my customers lived in furnished homes (living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens) on many occasions.  It is not dust free. But the clean up around, under and behind the saw has been very minimal in my own use in those situations.  There will be dust.  In my use it has stayed right near the saw. I have at times tossed drop cloth over a piece of furniture behind the saw.

    Guesstimates of percentage collection are just that, guesstimates. 90%, 75% whatever. It may not work out as well for everyone in every situation. It depends on the cuts, the quantity of cuts, etc.

    I have never had a complaint about the dust or my site cleanliness. And I have nearly 100% repeat business (including those where I used the Kapex in the house).

      [attachimg=1]                               

  Seth

 

[Mario Turcot]

[member=72986]Mrcurlik[/member] Make sure your CT 36 is set to max suction.

 

[Birdhunter]

On some cuts, like shaving the end of a board, dust collection is poor just as it is on my monster SawStop table saw.

Most of my Kapex cuts are 90 or 45 degree. I find letting the Festool Mini Vac get a 10 second head start before the blade hits the wood improves collection. I also find “pacing” the cut so that the vac can keep up with the dust coming off the blade helps with collection and doing so babies the motor and the blade.

The short fat non-static hose greatly improved collection.

After heavy use, I do have to clean up behind the Kapex. There is a light dusting back there.

All said, it’s better than having to drag my prior saw outside before using it.

 

[Thompmd]

I agree w/others. Of the tools I use the Kapex is by far the lease effective tool in regards to DC.

I’m still amazed how well it works when Sanding, Domino etc.

 

[Medickep]

Thank you for all of the replies!! I didn’t realize there were responses! Apparently “notify” on a post doesn’t send you an email!!

 

[Medickep]

As the original poster, I appreciate all of the replies.  I think I will try some of the cheaper options first, but know the fittings can cost a lot!

Are people who are using the dust deputy with a CT liking the results? Mine is on a 5 gallon bucket already.  I plan on leaving it under my bench and maybe sizing up on the container if it works well!  I do have a Jet DC nearby with 4” hose.  I suppose I could use that too!

 

[HiCal]

Hello. Has anyone tried using the 50 mm hose with the Kapex? Too big?

 

[ChuckM]

Hello. Has anyone tried using the 50 mm hose with the Kapex? Too big?

As long as the connection on the port is air tight, the hose is not too long or rigid/heavy, and the suction is good, I don't see it an issue at all.

 

[Cheese]

Hello. Has anyone tried using the 50 mm hose with the Kapex? Too big?

There are some on this forum that have used a 50 mm hose with good results.

 

[semenza]

A couple notes on my living room use above. These are 10 - 20 cut situations. I am not trying to frame a house from a living room.

You can also see the dust on the Kapex MFT around the back of the saw. There would also be some on the floor behind it. But that's about it.

Seth

 

[ChuckM]

Are people who are using the dust deputy with a CT liking the results? Mine is on a 5 gallon bucket already.  I plan on leaving it under my bench and maybe sizing up on the container if it works well!  I do have a Jet DC nearby with 4” hose.  I suppose I could use that too!

The benefits of a DD (cutting the need to change filters/frequency of emptying the tank) outweighs the reduction of the suction.

 

[HiCal]

Thanks Chuck. That was my thought as well just wondering if anyone has actually tried it to see if it is too big or stiff. I just picked up the 2" Fastcap Stache and will be installing that soon but am in need of a larger hose for the new CT MIDI that is dedicated to the Kapex. Just trying to deside which size to get.

Thanks!