Birdhunter said:
I have convinced myself that I need a Kapex. The next decision is to get the Kapex specific MFT table or the roller stand. I like the idea of being able to easily move the Kapex around my shop or even outside, but I'm worried the roller stand won't be solid. I don't need the wings that come with the roller stand.
Also, which dust collector do I need? i know the larger diameter hose is a good idea, but how big does the vac need to be. It will be dedicated to the Kapex.
Suggestions?
Birdhunter and others, there have been a whole lot of threads asking which Festool support is best with Kapex. As nearly every answer says, it all depends on what you do with Kapex and how often you move Kapex.
As I have shared before, when I pre-ordered my first Kapex months before they could be sold in the USA, I also ordered the MFT/3 Kapex designed so when the Kapex is on top, the in and out feeds of the Kapex are the same height off the floor as the tops of the other MFT/3. I am sure that would be perfect for some folks.
However, back then I rented space in various shops on a project by project basis. I never liked the MFT/3 Kapex. Once I bought the building in late 2009 which is now my custom cabinet shop, I designed two very long miter saw benches to run along the east and west walls. A Kepex would be permanently bolted to each of those benches, which would have conventional miter saw shrouds behind the Kapex in addition to the dust extraction through the port.
At the same time I designed and built two roving Kapex bases which also render the in and out feeds of the Kapex on them the same height as the MFT/3, which I have adopted as my standard work table height. My roving stands are wider than the MFT/3 Kapex.
As I recall the UG stand did not become available in the USA until I had either opened my shop in 2010 or while it was being outfitted. I bought another Kapex with an UG stand for use by installers in customers' premises.
All of us agree the UG stand is marvelous. I have used those more or less fixed in place during Festool classes in Henderson, NV. I suspect that if I were to start from scratch making roving stands for use within a shop with enough space and a fairly level and smooth floor I could save some money buying the UG instead of having my designed fabricated in a metal working shop.
As for the Festool dust extractor, remember the Kapex produces virtually no chips and in most cases it does not produce a whole lot of sawdust. One of our permanently mounted Kapex is used all day by our frame/door/drawer front department. When it was dedicated to a CT22, we seldom needed to change bags more than once a month or three weeks.
To be sure, in a less than production shop chances are a Mini or Midi would be all you need for your Kapex. You will find a short 36mm hose is more effective than a full-length 3.5m hose. All the current Festool dust extractors move the same volume of air and have HEPA filters. An advantage of the Mini and Midi is that the 36mm hose connects from the top, through the hose garage. That actually is more effective with the Kapex than larger CT with the connection in front. Below a Kapex even with a Midi there is no room for a Systainer, and with a 36mm hose they will not fit on the Midi, so it all works out. Coming down from the top eliminates a potential hose kink and improves dust flow.
