KAPEX Transfer Mitre Gauge Accuracy

[aknittel]

I'm considering purchasing a KAPEX 120 and was in a store trying the transfer gauge. Is it just me? I can't understand how you can transfer and angle accurately (within 1/2 degree). I know you have to slide the gauge left and right against the fence to get the lasers to track the line and that is my issue. It seems to me trying  to set the mitre with one hand and move the gauge (and keep it against the fence) all at one time is just too hard. Adding to this is the issue that the mitre adjustment is stiff and you can easily overshoot a degree either way. Also, you have to hold the mitre adjustment so that it doest accidentally fall into the detent for a 45 degree cut.

Is their a more productive way of working with the mitre transfer device and the saw so that this accuracy can be achieved on the first setting? I have a Bosch digital angler finder and it would seem just setting the saw to the 1/2 degree (or 1/4 degree) that reads once would be more productive?

What am I missing?

 

[mastercabman]

I'm considering purchasing a KAPEX 120 and was in a store trying the transfer gauge. Is it just me? I can't understand how you can transfer and angle accurately (within 1/2 degree). I know you have to slide the gauge left and right against the fence to get the lasers to track the line and that is my issue. It seems to me trying  to set the mitre with one hand and move the gauge (and keep it against the fence) all at one time is just too hard. Adding to this is the issue that the mitre adjustment is stiff and you can easily overshoot a degree either way. Also, you have to hold the mitre adjustment so that it doest accidentally fall into the detent for a 45 degree cut.

Is their a more productive way of working with the mitre transfer device and the saw so that this accuracy can be achieved on the first setting? I have a Bosch digital angler finder and it would seem just setting the saw to the 1/2 degree (or 1/4 degree) that reads once would be more productive?

What am I missing?

I also agree.I wish that it had a scale on it so that you just dial in the number.The accuracy is really all about you and how good your eyes are [laughing]
I don't use it much.Only when i see a turn that is way off.

 

[MrMac]

wow I posted almost the exact same message about a year ago  what I have found is that it becomes easy to use the angle finder on the saw.  You just put it on and figure it out- somehow it works pretty good. I can even see the lasers! and I'm red/green deficient.

I was actually faster using my 12" Milwaukee digital readout saw. It swung fast, and the readout was really nice- 1/10 degree. I guess the only issue for some folks is if they don't know how to do the complimentary angle calculation. The beauty of the Kapex is that there's no math involved, you just set your finder, and then match that on the saw.

Try it out! you will find that its a non-issue.

 

[hockey_magnet]

I find it easier to use my digital mitre guage and split the angle than to use the Kapex angle finder for some of the reasons mentiond by the OP. The Kapex is a little "stiff" which I actually like but I think this is what causes my problems with the angle finder. If I just read the angle, do the math and set the saw, it seems faster

 

[dltflt]

I have found that it works good.  It does take some fiddling to get the laser to line up but worth the time.

 

[b_m_hart]

I still am not a fan of how hard it is to set to non detent angles, getting it to move just a degree or a half, even, is like pulling teeth.  This makes using the angle finder thing effectively useless at least for me.

 

[MrMac]

I still am not a fan of how hard it is to set to non detent angles, getting it to move just a degree or a half, even, is like pulling teeth.  This makes using the angle finder thing effectively useless at least for me.

I had the same issue with my Kapex. I talked to a Festool Rep about this. There is a way to defeat the detent demon =- you hold the levers while you move the table, then push down on the bottom one. It doe's work, but I do find it awkward, especially since other saw manufacturers have an "over-ride" or some such device that you don't have to try to trick the detents.

 

[hockey_magnet]

I still am not a fan of how hard it is to set to non detent angles, getting it to move just a degree or a half, even, is like pulling teeth.  This makes using the angle finder thing effectively useless at least for me.

I had the same issue with my Kapex. I talked to a Festool Rep about this. There is a way to defeat the detent demon =- you hold the levers while you move the table, then push down on the bottom one. It doe's work, but I do find it awkward, especially since other saw manufacturers have an "over-ride" or some such device that you don't have to try to trick the detents.

This does work for the detent issue but the combination of this technique and the relative stiffness of the Kapex still makes this usually a 2 hand operation for small adjustments near detente which does make the angle finder more difficult to use than would be the case if the Kapex table was smoother to adjust

 

[b_m_hart]

I still am not a fan of how hard it is to set to non detent angles, getting it to move just a degree or a half, even, is like pulling teeth.  This makes using the angle finder thing effectively useless at least for me.

I had the same issue with my Kapex. I talked to a Festool Rep about this. There is a way to defeat the detent demon =- you hold the levers while you move the table, then push down on the bottom one. It doe's work, but I do find it awkward, especially since other saw manufacturers have an "over-ride" or some such device that you don't have to try to trick the detents.

This does work for the detent issue but the combination of this technique and the relative stiffness of the Kapex still makes this usually a 2 hand operation for small adjustments near detente which does make the angle finder more difficult to use than would be the case if the Kapex table was smoother to adjust

This is what I'm talking about.  I simply cannot adjust to 44 degrees (or 0.5) without much anguish and back and forth and magically landing on the right angle.  Considering how easy it is to get the compound part of the equation set up, why isn't there some method of dialing in a more precise mitre?

 

[hockey_magnet]

I still am not a fan of how hard it is to set to non detent angles, getting it to move just a degree or a half, even, is like pulling teeth.  This makes using the angle finder thing effectively useless at least for me.

I had the same issue with my Kapex. I talked to a Festool Rep about this. There is a way to defeat the detent demon =- you hold the levers while you move the table, then push down on the bottom one. It doe's work, but I do find it awkward, especially since other saw manufacturers have an "over-ride" or some such device that you don't have to try to trick the detents.

This does work for the detent issue but the combination of this technique and the relative stiffness of the Kapex still makes this usually a 2 hand operation for small adjustments near detente which does make the angle finder more difficult to use than would be the case if the Kapex table was smoother to adjust

This is what I'm talking about.  I simply cannot adjust to 44 degrees (or 0.5) without much anguish and back and forth and magically landing on the right angle.  Considering how easy it is to get the compound part of the equation set up, why isn't there some method of dialing in a more precise mitre?

Yes, I love the Kapex but to me this is its primary weakness when you're on a big job and trying to work quickly where you have a lot of different trim angles to cut. I suppose if they release a new model at some point in the future, they will improve this area.

 

[Randel77]

I just wish it had some sort of knob for fine-tuning like the bevel gage has. Anyone know of any aftermarket solutions?

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

It's a big rip off for a saw that costs $2k CAD plus tax not to have a micro adjustment knob for the miter.
To not have a micro adjust knob also diminishes the value of the angle finder,  which by the way I love. 
I owned my Kapex for 9 months and had big time buyers remorse,  this and the armature problems that plague the Kapex were what tipped me over the edge to dump the thing.

 

[JesseC]

If Incra can make a miter gauge with positive detents every ½ of a degree why can’t a compound miter saw, which has a much larger surface area for a miter gauge support positive detents with that level of accuracy? On a $500 miter saw, I can see not having that level of accuracy, but on a $1,450 miter saw I do think that level of accuracy should be expected. I do not know of any other miter saws that do provide that level of accuracy, I also do not know of any other miter saws that are in the same price range.
[URL]http://incra.com/miter_gauges-miter3000.html[/url]

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

If Incra can make a miter gauge with positive detents every ½ of a degree why can’t a compound miter saw, which has a much larger surface area for a miter gauge support positive detents with that level of accuracy? On a $500 miter saw, I can see not having that level of accuracy, but on a $1,450 miter saw I do think that level of accuracy should be expected. I do not know of any other miter saws that do provide that level of accuracy, I also do not know of any other miter saws that are in the same price range.
[URL]http://incra.com/miter_gauges-miter3000.html[/url]

Completely agree with you, great analogy on the Incra Miter Gauge. 
I own the Incra 1000HD, I love it.

 

[peter halle]

Jesse, I will disagree with you on the 1/4 degree detents.  It depends on what you are using the saw for.  If you make furniture you will be working at pre determined angles.  If you are doing trim out in the field you are working to site conditions that may be really odd angles and the needs might fall in between those close together detents.  Sure a geared knob for getting to the gnats hair would be a great improvement but if I had to do something to defeat all those detents I would throw my saw in the trash instead.

Peter