Kapex up in smoke = Expensive

[oneeyesquare]

I just sold my Bosch DB Glide. A couple of observations. Very solid saw. "Slide action" was amazing. Too much play in the head at full extension for me. I cut crown on the flat and found it to be lacking on a compound beveled cut. Otherwise, it performed well. You need a dust collector hooked up. with the port where it is, you will be taking a dust bath without it.  I come from DeWalt's and really struggle with a screw type miter bevel. Much rather "push to lock". I have a stack of 12" blades now with no saw to attach them too. I might pick up another DWS780. Not in any hurry.
Regarding Kapex reliability, I have a $200 double bevel 10" Ridgid miter saw sitting in the trailer It's sole purpose is for another Kapex motor death emergency. Hoping its not needed!

 

[raph38]

DC motors (Telsa cars,

tesla cars use a 3 phase AC motor

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Mine made it 7 years.

 

[Holmz]

DC motors (Telsa cars,

tesla cars use a 3 phase AC motor

[embarassed] OK... like a Prius.  [embarassed]

I suppose it must be better to invert the DC then and run the AC for efficiency?
I missed the solar car race a few weeks back. They keep the pencil sharp minimizing losses, so I wonder is they use AC or DC?

 

[pettyconstruction]

Mine made it 7 years.

I was waiting for your real world comments .
Did it die,or did  you send it in just to tune it up?
Thanks,Chuck

 

[Cheese]

I suppose it must be better to invert the DC then and run the AC for efficiency?
I missed the solar car race a few weeks back. They keep the pencil sharp minimizing losses, so I wonder is they use AC or DC?

FWIW...the traditional traction motor used in train locomotives was always DC, at some point (80's -90's) they switched to AC because the motors were lighter and they had better current regenerative properties than DC traction motors.

Maybe it's the same with automobiles?

 

[Rob in Vancouver]

I just sold my Bosch DB Glide. A couple of observations. Very solid saw. "Slide action" was amazing. Too much play in the head at full extension for me. I cut crown on the flat and found it to be lacking on a compound beveled cut. Otherwise, it performed well. You need a dust collector hooked up. with the port where it is, you will be taking a dust bath without it.  I come from DeWalt's and really struggle with a screw type miter bevel. Much rather "push to lock". I have a stack of 12" blades now with no saw to attach them too. I might pick up another DWS780. Not in any hurry.
Regarding Kapex reliability, I have a $200 double bevel 10" Ridgid miter saw sitting in the trailer It's sole purpose is for another Kapex motor death emergency. Hoping its not needed!

How many Kapex have died on you? 

This Kapex death stuff sounds like an epidemic.

 

[oneeyesquare]

Just once, but I've never had lost a motor 'til Festool. Both Kapex and 55req. Both fixed quickly and under warranty. So kudos for that. It should be noted the Kapex was 3 months old when it went out. It's been fine ever since (about 10.5 months past repair), it is used daily for high end residential trim, but the sudden failure leaves me a tad paranoid. We'll see. Still convinced it is the best miter saw out there for trim, but everyone who asks I tell them it has quirks and isn't really worth the amount it costs ("green premium". Everybody shakes their head. Nobody wants to borrow/touch it. Not a bad feature!

 

[Jozsef Kozma]

Is that future garantied (nobody wants to barrow it or touch)
If that is the case I am ordering one now with everything

My nightmare is ,everybody knows how to start the tool but only 30%
know how to cut with it

Jozsef

 

[Cheese]

Is that future garantied (nobody wants to barrow it or touch)
Jozsef

It has a secret switch on it that will confound the normal users unless they're Festool groupies. [smile] [smile]

 

[woodwright]

[member=8102]terrystouf[/member]

I get that your miffed about your KAPEX ... but I don't understand why you find it necessary to be derogatory about some hobbyists

[scratch chin] [scratch chin]

Did a hobbyist with a KAPEX hurt you at some point in the past? [big grin]

...

I doubt that we'll ever get to the bottom of why certain KAPEX saws fail. I'd be curious to know the conditions the failed machines were used in (on generators, using long extension leads, etc) .. not to defend the failures .. just to understand what the exceptional conditions are.

BTW, from what I've seen the US has a very strong hobby woodworker population .. I doubt that Festool would be able to offer the range and price points they do in the US if it weren't for the enthusiastic hobbyists - you should thank them.

[thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

I must have missed the derogatory comments,  but as for getting to the bottom of the Kapex epidemic,  isn't that Festool's responsibility?

how about starting a thread to keep track of all known failures so there can be some gauge as to the scope of this.

a couple, maybe,  but since mine smoked out yesterday, I have found scores & scores of identical cases.
I can't seem to find anything of the sort with anything else.  In fact, from what I've found,  there are more Kapex "smoke-out" reports online, than Harbor Freight/Chicago Electric!

quick question:
electrical requirements for dust extractor PLUS Kapex?
now can we quantify a factor for the repetitive nature of miter saw operation?
& I'll bet Im not far off from determinimg the likely reason all these $1400+ saws are giving the ghost

 

[mopowers]

My Kapex went up in smoke after about two years. The warranty repair service was excellent. My warranty is now over, it has broke down on me twice since. The large steel pin that holds the head on fell out and on a separate occasion the tiny plastic hinge that holds the bevel lock broke. I recently bought the 20v Dewalt saw as a backup so I am not left high and dry if it breaks again. The Dewalt is pretty impressive considering its size and cordless.

I should add that my Kapex is not babied. It is used regularly on job sites by a crew of 4. It has spent its time in the rain, snow, mud and dirt. Trim only, never framing, it would not last long as a framing saw.

Still love the saw but it is not likely I would buy another. The other saws used by my crew are Hitachi, Ridgid and Makita. Any one of these saws could fall off the back of a truck and still work. The Hitachi is over a decade old and the Ridgid almost as old.

 

[DB10]

Is that future garantied (nobody wants to barrow it or touch)
Jozsef

It has a secret switch on it that will confound the normal users unless they're Festool groupies. [smile] [smile]

It took my 12 year old son about three seconds to work this one out, mind you he does hang around the workshop like a groupie when it suites.

 

[peter halle]

Sorry to read about your issues.

It does seem strange that you have had so many issues with tools that actually have electronics in place to help prevent this.

Hope that you get it worked out.

peter

 

[Cheese]

It took my 12 year old son about three seconds to work this one out, mind you he does hang around the workshop like a groupie when it suites.

Hey...like father like son...so groupies are not necessarily a bad thing?

 

[Handyman Mike]

Still love the saw but it is not likely I would buy another. The other saws used by my crew are Hitachi, Ridgid and Makita. Any one of these saws could fall off the back of a truck and still work. The Hitachi is over a decade old and the Ridgid almost as old.

My first generation Ridgid miter saw was a disaster. I had to fiddle with it constantly to keep it square, until the adjustment stop finally split and fell off. My homemade replacement is okay for lumber but the thing is still hopeless of trim work. I ended up replacing it with a Makita. Are the newer ones more reliable?

 

[KBJ]

Having just bit the bullet and bought my Kapex this thread is really making me nervous. Hope I didn't just make a mistake.

 

[dooer]

Well I'm not sure if my motor burnt up or is on it's way.  No smoke but the blade barely turns.  I hoped like heck it was just the brushes, but I just replaced them and though the blade actually spins slightly better, it's obvious it won't cut wood.

What is the going rate for a dead Kapex on Craigs List?