Kapex Users - Do you use a dedicated DC?

[Brice Burrell]

Am I missing something????

Is the Kapex awsome or something?

Festering, I think the Kapex is going to be the best miter saw when it hits the US market this summer. I'm sure it will meet or exceed our expectations in quality and reliability. With a vac it may well  have the better dust collection than any other saw out of the box saw. For those that can swing the price they will have a great saw.

Is your opinion different?

 

[ericbuggeln]

Brice, looking forward to it.  I have to come hold your opinion highly.  What were your thoughts if any on the Rousseau Downdrafter or homemade systems with vac set up as opposed to the trough looking setup of chop shop?  Maybe throw that in as a comparison? Thanks in advance.  You're the man.

 

[ericbuggeln]

Nickao, thanks for the comparison, do you hook saw up to vac and whatever it doesn't get goes into the chop shop?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Guys lets start a new thread, we are getting too far off topic. I'll start a thread in the General chat & randon ideas section.

 

[nickao]

Nickao, thanks for the comparison, do you hook saw up to vac and whatever it doesn't get goes into the chop shop?

I removed my other comparison to the other thread so respond to Brice's new thread on the Chopshop.

nickao

 

[Steveo48]

Elji,

If you want a dedicated DC for your kapex, consider this.

I use a larger (16 gallon?) shop vac with a drywall bag and a HEPA canister filter.  I was sanding my kitchen project, a 54" x 24" x 7'9" pantry cabinet in the kitchen with my ets 125 and had no complaints from my wife about dust.  I watched the exhaust port while I was sanding and "saw" no dust.    OK, it's a bad pun!

I took a long tri-tap extension cord and put an exterior switch in it so I can control both sander and vac with the same switch.  I've done the same with router tables and DC's with great success.

A lot cheaper than a Festool vac, the filters are a lot cheaper too. If you already have a CT this might be a more cost effective solution.  Just think, with the money you save, you can buy more Festools!  ;D

 

[Dave Ronyak]

A dedicated CT22 would bring me to well over 3k for the whole Kapex setup ($2694 for the Kapex set, and it went UP after the first of this year!). I can use one vac for everything for the time being. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to have another. If I was to run out and get another right now, I'd make it another CT22. I think when I have some time to fiddle, I'll be building a blast gate setup. Needs room for at least three hoses, CMS, Kapex, and powered hand tools.

Eli,

Two Festool Wye connectors placed in series will yield you a net 3 hose attachment inlets, and each wye comes with one blanking plug to seal up any openings not in use.

Dave R.

 

[Eli]

I was hoping to build something that would be on top of the hose garage, so it wouldn't stick out too much formunda the CMS. But the wyes would work too.

 

[merklebob]

you don't need a DC but each tool must have a gate to close off the intake.  too many open end  reduse the ability of the DC to pull in the dust at each tool.  the dust collection books recommend no less than 100 cfm for each a machine.  the CT22/33 has only 135 to begin with.  they do make electric gate that are trigger just like the CT collectors.  sears also sell the  switch for turing on other equipment just like the Ct collectors.  they were 25 dollar a few yrs ago.

 

[Steve Jones]

Tried one of those Sears switches last year, lasted about five minutes - one from Woodcraft (I've since brought another) works great, but use it for switching shop vacs - not those big shop dust collecters - I tried it! but Woodcraft was excellent about exchanging my newly burned out switch.

 

[nickao]

Steve I have two craftsman switches, one is 5 years old and one is 1 year old. They both work great. You must have purchased a lemon. The one I have is on the link below. Actually, I have been using these since 1998 and never had one break. I did lose them in a house fire though. It has a 4.8 out of 5 rating, I give it a 5, maybe you are talking about a different item.

Craftsman Switch

nickao

 

[Steve Jones]

Nickao,

That looks exactly like what I had - I guess your right, maybe I just had a lemon.

Actually two items got my attention again (I checked out your link)
One is it's $20.00 (Woodcraft's is $35.00)
and the switch - I don't remember, what does that switch do - I have wished for an override so I could manually turn on the vac for cleanup (Yes, sometimes the TS55 spills a little dust on my cutting table) - the switch is marked "Mode" what is it's actual function?

 

[nickao]

That is the over ride you are wanting.

Just to make sure I will go out later to check it. I never touch the switch as I only use it with vac 100% of the time.

nickao

 

[nickao]

I think the woodcraft can handle a bigger amperage draw, I am not sure. I will also check to see where mine was made, I thought Taiwan, they may have switched to China.

nickao

 

[Brice Burrell]

.......I will also check to see where mine was made, I thought Taiwan, they may have switched to China.

nickao

I had one, made in China. Loaned it to a buddy, came back not working.