Difficult choice there Fred! (Wife or sleep that is!) ;D
I do not have a Makita saw but did consider it when the Kapex was announced. I thought it was a smashing saw and at around USD 880 (here in the UK), it was a fair bit cheaper than the Kapex (USD 1400). I was in Germany at the time and the dealer had both Makita and Festool on sale. What swayed me to pay USD 520 more? ( and in no order of importance)
Capacity: cut hight up to 120mm
Tolerance: 100% accurate cut at any angle and easily adjustable should it go out of true
Laser: (extra cost on Makita) superbly accurate, exact curf cut position.
Vertical mitre adjustment: The dogs danglies for ease and accuracy.
Trench: Once set it does not move and as Rob says it is like slicing ham. Instant adjustment, no bolts/screws to work free. Micro adjustment using a twist
Blade: Superb finish. Cuts like butter, motor does not baulk at dense woods but just keeps 'a cutting.
Quality/solidity of manufacture: Not a lot between the two on the surface but time will tell. Not convinced on plastic guard on Kapex but I have 3 years to prove myself wrong! The Kapex slide is smooth, the Makita I tried might have had a bit of ball bearing grumble and did not feel as smooth. Both are good looking saws with a quality of manufacture which eclipses the current offerings from the Far East ( though they are catching up very, very fast). I like being able to park the Kapex up to a wall so the slide operation for me is a bonus.
Warranty: Makita UK 1 year with return to dealer. Festool 3 year with courier pickup.
Portability: Not a lot in it but cable tidy is clever. Weigh about the same, Kapex (seemed) bigger.
Robustness: The Kapex blade guard is not my favourite and seems flimsy to me and I much prefer the metal cover and ball bearing lip of the Symetric. I wouldn't lend the Kapex to anyone and would not throw it in the back of a pickup. The Makita seems a very robust saw and were I a contractor I would not hesitate to use it on a building site. Not so sure about the Kapex though I must admit to being a tool tart who cleans and cherishes them before putting to bed!
System: The angle guide supplied with the Kapex is superb as is the hold down clamp which you can fit either side of the saw. The side extension system is well engineered, functional but so expensive. I do not have that yet but have seen it in action and it is very impressive.
Noise: Kapex is a noisy saw as are all brush motors but the Makita sounded noisier and less smooth. ( This is hard to quantify and is a personal thing so you do need to try before you buy)
Dust extraction: No contest, Kapex is 90% there though I do not use my CT Mini which struggled with the amount of dust produced by the Kapex. I use a Fein Turbo and it gets most, a Midi would be much better. Can be used indoors with confidence.
As I said at the start I do not have a Makita but was very impressed with it when I was comparing. I have an old and faithfull Elektra Beckum SCMS which I would never get rid of as it was built in Germany and is so much more solid than their new Far East offerings. The Makita is made in Japan ( at least the one I tried back to back with the Kapex was) and looked beatifully made.
So apart from the bits above why did I choose to spend USD 550 more on the Kapex as both cut wood in two accurately and speedily?
Well this probably sounds daft but when I used the Makita it was just that, a saw which cut wood in two. When I used the Kapex I had a grin as wide as the Grand Canyon and felt 'bugger the money' this is the man. It did everything in such a precision way that struck a cord in my heart (and wallet) which is hard to quantify. It just felt right and the laser, the angle guide, the rapid adjustment, the total lack of movement once adjusted and locked, and the beatiful cut softened the blow and USD550 seemed a small price to pay for that feeling you get when you are in the company of a great piece of machinery. Plus the fact that you can build a support table around the saw using Systainer boxes, (same height) is indicative of careful thought and a bloody clever idea to boot.
Plus, once I had totted up the cost of a laser, angle guide and applied Chapter 1 of "Pats Creative Accounting Techniques to convince the COS that in the long run Festools are cheap." I managed to reduce the cost differential by USD 120 which I used to take the COS out to Dinner. I sleep soundly at night with a clear conscience. Content that not only do I have a beautiful saw in my shed but I was able to say to the woman of my dreams, "You see my Love, had I bought the Makita we would not have been able to afford to have Dinner in this lovely Restaurant."
Who said Romance was Dead?
I rest my case M'Lud.
Thank you in advance, Fred
) Fred PS Truly thank all of you for your insight.
