Kapex Warning

[johnsonri]

When using the Kapex, I very frequently find myself putting my hand in the area that Kapex warns is a 'no hands' zone (see red arrows in the two pics below).

    [attachthumb=1]                  [attachthumb=2]

Question for the Kapex users, do you find yourself putting your hands in the Kapex 'no hands' zone and have you had any close calls there?

Rey

 

[chrisrosenb]

I have put my hands in those areas several times today & I am sure I have several thousand times over the 20+ years I have been using a power miter saw.
Cutting molding is part what I do for a living. I have not cut my hands yet & hope I never do, but when you do this for a living you have to cut a lot of small parts.
Cutting small parts means getting my hands close to the blade.

Chris

 

[johnsonri]

Cutting small parts means getting my hands close to the blade.

Chris
I agree. I've cut many small parts. I have a few jigs if my fingers need to get too close though.

 

[kev carpenter]

sorry rey
never read the bottom part [embarassed]

i thought u were warning us my mistake

to answere the bottom part never had any close calls if its to close i just make sure i dont de press the lever until im back up from the wood , only had bother cuting oak beading before would not put my hands buy safty bit with that as the chop saw has spat it out at a very fast rate and nearly sh@t myself [eek]

again sorry rey my mistak [oops]

 

[Dan Clark]

Rey,

Like several posters have written, sometimes you have no choice.  The Kapex hold-down clamp doesn't have quite the range of those on other miter saws.  OTOH, it's one of the few that is truly usable.  The ones on the Bosch 4410 and Makita LS1016 were such a pain in the posterior to use that I stopped after a couple of days.  Use the hold-down clamp if at all possible.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[johnsonri]

kev,

no problem...

only had bother cuting oak beading before would not put my hands buy safty bit with that as the chop saw has spat it out at a very fast rate and nearly sh@t myself [eek]

The only close call that I had with the Kapex, was with the stock being cut. I cut acrylics on occasion and usually cut the acrylic sandwiched between 1/4" mdf. But being in a hurry one time, I went to make a cut without the back-board, and the piece shattered as soon as the Kapex blade made contact.

The Kapex hold-down clamp doesn't have quite the range of those on other miter saws...Use the hold-down clamp if at all possible.

Yep, I like the Kapex hold-down. My previous miter saw had longer reach, but was a pain to use, as well. I use the hold down whenever I can.

Was curious if people generally obeyed the Kapex sign. The 'no-hands' zone seems to be in exactly the spot where my hands are most comfortable.

I guess it's almost like, do you obey the traffic stop-sign when nobody is around.

 

[kev carpenter]

I have a kapex but never used the hold down as i think its abit sticky to move up and down and with most people if it take to long we dont use it

but i think no hands part are is for when your doing a miter or sumthing as i cant see how you would work out were is the exact point it becomes dangerous as i think about about  3 inches is resonable but i supose if  you pulled your hand out the wrong way in shock it might be different but i think table saw are alot more dangerous and try not to use it much but thats a different subject [smile]

 

[woodguy7]

I would say that the reason Festool put the no hands warning there is to keep them in the "i tried to warn you" zone for legal reasons.  I like many others do probably put my fingers too close but this being my livelyhood, i like to think i know what i am doing.
I would recommend anyone new to mitre saws to obey the signs buy using the clamp, jigs or simple stick's to take the place of fingers.

Woodguy

 

[Inner10]

Its like coffee cups saying "Caution Hot"

I put my fingers inches from blades on a daily basis, and I'm sure everyone on her does too.

 

[woodtradesman]

Not that I condone it but I been putting my fingers closer to blade than that kaperx no hands zone  on many models of miter saws for just about 15 years. I still have all my digits.

 

[peter halle]

I believe that table saw manufacturers are also starting to designate a safety zone in front of the blades on new saws.  I cut off a finger tip with a drill.  It didn't have a safety zone designated   [scared]. Never with a miter saw.  Common sense comes into play.  If you are uncomfortable - don't.  If you're not sure - read.  If you are still doubtful - don't.  If you are hungry - don't.  If you just ate - don't.  If you are sleepy - don't.  If you have been using a Festool beer stein for it's intended purpose - go watch the football game.

Peter

 

[EcoFurniture]

I also think that the Festool hold down is the best I ever used!
As for putting my finger close to the blade: NO CHANCE! I'm not a big fan of pain, therefore I'm using a push stick to hold stuff in place. Works very well.

 

[Inner10]

How else could you accurately shave a few mm off a really small piece without your fingers?

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

There really is a sign on the kapex like that?

I will have to go out to the garage and look.

If I had a nickle for everytime I put my fingers or hands
where there were not supposed to be,
I would have a lot of nickle's! [big grin]

 

[sw1211]

When in doubt, if you see a red laser line on your skin, start over.  [eek]

 

[peter halle]

Darcy,

Please concentrate on the knuckles - not the nickels when using your tools.  ;D ;D ;D ;D  Couldn't resist. I know you do practice tool safety with a twist as probably most of us do.

Peter

 

[Forrest Anderson]

There really is a sign on the kapex like that?

Indeed there is.

Also one (in the form of a sticker) on the Bosch GCM10SD...

DeWalt DW718L...

Ridgid MS1065LZ (notice additional warning on blade guard!)...

...and so on.

Presumably part of the idea is to protect the manufacturer from lawsuits raised by people who say "I just cut off my fingers on your saw. I'm going to sue you for $100,000 because there wasn't a warning saying that I shouldn't place my fingers on the table".

Forrest

 

[peter halle]

Forrest,

Thanks for the great photos.  I feel compelled to ask.  It's like 1:00 AM there.  You have photos like these stored for future use?

This proves how lucky we are.  [not worthy] [not worthy]

Peter

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Thanks for the great photos.  I feel compelled to ask.  It's like 1:00 AM there.  You have photos like these stored for future use?

Peter

Don't tell anyone, but I find Google Image Search is a wonderful thing!  [wink]

Forrest

 

[peter halle]

Forrest,

You're the man.