Kapex Zero Clearance Throat Plate
- Thread starter Neill
- Start date
Neill,
There's really not alot that needs to go into cutting your own plates. I use my Kapex daily, and switch out my own plates many times. Sorry for the lack of pics, but here's what I do:
First and foremost, these are field modifications, and all the guys with micrometers, incra scales, and any other means of identifying that my measurements may be off a " machinist's yard ", need not reply. [big grin]
I use 1/4" (6MM??) Baltic birch, of which I always have scraps available, and I believe to be fairly stable. After removing the two plastic plates on the Kapex, I simply made a solid plate that fits the indent the factory plates fit in, hand forming the radius corners to provide a tight fit. This piece has become my template for future plates to be fabricated as needed. I generally make up a dozen plates at a time.
When fitting the Baltic ply, you will notice that the new plate sits a bit shy of the Kapex's table. This tiny slop is made up by the use of stock double sided foam tape( available at any Big box or hardware store) I apply the tape to the plate and set the plate to the Kapex's table. This tape replaces the (6) screws that hold the original factory plates, thus allowing quick changes of plates.
Switching out plates often is important to me because I regularly cut tall flat stock on the "flats"(using the Kapex's superior bevel adjustment) and then cutting crown in the "nested" position using crown stops. Intermixing techniques will wreck havoc on a typical plate, thus easy, fast replacement is desireable.
Dan.
There's really not alot that needs to go into cutting your own plates. I use my Kapex daily, and switch out my own plates many times. Sorry for the lack of pics, but here's what I do:
First and foremost, these are field modifications, and all the guys with micrometers, incra scales, and any other means of identifying that my measurements may be off a " machinist's yard ", need not reply. [big grin]
I use 1/4" (6MM??) Baltic birch, of which I always have scraps available, and I believe to be fairly stable. After removing the two plastic plates on the Kapex, I simply made a solid plate that fits the indent the factory plates fit in, hand forming the radius corners to provide a tight fit. This piece has become my template for future plates to be fabricated as needed. I generally make up a dozen plates at a time.
When fitting the Baltic ply, you will notice that the new plate sits a bit shy of the Kapex's table. This tiny slop is made up by the use of stock double sided foam tape( available at any Big box or hardware store) I apply the tape to the plate and set the plate to the Kapex's table. This tape replaces the (6) screws that hold the original factory plates, thus allowing quick changes of plates.
Switching out plates often is important to me because I regularly cut tall flat stock on the "flats"(using the Kapex's superior bevel adjustment) and then cutting crown in the "nested" position using crown stops. Intermixing techniques will wreck havoc on a typical plate, thus easy, fast replacement is desireable.
Dan.
Dan,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Responses from members like you, so willing to help other members, is what makes this site work so well.
Your tip about the tape is great. It eliminates the whole countersinking concept.
Since I have a long weekend coming up, I will give it a try and let you know.
Neill
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Responses from members like you, so willing to help other members, is what makes this site work so well.
Your tip about the tape is great. It eliminates the whole countersinking concept.
Since I have a long weekend coming up, I will give it a try and let you know.
Neill
Ricks Kapex Manual Here has all the dimensions you need to make your own. I'd suggest not using anything expensive such as phenolic, UHMW, etc. just because you'll want to toss them out and put a new one in more than you think. They get messed up when bevel cutting, so you'd either wanna take it off to bevel cut or change it out sometime soon after bevel cutting. I make mine out of maple scraps and can quickly make 10 or so. We talked on TF about using magnets, etc. to hold them down but it seems you'd want them more secure. Of course the material you are cutting will help hold them in place some as well.
ccmviking said:
Chris,
I would definitely want to have multiple of them to switch them out. I tried making one, but it's a hassle to plane them down to the right thickness. That's what I like about the idea of BB or plastic. If I can get a sheet of material that's the right thickness, cutting them to size using a template should be fairly fast and straight-forward.
Regards,
Dan.
Dan Clark said:
I don't have a dog in this fight (NO Kapex), [laughing] but I took a quick look through Rick's unreleased copy of his manual & didn't see dimensions for the zero clearance plate however I did see dimensions for making auxiliary fences. Did I miss it??? I never pass up an opportunity to read Rick's stuff -- he does great work.
Ron,
If it says, "Unreleased" then it's an older version and does NOT include the ZC Throat Plate. The current version is here: http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/kapex-ks120-supplemental-manual.pdf and DOES have the ZC throat plate.
Regards,
Dan.
If it says, "Unreleased" then it's an older version and does NOT include the ZC Throat Plate. The current version is here: http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/kapex-ks120-supplemental-manual.pdf and DOES have the ZC throat plate.
Regards,
Dan.
Dan Clark said:
Dan C.,
I just discovered the same thing. By the way, it is one page 23. I found a blurb in TF where Rick indicated (before his final write-up) that he had omitted it because he was too lazy. Apparently he got his second wind.
Rick's manuals are "gospel" to me when it comes to Festool.
Neill
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
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ccmviking said:
I had completely forgotten about that old forum posting, so I have not looked at the links. For one-stop-shopping for anything I have written, you should always go to http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/ as this is kept up to date with the newest versions. (Granted, I just realized that the OF2200 is listed as unreleased, when it has been released, but the PDF itself is correct.)
