My 2012 Kapex let out the smoke today

[Cheese]

But at the end of the day, even one Kapex per 3 years (warranty period) costs less than 1% of the revenue it allows me to produce in that same time period.

Wow ... I envy your business model. That’s a lot of money generated by a single miter saw without any attending auxiliary equipment.

 

[bwehman]

many guys i work with have 10, 15, 20 year old scms made by hitachi, dewalt, and makita still going strong. Its just sad that y'all accept a few years from a $1600 saw and after it fries itself y'all buy another. Why reward festool for designing such garbage.

I agree, 4-5 years of Kapex superiority will never equal the 20 years of service produced by ANY OTHER MITER SAW. Even the compromised brands have a better track record than Kapex...Festool.

Ridiculous... ridiculous not because Festool produced a turd...rather, ridiculous because they never considered it prudent to fix their turd production problem. Just keep cranking those turds out seems to be the Festool mantra.

It just isn't that way for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The value the Kapex brings in terms of production and efficiency makes the cost of one rather immaterial. I mean, of course I'd prefer this thing to last as long as all those other brands. Of course I do. And it's a super shame that Festool has a problem they won't fix. But at the end of the day, even one Kapex per 3 years (warranty period) costs less than 1% of the revenue it allows me to produce in that same time period. When it's not blown up and smoking like a chimney, it does miter saw things *for me and my workflow* better than any other saw to such a degree that I don't even categorize most other SCMS as an equivalent tool to the Kapex.

A quick example is a commonly-compared saw, the Bosch Glide. It's $700, the Kapex is $1500, an $800 difference. That's gross revenue made in a single day. One day. It's not even worth thinking about with that kind of margin. What *is* worth thinking about, however, is how much a workflow will be impacted by introducing a new component. These are tools, means to an end. Whatever gets from A to B cleanest and quickest is the correct tool. For me that's the Kapex, even with the stupid motor issues that I wish would get resolved. But many others won't have that same need, and that's totally OK too.

Kapex isn't for everyone, but neither is the Bosch, DeWalt, etc.

Are you saying the the Glide won't cut one day, two, or whatever?  Have you heard of similar failures in the Glide? Or maybe you think the Glide won't cut accurately.  Is the minute you save vacuuming up the shavings from the Kapex over the Glide your profit margin?  I don't even own a Glide.  Maybe it's too heavy.  What about the Makita, Dewalt, or Milwaukee?

I had a Kapex. It cut fine. I still had to vac afterward, but not too much.  Just how much of a competitive advantage is that, relative to the risk?  Everyone here acts as if the competition sucks...it doesn't. 

The Domino though, it rocks.

I don't want it to sound like I'm saying other tool brands suck. Not at all. Other tool brands make great tools too. Festool doesn't make the best tool in a lot of tool categories, but I really think they make the best system, which is why I continue to stay in it... and why I won't hesitate to replace a failed Kapex with another... but other tools brands make incredible tools too. I'm not stupid like some may think for buying another Kapex. I really think the saw is the actual best saw for what I need a saw to do. The Glide and others are also incredible for their intended person or use.

 

[Duster]

Hello,Im in the market to purchase a Kapex,so I contacted Festool last week and questioned them on burned out motor complaints and this is what they replied to me with :

Hello,
Thank you for your interest in the Festool Kapex Miter Saw. If you have any reservations about the machine but are still curious to try it for yourself, we would like to remind you that we have a 30-day money-back policy as well as a 3-year warranty. So, buy with confidence, give it a try, and decide for yourself.

Please be aware that not all users use the machine alike. There are many variables to consider from material to application. Also, please consider the environment in which the saw would be used and the available power in that environment. The Kapex, when used with a CT Dust Extractor, normally performs most cutting tasks (cutting molding) on a 15 Amp circuit just fine. For heavier cutting tasks (thick stock) it may be necessary to run the Kapex Saw (up to 13 amps) and the CT Dust Extractor (up to 10 amps) on separate circuits so that the saw has the full current of the circuit available.

Again, thank you for your interest.

Best Regards,
_________________________
Festool USA LLC
400 N. Enterprise Blvd.
Lebanon, IN 46052

 

[ChuckM]

I think someone has reported about a motor failure even when the saw and dust extractor were plugged into separate circuit outlets. As a precaution (even if it does not help), I run my Kapex and shop vac via an auto switch rated for 30amp current draw (15 +15 outlets).

 

[jacko9]

Hello,Im in the market to purchase a Kapex,so I contacted Festool last week and questioned them on burned out motor complaints and this is what they replied to me with :

Hello,
Thank you for your interest in the Festool Kapex Miter Saw. If you have any reservations about the machine but are still curious to try it for yourself, we would like to remind you that we have a 30-day money-back policy as well as a 3-year warranty. So, buy with confidence, give it a try, and decide for yourself.

Please be aware that not all users use the machine alike. There are many variables to consider from material to application. Also, please consider the environment in which the saw would be used and the available power in that environment. The Kapex, when used with a CT Dust Extractor, normally performs most cutting tasks (cutting molding) on a 15 Amp circuit just fine. For heavier cutting tasks (thick stock) it may be necessary to run the Kapex Saw (up to 13 amps) and the CT Dust Extractor (up to 10 amps) on separate circuits so that the saw has the full current of the circuit available.

Again, thank you for your interest.

Best Regards,
_________________________
Festool USA LLC
400 N. Enterprise Blvd.
Lebanon, IN 46052

Interesting if this is an issue what doesn't Festool send out a bulletin to all of us registered owners with that warning?

 

[kevinculle]

Festool's silence on this issue is baffling.  It is inconceivable that the several years running tales of Kapex motors letting out the smoke have not seriously hurt Kapex sales.  Silence as an initial reaction while you try to understand the root cause(s) is understandable, but after all this time it seems that either Festool is flummoxed in trying to run this to ground or the fix is too expensive and they just plan to keep whistling by the graveyard.  Other companies in the past have tried the stonewalling strategy on product defect issues, but in hindsight it usually proves that the damage done to the product and company reputation are far more expensive than the fix.

 

[jacko9]

Festool's silence on this issue is baffling.  It is inconceivable that the several years running tales of Kapex motors letting out the smoke have not seriously hurt Kapex sales.  Silence as an initial reaction while you try to understand the root cause(s) is understandable, but after all this time it seems that either Festool is flummoxed in trying to run this to ground or the fix is too expensive and they just plan to keep whistling by the graveyard.  Other companies in the past have tried the stonewalling strategy on product defect issues, but in hindsight it usually proves that the damage done to the product and company reputation are far more expensive than the fix.

I joined this site over 8 years ago and Festool has used this site to communicate with us and help resolve issues.  Information I have recieved on the FOG has contributed to my purchase of a shop full of Festools including the Kapex in question.

I find it baffling that Festool would risk losing customer loyalty by ignoring an issue kill this? 

 

[peter halle]

I can't say any more than this:  Festool has listened and seen posts here about the Kapex.  Just because we don't read and see the answers we desire about things here doesn't mean that things aren't going on that we don't know about.

Peter

 

[Samo]

https://monterey.craigslist.org/tls/d/festool-kapex-miter-saw/6762468730.html

Not mine but this is not a simple issue.  It is not practical to run the saw and an extractor on a separate circuit in the real world.

 

[jacko9]

I can't say any more than this:  Festool has listened and seen posts here about the Kapex.  Just because we don't read and see the answers we desire about things here doesn't mean that things aren't going on that we don't know about.

Peter

Thank you Peter - this is the last I'll comment on this topic.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have 3 Kapexs in the shop. Only issues were a fence yoke and leaves galling (2010 or 2011?). Festool sent the parts for me to replace the assembly. Second issue, control board died (2013 saw). The new board was 120ish, I tested and replaced it myself.

These saws get used extensively every day.

I do have an armature on the shelf, just incase.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

I can't say any more than this:  Festool has listened and seen posts here about the Kapex.

Well, then we can only hope that Festool will do something more in the future than just listen and see. Listening and seeing is a daily activity. I’ve done that for over 70 years now... [big grin]

I’m hoping that Festool will actually investigate the cause of the problem, and more importantly, implement a corrective action that will not only solve the motor issues in the future, but more importantly, solve the motor issues experienced by the current user base.

I’ve talked about this very issue with the local Festool rep 5-6 years ago...so this is not something that has been flying under Festool’s radar screen. Festool corporate has acknowledged issues with the Kapex 6+ years ago. Eventually this will fester and unless lanced, it will become, for an international company, a come to Jesus time.

So if perfect justice were to be done, it would entail all current registered Kapex owners receive some form of warranty service if it’s needed.

Anything less would be a kick in the....

 

[James Biddle]

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode about the rental car.  "You know how to sell the Kapex, you just don't know how to keep the Kapex running, and that's the most important part."

 

[yoda]

Just wanted to add another kapex to the turd count. I've had this saw since 2011 or 12 and have lost count on how many times I've sent it in for service. First few times was for the oil leaking problem out of the head. I sent it in twice for this issue. Then I had a few other things break that needed servicing. Earlier this year the motor blew and spent nearly $600 on getting it back and running. Just this week the motor went again. Saw is great when it runs but it's easily the worst piece of German technology I've ever used. So underpowered! To anyone looking at one I'd advise against. Not worth the initial cost plus the certain repairs on a nearly yearly basis.

 

[Jaybolishes]

So it’s being organized now, but soon we will have our kapex hotline up.  You can call and someone will guide you through the five stages of grief.  First you will call and tell the hotline doctor you don’t think this is an issue with the design, this is called denial.  Then in the back of your mind you will wonder if it is a design flaw, this is the anger phase. Then you ask the hotline if you can somehow get it fixed for free after the short 3 year warranty, this is bargaining.  Then you will find out you have to shell out a ton more money for this already expensive lemon. That’s when you enter the depression phase which is what the hotline is really for.  Once you talk it through you may find you reach the acceptance stage, and if not you end up here haha.

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

 

[kevinculle]

Kapex problem...vat Kapex problem?

 

[JFelchlin]

I’ve said it before - And I’ll say it again... I REALLY wanted to buy the Kapex.
I’m a loyal Festoolian - Spending $1,000’s on my Festool products.
BUT... I’ll continue to stick with my 10+ year old Bosch 5412L Compound Miter Saw.
I put a Forrest Chopmaster Blade on it - And it continues to cut and cut and cut -
Straight and true - At all angles. $750 - With the Forrest blade.
Admittedly, I’m a Hobbyist. So, I’m not using my saw at the level/rate that Tradesmen use theirs.
So... I’m guessing their “cost/benefit” is much different than mine.
But, for me - And I’m guessing many other Hobbyists -
There’s just too many, continuing/increasing number of reports -
Of Kapex failures, the last several years.
I can easily afford the Kapex.
I’m just not willing to spend $1,600 on a “MAYBE”.