My new toy

[Marc2010]

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Today I was able to pick up my Kapex.  It might not be a big deal for some but, for me this was a large purchase and really needed for my shop. I was at a stand still until I got the saw to build a base cabinet for the Kapex so the countertops lined up with the bed of the saw. This is not going to be easy to "hide"for long so I'm accepting successful advice from those who buy now and explain later.
I'm glad that I'm able to continue building my shop the right way and get back to work Faster, Easier and Smarter.

Marc

 

[peter halle]

Marc,

Congratulations!  The Kapex is indeed an investment in the future.  I assure you that I had to wait and justify and wait and... 

Now have fun putting it to good use.  Maybe make something that will impress that one who might not be as excited as you.  Convert her.  That is the only advice I can give you.  I converted my wife over to Festool years ago and she has been the one to purchase most of my tools as gifts.  In fact she thinks as highly of Festool products and the Festool family as I do.

Good Luck!  Get cutting!

Peter

 

[GruntSgt]

Good Timing, as I am eagerly waiting delivery of my Domino Set and Sys full of Dominos via UPS tomorrow. I received my Kapex  two yrs ago as a B'day present from my wife who like Peters wife has blessed me with Festools on occasions...of course she also presents a "HoneyDo" list with each one. Congrats, you'll love it.

 

[BobKovacs]

So you bought a Kapex so you could finish building a cabinet for your Kapex???  That's then kind of twisted logic my wife and kids they to use on me.....lol

Best of luck with your new toy. I hesitated on buying mine for quite some time, but decided one day to just go for it, and I've never been happier a tool purchase.

 

[Marc2010]

Thanks for your response guys !!
I knew I wanted one and the time was now so your positive feedback reassures me that I did the right thing. You know there always is something better to spend the cash on but, this will make us some money and get our projects done.
My wife is a "friend" on Festool Facebook and totally understands how much I like the tools but, she does get annoyed on hearing festool in every conversation. He  He!!
We are going to Gary Katz next month together ~ Thats when it will really hit her and sink in.

I know what I'm building tomorrow !!  YEHAAA
Thanks again
Marc

 

[sancho57]

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Today I was able to pick up my Kapex.  It might not be a big deal for some but, for me this was a large purchase and really needed for my shop. I was at a stand still until I got the saw to build a base cabinet for the Kapex so the countertops lined up with the bed of the saw. This is not going to be easy to "hide"for long so I'm accepting successful advice from those who buy now and explain later.
I'm glad that I'm able to continue building my shop the right way and get back to work Faster, Easier and Smarter.

Marc

great minds must think a like .

I ordered mines from Bob and got it today.

Been on vacation all week and spent all day Tuesday and  yesterday rearranging the shop so I can have a place to set it up.

I rearranged some tools and cabs so i could build some infeed and outfeed tables for it.

Ill take it out of the box,tonight .

 

[Steve R]

Marc,

I do think I know how Big of Deal this is for you!

I very much enjoy and respect all of my Festools, but I have to say the Kapex is just special! Yes it is a bit...Okay alot of money + I added the Kapex table, Clamping Kit, extra hold down, two extended wing/Crown molding, 36mm hose and Systainer for the attachments and Oh yes its own CT22.

Of all the Festool products I have. It is the most asked about tool I have. Mainly by people that have done their own home improvement projects. They can't believe how smooth the cuts are, how little saw dust is around the saw after cuts. When I cut a 1mm slice off of a 2x4 that has no chips and is so thin it is translucent to light. They never question rates or anything again.... Okay one did. [eek]

Festool Rules... Okay a bit of a kick back to the Beach Boy's song Surfers Rules.... but never mind...

Kapex rules!!!

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Marc2010]

Ok , I'm in a dilemma....
Obviously I'm building a shorter table between others so the top is my support table. I did not buy the extension with crown stops at this time. I do want to bring the countertops right to the sides of the saw to use the Kreg fence set up. Are the wings needed? would you buy them and bring the tops to meet the wings or right to the side of the saw? I can recess a t-track in my top to make my own stops but, I guess I would like some feedback and if so how wide is the saw with the wings on?
I dont want a big gap between the saw and the fence because I cut a lot of short pieces and would like to bring the fence with the tape measure on it as close as possible.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[tjbier]

Cut out where the crown stops will go and have a piano hinge so that they can flip up ( towards the back of the saw) when the crown stops are in place.

Congrats on the saw! Can't wait to get one too.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

The wings are unnecessary in your setup.  If you recess a couple t tracks perpendicular to your extension on either side of the saw you could easily reproduce the crown stops.  Or just clamp a piece of wood across the front of your countertop over the bed of your Kapex if and when you plan to do crown in your shop.  Personally I like to have my saw on site when doing crown.........and don't use the extensions unless I am.

 

[Marc2010]

The wings are unnecessary in your setup.  If you recess a couple t tracks perpendicular to your extension on either side of the saw you could easily reproduce the crown stops.  Or just clamp a piece of wood across the front of your countertop over the bed of your Kapex if and when you plan to do crown in your shop.  Personally I like to have my saw on site when doing crown.........and don't use the extensions unless I am.

Thanks Kevin I was thinking the same thing. I have about 9 1/2 ft to the left and 8 1/2 to the right so I most likely would not be doing much crown for rooms on that set up. More like crown for cabinets. ect...
Ok Im getting to work
Thanks again!!
Pictures at the end of the day

 

[Jeff Hein]

I am going through the same process of building out a new miter workstation.

I had a Dewalt DW717 saw which was built into a wall of cabinets (recessed down so that it was flush with the counter top) I sold my Dewalt saw and replaced it with a kapex, and then found out my Kapex was slightly wider than the dewalt, so one thing let to another and my whole wall of cabinets came out.

I have my new setup almost complete (just need to put on the rest of the drawer fronts). I ended up with 7' of cabinets to the left (all with drawers), one shorter cabinet below the kapex which also houses my vacuum, and 6' of cabinets to the right (all with drawers). I made the new countertop the exact height of the MFT/3. I plan to put the MFT to the right of the miter saw station so I can have some more material support when cross cutting sheet goods. I now have 20 large drawers, all on 100 pound full extension slides. I am also going to put a row of upper cabinets about the saw station. Hopefully that will be enough storage for me for a while...

I also put 4 t-tracks in the counter top, (all going the same direction as the kapex slide). I have a Kreg Fence that I will mount to the t-track when doing repetitive cutting, and then I can slide the fence back if I need more counter top space. I can also use the t-track to mount crown stops.

Good luck with your setup, I am very happy with my new stand and Kapex so far!  I will try to get a picture taken of mine posted once I get all of the drawer fronts finished up.

 

[sancho57]

I ordered mine with the crown stops. When I set up my in/out feed fence I will incorporate the crown stops.

They are removable.

id rather design the fence with the crown stops and leave them installed then not and have to install the C/S later and cut the fence.

Jerrywork has a nice set up.

http://jerrywork.com/

Im using his for ideas for designing my own.

 

[kdzito]

Marc,

Congrats, I hear you with the large purchases. 

I just bought the Workcenter, Domino & Systainer Assortment, and RO 90 and have been very nervous about outlaying this kind of cash.  The Kapex is on my radar as my DW 705 is now 7 to 8 years old. I'll have to wait until next year and by then I may have enough saved up to get it.  In the meantime I'm scraping together for a T-18+3 [big grin].

Kurt

 

[Marc2010]

Kurt,  That was a big order. The domino is on my list also the LR rail and Systainer kit.

Here is what I was able to get done today. I had to stop early to go to dinner with a couple of friends.
But back at it tomorrow. [attachthumb=#]
New base cabinet measured (twice), Cut, Edgebanded, and built two tops. I will apply the laminate after building the rest of the cabinets.
I have adjustable legs on all of the cabs. My floor is not level so those legs help a lot and after the formica is on I can dial in the height of the Kapex.

 

[mikael1982]

is it me or dont you get trouble cutting full dept when you table up against the wall.. as the kapex sits now you cant push the cutter head/glider back without hitting the wall..? moving the saw forward leaves material hanging out from the table??

 

[harry_]

is it me or dont you get trouble cutting full dept when you table up against the wall.. as the kapex sits now you cant push the cutter head/glider back without hitting the wall..? moving the saw forward leaves material hanging out from the table??

mikael1982: The tubes on a Kapex are stationary... that is it's beauty!

 

[mikael1982]

So sweet  I got go get one soon... But as private handyman is quite a pricy item

 

[Marc2010]

I guess what I've done to help the $ impact on my new Festools are (is) (?)... I have gone thru my garage and put a lot of my extra tools for sale. I used to like a tool and get two, one for me and one for the crew. Now that the crew is gone (and some of my tools) what I have left is still in great shape but are soon to be old tools. The industry is changing so fast it is not cost effective to "keep up".
This spring/summer if it ever gets here ( It is snowing right now) is the year to sell and simplify. Everything that I haven't used or seen in the last year is on the block. The way Gas, Food & Lumber prices are going I have to do something and soon.

My justification for my Festools are I get to work mostly alone just like how I started, and I know I take great care of my tools, they let me work more efficient and the new design of my "shop" garage is mostly for a one man set up.  I do work on site and have some separate tools for that but the just of it is I am so tired of working on the honey do list and others in an inefficient garage I dreaded to work on the list. Since the redesign of the shop (still in progress) I have been very excited to work on projects and find myself loving my work again. I know how I want it and how great it will be to have my dream shop and can't wait to get there. It takes focus, dedication and money but in the end it will be a win = win for me and my family.

Marc