new Kapex extensions

[nickao]

Absolutely, crown molding is VERY popular here as it is a HUGE bang for the buck.

I venture to say Festool sells more here in America than anywhere in the world(possibly I am wrong) so I doubt that is the reason the German designers fell short. Sometimes tools miss the mark in certain features for whatever reason(focusing on other great features to much etc)  and this may have been one.

To me Crown is a major reason to get a slider, miter box, etc and probably the reason most hobbyist homeowners here in the US purchase one in the first place.

 

[windmill man]

Hi
Yes I know Crown is very popular in the US but not in Europe and it is a German design team that designs them. I think if festool wants to be a global brand they will have to address this and trial their prototypes in all markets. I think that the US market is by no means there biggest market share (yet) but if they want it to be they will have to look to you chaps and take on board your requirements. I think its crazy you do not have all the Festool products  i have access to and its daft that they do not release new products to you when we get them. I know the sub base is a work round but it would not put me of buying this bit of kit as in all other aspects its good. Very Good.

Regards to all John

 

[peter halle]

After getting my Kapex last week and looking at it, I started to look at making a portable fence system for it based on some of the comments here.  I went by Woodcraft today to get some stuff to come up with a quick way to ultimately join the fence to the Kapex.  Here is the start.  I was experimenting using PVC only because I have so much scrap.

Peter

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[mastercabman]

PETER, YOU STOLE MY IDEA!!!!!! [laughing]

Really that's what i started to work on,not completed yet,but it's on the way!!!!

 

[peter halle]

I'm sorry!  You didn't let me know.  I only had the Kapex since Tuesday and I did post here that I got it.    :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

This is an on going parallel project to something else I have working on regarding the MFT/3 ever since I posted a video regarding vacuum clamping that was put on hold for the Fogtainers.

I have had a renewed interest in thinking toward the future since I became busy.

At least the Commonwealth of VA thinks alike!  VA rocks!

Peter

 

[fshanno]

Has anyone checked out the Rousseau stuff?  They have folding stands, some with wheels, some with casters, extension wings, stops, the works.  Doesn't look like it would get in the way of the crown stop.

http://www.rousseauco.com/

It could be years before we see a Festool stand.  I need to buy a saw before the end of the year.

 

[Texastutt]

I like the Kapex roller stand! I'll add my Sawhelper wings but then I like the quick release PVC deal... GOTTA get a Kapex first.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I don't like spending my time rigging up things for my tools.

I like to buy tools that are easy to set up, easy to carry around and darn accurate.

So in summary, I want to be able to bolt something on and go.

My spare time is spent with my girls, not making extensions.

 

[Yuri]

I don't like spending my time rigging up things for my tools.

I like to buy tools that are easy to set up, easy to carry around and darn accurate.

So in summary, I want to be able to bolt something on and go.

My spare time is spent with my girls, not making extensions.

I think you nailed it Warner.  I couldn't have said it better myself. Every time I tried to create extras for my tools I wasted time and money. I like using tools not creating them.

So in summary if anyone from Festool reading this, please create the proper Kapex extensions like a sawhelper and charge us an arm and a lag for them. Please.

 

[NERemodeling]

After getting my Kapex last week and looking at it, I started to look at making a portable fence system for it based on some of the comments here.  I went by Woodcraft today to get some stuff to come up with a quick way to ultimately join the fence to the Kapex.  Here is the start.  I was experimenting using PVC only because I have so much scrap.

Peter

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Hey Peter, what brand/model toggle clamp did you use for this?

 

[peter halle]

Talk about resurrecting an old thread!  [thumbs up] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Sorry, I have no earthly idea.  That clamp has probably been repurposed to something else a dozen times since then.

But, if I were going to try this again for real I would be looking at the Bessey line of self adjusting clamps.  You don't need a ton of pressure to hold it onto the saw.  I would also nip off the point of the triangular part so that the mounting height was consistent.

Peter

 

[NERemodeling]

Haha, its an oldie but a goodie

what are you using for extensions now? 

thanks for the tips on the triangular piece

John

 

[peter halle]

I don't fit the typical traveling carpenter Festool uber efficiency model, although I see the benefits and wish I could.  I am not a production focused (speed means everything) carpenter.  I use a regular 'ole MFT/3 as a stand for my Kapex (I appreciate the added height).  Yesterday and today I am doing crown molding for my mantle client and when I got to the job yesterday I made a crown cutting jig that is 4+ feet long and then used my Ridgid outfeed stands to handle the extra length.  None of my cuts are repetitive so in this case I don't need stops, so this works for me.  I probably should just break  down and make 2-5' extensions using 1/4" ply with hardwood 1x2" s underneath and then use them with either a telescoping Ikea leg or the Ridgid stands, but I have been spending too much time trying to decide how to morph my business and how I want to roll.

It's going to rain for a couple days this week.  Might be an excuse for shop time.  I haven't been there in a month, but that is another story for later.

PS:  I was coping crown moulding yesterday using the Carvex 420 using the standard base.  For those who have good hand skills it works with the clear splinter guard in place.

Peter

 

[greg mann]

Personally, Peter, this is the one place I would NOT bother using the Bessey self-adjusters, if you have any older style toggle clamps. Once you have them adjusted they will not need to be re-adjusted. Save the Besseys for variable height applications where the self-adjust really pays off.  [2cents]

 

[peter halle]

Greg,

Thank you for that!    [thumbs up]

Peter

 

[greg mann]

Greg,

Thank you for that!    [thumbs up]

Peter

Your welcome.  [big grin]

Then again, if you don't have others, the Besseys are not all that expensive and in that circumstance I would buy them over the others, even for this application. Enduring value.

 

[NERemodeling]

I agree with you Greg.. the besseys are nice and i do have a set already but they seem to be overkill for this application..

for that reason i picked up THESE from amazon  $5.82 for a 2 pack!  cant beat that  also free 2 day shipping with prime

i actually like how small they are since there isnt much room between the mft and the saw table also they should have plenty of clamping force for this relatively light duty application

John

 

[NERemodeling]

does anyone else have pictures of homemade kapex extensions that they wouldn't mind sharing (even if posted elsewhere)  id like to see what others have come up with to help with my own design

Thanks
John

 

[peter halle]

John,

What are your design ideas and constraints?  I only ask because I have had a bazillion ideas in my mind over the last few years and frankly haven't been able to narrow anything down.  It might be mutually beneficial question.

Peter

 

[NERemodeling]

Hey Peter

I think i have a pretty solid idea of what im gonna roll with, i just got back from builderbob's house and i was checking his out and we were bouncing ideas off each other. mostly him saying what works, what dosent, what he would different and what he would keep about his  

from my origional ideas and his input   this is what i came up with:

gonna go with 1/2 birch ply to save on weight, ply fence will extend 3" below and 1/2" above for rigidity, in front of the fence up top i will install incra 1/2 x 3/4 t track the whole length   woodpeckers flip stops     i am going to custom fab the v mount attachment and use the toggles i mentioned earlier to secure it     im thinking of about 12" total depth (10 3/4 working space ) and 70" long each (so they will easily stand in my trailer)   to transition from the saw to the full depth i will mimic the saws 50* left and 60* right base angles (at some point past the miter handle i might switch back to 90* to reduce the length of the angle if needed)     once the table gets to full depth i and going to dado in a 12" t track perpendicular to the fence to use for continuous crown stops among other stuff (i will have to laminate a 2nd piece of 1/2" ply from the saws base to past this t track because the track will go all the way through the top piece of ply)

there are a few small quirks that i have to work into it to get all the features of the saw to work with them in place but that will be tough to explain,   ill snap pics of those when im done with them or if your interested before then ill give it a shot

Assuming your reading this in the morning, its now gotta be time for another cup of coffee after reading that book, haha    

what are your thoughts?

John