Perspective on Festool Problems

[patlaw]

For some reason, Festool Tool Problems is the first forum I've read here. The posts are making me think I need to get rid of my KS 120. It was purchased about a year ago and has seen only minimal hobbyist use. It was purchased because I had a Hitachi 8" SCMS that would not cut a straight line. It was a piece of junk.

The lasers are not accurate and need to be calibrated, but I'm not comfortable doing that yet. My bigger concern is that, with time, this thing is going to fail, and the repair will be very expensive. The only way I could cost justify the purchase is that I planned to pass it along to my son when I'm too old to mess with it. Now it's possible that it's not going to last that long.

The only other Festool product I have is the CMX drill/driver. It's my go-to drill/driver, but I'm still trying to convince myself that the price is justified. The magnet fell out of the bit holder.

Somebody say something that makes me think I haven't purchased a time bomb.

 

[bkharman]

For some reason, Festool Tool Problems is the first forum I've read here. The posts are making me think I need to get rid of my KS 120. It was purchased about a year ago and has seen only minimal hobbyist use. It was purchased because I had a Hitachi 8" SCMS that would not cut a straight line. It was a piece of junk.

The lasers are not accurate and need to be calibrated, but I'm not comfortable doing that yet. My bigger concern is that, with time, this thing is going to fail, and the repair will be very expensive. The only way I could cost justify the purchase is that I planned to pass it along to my son when I'm too old to mess with it. Now it's possible that it's not going to last that long.

The only other Festool product I have is the CMX drill/driver. It's my go-to drill/driver, but I'm still trying to convince myself that the price is justified. The magnet fell out of the bit holder.

Somebody say something that makes me think I haven't purchased a time bomb.

Welcome to the FOG.

First off, if your that concerned with something that might happen sometime in the future, offload the saw now. You will save yourself a lot of worry and that can be worth it's weight in gold (or Festools).

On your CSX, I had the same thing happen with my magnet. A drop of super glue 2 years ago solved the issue.

If you feel like the tools are ticking time bombs then most definitely move away from them. I have quite a few Festools as well as other brands (both cheap and pricey) and while I feel buyers regret on occasion, it quickly dissipates as I use them. Sometimes that means return them or sell them.

Good luck with your choices mate!

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Holmz]

If it fails, then it fails... But in the mean time, just glue the magnet back in, and carry on happily.

 

[peter halle]

I started with Festools back in 2006.  I use them professionally.  I do not treat them with kid gloves.  None have required service to date.  That includes my Kapex.

Peter

 

[KRKWW]

Welcome to the FOG! Glad to have you with us.

Perspective is something we often have the ability to change. Is the glass half empty or is it half full? Since your first readings are of the Festool problems, I respectfully encourage you to delve into the many posts touting their fruitfulness. Then, take a step back and evaluate as objectively as possible what is best for you and your family. I strongly encourage you to leave out emotion both positive and negative. Move on from there with the confidence you've made the best decision you can at the time with the information you have. And peace be with you!

 

[teocaf]

yeah, i really don't understand this whole "living in fear" mentality.  it takes the joy out of using a tool and can actually create more problems (self-fulfilling prophecy).  there's a big difference between treating a tool with care and being timid about using it.  you paid a lot of money for your car.  do you drive it at 20 mph in hopes that it lasts longer?  do you not factor in cost of maintenance in your budget calculations?  for me it comes down to having a problem solver mentality.  surprisingly few tools are optimally set up out of the box.  have you taught yourself how to set up a tool from manuals, books and forums?  in the case of your laser issue, gingerly peel off the sticker and punch or drill some nice clean holes so you can access the adjustments underneath.  then systematically work through your adjustments, asking questions on here, etc, if necessary.
how's that saying go?  'a coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero, only once'...
as far as someone saying something to make you feel better about this machine, i think that it has already been said in many ways, in many forms, on many threads.  what else can someone add that will effectively change you underlying fear?  my own kapex has served me very well over the last 4 years, but i don't think that's going to take the fear factor out of your mind.  the company rep said that the repair rate for the kapex is slightly higher than other tools.  many users have chimed in with various reviews.  the company is looking into problem issues which is a good thing.  i think only you can decide which way to go with this thing.

 

[Shane Holland]

Even the world's most expensive products can have issues, even your $230,000 Ferrari.

Festool is a solid company that stands behind its products. So, rest assured that they have you covered for the warranty period of three years at a minimum.

Give them a call if you need help with your laser calibration if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. The guys at Festool service are a great bunch of folks to deal with. Call them if you want the bit holder replaced under warranty, but like Holmz said, a little glue will do the trick.

 

[bobfog]

Even the world's most expensive products can have issues, even your $230,000 Ferrari.

Festool is a solid company that stands behind its products. So, rest assured that they have you covered for the warranty period of three years at a minimum.

Give them a call if you need help with your laser calibration if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. The guys at Festool service are a great bunch of folks to deal with. Call them if you want the bit holder replaced under warranty, but like Holmz said, a little glue will do the trick.

Hmm Ferrari's are highly strung cars that are tuned within an inch of their life, require meticulous servicing on a regular basis to ensure they don't implode and bought by people who mostly only intend to use them for occasional thrills, not daily workhorses...

Probably not the best comparison to draw.

 

[patlaw]

Don't misunderstand my post. I'm not dogging on Festool, and I'm not having buyer's remorse. Festool is great stuff. It's just surprising to hear to some people are having serious issues with their purchases. While we're on the car analogy, a friend asked me if he should buy a used Mercedes. My reply was, "No, because used Mercedes use new parts." That is, repairs on Festool products after the warranty period will be expensive.

The dealer from whom I purchased my Kapex is 2-1/2 hours away. Will a local dealer help with the laser adjustment? As far as I know, there is no Festool Service Center nearby. (Do they even have those?)

 

[rvieceli]

Pat - A Lot of times the folks at Festool service may be able to talk you through the adjustments on the phone. Give them a try first.

Repair Department toll-free at 888-337-8600.

 

[Shane Holland]

You would be surprised but repair costs are not abnormally high. Your dealer may be able to help you if they know how to do the adjustment, I would call ahead. The only service center is in Indianapolis.

 

[Mahomo59]

Really hope the FOG isn't going to go all doom and gloom, far too depressing.  For the record v happy customer of 2 year old Kapex, in and out of my van every week.
Buy it or not. Keep or sale... Ones own decision.

 

[teocaf]

Probably not the best comparison to draw.

It's probably impractical and counterproductive to analyze a metaphor to within an inch of its life.  Shane made a good point by saying that even high dollar items can and do come with manufacturer defects at times.  I'm really surprised that so many are continuing these discussions by assuming there are a huge percentage of kapex machines out there that are faulty.  We heard from a relative few with problems but with multiple entries.  We heard from the usual suspects that may not have a kapex or use one regularly but by their sheer volume of posts, one would assume that they have a clinical need to put in their comments, regardless of helpfulness.  We heard from some who have not had problems.  And without numbers, this is just a calculated guess, we have not heard from the very many who I guess are too busy using the thing regularly and cheerfully to bother allaying others' blown out fears.

As to the laser adjustment, I still don't understand the problem.  It's covered in the manual.  And in the Supplemental Manual.  And on a number of you tube videos.  Probably on some threads on the FOG.  All these venues have search features.  Even if outside your current comfort zone, challenge yourself to do something new.  It may be a bit difficult getting started, but I think that if you are deliberate and systematic in your approach and don't take making mistakes in the wrong way, you'll be very glad when you get it done, AND have a much better understanding of your machine AND more confidence in your problem solving skills. Because you're going to need them in EVERY other facet of your chosen hobby.

 

[dltflt]

I would not worry.  I have had my Kapex for 3 years with no problems.  Nor have I had any problems with any of my tools from Festool.  I am only a hobbyist but I do give them a good work on occasion.  The problem is nobody will post to say their machine is working great.

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi
  Use them, enjoy them, make stuff with them....and above all enjoy it.
rg
Phil

 

[mikeomalley]

Summed up well by teocaf. [emoji106]

 

[Holmz]

yeah, i really don't understand this whole "living in fear" mentality.  ...
...

It is the opposite of the denying fan boi.

Fear is also a power emotion that is well used in propaganda, we could launch into a political discussion on it if we had the time.

 

[ear3]

A note on the laser calibration -- you can't screw it up.  That is, if your initial efforts still put the laser off the cut line, you can keep on tweaking it until you get it exact.  There's no danger of breaking the laser or permanently throwing off the calibration.

This post got me thinking about my experience with Festool problems and the reliability of the tools since I started converting over my shop almost two years ago.  So here's the list of the issues I have had which required service (or a visit to the dealer), all of them within the 3 yr. service period:

1. 1010 router: micro adjust on depth stop rod was frozen out of the box -- this might have been something I could have dealt with on my own, but when I was showing it to my dealer, he recommended we just send it in.  Fixed, no charge, week and a half turnaround.

2. 1010 router: after a year of use one of the screw housings for the dust shroud/plastic insert got stripped.  Fixed, no charge, week and a half turnaround.

3. Carvex: After 6 months of use the detachable base developed some play in it, even when locked down, causing out of plumb cuts.  Fixed, no charge, week and a half turnaround.

4. Kapex: After 3 months of use the right side laser burnt out, also had some issues with blade deflection on extreme bevel cuts.  Fixed, no charge, week turnaround.

5. TSC55.  About 8 months after i got it I accidentally dropped my saw on the concrete floor of my shop, cracking the base plate.  Festool service charged me only the cost of a new base plate (around $60), shipping and labor free.  Week turnaround.

6. CT26: From the beginning, the plug housing/outlet didn't hold plugs in very well, causing them to slip out very easily in the middle of working.  Very annoying.  Brought it to the dealer and he threw me a replacement plug housing.  No charge.

7. RO150: Couldn't swap in a new pad the first time I tried, as there wasn't enough room to turn the pad to have the flange engage it.  Brought it to the dealer, but we ended up fixing it on site by loosening the arbor screw slightly.

Not sure if this is a typical service/problem profile, but that's my experience.

The moral of the story for me has been

1) if possible, try to develop a relationship with a brick and mortar dealer.  They will often troubleshoot problems and save you from taking a tool out of commission for a week while it's being serviced.  They also will frequently go above and beyond, like throwing you some extras, or allow you to return accessories you didn't end up needing (which they are not required to do).

2) Festool service so far has been great.  Problems solved and quick turnaround.  Maybe things will change once my tools start to go out of warranty, but so far, I am satisfied.

Maybe all this will help you make a decision about whether to sell off the Kapex now, or whether to get more Festool.

 

[Brice Burrell]

A note on the laser calibration -- you can't screw it up.  That is, if your initial efforts still put the laser off the cut line, you can keep on tweaking it until you get it exact.  There's no danger of breaking the laser or permanently throwing off the calibration.

This post got me thinking about my experience with Festool problems and the reliability of the tools since I started converting over my shop almost two years ago.  So here's the list of the issues I have had which required service (or a visit to the dealer), all of them within the 3 yr. service period...........

So you've had a problem with (5/21) of your Festool tools, and you find this acceptable?

 

[Martin Johnson]

I bought my Kapex when they were introduced...it has not had any issues what so ever.  I owned a Dewalt (junk) and a Makita (Nice, but not as accurate).  Service is top notch...