Re: Think I'm selling my Kapex - SOLD

Jeff2413

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2011
Messages
72
Hey guys, I'm having some real issues with my Kapex.  The bed isn't flat when at 45 either left or right.   The dust collection I feel is way over rated even with the 36mm hose(seems worse with the Tenyru blade) and it throws small moldings for fun I'm thinking.  I was working in a finished kitchen Wednesday and was tying in some base and shoe aroun a door I had just set (it was late arriving), and didn't have a block clamped to cut the shoe mold (had 3 pcs to cut).  Pop! Out it came right into the glass door on the cabinet.  Yeah, it broke.  And the homeowner was there.   Embarrassing to say the least.  I've been using my Hitachi C10FSH every since.  I can cut any material, small or large, with no fear of a kick.  It has 3 times the power and with just the dust bag I honestly don't see much difference vs the Kapex and vacuum.  I hate the fact you almost have to have the vacuum on the Kapex or you will covered in sawdust.  Am I missing a critical factor here?  The hitachi doesn't have quiet the capacity when cutting crown molding but it it's like a dream.  It's lighter and I don't have to carry that darn vac everywhere. 
 
i would send it in for a look. they might adjust something  and make the base level. a jig for cutting moldings would help with the kicking problem.
also you should let the blade stop before raining it. this usually stops the projectiles
 
Start with the obvious. Dust suction is all the way up? Is the dust shroud installed on the saw? Unfortunately, flying pieces is almost always 100% user error. Can happen with any saw and any blade. Use a sacrificial fence and zero clearance insert.
 
Yeah I've tried all that.  It's all turned up and installed.  Sub fence I use when cutting small stuff but what a pain in the rear for only a couple pcs.  If I'm super careful and slide into the work piece rather than chop I can get away with it.  Idk, after using my Hitachi the last few days I'm asking myself why did I buy this saw?  No need for fences and zero clearance jigs.  Nothing shooting out of it raising my heart rate.  No need for the vacuum.  Coupled with the Sawhelper it is really a super accurate, simple to use set up.  I'm gonna let the Kapex rest for a week or so and decide if it stays or goes. 
 
Sorry that you are not liking the saw.Yes,i have small pieces flying out but i am very careful now.I never had anything flying that hard.
As for the dust collection,i am suprise that you think is not that great.I have tried many,many saws(sliders that is) and there's nothing that can compare to the Kapex.
Now i do agree with the dust everywhere when no vac is attached.What i hate the most about it,is the miter scale gets covered with dust and I am constantly whipping it off.
My Kapex is about 3 years old now,and the fence,table and everything else is still accurate.All of my joints comes out pretty good.
But if you like your Hitachi better,by all mean,use it!
 
Glad to see I'm not the only one with projectiles. :/.  The dust collection, IMO, is over rated.  It is good for a SCMS but at the end of the day I'm still cleaning up just as big of a mess as I would if I had used my other saw and no vac. And try to use the saw without the vac and you better wear goggles and a mask.  The miter gauge is covered with every cut.  The  dust collection went down hill when I switched from the 60T blade to the 80T Tenyru.  I love the accuracy of the Kapex.  It doesn't scream (loud) like my green saw.  The v-grooves on the sides where I attach my Sawhelper are brilliant and with the Multiblades connector I can use clamps just like with the crown stop. 
 
Jeff2413 said:
I love the accuracy of the Kapex.  It doesn't scream (loud) like my green saw.   The v-grooves on the sides where I attach my Sawhelper are brilliant and with the Multiblades connector I can use clamps just like with the crown stop. 

Sounds like you are talk'n yourself back into keeping it.
I had the projectiles too...nearly shite myself the first time.
Tim
 
My Hitachi died and that lead to the KAPEX.

I'm very careful sawing and alway consider potentials - so regardless of saw I've never suffered missile attack.

The DC with the KAPEX and standard Festool blade is excellent for me - the Hitachi with the bag was a mess.

... very different experience from my perspective.

Also, my KAPEX is extremely accurate.

I'd be looking for blockages in the DC plumbing!
 
Only you can tell if the Kapex is the saw that you want to use in the future.  If the bed isn't flat send it back to Festool for service.  People here have offered suggestions on how to more control the missile launches.  Personally I can't see how much trouble screwing two pieces of plywood to the fences can be, but then I am not in your shoes.  I found that I had to adjust my style of using the Kapex to maximize the dust collection.  Start the blade and then let the dust collector come on before you let the blade hit the wood.  Try it.  It might make a difference for you too.

I got good mileage out of my Hitachi's but the day the casting that controls the blade depth broke and my helper at that time tried to cut the entire metal table in half was the final fatal straw.

Good luck with your decision.

Peter
 
That's funny.  I have an idiot mark in one of my fences.  I'm going to construct a couple fences out of some 3/4 Baltic I have and give it a run.  I cut everything I can on the flat so the fences are removed most of the time.  The fact that I set up a saw with a vac on it in my clients homes makes a huge impression and the saw is pretty sweet.  Thanks guys for all your input. 
 
Jeff2413 said:
That's funny.  I have an idiot mark in one of my fences.  I'm going to construct a couple fences out of some 3/4 Baltic I have and give it a run.  I cut everything I can on the flat so the fences are removed most of the time.  The fact that I set up a saw with a vac on it in my clients homes makes a huge impression and the saw is pretty sweet.   Thanks guys for all your input. 

Stop cutting on the flat, that should solve most of your issues.
 
WarnerConstCo. said:
Jeff2413 said:
That's funny.  I have an idiot mark in one of my fences.  I'm going to construct a couple fences out of some 3/4 Baltic I have and give it a run.  I cut everything I can on the flat so the fences are removed most of the time.  The fact that I set up a saw with a vac on it in my clients homes makes a huge impression and the saw is pretty sweet.   Thanks guys for all your input. 

Stop cutting on the flat, that should solve most of your issues.
Can you elaborate, give us pros and cons of cutting on the flat? Thanks
 
I use a sacreficial fence out of scrap ply. I dont screw it to the fence, I just clamp it to the fence when I need it. Takes about 30 secs.

After that,  no more flying objects.

Dust collection is the best Ive used or seen.

Is it 100% ? No , there isn't a CSMS that is.

I cut my hose to about 5 ft. It improved the dust collection tremendously.

I use my Kapex for cross cutting ply up to 12" in dia no problems.

I also cut small think moldings, no problems (after I add the sacreficial fence)
 
I have had about 4 or 5 different miter boxes and I believe the Kapex is the safest I have had. That being said it does send small pieces of shoe flying sometimes, I don't use a backup fence. I have learned to stop most of it, it rarely happens now. Once I was being careless and let it kick back and it shoved a small piece of 1x into my finger and ripped it open (ouch) needed some medical attention. Some medical supper glue and I was back in business. Except for the throbbing pain when I bumped it. Even after that I still think it it's the safest saw I have used. The user on the other hand doesn't always use safe practices
 
Well , I've got a nasty old brute of chop saw and it's never flung any bits ever??? It's hellish noisy though.
 
I would agree it is a safe saw other than the flying shoe.  I had it send a pc of base last week up into the guard where it would barely turn.  Jammed up really nice.  Just sorta bums me it does this. 
 
The only beef I have with my kapex is that its noisy as hell. The loudest mitersaw I've used...

 
Seriously??  I think mine is really quiet.  Louder than the junk Dewalt brand but much quieter than my Hitachi. 
 
j123j said:
The only beef I have with my kapex is that its noisy as heck. The loudest mitersaw I've used...

If that's the case, you must have owned these before.

images
 
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