Soon to be a Festool convert

[MarcV]

I never really took the time to look at the Festool line due to my thinking that the price was to high and they were overkill for me. I am in the market for a new miter saw and went looking today. I had my eyes set on either a Dewalt dw717, Hitachi c10fsh and the kapex. I was reading on different blogs about them and the people who have Kapex swear by them and the people that don't complain that they are overpriced and can't justify it. Although I did not get to cut wood I spent a lot of time playing with each saw and using all their various levers and adjustments. They all felt like good saws however the Kapex definitely felt a few notches above the rest in refinement, and it should because it cost a lot more. Now the Kapex is $900 more than the dewalt and $700 more than the Hitachi, but to a certain extent there are features on it that in my opinion make the cost more justified. For starters the compact size do to the forward slide felt smoother and the rails appeared to be more robust. The depth gauge was easier to set and felt a little more refined. Adjusting the bevels from the front, the cord storage, the onboard angle finder, slow start motor with adjustment power settings, and the best feature of all real dust extraction. The dust extraction has to be the biggest feature for me and justifies paying more for me due to working on projects in my garage. So based on what I would think the extra features would cost above and beyond that of the Hitachi for example would price the kapex at around $1000-$1100. So the price is much more justified when you compare apples to apples and not just the price of two separate saws. So long story short I would rather spend more money on a saw that has every feature that I want instead of paying less and settling, because in the grand scheme of things $700 spread out over the length of time I will own this saw is nothing.

Cheers,

Marc

 

[lumbajac]

MarkV,

Your rationalization sounds perfectly legit to me.  Your reasoning for jumping on board with Festool is similar to what I went through a few years ago and falls greatly upon dust extraction.  I would have had to spend a significant amount on a good dust collection setup (several+ thousand dollars) before even spending a dime on tools.  Instead, after much research and time on the FOG, I opted to spend the several thousand I had saved up on a CT22, TS75 and rails, MFT, OF1400, and RO150 to start working with rather than staring at a dust collection system waiting to be able to save up enough money to buy a table saw, and then a bandsaw (though I'd still like a good 17" bandsaw), and then a you name it.   On top of that, as you mention, the compact size and system works great in my small basement shop with the option to go onsite in other locations with the tools.  Since then I've purchased several more Festools and couldn't be happier.  Well worth the investment for my situation.

Good luck

[One thing I forgot to mention that doesn't often come up but is important, especially when working in a basement shop as I do, is that Festool tools are very smooth and quiet operating too (relatively speaking)]

 

[lawhoo]

Marc,

I think you're already a convert.  You're thinking like most of us who've taken the plunge; it's why we took it in the first place.

 

[GhostFist]

You're preaching to the choir here. Ive not regretted a festool purchase ive made so far, was hesitant to take the plunge due to the price at first. Slippery slope once you do though

 

[awil66]

Don't forget the warranty. That is worth real dollars, and the company is known to stand behind their tools.

 

[skids]

Just took a Kapex home...Had a similar experience to you..Set out to get a saw, looked at all the usual suspects and none of them matched up, all left something to be seriously desired. And what I would mention about the Hitachi is their service is awful and although guys in the field swear by that saw I just don't get it. I honestly think it is not the same saw it once was.

Anyway, I had a hard time with the money for the Kapex. But I can tell you once you use it you won't regret it. The saw is second to none. I am amazed every time I use it. I am building a sweet set of homemade wings for it now out of Birch and Walnut, then adding the Kreg stop system, which is taking my miter saw use to a whole new level.

Take it home try and you will never think about those other saws again.

 

[Brice Burrell]

The one thing that stands out to me is the lack of long term quality of the other brand saws.  A few years back when the Kapex first came out here in the States wrote a review that was well received by many but there were a few outspoken people that were critical of the saws' price and called me a fanboy.  At the time Milwaukee and Makita both had new saws out that looked to be a promising (less expensive) alternative to the Kapex.  These guys laughed at me and other that put out the bucks for the Kapex.  Well, within a year these same guys started to complain about their saws have issues.  So in the end I had the last laugh.  

I think the Kapex is the one of the only saws out there I feel good about being able to get long term professional use out of.  Until someone else comes out with something better than their current offerings the Kapex doesn't have any real competition.

Let us know how it goes and welcome to the FOG!

       

 

[vwdave]

So true Brice. Just recently a new employee was mocking my kapex about the cost and didn't think it was worth the money. That was until he used it. Now he won't use his saw if he's on site with me and is saving up for a kapex for himself.

Festools speak for themselves, the quality and customer service is amazing and really sets them apart from other brands.

Dave

 

[dsotmoon]

i had a customer who had a very large production woodshop, his dust collection system was over 100,000.00 alone, he had cnc, optimizers, 50" widebelts, glue spreaders, high dollar tools, he told me the Kapex was the best investment he ever made, i sold him the kapex and he ended up selling me on it, i'm just a hobbyist at home, but it the most accurate saw i have ever used or tried, love it

 

[morts10n]

I'll say it again:  When you buy expensive tools, you only cry once!!

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I'll say it again:   When you buy expensive tools, you only cry once!!

Unless they are tears of joy every time you get to use said tool  ;D!

Scot

 

[MarcV]

Ok so I finally got the Kapex and CT 36. They are both awesome. The only problem is that I liked them so much that I went back to woodcraft and bought the TS 75 plunge saw, Mft/3, 1400 router, and RO 90. When they rang it up I clinched my chest put my head down and handed over my debit card. The prices are brutal but I would rather buy quality tools and pay up front and keep them for years, instead of having to replace lesser made tools more often. So I picked up some extra shifts at work and couldn't be happier with my purchase.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Ok so I finally got the Kapex and CT 36. They are both awesome. The only problem is that I liked them so much that I went back to woodcraft and bought the TS 75 plunge saw, Mft/3, 1400 router, and RO 90. When they rang it up I clinched my chest put my head down and handed over my debit card. The prices are brutal but I would rather buy quality tools and pay up front and keep them for years, instead of having to replace lesser made tools more often. So I picked up some extra shifts at work and couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Congrats Marc.  You aren't alone, most of us here have gone all in shortly after the first purchase.  One of my favorite quotes was in a thread, I believe on the Sawmill Creek forum, the thread was one where some guys were questioning the value of Festool tools.  A poster posed the question, "when was the last time anyone bought a Makita (or any other brand) tool then went right back and bought every tool they offer?"  It doesn't happen, except with Festool, and it happens regularly.  That's why we call it the slippery slope.  Enjoy the new tools, and it you don't, you've got 30 days to return any of them. 

 

[mouppe]

Buying Festools are like skiing a black run. It's steep, fast and a lot of fun but you get to the bottom quickly. Then you just end buying accessories because the tools are so well built they last for ages.

Other brands are like a boring blue ski run. Long, slow, a bit unsatisfying, and it goes on forever because you have to keep on replacing them.

Congrats on the purchases.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Buying Festools are like skiing a black run. It's steep, fast and a lot of fun but you get to the bottom quickly. Then you just end buying accessories because the tools are so well built they last for ages.

Other brands are like a boring blue ski run. Long, slow, a bit unsatisfying, and it goes on forever because you have to keep on replacing them.

Congrats on the purchases.

[thumbs up] [thumbs up] ;D!!!

Scot

 

[3PedalMINI]

Kapex was my first Festool, Ill never forget how hard it was to hand over that card at woodcraft driving back home thinking "did i really spend this much on a miter saw" Got it home made my first frame and have never looked back. The slope is slipery,very slipery but its an epic one at that   [big grin]

Congrats! MFT and the OF1400 are next on my list as soon as all the christmas bills are payed off  [blink]

 

[Paul G]

I know it's an older thread but I'm in a similar situation, looking for a sliding dual compound miter saw and of course am considering the kapex. But noticed in the specs its cut depth of 3 15/32 and that's 1/32 shy of cutting typical 4x lumber that is 3.5". Am I missing something or is the kapex not capable of cutting typical 4x4, 4x6, 4x8, etc lumber without the old cut/flip/cut?

 

[Brice Burrell]

I know it's an older thread but I'm in a similar situation, looking for a sliding dual compound miter saw and of course am considering the kapex. But noticed in the specs its cut depth of 3 15/32 and that's 1/32 shy of cutting typical 4x lumber that is 3.5". Am I missing something or is the kapex not capable of cutting typical 4x4, 4x6, 4x8, etc lumber without the old cut/flip/cut?

Well, yes and no.  Sometimes the 4x lumber will cut no problem, other times, like with swollen pressure treated 4x's, may not.

 

[skids]

I know it's an older thread but I'm in a similar situation, looking for a sliding dual compound miter saw and of course am considering the kapex. But noticed in the specs its cut depth of 3 15/32 and that's 1/32 shy of cutting typical 4x lumber that is 3.5". Am I missing something or is the kapex not capable of cutting typical 4x4, 4x6, 4x8, etc lumber without the old cut/flip/cut?

I haven't had any issues..But I only tried to cut a 4x4 glu-lam. Went through it no problem.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Quite probably Festool designed the Kapex 1200 as a precise tool for the finish carpentry trade, not for framers.

The fact is the Kapex has more depth of cut than other10" miter saws.

It well could be the framing trade is well served by large, heavier and more powerful saws.

In my shop 4 of our 6 Kapex are in use every day. The other two are ready to be taken on site for installs.

However, in my shop using the same bench as the Kapex along the west wall is a large radial arm saw with a 550mm blade and a 7.5 hp motor for cross cutting rough hardwood blanks over 100mm thick. I never would expect the Kapex to do that task.