TOOK IT BACK!

[mastercabman]

I took my KAPEX back today.(30 days)
I just could not justify the cost difference from other saws.
It is a nice saw,loved the dust control,the weight,size and the blade was nothing less than top notch.
But with the problem with the table scraping and other thing like,not be able to lock the positive detente,i decided to take the saw back.
I still need to look for a new saw,maybe the BOSCH,or i really like the 81/2" DEWALT.

Anybody else thinking of taking theirs back? If so,what other saw are you going to consider to get?

 

[Evergreen]

I've had the bosch 4410 for about a year and a half, and I have never been able to consistently get a clean cut.  Even with good blades, there is still runnout.  I've tried everything and finally gave in to the kapex.  I've had no regrets!  I love everything else about the bosch, but if the saw can't cut consistently, it's worthless.  The Makita's are great saws, but I never cared for the miter scale on the side, to me it doesn't make sense. 

 

[David Makseyn]

Good Morning!!
I can't believe that anyone else has been having the same thoughts as I have regarding the Kapex.
I was almost afraid to post this thought for fear of causing an uproar.
There are so many great things about the saw and many not so great.
I was hoping they would all balance out and I would be alright with the tool, but it has not happened yet.
I have been using it for 2+ weeks on just about every application I can think of from rough framing to finish crown.
I even made a few dado's just to see how it worked!
I'm 5'-6" tall and my hands are small. The first couple of days I was using both hands just to turn the saw on, you know,
squeeze the trigger with one and push the top button with the other..did not seem like the way to use the tool.
I finally tried standing on a box to get a higher grip on the trigger and that seemed to work.
The next option will be to mount the saw on a shorter stand and all should be well! A mere $375 for the special table
could work too!
How about that dust collection!!! Boy, it works well! Just love the rubber shroud and the cute way it gets hung up on the stock
from time to time. The angle transfer tool has to be taken out to get the full swing on the miter scale.
Has anyone solved the mystery of placing the angle transfer tool on the table when you use it for an outside corner?
The blade is very high quality, apart from the tear-out at the back of most cuts. Mabey I should spend another $100+ for
the 80 tooth blade and see how it works. Do your crown stop table extensions line up flush with the top of your saw table?
I can't seem to get mine to sit flush, they are always slightly askew.
Bottom line here is I'm not bashing the tool! It's an engineering marvel!
I wanted to see if I'm alone in what I have had to deal with while getting used to the saw.
I'm on the fence as to keep or return.
I have a DeWalt 8 1/2"; 2:Makita 10" and my partner has a DeWalt 12" which we have used for many years with few if any
problems but not dust control, which was what drove us to try the Kapex in the first place.
Regards,
Dave

 

[Jack Rafter]

David,

You should never have a problem about voicing your opinion on a product especially after you've paid for it!

I had my doubts about the saw ever since I heard the price, and just last week I was able to get to see and use the saw first hand at Force Machinery and it's nice, but it's not $1,300.00 nice. Add in the table for another $400.00 the grape becomes a bit more sour, and oh let's not forget that you need to purchase the clamping screws to hold the saw down to the table as well.

You'd like to think that Festool would include a few $3.00 clamps in with the whole $1,700.00 purchase. Not!

 

[Jack Rafter]

mastercabman,

I bought the Hitachi C10FSB 10-inch about 3 years ago and it's a great saw for the money, about $425.00

 

[Steveo48]

I had my doubts about the saw ever since I heard the price, and just last week I was able to get to see and use the saw first hand at Force Machinery and it's nice, but it's not $1,300.00 nice. ...

I can't agree with you more.  I've used a Dewalt for a long time and have never been disappointed with it.  I know several posters have used Makita scms and have had great luck with them. 

My expectations are very high for a $1,300 scms,  I feel they missed the mark completely.  Many FOG members will of course tell you how this saw changed their life.  I'm happy for them.

David, I've taken some flack for comments about flag wavers and "being in the choir".  I really think many users just can't accept that some of these tools just arn't all that they are cracked up to be.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I agree with Joe, members shouldn't be afraid to voice their opinions about a tool. As long as they do it in a reasonable way or don't insult others with a different opinion. If a member post their complaints in a descriptive/informative manner instead of the stuff you sometimes see on the net like: "this saw sucks" or "it's a piece of sh*t". Those kinds of comments aren't useful or helpful and will only cause trouble.

...........The angle transfer tool has to be taken out to get the full swing on the miter scale.
Has anyone solved the mystery of placing the angle transfer tool on the table when you use it for an outside corner?..............

Dave, I kinda chuckled when I read your comment about the angle transfer tool on outside corners. All you have to do retract the extensions and use it as you would for an inside corner. I've not had any problems with the angle transfer tool interfering with the swing of the saw, of course I took the thing out and put it on a shelf somewhere and haven't touched it since.

 

[mastercabman]

mastercabman,

I bought the Hitachi C10FSB 10-inch about 3 years ago and it's a great saw for the money, about $425.00

JOE,i have giving some tough on that saw,read very good reviews on it.
I'm just going to take my time,i still have my BOSCH 3915 to work with.
Now, if the KAPEX was more like ~ $800.00-$900.00 i would  consider to keep her,but for $1500.00(kapex+wing extension with crown stop+tax)i just don't feel like it's the most perfect saw.

 

[Ivans Dad]

Hello!

Out of all the SCMS I have used I liked the 8 1/2" DeWalt the best.  Until the Kapex came out!  Now of course "the best"  saw is relative as it depends what you need it for, or what you hope to get out of it.  I do a lot of trim work and A LOT of staircase work and for that the Kapex is leaps and bounds ahead of the DeWalt.  If the Kapex did not exist however I would go for the DeWalt.  I used mine for 5 years and was very happy with it!  I also agree that one should always feel free to voice their opinion no matter what it is.  As long as people are respectful than difference of opinion is what makes any forum great.  Good luck finding your perfect saw!

 

[Bill Wyko]

I've never cut with the Kapex but I grabbed the handle of one on display. I felt I was reaching over it to grab the handle. I have a Dewalt 12" CSMS, never had a problem until the other night. I was cutting a piece of 4/4x10" Bubinga and the blade started cutting off the line as I slid it to the back. I think the blade was bending to the right. I ended up making the cut with my  Incra Miter 1000SE on the table saw instead. I would like to take a Kapex for a test drive for real though. It's the only way I could overcome the handle issue. BTW I'm 6'4" and still felt The reach was awkward

 

[Bob Marino]

  I agree with Brice. There is nothing wrong with posting when things aren't the way they are supposed to be.  Frankly, if done intelligently and thoughtfully (not just shooting from the hip) you are doing Festool, customers and dealers a favor! I don't think the FOG (or any other tool forum) should be a blind cheering section for those tools. We are fortunate that the overwhelming number of Festool tools and accessories have met and exceeded owner expectations, but when/if they don't, let's hear about it too.

Bob

 

[Ivans Dad]

Bill,

I have also had/used the DeWalt 12" and had the same problem.  The 8 1/2" was much better, but if the blade was a little dull or if the wood was very hard the same wobble would sometimes happen.  Having made cuts into Hickory, Jatoba, Ipe and Cumaru to name a few the Kapex cuts straight and smooth!  I agree that the handle feels awkward, but all of the positive features and quality of the cut make up for it completely (in my opinion at least). 

 

[MiterMaster]

I agree that the handle feels awkward, but all of the positive features and quality of the cut make up for it completely (in my opinion at least). 

I too have a bit of difficulty with the handle, I'm 5'8" and it is a bit of a struggle for me to hold down the safety switch and trigger, and pull the saw into position.  I'm looking into the MFT / Kapex table as it's a bit lower than what I'm currently using, so this lower height may help.

I wonder if the MFT / Kapex table legs could be cut down easily, as another few inches lower would certainly help my situation.

Mike

 

[Ivans Dad]

Mike,

I am also 5'8" and I have the MFT Kapex table.  While the handle can be awkward with some cuts, I feel pretty comfortable with the saw on the Kapex table.  I am not sure how the legs would cut. 

 

[Bill Wyko]

I will give credit where credit is due. I've been happy with every Festool purchase so far (up to 11 now). I will find a Kapex somewhere that I can actually cut something with and form my own opinion. I'd like to replace my Dewalt because my shop is so small that the saw protruding out the back requires a lot of space be sucked up. With the Kapex the guide rods are in front which would reduce my bench size by about a foot. If it meets my expectations, the awkward handle will not be an issue.

 

[Neill]

I will give credit where credit is due. I've been happy with every Festool purchase so far (up to 11 now). I will find a Kapex somewhere that I can actually cut something with and form my own opinion. I'd like to replace my Dewalt because my shop is so small that the saw protruding out the back requires a lot of space be sucked up. With the Kapex the guide rods are in front which would reduce my bench size by about a foot. If it meets my expectations, the awkward handle will not be an issue.

Bill -

It might be more economical to rent a larger shop.

Neill

 

[wnagle]

I am wondering about the awkardness of the handle on the kapex.  I don't have one yet but when I tried it in the store, I only had to squeeze the triger to move the saw down into position.  Then once it was down and more comfortable I could hit the thumb button and trigger at the same time.  Im only 5-8 too.  Now the saw wasn't plugged in so I don't know if it reacts differently under power.  But my conclusion was that if I hit the thumb and trigger at the same time when the saw was fully in the upright position it was a little awkward but in two steps the trigger to lower and then the thumb to turn on, it seemed ok.  Am I missing something here?

 

[waynew]

I am wondering about the awkardness of the handle on the kapex.  I don't have one yet but when I tried it in the store, I only had to squeeze the triger to move the saw down into position.  Then once it was down and more comfortable I could hit the thumb button and trigger at the same time.  Im only 5-8 too.  Now the saw wasn't plugged in so I don't know if it reacts differently under power.  But my conclusion was that if I hit the thumb and trigger at the same time when the saw was fully in the upright position it was a little awkward but in two steps the trigger to lower and then the thumb to turn on, it seemed ok.  Am I missing something here?

Your right Wayne, I'm 5'8" and this is exactly how I have been using the saw. You only need to depress the lock button a little to release the head, once in position press the power button, it takes very little getting use to and works well.

Best,
Wayne

 

[Steveo48]

..... I was cutting a piece of 4/4x10" Bubinga and the blade started cutting off the line as I slid it to the back. I think the blade was bending to the right. .....

4 x 4 bubinga?    That is a a thick piece of some very hard tropical wood!  Could the blade just not been sharp enough to cut that? 

Bubinga has a specific gravity and weight well beyond that of hard maple and red oak.  It's some of the hardest wood I've ever used, and that includes purple heart and ebony.

 

[Jimhart]

Steveo,

Realizing your post may have been tougue-in-cheek and I'm walking right into it, the bubinga post said 4/4, not 4X4. 

Jim