US kapex support wings

[WarnerConstCo.]

I just got a set of these used, thanks Bob Plunske, and I am going to be doing some alterations and just basic site functionality tests and reviews.

First notes:

1. They were heavier then I thought they would be, still not that heavy though.
2. Holy mess of parts and pieces, too many things and I know I will loose some.
3. Set up wasn't too bad for my first time and sans directions (left them at home).
4. Pretty solid set up, worked great for cutting up 14' sticks of crown all day.

I am going to do a couple things to them, use a single leg set up like is on portable shop lights, tri-pod.
Throw the tape measures in a box never to see the light of day again.

More to come in the next couple weeks.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

4 trips to get my saw set up is one issue I have with these.
Lots of bits and pieces to put together, so it takes a few minutes to set up.

I will time myself tomorrow.

bowed mouldings will give you some issues.

 

[tbellemare]

bowed mouldings will give you some issues.

I'm curious what you mean by that?

Tom

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

bowed mouldings will give you some issues.

I'm curious what you mean by that?

Tom

A 10' piece of 3 1/4" wide by over 3/4" thick casing will give you some fits if it has a bow in it.
Hard to push the piece up to the fence straight and be able to get consistent results. 
I resorted to pushing the supports back a bit so I could get the piece tight to the saw fence.

Crown moulding has no real issues, it is actually really nice.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

So, I really like the flag stops.

I also used them as an extra set of hands in conjunction with my mft/3 (almost ordered another one today).

The two leg stands kind of annoy me, need to get one making a new leg.

Still a bit time consuming to set up but, not too bad. Except for the knobs that I have a hard time getting my hands on and the knobs on the leg supports hit each other.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Here are a few pics.

 

[tiralie]

Nice setup.
Looks like the step ladder/systainer did the trick holding up that corner.
I am looking for a solution for my Kapex and your write up is helpful.
I have the MFT which is unbelievably sturdy and works great with the MFT 3's.
I still have problems with those legs mounted on the ends of the aluminum extrusions, it just looks like they would "torsion" off the stand if you aren't careful.
Thanks

 

[Neill]

Just curious as to why you would bother to set up your vac when you are outside.

Seems like sawdust might actually help the lawn.

Neill

 

[danrush]

I always set up my vac when cutting outside....  it stops the dust blowing on me and in my eyes, and assists with clean-up.

Dan

 

[Neill]

I always set up my vac when cutting outside....  it stops the dust blowing on me and in my eyes, and assists with clean-up.

Dan

Dan,

I can certainly see the advantages you mention.  I guess, as many things are, it's a matter of personal preference.

In cutting on grass, I would love for the sawdust to get into the lawn and provide some natural mulch.  I wouldn't want to do it with pressure treated, but even then it would probably do no harm.

At our home here in Colorado we have stones around the shrubs in our landscaping.  When we lived in New Jersey and had mulch in the beds I always saved my sawdust and would scatter it around in the planting beds.  It would decompose very quickly.  Certainly better than throwing it away.

Neill

 

[ccarrolladams]

Just curious as to why you would bother to set up your vac when you are outside.

Seems like sawdust might actually help the lawn.

Neill

The glue which is a significant part of plywood sawdust, is not good for growing things.

Also, Festools with dust extraction ports are designed to be used with such dust extraction. This insure the toold stays clean and is correctly cooled while in use.

Besides, as has been said, extracting dust keeps wind blowing into the face of the craftsperson. Festool is concerned about our health!

 

[Neill]

Just curious as to why you would bother to set up your vac when you are outside.

Seems like sawdust might actually help the lawn.

Neill

The glue which is a significant part of plywood sawdust, is not good for growing things.

Also, Festools with dust extraction ports are designed to be used with such dust extraction. This insure the toold stays clean and is correctly cooled while in use.

Besides, as has been said, extracting dust keeps wind blowing into the face of the craftsperson. Festool is concerned about our health!

CCA,

Good thought about the glue.  Too much formaldehyde makes me sick, literally.

Neill

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

The kapex and ts-55 spews sawdust every where.

I like to keep it hooked up, like Dan said, keeps the dust out of your eyes.

I want to make a single leg set-up instead of the two legs.

So far it is not too bad.

I didn't cut any ply in the yard, just poplar.

 

[unityroad]

hello. nice setup. I allways have a trash can  near the saw for debris. Other than that, very nice. [smile]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Think twice about spreading sawdust in planting beds around a house.  It may attract termites or carpenter ants.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

hello. nice setup. I allways have a trash can  near the saw for debris. Other than that, very nice. [smile]

There were a couple empty 5 gallon buckets there just for that purpose.

 

[honeydoman]

nice set up,  since you are on the lawn, why do you even need a stand?  didn't you see my lawn set up?  lol [thumbs up]

 

[fshanno]

Why would you need a sliding saw if you have an MFT on site?  Wouldn't a large CMS (non-sliding) be fine?  It could handle crown and base standing up just as well as a SCMS couldn't it?  Isn't a quality CMS more stable than a SCMS for that detail work 6" and under?  Wouldn't a properly setup MFT handle flat crosscutting better than a SCMS anyway?  Just thinking out loud. 

I could see rigging up a kind of assembly set up with a miter saw and the MFT crosscut bridge sort if in line with each other and somehow sharing fences and stops and material support.  Am I dreaming? 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Why would you need a sliding saw if you have an MFT on site?  Wouldn't a large CMS (non-sliding) be fine?  It could handle crown and base standing up just as well as a SCMS couldn't it?  Isn't a quality CMS more stable than a SCMS for that detail work 6" and under?   Wouldn't a properly setup MFT handle flat crosscutting better than a SCMS anyway?  Just thinking out loud.  

I could see rigging up a kind of assembly set up with a miter saw and the MFT crosscut bridge sort if in line with each other and somehow sharing fences and stops and material support.  Am I dreaming?  

I don't want to have multiple miter saws.  The kapex does everything I need it to.

As far as cutting with the mft/3, too slow.  I set the flag stop on my extensions and just kept feeding fresh stock.
With the mft/3 you have to keep lifting up the rail and take the saw off.  Plus you need a ton of out feed to cut up 16' long sticks of poplar on the mft/3.  
The mft/3 seems backwards to me, having the keeper on the left.

The extensions need a single leg with a tripod set up.  The 2 legs on them is too fussy.

 

[voodoochile]

That's a very nice setup. I can't help but agree on the remark about all the little bits and pieces with some Festool products, but so far it seems that the bit of extra set-up time is directly offset by the better performance and reduced cleanup time. Especially when working indoors. I agree that running the extractor does a lot to keep the tool's cooling vents clear, which can only help with longevity.