Even though I have been a very happy owner of my Kapex (for just over three years and mostly for light work) and the saw is allegedly still under warranty (5 yrs for Canada), I would not knowingly recommend this saw if my opinion is sought. I would not have bought this saw myself if I had been a member of this Forum back then, knowing the story about this saw. It is the most expensive Festool machine I have bought, but the least assuring one in terms of confidence about its life span.
What happened to my kapex?
- Thread starter Gunder
- Start date
jmbfestool
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- 6,646
DeformedTree said:
Like Gregor said this would only work if the repaired ones lasted but they don’t, mine burnt out twice both 3 years apart.
Reading others and with my experience the average life span of a professionally used kapex would be 3-4years which is pretty poor
JimH2 said:
It lived its entire "short" life on a dedicated 20 amp circuit.
Well they at least provided me with a ups label to send it in.. So thats a good sign so far. Damn box to ship it cost $65 at the ups store tho... Had I known this issue was so prevalent I would not have bought the kapex. All of my other festools have been amazing so far, and I love how the Kapex performed when it operated. I travel a lot for work, so when I am home I only have a limited amount of time for woodworking / projects thus is why I always try to buy the best tools available as I dont have patience for tools not performing when I need them too.
Really hard to say . . . I am keeping mine because it is a little over three years old, not three weeks. :
I do think using the saw by itself on a 20A outlet won't change the fate of my saw (or motor), but I am doing it just to make myself feel better. The cuts are just unmatched by any compound mitre saws I have used, in addition to its dust collection superiority. My previous three-way mitre project would not have been possible without this saw (and the DF500).
I do think using the saw by itself on a 20A outlet won't change the fate of my saw (or motor), but I am doing it just to make myself feel better. The cuts are just unmatched by any compound mitre saws I have used, in addition to its dust collection superiority. My previous three-way mitre project would not have been possible without this saw (and the DF500).
Corey P. said:
Without a peep from Festool, it's hard to justify even with the warranty. This is a tool whose life should be measured in decades. The only justification for keeping it is if it helps you do something no other saw will do and that abililty is worth the price of admission. That's something you have to weigh. And even then, if it's out of commission, what impact does that have on you? If you potentially have to lug around (or keep) a back up saw, maybe it's not worth the hassle?
JFelchlin
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- Apr 8, 2007
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- 216
Hey Jobsworth:
I hear ya, Man.
From reading the FOG - Day to day - Week to week - Month to month - I’m not sure -
But there seems to be a “pattern” with these Festool failures/problems.
1.
The failures/problems appear to be with the more popular/“larger” Festool products...
Kapex... TS 55... Domino Joiners... Dust Extractors...
The “smaller” Festool products - Drills and Sanders - Seldom seem to have problems.
2.
Not ALL of these particular more popular/“larger” Festool products are having failures/problems.
But, the number appears to be large enough to warrant frustrations/misgivings about past and future Festool purchases.
3.
The failures/problems seem to be with the “sold when brand new” tools.
There seldom are many postings about Recon products having failures/problems.
4.
Lastly - And to your point Jobsworth - The failures/problems posted - Seem to be about these popular/“larger” Festool products - Manufactured during the last few years.
Like your 7-8 year old Kapex -
NONE of my “OLDER” manufactured Festool products - Have had any failures/problems.
(My Domino XL DF700EQ - Bought in FEB 2016 - Was a “disaster”. Festool finally replaced it with a new one - Calibrated by Festool Service before shipping it to me.)
I’m not sure if my FOG readings/analysis is totally “right on”. But...
It makes ya wonder: What’s changed at Festool the last few years?
I do know this: I love my Festool tools/products. I wouldn’t sell ‘em or trade ‘em.
And I’ll buy tools off the Recon posts. I do it believing that they’ve been “checked out”.
(I’ve bought a couple the last few months.)
Festool can keep ignoring the situation - And “denying” they have a problem.
But, I won’t be buying any of Festool’s “larger” NEWLY MANUFACTURED products -
Until I stop seeing failures/problems about ‘em on the FOG.
Bet I’m not alone. [unsure]
I hear ya, Man.
From reading the FOG - Day to day - Week to week - Month to month - I’m not sure -
But there seems to be a “pattern” with these Festool failures/problems.
1.
The failures/problems appear to be with the more popular/“larger” Festool products...
Kapex... TS 55... Domino Joiners... Dust Extractors...
The “smaller” Festool products - Drills and Sanders - Seldom seem to have problems.
2.
Not ALL of these particular more popular/“larger” Festool products are having failures/problems.
But, the number appears to be large enough to warrant frustrations/misgivings about past and future Festool purchases.
3.
The failures/problems seem to be with the “sold when brand new” tools.
There seldom are many postings about Recon products having failures/problems.
4.
Lastly - And to your point Jobsworth - The failures/problems posted - Seem to be about these popular/“larger” Festool products - Manufactured during the last few years.
Like your 7-8 year old Kapex -
NONE of my “OLDER” manufactured Festool products - Have had any failures/problems.
(My Domino XL DF700EQ - Bought in FEB 2016 - Was a “disaster”. Festool finally replaced it with a new one - Calibrated by Festool Service before shipping it to me.)
I’m not sure if my FOG readings/analysis is totally “right on”. But...
It makes ya wonder: What’s changed at Festool the last few years?
I do know this: I love my Festool tools/products. I wouldn’t sell ‘em or trade ‘em.
And I’ll buy tools off the Recon posts. I do it believing that they’ve been “checked out”.
(I’ve bought a couple the last few months.)
Festool can keep ignoring the situation - And “denying” they have a problem.
But, I won’t be buying any of Festool’s “larger” NEWLY MANUFACTURED products -
Until I stop seeing failures/problems about ‘em on the FOG.
Bet I’m not alone. [unsure]
chrisrosenb
Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2007
- Messages
- 1,265
What year did Festool start building the bad Kapexs?
RKA said:
Yeah, that's the shitty part for sure. I'm going to reach out to them and see if they'll offer an extended warranty passed the 3 years. If they believe in their products, they should stand behind them. I'm sure others have tried as well, but I'll at least see what they say and voice my concern.
And, OP, I was of course not rubbing in the fact that your machine was 3 years old, I was only asking since I'm still under my 30 day period, and would like as many opinions as possible. For the price of the machine, I expect quality and longevity. If I were in your shoes, I'd definitely want to help someone out if they were within their return period. Any advice either way is appreciated.
I feel sorry for you regarding your expensive mistake. I also feel a bit aggrieved that so many of your peers are similarly affected too. It's down to the company, I believe, to do the right thing: remove these duds immediately from sale & offer unfortunate purchasers full refunds.
The company has clearly had sufficient time to increase the diameter of the windings within the motor to handle the doubled (low voltage) current, but have chosen not to. Likewise, consumers have had more than adequate time to either choose an alternative, more robust & reliable product or divest themselves of their erroneous purchase.
Those that continue to purchase this clearly inadequate low-voltage version of this palpably faulty product should however accept responsibility for their own mistake/s. Just as somebody who purchases property in a bushfire/flood/landslide/earthquake/cyclone prone environment, or seafront property at risk of erosion post 1970 (when the effects of global warming/CO2/Methane atmospheric increase became well publicised) must likewise shoulder responsibility for their poor decision making.
Given that the problem of the Kapex field coil windings' inability to handle normal household levels of 110v current has been well publicised for at least the past 3 years, and possibly much longer, it's perhaps a mite disingenuous to expect the company to warrant their faulty product beyond the statutory 3 year period.
The company is allowed, perhaps even justified, in selling dud merchandise, provided warranty protection extends to the publicised 3 year period. The Caveat Emptor clause nevertheless applies to those foolish enough to ignore the ample warnings published by others. If you knowingly purchase a lemon, then one shouldn't be surprised with the resultant mess that will all but inevitably ensue.
The company has clearly had sufficient time to increase the diameter of the windings within the motor to handle the doubled (low voltage) current, but have chosen not to. Likewise, consumers have had more than adequate time to either choose an alternative, more robust & reliable product or divest themselves of their erroneous purchase.
Those that continue to purchase this clearly inadequate low-voltage version of this palpably faulty product should however accept responsibility for their own mistake/s. Just as somebody who purchases property in a bushfire/flood/landslide/earthquake/cyclone prone environment, or seafront property at risk of erosion post 1970 (when the effects of global warming/CO2/Methane atmospheric increase became well publicised) must likewise shoulder responsibility for their poor decision making.
Given that the problem of the Kapex field coil windings' inability to handle normal household levels of 110v current has been well publicised for at least the past 3 years, and possibly much longer, it's perhaps a mite disingenuous to expect the company to warrant their faulty product beyond the statutory 3 year period.
The company is allowed, perhaps even justified, in selling dud merchandise, provided warranty protection extends to the publicised 3 year period. The Caveat Emptor clause nevertheless applies to those foolish enough to ignore the ample warnings published by others. If you knowingly purchase a lemon, then one shouldn't be surprised with the resultant mess that will all but inevitably ensue.
Brice Burrell
Member
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- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 7,385
JD2720 said:
This issue has been ongoing since the Kapex's release. An interesting point, Festool offers a longer warranty for the Kapex in Canada, but not the US.
Cheese
Member
Brice Burrell said:
Canada
= 5 years [big grin]USA
= 3 years [mad]
I may be wrong but I think that the 5 year warranty in Canada is not on the entire tool - just the motor. Unfortunately I didn't find anything on the Festool Canada website. That might just be due to my hasty searching.
Peter
Peter
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