What have you found as your primary complaints of the Kapex?

[Fred West]

Nick's question got me thinking so please all Henderson attendees and those on both sides of the pond that already have a Kapex, what major issues have you found. Also are any of you still experiencing the light metal on metal scraping noise mentioned last year in one of the bevel settings? Thank you and I am anxiously awaiting my Kapex, Fred  8)

 

[nickao]

I can tell you one Fred and I have never used the saw. Price ;D

 

[Fred West]

And yet Nick, if it cuts those 32 pieces accurately and you have your complete circle well what say you then? 8) Fred

 

[nickao]

Oh I am paying for it. The dust collections alone will be worth it for me. The accuracy will be great too!

Nickao

 

[lagunaboo]

Mine did have a slight scraping noise on the bevel, but as said in my previous post. mine just went back to festool for the fence and laser.

when it returned, no scraping. I hadnt mentioned it in my service record but it was cured.

 

[Per Swenson]

On a first impression basis,

and I mean very first.

I was leery about ergonomics.

Silly me. 

Any way, it was the position my wrist was in when addressing the trigger.

Come to think about,

I have a problem with each and every new tool I encounter.

Obviously its me and not the tool.

I guess we could define this as acclimation.

By the end of the second day, and sneaking out of the class

to grasp that baby, I had no problems what so ever.

Per

 

[jo041326]

Hi,
I have some problems with table inserts. They are made from very soft plastic and when there is a kickback - even smaller - they are smashed into pieces. I have my Kapex for two months and have smashed 4 table inserts!
Josef

 

[Eli]

I would like a more robust insert as well, but I was aware they could be broken and have been a bit careful. Sometimes.
Other times I just whack away at it and haven't broken one yet.

 

[mrwilby]

The adjustable fence is a POS. It's machined out of soft aluminium and will very easily stick and jam on the machined rail/track that it runs on. The quality control of this item appears poor as even my replacement still sticks. Oh, and watch out for sawdust in the same track. That will also kill it.

 

[Jim Becker]

So, Per...you're just saying that it takes you a little time to get a grip?  ;D

On a first impression basis,

and I mean very first.

I was leery about ergonomics.

Silly me. 

Any way, it was the position my wrist was in when addressing the trigger.

Come to think about,

I have a problem with each and every new tool I encounter.

Obviously its me and not the tool.

I guess we could define this as acclimation.

By the end of the second day, and sneaking out of the class

to grasp that baby, I had no problems what so ever.

Per

 

[Thomas R]

Well, I can't see the laser in direct sunlight but that was to be expected.
None of the above mentioned issues (yet).

 

[Eli]

The adjustable fence is a POS. It's machined out of soft aluminium and will very easily stick and jam on the machined rail/track that it runs on. The quality control of this item appears poor as even my replacement still sticks. Oh, and watch out for sawdust in the same track. That will also kill it.

There's a thread about this. Try some wax or lube on the sliding surfaces. Check for burrs.

I think it's soft metal because it can be cut by the blade (as opposed to damaging the blade when cut)

 

[Eli]

Wear red glasses to see the laser in direct sunlight ;D ;D ;D

 

[Fred West]

Eli, you did say thanks and because you did I promptly forgot to reply to your email.  Sorry about that. Fred

 

[Eli]

no worries. ;D

 

[jonny round boy]

I find that the only real problem I have with the Kapex is as follows.

I have my vac hose & a plug-it cord permanently attached to each other - used to be with cable ties, but following someone else's example on here (can't remember who) I got some braided sleeving and now have that with heat-shrink on each end.

When I plug the hose in, no matter which direction I orient the port, when I pull the saw forward the loose plug-it ends up falling down between the sliders & gets caught in the mechanism!!!

I now have to have an elastic band permanently round the hose, so I can use it to hold the loose plug-it back out of the way.

Plug-its are a genius of an idea, but once you get used to them it makes using any tool without one a pain in the rear...

Maybe that's where I should keep the spare plug it  .... ;D ;D ;D

 

[Thomas R]

Wear red glasses to see the laser in direct sunlight ;D ;D ;D

Thanks Eli for reminding me!.....I own a pair, came with my indoor laser level (Geo Fennel FL 40).
Never used them before, but I will try them on next week.

Thomas

 

[mrwilby]

The adjustable fence is a POS. It's machined out of soft aluminium and will very easily stick and jam on the machined rail/track that it runs on. The quality control of this item appears poor as even my replacement still sticks. Oh, and watch out for sawdust in the same track. That will also kill it.

There's a thread about this. Try some wax or lube on the sliding surfaces. Check for burrs.

I think it's soft metal because it can be cut by the blade (as opposed to damaging the blade when cut)

Yes, I've seen it. Trust me, no amount of wax or lube would help on my original fence. The machining quality was Dire - and I mean with a captial D.

I haven't disassembled my replacement to check if it is any better... No doubt I will do that at some point soon...

 

[Eli]

Post a picture please, I want to see what Festool production techniques look like when they result in something "Dire" (note capital D). What is your location please Mr. Wilby? Welcome to the forum.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I agree with Eli, are you sure it was the machining quality, I bet some type of hard debris made its way between the pieces and cut into the metal producing a few burrs. Festool is know for high quality machining, I don't think your Kapex left the factory with any part that could be described as dire. I'm not suggesting you didn't have a problem or that Festool shouldn't look into improving this design.