What tool is more heavy duty,Bosch or Festool?

[CumminsDiesel]

Hi guys!I'm new on this forum and after read so many positive reviews I'm very impressed about  Festool tool.I'm a finish carpenter and have a Bosch tools except chop saw,10" DeWalt.I'm going to replace my DeWalt saw with 10" sliding saw Bosch or Festool.My question is what tool is more heavy duty,for tough work,abuse work ,Bosch or Festool?Thanks for replay.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Are planning on moving your saw from job to job or room
to room?  I had the 12" Bosch slider, it was a nice saw,
it is just way too heavy.  Kapex is 47 pounds, about 30
less then the Bosch.

As far as build quality and precieved durability, I think
the kapex wins that one as well.

 

[Fredrik.e]

i got Kapex and i am a carpenter that do almost everything in the field , mount cabinet , framing etc. and its the best i tried  ,downside  with kapex is that it dont have a good stand but i got a dewalt stand and they work good together

 

[mastercabman]

For years that's all i used,Bosch!  Very good tools.
Now it's just about all Festool.I still like the Bosch.I use to work with the 10" Bosch scms(3915)Worked with it for about 8 years.
I replaced it with the Kapex because i wanted something light,accurate,good dust control and capacity.And the Bosch needs to have parts replace(bearings,brushes,blade guard.....)
I don't know much about the newer Bosch models,but it does look big and heavy.
Whitch one will last longer?        :-\

 

[EcoFurniture]

For years that's all i used,Bosch!  Very good tools.
Now it's just about all Festool.I still like the Bosch.I use to work with the 10" Bosch scms(3915)Worked with it for about 8 years.
I replaced it with the Kapex because i wanted something light,accurate,good dust control and capacity.And the Bosch needs to have parts replace(bearings,brushes,blade guard.....)
I don't know much about the newer Bosch models,but it does look big and heavy.
Whitch one will last longer?         :-\

I think both, the Bosch and Festool will last for quite a while. The only difference will be, that the Kapex you can and will be able to fix in 10 years down the road.. The bosch possibly too, but at what expense and hassle?

 

[CumminsDiesel]

WOW!Thank you guys for so fast replay.Yes,I'm moving my saw from job to job and yes,Bosch seems to be a very heavy,I have a Bosch table saw and its a really heavy saw.So,I'm thinking now more about Festool.Great product!

 

[Dane]

If you are a finish carp, go with the Festool if you can swing it.  I have had a few Bosch saws and while all of them are really durable, I don't think that the miter saws are as easy to adjust to perfection as the Kapex.  The dust collection can't be denied either, a huge plus.  I would bet that the time you save getting accuracy on the first cut will pay for the saw inside of a year.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Both are good machines.  Might just be me, but I have had a few frustrating experiences trying to get Bosch parts, even for stuff thats not very old.  Not a problem with Festool and if anything does go wrong, they will make it right, whatever it takes.  Their customer service is actually someone on the phone who knows the tools - rare these days.  These two things give Festool a big edge in my book.

 

[mastercabman]

For years that's all i used,Bosch!  Very good tools.
Now it's just about all Festool.I still like the Bosch.I use to work with the 10" Bosch scms(3915)Worked with it for about 8 years.
I replaced it with the Kapex because i wanted something light,accurate,good dust control and capacity.And the Bosch needs to have parts replace(bearings,brushes,blade guard.....)
I don't know much about the newer Bosch models,but it does look big and heavy.
Whitch one will last longer?         :-\

I think both, the Bosch and Festool will last for quite a while. The only difference will be, that the Kapex you can and will be able to fix in 10 years down the road.. The bosch possibly too, but at what expense and hassle?

You are right! I went to a Bosch certify service place and they gave a rought estimate of over $300.00 to put my saw in good running condition.
Just the guard was almost $100.00. ??? ???  I lost mine after taking it off because of a bent moving part that made the saw head hard to move.
So i decided to put the money toward another saw.

 

[Holzhacker]

Which tool is more heavy duty isn't really the best question in this case. As others have mentioned, the daily use requirements are more relevant with a chop saw. Weight and size are the big factors. If you are hauling the chopsaw, the Kapex would be a better option. If theft is a concern, the Bosch is a better option. No one is moving quick trying to haul off a Bosch chopsaw. DC is better on the Kapex. Accuracy on the Kapex seems over-hyped to me.
I've never been big on relying on the numbers/scale on any saw. I believe in field adjustments, knowing your tool and what setting is really what precise point. I don't care how good of a 45 a saw can cut because rarely is field work actually 45. Precise cuts so that you aren't pushing putty into gaps are a 1/2 or full degree one way or the other. For me knowing my chopsaw is far more important. My piece of crap old Hitachi can still make very precise miters but that's only because I know the saw.
I've checked out the Kapex and won't buy one based on the price. Way too high for what it is and there have been problems with it. If I were hauling a chopsaw from job to job daily I might rationalize a Kapex. Kapex wins on size and weight, the rest IMO is hype.
My Bosch doesn't moves more on a weekly/monthly basis, rather than day to day. It's big, heavy and works really well. For 1/2 the price of a Kapex I'd buy the Bosch and use the rest of the money for something else.
Parts? Don't care, usually not worth it. If it needs any substantial parts buying a new one is usually more cost effective.

 

[Deansocial]

i would buy, either a makita or a dewalt chop saw if i bought another. The accuracy of the kapex is no better in my opinion, maybe a tad quicker to set but that wouldn't justify spending twice as much. As for a laser, i wouldn't be intrested in using 1 and the dewalt has a beter idea with a light above the blade as a shadow is always right unlike a laser that move. as for size i cant see the festool being much smaller or ligher to justify the cost

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Well, ???,there is problem for me.Actually I'm a picky man,and for me a precision and quality is very important.For me DeWalt seems to be not heavy duty.My brother work for a big company and they use a lot of DeWalt grinders,now they use only all Bosch grinders,he said all DeWalt just can't stand with a heavy duty metal work.So,I think weight is not a big factor for me,I need a tool for so many years,so the precision,quality and durability is important.

 

[justinmcf]

hi mr diesel. and welcome to the fog.

i cannot answer your question whether or not the kapex is durable because it is a very new product.

i bought mine for workshop use. i have only brought it onsite once for installing stairs, pelmets, skirting and architraves.
the lasers dont like being moved around in a truck too much, i had to reset the lasers after setting up onsite.
but it was a joy to use onsite and i wish i could afford 2 of them!

i would not use the kapex for framing. it is too expensive and i know what damage i have done to other saws in the past with long lengths of timber framing.
i prefer the makita 10 inch saw, LS 1013 for rough work. i also use it for finish work too.
i also like the 12 inch makita version as long as someone else walks it up the ladder/scaffolding!

i know some others on this site use the kapex for framing and are very happy to do so.
maybe they make more money than me!

i dont like the bosch saws at all. or the hitachi saw.
if all you are doing is finish/trimming work.
then i highly recommend the kapex.

btw, you should change your profile, so we can see what country you are from. it may help answer questions in the future.

regards, justin.

 

[Holzhacker]

I'm not a big Dewalt fan either. The only Dewalt I have that has lasted is the small cordless saw. The rest have all died. I also wouldn't rec the modern Hitachi's. I don't like Ridgid tools overall due to weight. A friend has a lot of their stuff including the chopsaw. It is a nice saw to use, wouldn't want to move it either though. Bosch or Makita would be my rec.
Another thought I have had about the Kapex is it's lack of size being an issue. Having only 'played' with a Kapex and not owning one, it seems to me that the Kapex doesn't provide much material support due to it's lack of size. My Bosch  on the other hand, big and heavy, provides a good amount of material support. Maybe that is why so many of the Kapex guys buy extensions and supports.
I think if you buy a standard chopsaw, you are buying a chopsaw.
If you buy a Kapex, you are buying a miter saw system. Sound familiar? The saw is 1300, throw in another 100+ for tax, an extension, supports, Kapex mft, or other accessories and one is easily pushing $2000+ for a 'chop saw system'. Sounds pretty slick but way to rich for my blood. Also seems like a lot of stuff to haul into a job. I'm sure I am also somewhat jaded from working in a urban environment where theft is a real issue.
I would think it really comes down to they type of work you do. For me it isn't worth it. If I were doing the type of stuff, say Dan R. on this site does, I might consider it a worthwhile expense. As Justin eluded to, for framing a Kapex might be overkill. Buy a standard chopsaw and a T15 or a couple of sanders.
As a note, I consider Festool high priced but worth it. The Kapex and a few odds and ends are really the only items I consider overpriced and ridiculous.

 

[justinmcf]

hi holzhacker.
i love the kapex, but i reckon the kapex mft and extensions are a complete waste of money. festool obviously thinks the same, as they have a new bench system coming next month.
i cringe every time i see the kapex mft extension legs, what were they thinking!

regards, justin.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Switching from my 12" bosch to the kapex, I have not really noticed any difference in material support.

In all honesty, the extensions kind of irk me.  They look nice, everyone liked the saw helper stuff (which is just as pricey as the kapex one's), festools seem
really nice but, may be a hassel to set-up and break down.

I don't know what to think about the new stand with wheels.

On a good note, I really like my kapex mft/3.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Thank you guys.So,what i think,I need an extension to support long material like a 12'-16',and buy extension from Festool - not the best idea.For example I like this extension more than Festool:  http://www.sawhelper.com/index.php  Justin,you said - "  festool obviously thinks the same, as they have a new bench system coming next month..." What is the bench system.Do you have any pictures?I look at CPO Bosch site and find this: http://www.cpotools.com/bosch-t4b-gravity-rise-wheeled-miter-saw-stand/bshnt4b,default,pd.html?start=10&cgid=bosch-miter-saws  So,what you think?

 

[justinmcf]

hi diesel.

here are a few photos of the new kapex stand.
it looks very similar to the bosch you have provided....
the kapex extensions appear to be solid where as the bosch are a little more light weight.
i prefer the solid legs/extensions.  you may prefer different...

regards, justin.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

hi diesel.

here are a few photos of the new kapex stand.
it looks very similar to the bosch you have provided....
the kapex extensions appear to be solid where as the bosch are a little more light weight.
i prefer the solid legs/extensions.  you may prefer different...

regards, justin.

Thank you,justin.I so like Festool extension,much better than Bosch design.

 

[justinmcf]

hi diesel. in your profile it says wa.

what does wa mean?

down under we would easily make the mistake of saying you are from w.a. (western australia).
i am guessing you are not aussie.......

regards, justin.