 | Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw |
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Average customer review:
(9 customer reviews)
Product Description
The Festool Kapex miter saw comes with Festools high-quality 60-tooth carbide blade for use when cutting woods or soft plastics , the angle transfer device, a hold-down clamp for securing material, and a wrench for unit adjustments. Compact and lightweight at 21.5 kg (47 lbs). Use the fine adjustment knob to control bevel angles in fractions of a degree. The bevel knob has three settings: positive detents at 0 and -45 degrees, free movement between -45 and +45 degrees, and free movement up to +/- 47 degrees. Bevels can be made to the left or right, and the bevel gauge appears on both sides of the saw. The Kapex blade creates a thin kerf which reduces load on the motor and improves the cut quality. The blades are specially designed to reduce noise levels and dampen vibration. The large 30mm arbor hole reduces blade deflection. A special cutting position allows the Kapex to have a cutting capacity as large as 4-3/4" (120mm). The deck height of the Kapex matches the height of our Systainer 1 storage containers. On the job site, you can use one or more systainers to support the material being cut. The difference in height between the MFT/3 and MFT/3-Kapex multifunction tables is also equal to the height of the deck providing optimal work flow and support. The Magnesium alloy base of the Kapex was designed to be extremely rigid and durable yet very lightweight. Rubber feet in each corner provide useful traction and fit into the grid hole pattern of any Festool multi-function table. Features Festools patented FastFix blade change system. Turning the FastFix knob locks the arbor, mechanically locks out the trigger, and allows the blade to be changed with a single hand. Dual-line lasers define the entire cut area. Festool products can only be sold in the 50 states.Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #33791 in Home Improvement
- Brand: Festool
- Model: KS 120 EB
- Dimensions: 19.75" h x 23.00" w x 29.00" l, 39.99 pounds
Features
- The Kapex features a rail forward design which increases precision and creates a compact footprint while preventing head play for accurate cuts.
- Easily align cuts from the left or right side using the dual lasers. The lasers clearly define the material which will be removed during the cut.
- Micro-adjustable bevel angle with up-front rotary knob. Large bevel scale and fine pointers make it easy to set precise bevel angles.
- Dust extraction up to 91% with behind the cut dust hood and pivoting 36 mm hose.
- Includes an angle transfer device which automatically bisects transferred angles to the saw and aligns using the dual line laser.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Compact and incredibly precise, the Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw delivers professional results in the workshop and on the job site. Advanced electronics, dual laser guides, micro-bevel adjustments, quick-release fences, and easy-to-reference scales all help you maintain control over cuts. And a host of other smart features help keep the saw's footprint small and its body light and portable--all without sacrificing power, accuracy, or dust extraction capability.
Dual Laser Design for Accurate Setups
The dual lasers clearly define the material which will be removed during the cut, and their design allows you to align cuts from the left right side of the Kapex KS 120. Three-axis adjustment controls make fine-tuning the lasers easy, and the lasers are electrically powered and require no batteries. Also, a convenient button allows them to be operated without turning on the saw.
Once you've determined your cut line, a center-positioned handle allows you to make cuts with either hand, while a two-stage trigger helps prevent accidental triggering.
Precise Miter Scale, Miter Lock, and Angle Transfer
The Kapex KS 120's etched, stainless-steel miter scale offers large, easy-to-read angles--up to 50-degrees on the left and 60-degrees on the right. Positioned far from the axis of rotation, this scale allows for setups that are accurate within fractions of a degree. And once you've identified the desired setting, the miter lock on the Kapex provides an extremely aggressive hold to prevent inadvertent movement--even when near a positive detent.
Transfer of inside and outside angles from your work piece to the Kapex KS 120 is quick and easy, thanks to the included MiterFast angle-transfer device, which provides a reflective surface for use with the saw's lasers, as well as a sturdy lock that prevents slippage and keeps measurements accurate.
Fine Bevel Adjustment and Secure Bevel Lock
The Kapex KS 120 allows for both left and right bevels, and a fine-adjustment knob controls the bevel of each cut within fractions of a degree. This bevel knob features three settings: positive detents at 0 and -45 degrees, free movement between -45 and +45 degrees, and free movement up to +/-47 degrees.
The knob rotates and engages a rack and pinion to move the head, which is counter spring balanced. This means that once you set a bevel angle there's no need to worry about it shifting before you engage the dependable bevel lock.
For added convenience, there are bevel gauges on both sides of the saw, and the large bevel-adjustment scale is easy to read.
Keyed Clamp and Compact Rail-Forward Design
For added peace of mind, your work piece is held in place by a sturdy, nonslip clamp, which is keyed to make insertion and removal of materials quick and easy. A single, lever-actuated cam-lock secures the clamp in place and a rubber pad protects your work piece, while the clamp's oblong foot provides a flat surface to place against the saw's fence.
Also contributing to the Kapex KS 120's accuracy is its rail-forward design. The saw's robust, 30-millimeter rails are set wide apart to prevent head play and ensure smooth, accurate cuts. This design also allows the saw to be placed against a wall during use, which saves valuable workspace.
Versatile Blade and Unique Cutting Positions
The Kapex KS 120 uses specially designed thin-kerf blades that reduce stress on the saw's motor, reduce noise levels, and dampen vibration for cleaner cuts in a variety of applications.
It offers expanded cutting capacity by offering access to a "special cutting position" that utilizes the back portion of the blade more effectively. This means that by simply flipping a lever to put the saw in this position, you can cut 6-5/8-inch crown molding or cut vertical materials that measure up to 4-3/4-inches by 3/4-inch.
Similarly, simply flipping a knob allows the Kapex KS 120 to cut trenches, so you can create lap joints or pieces that fit around pipes and other obstacles.
Robust Construction Includes MMC Electronics and Direct Drive Motor
Different applications place different demands on your tools, and the Kapex KS 120 offers variable speed control from 1,400 to 3,400 rpm for equally good results when working with a variety of materials. With its constant speed monitoring, the saw is able to maintain consistent blade speeds under heavy loads, which produces clean, consistent results. Soft-start technology prevents jolts at start-up and improves your control over cuts, while overload protection extends the life of the saw.
Also contributing to the Kapex KS 120's performance is a 1,600-watt direct-drive motor, which offers efficient transfer of energy to the blade and features a magnetic brake that reduces the amount of time that the blade takes to spin down.
Quick, Safe FastFix Blade Changes
With Festool's patented FastFix system, blade changes are fast, easy, and intuitive. Turning the FastFix knob locks the arbor and mechanically locks the trigger, so you don't have to worry about accidental start-ups. This allows the blade to be changed with a single hand, while a cupped steel arbor nut prevents accidental over-torquing and damage to the saw and blade.
Compact and Lightweight for Portability
Featuring magnesium-alloy base, the Kapex KS 120 is rigid and durable yet it weighs just 47 pounds--extremely light for a 10-inch miter saw. This makes it easy to move from workshop to job site and back again. Two handle locations allow you to keep the saw's center of gravity near your body while carrying it, reducing the strain on your back. Plus, the Kapex's head locks down for transport, keeping the saw compact and preventing unexpected movement from throwing you off balance.
The saw's travel-friendly design also offers onboard storage for the arbor tool and the power cord.
Integrated Dust Hood and Dust Extraction
This dependable compound miter saw also offers a swiveling dust port that directs dust away from you and your work surface, improving job-site safety and minimizing cleanup time. A pliable, rubber dust hood directs saw dust from the blade into the dust collection port as you work, arresting chips and improving the rate of capture.
This integrated port accepts both 27-millimeter and 36-millimeter hoses, and it can be used with a Festool CT dust extractor to achieve impressive 91-percent sawdust collection.
The Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw is backed by a three-year limited warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee
What's in the Box
Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw, angle transfer device, 60-tooth carbide blade, hold down clamp, and wrench.
From the Manufacturer
The Kapex is the most advanced sliding compound miter saw in the market today. In the hands of a carpenter, this saw will make cuts that rival the finest trim work being done today. Engineered to be lightweight and compact, the KS 120 is the perfect saw for the workshop or the jobsite. Effective dust extraction, precise cuts, easy adjustments, and quality components are some of the features that should make this saw the number one choice of professional tradesmen. The KS 120 has a small footprint with a great amount of power. The power and impressive cutting capacity of the KS 120 will make you think that you are working with a much larger saw. This saw rivals the cutting capacity of a 12” unit and is capable of cutting crown molding up to 6-5/8 inch (in the nested position) with the special cutting position, and hardwoods greater than 3” thick, smoothly and precisely. The saw comes with a MiterFast angle transfer device to eliminate complex angle calculations by copying the angle directly from the wall to the saw. Accurate cuts are made easy with dual line, fully adjustable lasers that clearly define the cut by showing the material that will be removed by the blade. Easy to read, whether feeding stock from the left or the right. Work in tighter spaces and reduce your footprint on-site with the rail-forward design that allows the head to move and the rails are fixed. Enjoy true front to rear tracking of the head on the rails thanks to their robust build of 30 mm machined steel and wide distant for even greater stability. Dust extraction design starts with the blade and follows through from the guard to the dust hood to the rotating dust port to achieve up to 91% dust extraction efficiency when using a 36 mm hose. Made to be compact and lightweight while providing accurate repeatable cuts with maximum capacity, the Kapex fits the bill with tons of use features that make cutting faster, easier, and smarter. Made in Germany.
Compact and incredibly precise, the Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw delivers professional results in the workshop and on the job site. Advanced electronics, dual laser guides, micro-bevel adjustments, quick-release fences, and easy-to-reference scales all help you maintain control over cuts. And a host of other smart features help keep the saw's footprint small and its body light and portable--all without sacrificing power, accuracy, or dust extraction capability.
| ||||
 Dust Extraction Port sends debris away from your work area. | ||||
 Stainless steel miter scale features a fine adjustment knob. |
 Convenient deck height eases work flow.View larger. |
 MiterFast angle-transfer device gives you quick, accurate results. View larger. |
 The lightweight magnesium-alloy base makes for easy transport. View larger. |
 Integrates with MiterFast. View larger. |
 Dual lasers ensure accuracy. |
 The Bevel Lock Knob holds your desired angle. |
 Keyed, non-slip material clamp keeps your material in place. |
The dual lasers clearly define the material which will be removed during the cut, and their design allows you to align cuts from the left right side of the Kapex KS 120. Three-axis adjustment controls make fine-tuning the lasers easy, and the lasers are electrically powered and require no batteries. Also, a convenient button allows them to be operated without turning on the saw.
Once you've determined your cut line, a center-positioned handle allows you to make cuts with either hand, while a two-stage trigger helps prevent accidental triggering.
Precise Miter Scale, Miter Lock, and Angle Transfer
The Kapex KS 120's etched, stainless-steel miter scale offers large, easy-to-read angles--up to 50-degrees on the left and 60-degrees on the right. Positioned far from the axis of rotation, this scale allows for setups that are accurate within fractions of a degree. And once you've identified the desired setting, the miter lock on the Kapex provides an extremely aggressive hold to prevent inadvertent movement--even when near a positive detent.
Transfer of inside and outside angles from your work piece to the Kapex KS 120 is quick and easy, thanks to the included MiterFast angle-transfer device, which provides a reflective surface for use with the saw's lasers, as well as a sturdy lock that prevents slippage and keeps measurements accurate.
Fine Bevel Adjustment and Secure Bevel Lock
The Kapex KS 120 allows for both left and right bevels, and a fine-adjustment knob controls the bevel of each cut within fractions of a degree. This bevel knob features three settings: positive detents at 0 and -45 degrees, free movement between -45 and +45 degrees, and free movement up to +/-47 degrees.
The knob rotates and engages a rack and pinion to move the head, which is counter spring balanced. This means that once you set a bevel angle there's no need to worry about it shifting before you engage the dependable bevel lock.
For added convenience, there are bevel gauges on both sides of the saw, and the large bevel-adjustment scale is easy to read.
Keyed Clamp and Compact Rail-Forward Design
For added peace of mind, your work piece is held in place by a sturdy, nonslip clamp, which is keyed to make insertion and removal of materials quick and easy. A single, lever-actuated cam-lock secures the clamp in place and a rubber pad protects your work piece, while the clamp's oblong foot provides a flat surface to place against the saw's fence.
Also contributing to the Kapex KS 120's accuracy is its rail-forward design. The saw's robust, 30-millimeter rails are set wide apart to prevent head play and ensure smooth, accurate cuts. This design also allows the saw to be placed against a wall during use, which saves valuable workspace.
Versatile Blade and Unique Cutting Positions
The Kapex KS 120 uses specially designed thin-kerf blades that reduce stress on the saw's motor, reduce noise levels, and dampen vibration for cleaner cuts in a variety of applications.
It offers expanded cutting capacity by offering access to a "special cutting position" that utilizes the back portion of the blade more effectively. This means that by simply flipping a lever to put the saw in this position, you can cut 6-5/8-inch crown molding or cut vertical materials that measure up to 4-3/4-inches by 3/4-inch.
Similarly, simply flipping a knob allows the Kapex KS 120 to cut trenches, so you can create lap joints or pieces that fit around pipes and other obstacles.
Robust Construction Includes MMC Electronics and Direct Drive Motor
Different applications place different demands on your tools, and the Kapex KS 120 offers variable speed control from 1,400 to 3,400 rpm for equally good results when working with a variety of materials. With its constant speed monitoring, the saw is able to maintain consistent blade speeds under heavy loads, which produces clean, consistent results. Soft-start technology prevents jolts at start-up and improves your control over cuts, while overload protection extends the life of the saw.
Also contributing to the Kapex KS 120's performance is a 1,600-watt direct-drive motor, which offers efficient transfer of energy to the blade and features a magnetic brake that reduces the amount of time that the blade takes to spin down.
Quick, Safe FastFix Blade Changes
With Festool's patented FastFix system, blade changes are fast, easy, and intuitive. Turning the FastFix knob locks the arbor and mechanically locks the trigger, so you don't have to worry about accidental start-ups. This allows the blade to be changed with a single hand, while a cupped steel arbor nut prevents accidental over-torquing and damage to the saw and blade.
Compact and Lightweight for Portability
Featuring magnesium-alloy base, the Kapex KS 120 is rigid and durable yet it weighs just 47 pounds--extremely light for a 10-inch miter saw. This makes it easy to move from workshop to job site and back again. Two handle locations allow you to keep the saw's center of gravity near your body while carrying it, reducing the strain on your back. Plus, the Kapex's head locks down for transport, keeping the saw compact and preventing unexpected movement from throwing you off balance.
The saw's travel-friendly design also offers onboard storage for the arbor tool and the power cord.
Integrated Dust Hood and Dust Extraction
This dependable compound miter saw also offers a swiveling dust port that directs dust away from you and your work surface, improving job-site safety and minimizing cleanup time. A pliable, rubber dust hood directs saw dust from the blade into the dust collection port as you work, arresting chips and improving the rate of capture.
This integrated port accepts both 27-millimeter and 36-millimeter hoses, and it can be used with a Festool CT dust extractor to achieve impressive 91-percent sawdust collection.
The Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw is backed by a three-year limited warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee
What's in the Box
Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw, angle transfer device, 60-tooth carbide blade, hold down clamp, and wrench.
 The KS 120's "Special Cutting Position" uses more of the blade, so you can tackle more types of jobs. |
From the Manufacturer
The Kapex is the most advanced sliding compound miter saw in the market today. In the hands of a carpenter, this saw will make cuts that rival the finest trim work being done today. Engineered to be lightweight and compact, the KS 120 is the perfect saw for the workshop or the jobsite. Effective dust extraction, precise cuts, easy adjustments, and quality components are some of the features that should make this saw the number one choice of professional tradesmen. The KS 120 has a small footprint with a great amount of power. The power and impressive cutting capacity of the KS 120 will make you think that you are working with a much larger saw. This saw rivals the cutting capacity of a 12” unit and is capable of cutting crown molding up to 6-5/8 inch (in the nested position) with the special cutting position, and hardwoods greater than 3” thick, smoothly and precisely. The saw comes with a MiterFast angle transfer device to eliminate complex angle calculations by copying the angle directly from the wall to the saw. Accurate cuts are made easy with dual line, fully adjustable lasers that clearly define the cut by showing the material that will be removed by the blade. Easy to read, whether feeding stock from the left or the right. Work in tighter spaces and reduce your footprint on-site with the rail-forward design that allows the head to move and the rails are fixed. Enjoy true front to rear tracking of the head on the rails thanks to their robust build of 30 mm machined steel and wide distant for even greater stability. Dust extraction design starts with the blade and follows through from the guard to the dust hood to the rotating dust port to achieve up to 91% dust extraction efficiency when using a 36 mm hose. Made to be compact and lightweight while providing accurate repeatable cuts with maximum capacity, the Kapex fits the bill with tons of use features that make cutting faster, easier, and smarter. Made in Germany.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews57 of 59 people found the following review helpful.
very nice saw but nothing is perfectBy Victor Rasilla
I have had the KAPEX since it was released and have now used it alot on some major trim jobs. I am a general contractor and we typically have more than one saw station on a jobsite so myself, my partner and my crew use competing miter saws in tandem. I am a tool junkie and had to have this saw and I do like it plenty enough to buy it again knowing what I now know heres what I can say to potential owners
the good: first off is the dust extraction, works very well. I normally use it with a festool extractor but have many times had it setup with a shop vac and other than the hassle of turning the powerstrip on and off it works just as well. Forward rail design is terrific, very smooth a rigid sliding action. accuracy for me is dead on, no deflection in the propietary festool blades and cheeks smooth as silk. the dado feature is convenient and quick, a small toggle allows the head to be raised and lowered for slotting or what have you, much quicker than setting up yor router for fast small slots. Detents don't slip even when super close. on-board angle guage is nice to have at a moments notice just don't let your coworkers borrow it. Lasers are so bright it took me some getting used to, the lasers on my saw were not factory set accurate but adjustment is simple and precise. comparatively the saw is very manueverable, lightweight and portable.
the bad: the safety trigger is a real annoyance to me, you have to press a button above the handle with your thumb while you half way pull the trigger to release the saw head and power, after a year of using it I still fuss with it. needless to say the price is a big pill to swallow, you can have yourself two very nice competing saws for what this will set you back and I must say in the right hands the work isn't going to be any better or faster with this saw. i wish the miter gauge pointer was red instead of green, the green seems to wash away easier to the gray metal background and for precise non-dentent cuts i have to stoop over to read it closely.
I had to have it and it is a joy to use, sure you can make the cut with other saws but like Ferris Bueller says "if you have the means i highly recommend you pick one up"
51 of 53 people found the following review helpful.
Love this saw, but it has a few issues.By Name I Didn't Want
This is a great saw. It cuts precisely with minimal deflection. The bevel system is a joy to use and spot on. The dado feature is really handy. ( I thought the dado feature was kind of a novelty and I'd never use it, but it has been a great help more than once) The saw is light, which is nice. I've been using the Kapex for 6 months, and I've been happy with it in general and downright giddy with excitement at other times when I use certain features.
Now that that's behind us...don't get me wrong, I love Festool and own 6 other Festool tools, and I really like this one, but there are MULTIPLE design and convenience issues that the tool designers seem to have missed. Here's a list, hopefully someone at Festool will see this and fix these issues on the next incarnation
1. The on board storage for the miter finder tool is in the way of the saw table rotation. You have to keep sliding it out of the way when you turn the saw beyond 40 degrees in both directions. Because of this I now keep the miter finder in the truck. (I rarely use it anyway unless we're doing big crown or built-ups)
2. The trigger and head locking mechanism is annoying at first, but I have mostly gotten used to it. It does still bother me when I'm trying to bring the blade down with the power off though. I accept this annoyance as a safety feature I guess, but I managed to keep all my fingers with my old saw for the past 20 years...maybe it will save a greenhorn somewhere.
3. The rail forward design is neat-o and all, until you try to bevel beyond 30 degrees! Then the rails hit the fence. No big deal- slide the fence out of the way, right? Nope! It's held in place by a seemingly pointless retainer screw with a hex drive. No big deal- remove the retainer screw with the on-board allen wrench, right? Nope Again! The onboard allen wrench doesn't fit the retainer screw. Sheesh...off to the bottom of the toolbox to search for the right size. The fence extensions then need to be TOTALLY REMOVED in order to reach maximum bevel. You would think the geniuses who came up with the ts55 would have figured out a way around this like a different fence design or rail placement.
4. Speaking of hex keys, that's how you adjust the laser, with a little tiny hex key. Now, the hex key you use to change the blade has a neat little hidey hole on the back of the saw, but the key for adjusting the laser does not. In fact, when you open the box the little tiny hex key is just jammed into the packaging foam like a dart, as if it were an afterthought. I taped mine to the saw body, but of course it fell off and is now MIA. Why couldn't they have made a holder for that hex key too? Or maybe some other more convenient way of adjusting the laser? I know you're supposed to adjust the laser to perfect then never adjust it again, and I did adjust it to perfect, but one side doesn't seem as bright as the other. I don't know for sure if there is an adjustment for that, but until I find the right size allen wrench, I guess I'll never know. (In truth, I thought lasers on saws were for gimmicks kiddies that didn't know better til I used this saw...The lasers, once adjusted, are amazingly accurate and a great help with bevel cuts in larger pieces and built-ups.)
5. The rubber feet that come attached to the saw are fine if you are putting the saw directly on the floor, and perfect for setting the saw on a Festool MFT (multi-function table) I don't lug around my heavy MFT though, I use a universal miter saw stand. The little rubber feet were in the way of the mounting mechanism for my stand and had to be removed. I thought this would be no big deal, since they were put on with hex head bolts too. Unfortunately, they were in so tight that I ended up shredding the rubber feet! This was not due to carelessness on my part...believe me, I tried to remove the rubber feet for 2 hours. That's 30 minutes per little rubber foot. I want that time back....and I sure hope I never actually need the feet, `cause they are in pieces.
6. The sacrificial plastic insert in the table warps and buckles with temperature changes. It hasn't actually interfered with the accuracy of any cuts-yet- but that wasn't something I expected from Festool. Also, the gap in the insert is large and the area under the insert doesn't have an opening on the bottom. The result is lots of little tiny pieces of wood getting stuck in the space under the plate and occasionally shooting out like a miniature wooden missile!
7. I really miss the little engraved inch markings on my bosch from 1992. No, they were not dead on accurate, and would vary from blade to blade, but they were fast and handy for quick little repeated cuts where accuracy was not an issue.
8. When using the dado feature, you need to install a sacrificial fence for the dado to carry all the way through the piece at the same depth. Not a big deal I guess, but worth mentioning.
9. I have not been as thrilled with the dust extraction as others. I've been told that it's because I need a 36mm hose instead of a 27 mm hose. I have not gotten arround to dropping $100 on a damn vacuum hose yet to see if they're right.
There were a few other design issues I've noticed along the way, but that's the list of glaring problems that have bothered me. I've read on some websites how some people have gotten around these shortcomings by building custom inserts and sacrificial fence attachments, but in my opinion when you spend $1300 for a saw, you shouldn't have to take a day modifying it to make it right. My hope is that Festool will make these problems go away by the next time I buy a slider. If it were not for these issues, this would be the best saw ever by a mile. As it stands, it is still a great saw with some shortcomings that take some getting used to or custom modifying.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
Clearly the bestBy Rajin Cajun
I like to refer to myself as a highly-skilled do-it-yourself'er. Very extensive woodshop with good equipment. I started building the shop about 10 years ago, and to get it going, outfitted it with low end tools that I have slowly upgraded. With each upgrade, I find some are worth the cost, some are not.
Craftsman cabinet saw to Powermatic...worth it.
Router table without a lift, to a Woodpecker Precision Router Lif...worth it.
Entry level Delta bandsaw to Laguna...worth it.
Hand coping to a scroll saw...NOT worth it.
Benchtop Delta drill press to a Powermatic...NOT worth it.
Rigid oscillating spindle sander to floor model Jet...NOT worth it.
So, finally to the point. Rigid 12" slider to Festool Kapex...WORTH EVERY CENT!
Anyway, I really had one primary criteria for the Festool, and that was accuracy. And I mean dead-on, no slop accuracy. I have been using the Rigid for things like deck, fence, or outside trim work, or cutting rough stock down to size. For those applications, it was fine (or should I say "accurate enough".) But, if it was going to be on a finished piece, all cuts went to the table saw. Not a big deal, but I just got tired of the constant change of blades and splitters and cross-cut sleds. I dreamed of the day that a miter saw could cut a board at a true 90 or 45 degree angle.
I have a Festool router, which has been outstanding, so I decided to give the Kapex a try.
It is amazing. First of all, I have a miter station set up in the shop. I had to do a little work to align the Kapex, as it sits 1/4 inch lower than the Rigid. And the lasers were not perfect when I set it up. Also, it took a little while to read through the instructions for setting bevel and dado and so forth. But, on the first cut, I got a dead perfct angle and bevel. I crosscut a 8" board, flipped it and set it on a reference plate...there was zero light coming through. I went through a series of cut tests, and all were perfect.
Some side notes:
- I am not satisfied with the stock blade, and will replace it with a Forrest.
- The reviewer who complained about the difficulty of removing the screw holding in the fence should read the instruction booklet: don't remove the screw, just screw it IN a few turns and you can slide off the fence. It is set up that way to keep you from losing the set screw (typical of Festool to execute even small details well).
- Dust collection is as good as claimed.
- The soft-start is great, but takes a little getting used to.
- It is very quiet.
- The 2 lasers are great; I considered lasers to be interesting, but no better than setting the blade on the workpiece...until I used these. They can, with adjustment, show EXACTLY, where you will split the cut line on both sides. I am now a big fan of these
lasers.
- It is very light weight, even though I will rarely, if ever, move it.
But, as I said at the beginning, all I wanted was accuracy, and the Kapex has delivered it in spades. I have to admit I am lucky to have the means to buy what I want, but I still hate wasting money. As for the question "is it worth the cost?" Ferris Bueller said it best: If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
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