Review - Festool Kapex KS 120 EB after 4 years of use
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- This is a review of the Festool Kapex KS 120 EB after 4 years of using it almost daily. It may be the best miter saw in the world but it’s not without fault! Hope you enjoy the review:)
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Thanks for watching!
I'm an engineer who has done a lot of automation projects and used a lot of Festo pneumatics and they are my favorite. I was really surprised on day when I saw they had these tools and my sales rep told me some of the Festo History. I thought they were a pneumatics company and was wrong they started in wood working tools going back a very long way as German companies do. They got into pneumatic tools to extend their tool capabilities and that led into the pneumatics that I use where they are among the worlds leaders. I think they are #1, except for a few specialist items from smaller suppliers.
My sale rep told me the Festo wood working tools sell very little in Australia. Because of the prices its almost exclusive to the professional cabinet makers.
That trigger stuff is actually very typical of European safety methods which I am very familiar with. Its all about unintentional machine operation. If you have every been around some of the Asian machinery which I have, you'd know they don't care about your life while the Europeans do. I'll always put up with those European features because it tells me at the very least they think about my safety.
So are you Canadian or American? I was in Saskatchewan 3 years ago for work and loved the place.
How long you need to change the brush.there is many brushless out there and this is what makes me not take the kapex .what is ur opinion brotha. :) thank u .
As Festool is one of the few Brands who are still Building alomast everything in Germany I think the price is realy ok. I was so often disapointed by bosch in the last time, but never with Festool. Im not a professional and have to save a long time for the machines, but I have never regreted to buy one. But my Opinion to support local manufacturing is quite Strong. For wood Festool and for metal Fein:-) But I have to admit that Milwaukee makes some realy nice tools. Once I needed a special screw for a router template and called Festool. I was not sure that you can even get this screw but 2 days later I had it delivered together with a small part for my jigsaw, completely free of charge. With other companys you can't even get somebody to the Phone, Festool always has Swabian employees on the phone, thats the region where they are located in Germany. But I don't know how the support in the states is. Here brands like Veritas or Snapon are quite expensive. Greetings from Hamburg. Tim.
Thanks for all this info Tim! Greeting from British Columbia
I posted this because Bosch like so many other great tool companies have moved manufacturing to the developing countries away from the developed countries. Bosch's power tool division was started in 2003. Most of their products are made in Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and China but there are still some products manufactured in Europe; specifically Germany and Switzerland. The small, handy tools are manufactured in Sebnitz, Saxony. Bosch power tools are made and sold worldwide -apart from Germany also in other European countries, Asia, North and South America. I have yet to come across a Bosch tool made in Germany. It is possible because I live in the U.S.A. I also own Festool brand tools and Bessey both German made tools I recently found out that some of my new replacement for old worn out and broken Bessey Clamps are now being made in China. I guess all companies follow the money eventually. There are many complaints now on some Bosch sanders failing with in months of ownership.
@@jwar2163 most higher end 18v bosch sds hammers are made in Germany still, and also their higher end grinders are all made in Germany.
Great saw especially ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.
You covered everything that I had a question about! Well done, the best review I have seen so far.
The only good reason I’ve been able to come up with to justify Festools prices, is that it’s the only tool company selling in North America whose manufacturing employees can afford a North American or european mortgage.
Kermit this is a great point!
Festool isn't too bad buddy. Mafell will make any grown man weep.. or sell the kids. After crying for a whike I sold the boy and life has improved immeasurably. I didn't buy any mafell.. too busy enjoying myself 😁
Wow great point
Love your content and your honesty in tool reviews
Defiantly the most accurate 10 inch saw that I ever used. I haul mine from job to job and it has always stayed square and true.
For a fancy saw it is pretty rugged in my opinion. It's been in and out of my truck 1000's of times and I usually carry it around by one of the rails. Still working perfect.
at the 53 second mark you gave 100% reason as to why you should buy this saw. I have it and love it, at the end of the day, you get precision . . .
PRECISION!!!!! You get what you pay for, this is the perfect saw. Period
Really enjoyed listening to your detailed review..... you didn’t send me to sleep. I’ve just bought one so it’s interesting to see what other tradesman think of it. WELL DONE👏👏👍👍
Thanks! Hope you enjoy the saw!
I've only watched a handful of your vids man but I love your style and reviews. Very honest and you approach tools in really clear fashion. Liked and subscribed! Can't wait for you m12 installation driver vs cxs vid.
Thanks Daniel, really appreciate the comment! Should have that csx video out in the next few weeks. Basically the csx is more precision, and the m12 has more brute force but lacks finesse and the forward reverse button is annoying!
@@TheFunnyCarpenter my man, I bought both and boy o boy you were right. CXS is finesse, a beauty in disguise. The m12 is ready to pounce, except it's a large-gripped weird non easily reversing tiger. Does that make sense? No? Ah well take it easy brother.
@@biledo1 makes perfect sense! Glad you are liking the CXS. Happy New Year buddy:)
Thanks for the comprehensive review. I’m a diy’r and committed to excellence so Festool it is.
Another plus for the festool is with the foldable stand it has to be the lightest most portable saw on the market. We use it with the wings on our job sites. One person can easily load it in and out.
I’ve had the Kapex now for almost 2 years, and watching your review was what made my decision to bite the bullet and buy it. By far the best saw there is, you can feel the quality as soon as you touch it. I as well do not like difficult triggers on saws and the Kapex trigger was very ackward, but I was able to completely fix it and make it much better by removing a small piece of plastic up in the Guard that stops the saw head from coming down with out the right trigger sequence. So now I can just bring the saw head down and use the trigger and the guard is still completely safe. Amazing Saw now!
Do you mind sharing how you removed that plastic peice?
The depth stop is amazing on the kapex as well. So nice for creating precise large rabbets or dados for half lap joints!
Great review. Honesty and experience count for a lot.
Thanks for checking out the channel.
Great review dude, very informative. I really want one now
Sorry about that:)
Yeah, I love it. I got it with the stand. It makes it even more accurate. The handle is in the line of cut, not to the side like Dewalt and Milwaukee. This is coming from Milwaukee fan.
Great review !!! Looks like a great saw.
"It's been four years and I friggin' hate it." Golden. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Best and honest review of this saw I have seen, so glad you didn't just say the trigger sucks so the saw sucks like so many other reviews. I work with these saws and I have used a bunch of saws, for me the trigger isn't a big deal, the dust control and accuracy are the major reason I would buy it, $1900 is a small price to pay to care for your health and you get to work with the best saw in the world. This is why I own a festool track saw and vacuum.
Thanks Michael. People just like to crap on the saw, but like you say the dust collection and precision are for real.
This is the reason (dust control) I'm considering a Festool sander and vac- maybe even the Kapex. I think my health is worth the extra money. Plus-lots of folks crap on them but most who have bought them think they are worth the money and wish they would have purchased earlier.
I have been seriousely woodworking for 40+ years, and semi-pro since 1997 I retiered at 40 and needed to take up my time. I have had Festool tools since 2008. I appreciate your reviews coming from actual experience. I unfortunately see a lot of UA-cam videos with reviews of tools that were never used until the manufacturer sent one to be reviewed. I want to see reviews of people that have spent more tha a couple of minutes using the too. I have the Kapex and I also opted for the Festool stand and outriggers. This thing trans ports easily. While expensive, I am finding that my Festool tools are lasting 2~4 times lonmger than the competition. I have 3 Festool sanders, some are 10+ years old. I used to use the right angle PC ROS and the SpeedBloc. I wore out the PC SpeedBloc and replaced it. So far all of my Festool tools are still going strong.
Thanks Leon, I’d agree that it’s pretty disappointing to see someone review tools that they’ve never really used.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter Hi, kapex and a good tool for you? I'm undecided between makita and ls1219 and kapex120.
been using my kapex for about 2 years, a few things i find great that you didnt mention are the quick lock blade change system, also the clamp is 10x better than any of the other brands. totally right on the price ... its insane but .... having lived in germany and been around alot of festool, the support from festool and the fact these will keep on going for 20 years does make it a good long term investment over buying 2 or 3 makitas in that time!
I used this saw every day in a busy school workshop situation for three years. It’s worth every cent. Accuracy, build quality, lower operating noise, slow start, variable speed, dust collection efficiency and, yes....the laser. It was so good I purchased a second one for the adjacent workshop. Highly recommended. And, btw, the trigger never bothered me. Never even thought about it until I viewed videos like this one.
I’m a bit of a baby with mitre saw triggers. I started with the Dewalt no safety switch and a blade guard you could easily move out of the way.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter I used a Dewalt years ago in a school as well. The instant on/off and incredibly loud motor made this a terrible hazard. The Dewalt was OK after I got used to it, but it's no good in a school situation. The refined design of the Festool is just so good.
If you'd pay an extra dollar for every time your accuracy saved you five minutes of extra work, then paying $1500US for this saw will pay for itself in a month of real work. That's my calculation.
Great review Funny Carpenter! Not too long, but a lot of useful info.
Thanks Aaron! Those 20+ minute tools reviews that ramble on endlessly are tough to watch! and the worst is when it's someone that has never really used the tool.
Personally, I think it’s good value for money. I’ve had two... they never let me down. Ever. That saw has gotten me out of more head scratching moments than I care to remember.
I do the little lift with the material also to get that little extra wide cut ☺️
Get a zero clearance insert. Or make one. Such a great little addition to the saw 👌🏼
Great call on the zero clearance plate. I should make a vid about a few mods you can do on your saw to make a world of difference.
Great review - Thanks!
Own the saw for a few years and that "horrible" price goes to $100/yr (for me) to have one of the best saws I have ever used. I LOVE the laser. Finally, I have NEVER even thought that the dual trigger was bad, I always think of it as the best safety switch out of any of my tools in the shop.
Pro review. 10x. Maybe also mention that one can use this tool against the wall due to the special gliders design that glide towards the front not the back so it is also compact for the workshop.
Great review! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
I love this review. I love what you hate because those two hates are the reason I DO NOT own this saw. Redundant switches drive me nuts and I believe for the most part they cause more injuries than they prevent. The primary reason I might eventually own one of these is the weight as compared to my Makita which is extremely heavy.. My 12" DeWalt is best for keeping the gaurd out of the way. I use stainless welding rod to hook it up out of my way.
Milwaukee mitre saw comes pretty close to Kapex in terms of features & quality. Had mine for 12 years. If money was no object I’d like to buy Kapex. Thanks for the awesome review 👏🏼
I’ve had my KS120 for about 12 years and the only mechanical fault was the bevel lock, which was fixed by them. Yes it was a very expensive purchase but the fact I’ve had it in use for so long with hardly any down time negates the cost. I bought the OF2200 when it came out and my friend said he couldn’t justify the cost, yet within a few years he had to buy 3 different top of the range routers from other companies and I’m guessing he’s bought others since then. My router has never failed in any way (until I said that).
As a side note I recently received a letter from Festool saying a fault has been identified on my batch of KS120’s and they are going to arrange to pick it up and replace parts (and replace the mains lead, which I think may be standard practice in the UK).
The company’s ethics are unbeatable and after years of service I expect to take all my machines well into my retirement.
I'm considering the Kapex, so thankyou very much for posting this very detailed review.
Like you, I like to sight or even touch the blade tooth to my pencil mark. And blade guards just get in the way, so I've always removed them. This appears to have a double whammy... in those two buttons which must be pressed just right. Have you looked into defeating that system at all... or even removing the blade guard?
Lasor's for looses I'm guilty, but they are great for my old eyes. I still have two 15" Hitachi's and one Omga in the shop the Kapex by far is my favorite
Lol I use it too from time to time! And I hear you on the eye sight:)
I love the kapex, the lasers are actually awesome, especially for my eyes, the bevel is superb, I am used to the on switch combo now so don’t even think about it, but I thought the dust collection would be better quite frankly, so was disappointed with that, and I think the trenching does not go high enough and can give you varying results. Overall though I love the saw.
Greate review, thanks! Be honest with you - I watched your video only for the question from end of the video :) I am just want starting working with wood, watched a lot of reviews on the many tools and specially on the Festool. I know, that it is not for beginners, but as a programmer, musician and man who really like what I do - I know that really good tool is a best investment. I tried to find compact analogs, but it is only Bosch GCM 12 GDL, but I really like Festool and Kapex. I am agree that it is overpriced, but it is built in Germany (Czech Republic, idk), on the Festool’s factory, with Festool’s parts and with, probably, a good service without any China or another Asia piece. I think that it worth that money. I really think that is the best saw, cause it have a lot features, amazing quality and perfect design. And it does not have analogs. So many men, so many minds. Thanks again. Cheers!
Best wishes on starting out with wood working! The saw is definitely a great saw. Depending on what you're going to use the saw for most of the other cheaper options will do a great job as well.
I worked for a finish carpenter that had this saw and in my humble opinion this saw is the best one for finish carpenters because it adjusts SO EASILY. If I could afford it I would buy it but for now I'm stuck with my old Dewalt.
I used this and the Bosch (both for space saving), and they're both great. The Festool definitely better with dust collection, but cutting and easy of use, theyre pretty equal
The Bosch cuts equal to the festool? That's my debate is for best accuracy!
I currently have the Bosch and I hate it. Been trying to convince myself to bite the bullet and buy the Kapex but the price has been keeping me away, especially after plopping down $700 for this pile of trash.
@@bnssoftware3292 my Bosch has been great. I added a laser to it. What's wrong with yours? Why has it been "trash" so far?
Very well done video. Building furniture, I really need the accuracy, so I think I’ll be biting the bullet and paying the premium. One thing you didn’t mention was blades. Do you use standard blades on it, or does it have to be festool?
Good honest review.
Thanks for checking it out
Nice honest review 👍🏼
🤔 How did you make the support wings? They look good. If you made them again would you make any improvements like adjustable stops. Also looks like you have a folding stand. which brand is it and did you have to modify anything to make the saw fit?
That a Bosch stand, and some type of adjustable crown stop would be nice. There’s some parts you can order from Festool to clamp on to the Kapex wings.
You can even improve the dust collection by using a 36mm hose on the vac which means more airflow 😎. Appreciate the video👍
Great point!
Good video, very helpful.
Saved and bought it. For the most part very nice saw but there was a crack in the cast. I didn't notice until after the 30 day warranty however when Festool saw the pictures they offered to send me a new one once they are back in stock or a refund. Excellent service...but no saw in the shop. Might get a cheap non sliding saw for better accuracy but might try the Milwaukee seems pretty sturdy and didn't seem to have a lot of deflection.
I started out woodworking with Bosch ,the green stuff, and some by makita. Then one fine day , i tried to get a Big bookshelf for my Parents, in oakwood. I allmost gave up after 3rd or forth time the sawblade does not produce a straight Cut and the 45° Angles just had a Kind of radius in it despite me clamping everything Down like mad. Neighbour i talked to , had some Festools, he helped me cutting and sanding and finetuning, it was so easy i could' nt believe it at first. From that day on i started saving some money , and started buying Festools. Now more than 25 years later , i d never regreted that decision. Its absolutely true, Festool is more expansive than many other toolbrands, no lie.But, even if you're only take woodworking as a Hobby, it is worth every dammn single Pennie, plus in top you'd very seldom have to work twice cause your cuts are out of angle or line of any other dammn nuisance that come out of your Tools. Since that said day im hooked on Festools. 👍
Excellent video. Looking at festool and it’s everything I’ve been dreaming about ceptin behold, the price.
A serious deliberation. Question; is Festool available directly from Festool. The only retailers I’ve located substantially mark up the base price.
Thank you Sir.
That saw has so many great features but having to cut 5 1/4", or larger, base on the flat was the deal breaker. Get rid of the laser and install a light for a shadow line, it's way more accurate and never needs adjusting after a bumpy ride in the van. And agree with you about the trigger. I think my thumb is confused about not being able to move the guard out of the way, I can never get it cutting on the first try. For the price it should be a perfect saw.
I'm buying that damn miter saw! sometime soon, I need THAT FOR WORK.
Any info on your saw stand, I really appreciate your review on this, I am looking at getting one of these. I agree with the value comment
I made it based off this video:ua-cam.com/video/ckYlF578KEA/v-deo.html
For the stand I just grabbed a cheap Bosch and made a little plywood baseplate for the saw to sit on.
I own quite a few pieces of Festool tools and have been eyeing this saw for a while now, but as you said. The price is a bit ridiculous indeed though.
OMGA or bust for me buddy, now that has dust extraction. Might not work for everyone though. . Don't miss my 120 in the slightest in the workshop. I do have a 60 for site work though.
definitely a great saw, good review 👍 how do you like your laguna table saw?
I like it. It’s definitely not a 3hp 220v beast, but if you use proper blades that are sharp it rips hardwood nicely. The dust collection is decent and the fence is a beauty!
Good to hear I just bought the f2 and c flux, thought they’d make a good pair with my kapex, just waiting on an elecchicken to put a sub panel in for me. Liked your other videos as well you got a new sub😎 would like to see a video on your TS.🍻
Warren buffet says “price is what you pay, value is what you get”. So funny you say it’s terrible value after you spend 10 minutes espousing all of the valuable features of the saw!
Excellent point! Now you have me wondering if Yoda would pony up the cash for the Kapex...:). For me- buying the saw came down to eliminating the variables of error and then being able to focus on improving my skill instead of blaming the saw.
Exactly my thoughts!!!
I am heavy into Festool. They made the first track saw I am aware of and I invested in the whole enchilada. Their cordless drills in the NiCad era were the best made. I am still using them on the second battery cell replacement. The Kapex was a consideration until Makita introduced the 1019L and at 1/2 the price it is a close second in quality and everything in functionality ...
The makita has aluminum detent stops that develop slop pretty quickly - has it happened to you?
@@briansooy3125 Brian, no I have had no trouble, however I am not a production shop. I am restoring my second "craftsman home". That type of work is meticulous and I am that way with my tools. I don't slam the saw on the detentes.
@@biggusbestus551 I am strongly considering one of the makita XGTs vs Festool Kapex. Cannot decide on a Kapex and I want the light (not the laser) but I also want everything that the one with the laser has that the 60 doesn’t. I am having a hard time about it, so at this point, I am looking for an alternative outright!
@@briansooy3125 laser on mine is dead on, but you can live without one. I could not justify the Kapex, but I am sure you would be very happy with it.
forgot to mention that there is an aftermarket detent replacement ring that is stronger. I saw it in a Utube video on the saw. @@briansooy3125
I would have liked to have seen a review of the trenching adjustment/feature on this saw. A lot of people use this feature on their bevel cross cut saws and it would have been a useful inclusion. Otherwise a sound review, I am sure in the UK we get free insurance if we have registered the saw in the case of theft.
Great point! The trenching feature on the saw is excellent, I just rarely use it so it slipped my mind as something to mention.
The warranty… That is insane.👍😳
It cost alot, but if you use it as pro its worth every dime…
9:20 It must have seemed worth it, if you bought it, no? After 4 years and hundreds of paying jobs, the cost per project is negligible. DIYers are going to have a tough time justifying the price, but contractors will probably see value here, plus they can write it off as a business expense on their taxes. Sure is pretty though. Cheers on a very thorough review. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. I will be replacing my Bosch with a Kapex.
I'm not sure if this has been suggested, but it's possible that the awkward design of the trigger mechanism was intentional. The idea could be to make operators pause and think, a mental check-in of sorts, before pulling the trigger. This extra moment of awareness could reduce accidental usage, enhancing safety overall.
Great video. I actually (because of the price) went with a Delta Cruzer. Has a lot of great features the other saws don’t. Way better then the Bosch. Have you used the Delta?
I haven’t used the Delta but it looks like a nice saw.
The Funny Carpenter Thanks for the reply. Honestly I wouldn’t mind paying the price for the Festool if they would just change the stupid handle. That was the deal breaker for me.
Great vid, I think I still want one... you remind me of Will Forte lol
😂 Ok. That trick with lifting the piece to get a longer cut. We had a big old 14” Dewalt radial arm saw. A wonderful beast. There was a purpose built “sled” for it so we could cut 19” glue-ups. Used to scare the crap out of the new kids. Ahhhh, the good old days.
It's always rewarding to use tools beyond their capabilities on paper....Of course safely
That handle looks like an ergonomic nightmare, I like the horizontal ones
I don’t mind the D style vertical handle but the safety trigger is a huge pain!
No review of the Kapex is complete with mention of the Kapex hold-down system. For my use, it’s THE BEST feature of many best-in-class features the Kapex has! I gave up my Hitachi 12 digital readout mitre saw to get my Kapex in 2011. Not sorry! I’m a value guy. I totally disagree about the value. My son-in-law has the top off the line Makita and my best friend has the Bosch Glide. We’ve spent a great deal of time in each others’ shops. All three of us vote the Kapex AND its blade best. I’m still using my original Kapex blade! Having it sharpened only once since 2011. I purchased a spare blade when it was new. It’s still sitting unopened in my shop. That first blade has made THOUSANDS of cuts including pressure treated, cedar decking, framing lumber, laminate flooring, and many species of hardwood, dominated by white oak. Still cuts clean and smooth. Now THAT’S 12 years of value! Didn’t get all that with either my Hitachi or Dewalt, both of which came with crappy blade.
Looking back I probably should have bought one of these I went with the Makita it's a great saw but it took me over six months of service centers and complaints to the company to finally get one that cut straight I also don't know if I would ever get used to that handle and the double trigger buttons
Ouch!
Hi, thanks for making this video. I am in the process of deciding, and yes, the price is still ridiculous. One of the things I like is that is does not protrude in the back: I do not need to make a hole in the wall.
The question I have for you though is...dust collection. I do NOT want connect it to my main dust collection system based on the place I am going to install it...so I want to get one of the dust collectors and put it under the saw. Do ALL of them work with this saw, I mean, do the turn on when I press the trigger and turn off when I release? And what is the amperage requirement for such a combo? Thanks!!!
I think all the Festool vacs have plug in tool activated switches. You can also buy a switch for a regular vacuum. As far as the amps, you’re definitely maxing it out with the saw and vacuum. I haven’t had any issues but some people have reported motor troubles with the Kapex. Something to consider.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter Thank you so much for the prompt reply! Something that I do not like definitely is the handle form. I think it is more comfortable horizontally..like the DeWalts...this form does not look normal. But, I do not think it matters since I will not be actuating the saw constantly for hours....I just hate when designs are done to look different but are not that functional.
Great video! I'm curious what the opinion is of those with this saw as to hooking it up to a central dust collection --or-- going with a Festool dust extractor. I am in the final stages of setting up my central DC but keep wondering if it is a waste (or not as efficient) to include the Kapex in the central ducting system or to keep it separate by using the Festool extractor?
I've been wondering the same thing. I've got both a central DC and an extractor. I've been thinking of doing some testing to see which one does a better job. I've so far just been using the extractor on the miter saw and the DC on the table saw, planner and jointer.
@@bnssoftware3292 I would be very interested in seeing your results if you do any comparison testing!
Hi Funny C , You are right the laser is not usable in every circumstances very bright light, its badly to see but it is, what I like is the system thing I have the two original tables left and right with scala and stops , great. But the best, they fit to the small Festtool table pullsaw, made me realize tricky outdoor flooring easily. cut outs on long heavy duty Bankgirai hard wood boards for example. The System thing ist the big advantage for me here. They system is worth it, because on location you need high end . This is. Brings fast gentle working and top quality = Profit. The trigger doesn't bother me, may be a little "German", but I am ;-)
Thanks for dropping a comment Matthias!
Alright I'm getting one. I'm finally done with drooling over it. 😁 How accurate are the bevel cuts? Are we talking 0,1° range or more like 0,5° range?
Definitely not .5, you can easily set the bevel to .25 or better depending on how precise u are. As for just how accurate are the actual cuts. I don’t know, I’d say very but haven’t actually measured them.
Hi, I'd like to have your advice. I'm undecided between makita ls1219l and kapex festool. I would like to make a good purchase.
Thanks!
I agree 👏
great review , I am thinking to buy it but like you said price is high
I’m on my second Kapex saw. The first one developed a small problem after 6 years and when it was sent back to Festool they replaced it with a brand new one. This one has been flogged every day for 9 years and still cuts as good as the day it came out of the factory. With the wheeled base and the side wings, no other saw or system comes close to it. Highly recommend this saw.
After 4-5 years still really enjoy the heck out of this saw!
@@TheFunnyCarpenter Now it seems obivious why their saws cost so much if they are willing to replace a 6 year old saw with a new one. Nice to see a company willing to back their product. If I was contractor in need of a miter saw like this I would buy the Kapex in a heartbeat. Dividing the extra price of the saw per job really only amounts to pennies thru the years.
When we bought this, I thought the trigger would be a constant pain also but it really hasn’t been even a thought after the first few cuts. We use this saw to trim out entire houses while moving room to room with it (we use the full stand and extensions). This week alone we probably made 1500-2000 cuts on this and I don’t think the trigger even once stalled me or my guys.
We do keep and use the Dewalt 12” Compound Mitre for pressure treated and thin steel which seems a good task for it as it just feels like it has more raw power for these type of cuts over the Festool. But the Festool destroys the Dewalt in the precision category.
Glad to hear your enjoying the saw! I think part of my problem is I grip the saw so lightly sometimes that the trigger just turns off... Must be all the golfing:)
you can actually dis-engage the trigger and guard safety lock. I had the same saw and its the first thing i did. If you look inside the blade guard toward the top, you can see a little black piece of plastic that stops the guard going up, just clip that off and boom problem solved. Same thing with the trigger switch lock, you will have to take off the plastic cover and go into where the trigger switch is, again there is a piece of plastic on a spring, you will see which part to cut off or remove. Once you do both these things it will be just like any other saw. Its well worth the effort.
@@JimTom. thanks man just done this tonight it’s been cracking me up problems now solved 😇
@@tonyblunsum2547 Awesome!
This test is only if you want to saw with precision, with a miter saw.(test is not intended for rough and hard work).
Tips and Test:
Very important if you would like to saw with precision. (avoid torsion as much as possible)!
Always choose a Miter saw with a handle positioned in a VERTICAL line above the saw blade.
Everything must be aligned, slide rails, handle, and saw blade,it is much better this way the blade will not tilt.
Because there is some torsion in the aluminum housing .
And choose an engine with softstart on it to prevent wear of the gear and worm shaft.
It is very important that everything is aligned.
Here are some examples to show how the handle must be positioned above the blade.
Bosch gcm 800 sj / Bosch gcm 8 sjl / Evolution rage 3 / FESTOOL KS 60 / Bosch GCM 8 SDE / FESTOOL KS 60 E KAPEX / Metabo KGSV 72 Xact / Bosch PCM 8 SD / Hitachi C10FSH / Ridgid MS255SR 10-inch / Evolution Fury3-S / Evolution R255SMS / Metabo HPT C10FSBS / Hitachi C10FSB / Hitachi C10FS.
(This also is the case with the Miter saw without the slide rails).
(If you want). You can test it yourself at home if there is torsion in the aluminum housing.
Step-1. First you make a saw cut from +-5 mm deep in to a flat piece of wood about +- 20 mm thick to this with the normal handle positioned on the right side of the Miter saw (the wood it will remain in place until the test is completed).
Step-2. Then repeat this by pushing the saw blade down with your hand (finger) on the aluminum protective cover were the saw blade is cased in. Just now only do this without the running engine.
Step-3. Now you can see if the saw blade will be positioned in or next to the saw cut. If the saw blade is (+- 0,2 / 0,5 mm) next to the saw cut then there is torsion in the aluminum housing (test is completed).
Step-4. Therefor it is much better to choose a Miter saw with the handle positioned VERTICAL in line above the saw blade.
The second option is the handle positioned HORIZONTAL in line above the saw blade.
Step-5. When you measure the vertical 90 degrees angle square (Digital Angle Gaug) of you're sawblade don't forget that there is always some torsion in the aluminum housing.
Conclusion:how further away the handle is from the saw blade how more chance of torsion in the aluminum housing don't go for that (the choices are yours).
Also with a cheap slide miter saw it is still better the handgriff in line a above the saw blade than on the right side. Maybe they will make it someday then we have a winner...
Lot of great info here! Thank you
I have a Makita LS1019 in our production shop, and the dust extraction is about as ridiculous as the Festool trigger. It works for a couple of cuts, but is clogged for the rest of the day. It's over complicated with its sliding rubber parts that bump into each other and deform at every cut. Other than that it's a nice saw. The trigger is perfection. Too bad those two can't mate, the offspring would be really something....
Hi, kapex and a good tool for you? I'm undecided between makita and ls1219 and kapex120.
@@giuseppecastaldo644Hello, I ended up buying the Kapex for our shop. It is so much better than the Makita, not even in the same ballpark. The main reason is that the rails are much more stable and on both sides which makes cuts in thick material and angled cuts pretty much perfect. Also the dust extraction and the laser is much better. It is a little louder than the Makita, and it takes a little longer to spin up to full speed, and the trigger switch is easier and more ergonomical on the Makita. However I got used to the Festool switch after a little while. But in every other respect the Kapex is way better. In the end the quality of cut is what counts. And it is always perfectly square and without burns on the Kapex. On the Makita not so much. I think this would be worse on the 12" model. The Kapex has similar capacity. In the end I really didn't like the LS1019 as much my older Makita model. I really think that Makita did a disappointing job on that design.
I think the tagline for Festool is "Probably one of the best tools in this category, but also probably only makes $$ sense for a professional".
It's unfortunate really. I'd love to get some Festool stuff as a hobby woodworker and I always try and support locally made products. Lord knows i've spent more than I should I many US made woodworking squares and levels etc. I could afford Festool products if I really wanted but I've never been able to justify it personally. If Festool was closer to 2x more expensive than others I think I could give them more $$ but they are often 3-4x more expensive and sometimes 5-6x even.
I also think the Kapex loses a bit of it's "worth it" factor if you cut very few bevels. If you are cutting straight 90 most of the time, you can true up any saw and be happy. The dust collection is awesome though...I've watched a lot of UA-cam videos on modifying my Bosch for better dust collection and am happy now :)
Great review!
Great review! Hard to justify the price!
Definitely, it’s a shame it not a 900$ saw.
Thanks a lot for posting this video because i don’t have to read the manual anymore.. ☺️🤝
By the way: my wife was wondering why i use the laser?? 😁
😂
Just a hit piece on everything thing else. Have you tested all DeWalt saws for the flatness?
It's overpriced. But I would probably buy it again ;-)
What a steal!
If you register it, you get a new one when it is stolen
True it's overpriced, but it hardly never becomes worthless, even after heavy duty use and even after many years. Second hand festool stuff is still very expensive. So in a way, Festool tools just 'locks up' some of my money, which I can get back any time by selling the equipment. So yeah, it's an investment :)
Thanks!
The European version of the Bosch is far better than the N. American version and it's laser system is either side of the blade. Matt Estlea does a really good review on it. That version rivals the Festool more and is not far off it's price (about $1,250 US). I've just invested very heavily in several Felder machines and a 10' x 5' CNC with ATC so I'm not afraid of spending money. However, the Festool stuff, frankly I'm fighting myself over if I should buy it or not because it is blatantly far too expensive. I have 2 Hitachi saws and they have served me well but time to upgrade.
I hear u! It would be a lot easier decision if the prices were 30% less.
I've used the kapex for over 3 years now and really put it through some shit and its action and accuracy are still as good as new. The trigger is slightly annoying but the d handle grip is great I have 2 left handers working with me and often use left handed. The dewalt 12" (mule) is horrible for leftys or obscure bevel cuts. The kapex handle being in line with the blade I'm sure is why the accuracy is what it is
Good to hear! Agree with the handle for sure!
Hey man, you can actually dis-engage the trigger and guard safety lock. I had the same saw and its the first thing i did. If you look inside the blade guard toward the top, you can see a little black piece of plastic that stops the guard going up, just clip that off and boom problem solved. Same thing with the trigger switch lock, you will have to take off the plastic cover and go into where the trigger switch is, again there is a piece of plastic on a spring, you will see which part to cut off or remove. Once you do both these things it will be just like any other saw. Its well worth the effort.
It's expensive, because it's developed and made in Germany + shipping and custom tax to North America!
But thanks for the Review anyway!
Greetings from the Black Forest, Germany!
Nice video review been thinking about getting it, can I use a regular Ridgid shopvac for dust collector? Limited budget cant buy a festool shop vac yet? Thanks for your reply
Definitely, I used to use that small rigid with the flexible hose. You can grab one of those power switches so it comes on with the saw.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter thanks forgot to ask how many volts this miter saw? I live in California and we mostly use 110v
@@jaimegenovajr3257 it’s 110
@@TheFunnyCarpenter thanks so much
German tools are the best. Great review, with no bs
Thanks Randy
I have a bosch now and I love it, but festool is festool.
And if you're planning on getting something for a very long time, the cost spreads out quite a lot so why not treat yourself?
What you think about lows new flex power tools
Great review! I appreciate your comments about the precision of the base and fence.
I’m regretting my Hitachi, it has an extreme bow on the fence, so completing a cut pinches the blade every time. And i am unable to get the fence vertically square, even with shims. The fence extension doesn’t run flat with the base of the fence too. I reached out to tech support and they would want me to ship it to them instead of just shipping me a fence.
I ended up sanding the fence flat using sand paper glued to my cast iron table saw. After a few hours, I was able to minimize the bow.
Was $350 worth all of this? It’s hard to say.
Christopher Setter lol, my last saw was a hitachi, I know what you mean!
1100 dol and you think that´s expensive? In Portugal that costs 2.480 canadian dolars. Thats why is very rare see someone working with festool. Great review! 👍
Ouch! Thanks for checking out the channel:)
Strange I don’t have any problems with the trigger, but while it does collect a lot of the dust. As you say it performs poorly on the heavy particles, but still better than most of its competitors. It also comes with 3 year no quibble warranty and they will replace your saw if it gets stolen. Is it over priced? Well I would not hesitate to buy one again if needed, so I guess the answer is no.
I would like to see them price the saw at about 999$ US and take over a bigger share of the market. But what do I know:)
German products are great. Bosch, Festool, Mafell. Products too expensive? Never heard of service? The service is great
I wonder if the Kapex base being so flat has to do with it being magnesium instead of the aluminum everyone else uses?
Good point! Superior materials and better manufacturing is a good combo.
Good review...and I agree with you, the price is really unrealistic. Should be priced around $1100 CAD MAX. I like quality, but not at the current price. I think that part of the problem is the "MAP" pricing. It eliminates sale pricing and promotes price fixing.
1100$ is the right price.
I was hoping for more funny stuff😅.
Nice review thoug!
I’ll put in a request to the writing staff…😂
Great review, and thanks for addressing the fact the price is on the moon, or at least in low earth orbit. There are a lot of nice features, but I've read about consistent motor failures with this saw, sometimes 3 or 4 times. It's changed my mind on this saw.
Ya there's a lot of motor failure chatter about this saw. I will say that I've used mine in all sorts of crazy power situations and so far so good after 5 years. But that experiment is N of 1. Best wishes!
@@TheFunnyCarpenter glad to hear you're not experiencing any issues, I cant imagine the hassle of returning it 3 or 4 times for replacement! Keep up the great vids!
How does the made in China ( same quantity of hotdogs factory) saw work out for you??
I discovered that my table and fence aren’t flat nor square. My table dips down and isn’t level on each end. Unfortunately it’s out of warranty. It’s like the bolt that holds the table on is lower than it should be.
Dang that sucks big time! I'd contact the company.