DIYbanter - View Single Post

Leon[_5_]

wrote:
OK, Leon. So the saw will be in San Antonio on Saturday? Does that mean
your happy self with be here, too? Are they shipping it to the local Woodcraft on 281?

Check the Festool Road show schedule or call your little cal woodcraft to
find out the details. I saw the schedule for the show and they will follow
SA with Austin, Dallas AND Ft Worth. It really is a very cool setup
with Festool guys that can answer any question you may have.

On another note, I don't know what "tradesmen" use Kapex out on a
jobsite. Believe me, I know many, many carpenters, trimmers, cabinet
installers, remodelers, and a few custom cabinet makers. Not one,
seriously, with all my contacts of 42 years of doing this work, not one
uses a Kapex. Could the guys you saw be some wannabes?

Neither did I but out of the 4 -5 I met a couple were in the business.
They had all kinds of suggestions of how they use theirs and how they have
theirs set up to cut crowns.

No one is doubting the quality of the tool or the quality of its output.
First, you simply don't need that kind of accuracy using today's current
building methods. Most important, you might as well hang a neon sign on a
saw like that asking someone to steal it. Most of us work out of
pickups... where could you hide it?

Agreed with the need for accuracy on the job site. Of the trades, guys 2
were brothers, about our age and nationality. :-). They for years were
trim carpenters and apparently hauled the Kapex to the job site. With two
of them I guess there are twice as many eyes on guard. IIRC they got the
saw about 7 years ago. They did say that they were going more towards
custom Furnature and were not doing any or as much trim any more.

For me, I want the accuracy and quality of cut. I often have the TS set
up for a particular cut and need to make other quality cuts. Can I justify
the cost? NOOOO. It was the whole package. Very small foot print when
not in use. Very easy to move and set up. Very quick to set and tear
down,including the wing extensions on both sides. I think it takes about 2
minutes to pull it out and set up for repeatable cutstyo to 94.5".

The standard around here for trimmers is the DeWalt products. Good/great
accuracy, sturdy build, parts for repair are available over the counter,
and they have good service life. My last DeWalt 713 lasted 22 years. It
rode from job to job in the back ofthe truck. I couldn't tell you how
many thousand feet of all kinds of trim that thing cut. It still runs,
but the lift handle broke and it exposed wiring so it is unsafe until I
find a good ABS glue.

I loved that saw enough to run right out and get another rendition of
that same model. Granted, I wouldn't let anyone else use it, and it was
treated very well because I didn't want to knock it out of my adjustment.
I took a lot of time to fine tune it as needed. But I paid something
like $190 bucks for it, and you can replace it now for something like
$220. That saw is a steal.

Anyway...

Robert

Understood. :-). I won't be lending mine out either. Kim talked me into
it. I think she got tired of me fondling the Kapex at the store.