Festool Junkie Blog

A friend of ours has graciously allowed me to post his latest creation. “Building a Festool Kapex work center for your shop or studio” has some awesome insight to the latest offering from Festool. If you are on the fence (no pun intended) or have pre-ordered a Kapex, you need to check out Jerry’s latest.

Festool Kapex Workstation

There are many of you that have pre-ordered from Festool Junkie that are planning on putting the Kapex to work in smaller shops. With Jerry’s idea, you can streamline the Kapex into an entity of the shop that is both vital, and doesn’t take up much space at all.

Check it out! Definitely worth the read!

Timmy C

Pre-Order Your Kapex Today On FestoolJunkie

Here is a quick little video on the ease of the blade change with the Kapex.

Locate the wrench behind the saw in the cord wrap housing.

Turn the FastFix knob clockwise to lock the blade and the saw motor to “off.”

Loosen the Nut Guard.

Take off the Arbor Nut

Take off blade.

Put on new blade.

Put the Arbor Nut back on.

Re-position and tighten the Arbor Nut Guard.

Turn the FastFix knob counterclockwise to off. (The saw will not run if the FastFix knob is in the lock position.

Put the wrench back for next time.

The whole blade change can be done in under a minute. It is generally a good practice to turn the saw off when you do a blade change. How long does it take to unplug, and then re-plug the saw. Take the time dude, it may just save a couple fingers.

I just noticed that we have a D27 hose being used on the Kapex for dust extraction. This is the standard size hose that comes with the CT series vacs. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE KAPEX OWNER USE A D36 HOSE. The air flow when using this larger diameter hose is GREATLY increased. Believe me, we have tried it and there is a marked difference. The D36 is the size of hose that Festool recommends. Sorry if our lack of attention to detail may have confused anyone. Just say NO to D27 on the Kapex, unless of course you are in a pinch; at that point anything is better than nothing when we are talking dust extraction on a miter saw.

Timmy C

When we had the Kapex in the shop last week, the one thing I wanted to see above all other features was the dust collection capability of the highly acclaimed Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw. We did a little test with me and my camera behind the Kapex. We then cut some 6/4 Alder board both with the hose on, and with the hose off. Here is what the camera saw:

Amazingly, whether the saw was bevelled or at a ninety, the dust extraction capabilities were the same. Festool recommends that you hook up a D36 hose on the machine and vacuum to get airflow to a maximum. We have indeed tried it on your midi in the shop, and it certainly works, but the increased diameter of a D36, and the CFM of the CT22 or CT 33 do make a difference.

Stay up to date with the RSS feed; there is much more to come as we get closer and closer to July 1st.

Have a great weekend,

Timmy C

Be the first to own a Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw! Pre-Order Today

One of the handy features of the Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw is the ability to set the depth of the cut. This feature allows the user to plow dados into the workpiece. The video below show us here in the shop doing that very thing. With the laser so “dead-on” it is easy to get the side walls of the dado perfectly aligned.

To get a nice smooth bottom, you will notice the backer board against the fence. This allows the bottom of the blade to pass entirely over the workpiece. ***If you leave this step short, you will not be as deep on the back of the cut*** Make sure your backer is wide enough to accomplish this maneuver.

With this feature, it is almost like having a mobile radial arm saw, only different. Now you have dust extraction and accuracy.

Timmy C

July 1st is only six weeks away. To get you ahead of the learning curve for your new Festool Kapex, the Festool Junkie blog is going to be posting frequently as we uncover the Kapex. If you have not already subscribed to the RSS feed please do so. This will ensure that you are notified of all the new posts that come on-line.

The pictures below are of the unloading and unpacking of the Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw. Festool has done a nice job in securing this gem inside the box. Festool Junkie will of course be reinforcing the packaging prior to shipping.

Stay tuned for more Kapex stuff coming, and remember to click the little orange RSS feed tab to subscribe; you don’t want to miss out on some pretty new cool stuff coming on-line about the Kapex.

So here is your shot to PRE-ORDER YOUR KAPEX (click that and guarantee July 1st Shipping)

Timmy C

Can someone help me please. We were inundated with these saws today. The Festool Kapexii have a home here in Nebraska until July 1st. In the weeks to follow we will be updating the site nearly daily with video and pics of this greatly anticipated saw. The Kapex is here and we are ready to rock and roll these beauties out of here come July 1. You thought we were kidding when we said we would GUARANTEE the July 1 ship date. Check out the proof. Pre-Order to reserve one, they will go quickly.

Signing up for a Kapex raffle I think. Or at least signing the bill of lading is my partner Mark E Mark.

The wall of Festool Kapex:

Once again Pre-Order Your Festool Kapex at FestoolJunkie.com

Timmy C

Yesterday we had the privilege of having a Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw
in our shop. There was a bit of video going on, and we got some great footage. The video
below shows off the Kapexs’ hold-down, and the Kapex laser. I apologize for the lack of
audio as this was my first attempt to edit with Adobe Premiere CS3; I’ll get it soon enough.

Notice the beginning of the video where Randy adjusts the hold-down; this was a honkin’
piece of 8/4 Hard Maple that extended well past the saw’s bed on the left side…it didn’t
budge after we adjusted it to the right.

I spliced in the second clip after the cut. I really couldn’t believe that the “laser-beam” (a
person must say that in their best Dr. Evil voice) was that DEAD-ON…right out of the box! This
is one killer saw! Click the RSS feed and subscribe to the Festool Junkie Blog. Now that
we have some kewl tools for video you won’t want to miss out as we begin posting.

Timmy C

Hello all, we just got the new Festool Glasses and the Festool Tape measure in, and they are going like hotcakes around here. THESE ARE A LIMITED EDITION, GET ON IT IF YOU WANT TO SCORE A PAIR OF REALLY SWEET GLASSES!!! (Sorry I had to yell there…I am just so excited!)

Pop the links to order:

Festool Safety Glasses

Festool Tape Measure

Festool Tape Measure and Glasses Bundle

“He or she who hesitates looses.”

Thanks kids,

Timmy C

Historically the Festool MFT has shipped via Less Than Truckload (LTL). You may recognize trucking company names like ABF, Yellow Freight, Conway, and Old Dominion to name a few. There are several reasons for the freight being delivered in this manner. The #1 reason was / is the amount of handling that the package does NOT incur. Historically these shipments were palletized and loaded with fork lifts on to the truck. As the package would go through the respective terminals, the MFT would stay palletized and move through the distribution channels. At the end of the line, there would need to be arrangements made for home delivery, or perhaps arrangements to pickup the package at the terminal. In many cases the terminal could be miles away; furthermore, it adds delay to the arrival date.

Festool has done a much better job in their factory packaging by adding rigid foam corner supports, and increasing the thickness/quality of the cardboard shell. Even the design of the box has improved. There is no longer the “Top Fold”, but rather, “End Folds” whereby you slide the table out of the end of the box. Thank You Festool for these improvements.

With the launch of the Festool MFT/3 just a couple of days away, we have decided to “pimp out” the packaging and make the table shippable by UPS. We pull each table out of the box, and reinforce all sides with the same rigid foam. We also put stablizers in the center of the box to keep the box from crushing in. It takes a bit of extra work to get the tables in order, but we feel that the “more user friendly” delivery method is worth it. Getting the MFT/3 to your door step timely is what this program is all about.

Festool Junkie pre-ordered a bunch of these table, and we still have several that can be ear-marked with your name on it. Get yours set up for May 1st shipping today.

Mr. Jerry Work is one of the finest craftsman in the country. He has a shop out there in the Kerby, Oregon called The Dovetail Joint. I had the distinct honor of meeting Mr. Work and his lovely wife at the FestoolUSA Grand Opening earlier this month. When I saw the “tutorial” of the his, “Using the Festool MFK 700 Router for Making Fine Furniture,” I shot him an e-mail and asked if I could make it available on “The Junk.” He graciously said yes so here it is.

Jerry has designed a couple of jigs that will make the Festool MFK 700 Set even more versatile than it already is. The jig is straight forward and can be made in a weekend. Take a look at this PDF and tell me it is the kewlest thing you have seen in months.

Festool MFK 700 Set Jigs by Jerry Work

Festool Junkie still has a couple of these routers in stock and ready to put your name on for May 1st distribution. Be quick about this, the buzz on the street is that these items will be slow to ship after the initial wave. The MFK has been very popular in Europe and abroad, and will soon become a favorite amongst U.S. woodworkers as well.

Timmy C