Replies

1. 
   joeh | Jul 02, 2008 08:26am | #1

   Waiting for your owner review before I junp in.

   Actually already put that McFeeley catalog in the trash, it's all above my pay grade.

   Joe H

2. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 02, 2008 02:00pm | #2

   Hey Andy,  It's summer and you're a teenager so shouldn't you be pursuing another pastime, like looking for girls who are looking for boys at the Mall or other local hangout?

   I'm old enough to be your grandpa and I love neat tools but no matter how cool they get, they'll never replace a great summer of playing sports with friends and chasing tail...as we used to say. 

1. 
   FatRoman | Jul 02, 2008 02:49pm | #3

   Maybe he's trying to charm the girl behind the Kapex counter? :)'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

2. 
   spike999250 | Jul 02, 2008 07:09pm | #8

   Let Andy buys his tools while he is young.  I started with hand tools at about ten, 23 years later and i still don't have everything i want. Carpentry/woodworking during the day,  Chase tail at night.

1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 02, 2008 11:48pm | #10

   I started with hand tools at about ten, 23 years later and i still don't have everything i want. 

   If that's your true heart's desire, more power to you.  But the desire for things doesn't usually reflect what the heart is after.  That, to me, is a more important question for all of us.  A good time to begin considering that question is when we're young and free from major responsibilities. 

1. 
   spike999250 | Jul 03, 2008 03:07am | #11

   Sorry i should have said that collecting tools is a good hobby in my opinion for a young person.  I made collecting tools and learning everything i possibly can about the building/constuction industry my main hobby. I also hunt, fish, collect knives and chased a lot of tail.  I am happy to say i am getting married this year to a wonderful woman who supports my tool addiction.

1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 03, 2008 05:59am | #16

   I am happy to say i am getting married this year to a wonderful woman who supports my tool addiction.

   May we all be so fortunate.  Best wishes to you both. 

2. 
   jjf1 | Jul 03, 2008 06:03am | #17

   Ah, yes...the marriage made in heaven...congrats.J

3. 
   Philter | Jul 03, 2008 03:13am | #12

   ".....playing sports with friends and chasing tail...as we used to say. "... that's DOVEtail's right?.....;{p)

    

    "If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."

1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 03, 2008 06:03am | #18

   that's DOVEtail's right?.....;{p)

   If yer joint'll fit in a dovetail, gopher it.

   ;-)

3. 
   jhausch | Jul 02, 2008 03:25pm | #4

   Who else thinks the name sounds like a feminine hygiene product?

1. 
   DDay | Jul 02, 2008 04:47pm | #5

   Me!also for $1300 after it cuts the wood, it should have a "massage" function. I saw it at the JLC show and its nice but worth only a few hundred over the competition. I would pay $750 but that's it. Wait until the price increase for festool next year, they seem to happen in april, it will be close to $1500. The TS 55 and CT 22 set I bought for $730 a year and a half ago is about $950 now, now that's inflation.

1. 
   jhausch | Jul 02, 2008 04:51pm | #6

   "now that's inflation"

   Nope - that's a weak dollar and a strong euro ;-)

   The other think it sounds like is the stuff/plant they used to put in old life jackets (Kapok? Kapoc?)

   THey make some nice stuff, but that is some serious change.

4. 
   jjf1 | Jul 02, 2008 06:27pm | #7

   I just had a rep drop one off for me to play around with for a week or so. He wasn't real familiar with it yet so he left it with me (hehehe).

   Should I just take off to Mexico with it? Does it cut adobe?

   I'll think I'll start by cutting a bunch of 1x8 mdf down in the shop to see how it handles it, dust-wise.

   Jay

5. 
   jjf1 | Jul 02, 2008 09:05pm | #9

   I did a little test in the shop using it on mdf today.

   http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43544

   J

6. 
   byhammerandhand | Jul 03, 2008 05:22am | #13

   I just have a hard time justifying spending what I spent on my Unisaw for a miter saw. I'd have to do way more mitering than I do today.

   Don't know much about it, but at 2-3x the price of the next nearest, I have to wonder about the marginal utility of that last $800 spent.

1. 
   jjf1 | Jul 03, 2008 05:30am | #14

   And that's the correct way to look at it. If you can't justify it (time, work, energy, $ spent) obviously, like anything else, it won't make sense to purchase it.Jay

1. 
   jjf1 | Jul 03, 2008 05:32am | #15

   The last unisaw (220, 5hp) i bought was $2k+ (2002/3?), just checkin'...Jay

2. 
   danski0224 | Jul 03, 2008 01:27pm | #19

   You are forgetting that the Kapex is made in Germany, by employees that (probably) earn a decent wage, that have health benefits, are likely unioized living in a country that has environmental responsibility.

   Compare that to the country where most miter saws are made today- China... a country that practices the complete opposite of Germany as far as labor and environmentalisim goes.

   Lets leave out the falling American dollar and the supposed government controls on the Yuan keeping the value artificailly low... even though that pushes the Festool prices higher and allows Chinese made stuff to fall in price in a time when oil and materials are going up. 

   Don't forget that retail stores still need to make a profit and they want more rather than a little.

   Outsourcing allows them to force wholesale prices lower while maintaining or increasing retail markups.

   That $2k Unisaw (Delta, right?) is probably made in China. I haven't seen any Delta stuff made in the USA for a long time... and it is probably made in the same contract Chinese factory pumping out Harbor Freight castings assembled with different bearings and paint... shipping to a store with a higher retail price point.

   I bet Festool could have their stuff made in a Chinese ISO 9000 factory to the same specs they maintain now. It would cost (retail) less, but still above the "regular" stuff (retail), maintaining the perception of a premium product. On the wholesale side, Festool could make more than they are now, just like so many American companies that have sold this country out in search of better next quarter profits above all else.

   That philosophy works real well judging by the current state of the American economy for those outside of the top 5% of wage earners. 

   Edited 7/3/2008 6:28 am ET by danski0224

1. 
   basswood | Jul 03, 2008 03:32pm | #20

   Most name-brand Sliding Compound Miter Saws are made in Taiwan and Japan, not China.The exceptions are the Makita (which is assembled in the USA) and the 8" Dewalt slider made in Italy. Some of the other Dewalt saws are made in Mexico now.

1. 
   JulianTracy | Jul 03, 2008 04:34pm | #21

   The Dewalt 8.5" slider is a holdout from days past, it's more a fluke that's it's still made in Italy.And when they sell out of the existing stock - guess where they'll be made.I've not seen any tools lately made in Japan - most all Hitachi stuff is China, A lot of Bosch stuff these days is China and like you said, most Dewalt is Mexico.Can't say that "made in Mexico" means a whole lot better than made in China though, in terms of the previous poster's comments...Let's just all agree that any NEW slider miters saws introduced by the major brands WILL only be made in China or Mexico.The only reason some current models aren't is that the production lines are remnants of before the huge wave of lost wage/cost outsourcing by the professional tool companies.IMO, the arguments stated for the Festool's high price are well made and explain why not only it may be worth the price, but also why it has to be priced so high.You can buy quality these days made in China, but can you buy quality, coupled with fair labor practices, environmental awareness and an overall good business model? Maybe not.Watch out for Milwaukee's steep decline into craptastic. Heard that they are gonna be Home Depot's exclusive hore now... Might take the placed that Ridgid #### do now.Darn shame there.JT

2. 
   danski0224 | Jul 04, 2008 02:17am | #25

   Been to the store lately?

   Milwaukee Tools is moving production to China.

   Every new Makita offering is made in China.

   Plenty of Metabo is made in China.

   Lots of Hitachi is made in China.

   Panasonic is made in China.

   Bosch is selling out to China.

   My Makita SCMS was assembled in the USA (bought it 4 years ago), but I suspect they come from China now.

   Plenty of DeWalt comes from China.

   All Ryobi comes from China.

   The Kapex will be cheaper when Festool sells out to China.

3. 
   sisyphus | Jul 04, 2008 02:26am | #26

   Whats next?

   Girlfriends made in China.

4. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 04, 2008 03:51am | #28

    

   Whats next? Girlfriends made in China.

   Wait about fifteen-twenty years.  U.S. adoptions of children born in China has been increasing annually for a while now.  

5. 
   JulianTracy | Jul 04, 2008 05:28am | #29

   Well, totally unannounced or heralded - looks like Milwaukee has just come out with a new 12" slider.Saw it at Home Depot today. Made in China, of course. Looked it over real good. Sells for $699.Has a little light on each side of the blade that supposedly will cast the perfect "cut-line" dual shadow - would be useful if it worked.But alas, there's a cheap-a$$ looking digital display for the miter adjust - looks like a crappy digital watch screen.Not sure why, but the whole darn thing has a feel of cheapness all over it; stinks of it.Like you know how if you start looking at some of the Skil and B&D stuff, you think that some of the doodads might be cool - but the overall cheapness can't be worn off?That's how the new Milwaukee saw seems.Already, the 1/2 industry standard hammer drill sold at HD is made in China. They have a new SDS 1" rotary hammer there too - wonder where that is made...?My 2-4 year old Milwaukee 1 1/8" rotary hammer is made in Germany.I've got to say that of all the whored out brands, I'll feel the worst about Milwaukee's downfall...JT

6. 
   Henley | Jul 07, 2008 03:37pm | #32

   I see HD is selling a Dewalt add on that sounds like the light
   system.
   If it worked it would be great. cut line indicators on both sides
   of the blade.
   And no adjusting.
   I can't figure out how it could work tho. why wouldn't the
   light cast the shadow at an angle?

7. 
   sisyphus | Jul 07, 2008 03:44am | #30

   Has anybody noticed anything bad about the Kapex other than the price? Or is it equal to or superior to the other SCMS in all facets.

8. 
   sisyphus | Jul 07, 2008 03:48am | #31

   Good point by you!

   Lots of Chinese girls have been adopted here as well although I think I read something about the process becoming more difficult lately.

9. 
   basswood | Jul 04, 2008 03:40am | #27

   I was just at the store today and the country of origin of the sliders in the store is still as I stated:Makita: USA
   Hitachi: Japan
   DeWalt: Mexico and ItalyThat store did not have Milwaukee or Bosch.

2. 
   jc21 | Jul 09, 2008 07:46pm | #33

   "That $2k Unisaw (Delta, right?) is probably made in China. I haven't seen any Delta stuff made in the USA for a long time"

   Delta Unisaws and some of their shapers still come from Jackson, TN ............... "Assembled in the USA from domestic and foreign components"  These days Delta uses Brazilian sourced WEG motors- no more Made in the USA label. Not sure who does the castings. There is a new Unisaw in the works and rumor has it it may once again wear the Made in the USA label.    http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/Goodbye+Old+Unisaw.aspx 

7. 
   wood4rd | Jul 03, 2008 05:40pm | #22

   I'm going to wait at least 48 hrs. and see if the price drops.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/3/2008 10:41 am ET by wood4rd

1. 
   MikeSmith | Jul 03, 2008 07:38pm | #23

   i looked at the kapex... went to HD and bought a 10" ryobi compound miter instead... on sale for $99gave it to my SIL when i finished the molding jobMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   MarkH | Jul 03, 2008 08:36pm | #24

   Yeah, I'da hated to give my SIL a Kapex too. Next thing, everybody would want one. Might get to be a drag on the budget.Nobody will be asking you for the free Ryobi's, right?You did the right thing.