Festool Owners Group
FESTOOL DISCUSSIONS => Ask Festool => Topic started by: pav180 on May 24, 2011, 05:02 PM
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I recently bought a Kapex and would be interested on any feedback with regards to cutting aluminium with it.
My old Dewalt did a great job cutting it but I never bothered to hook it up to an extractor. Due to chipping action of the non-ferrous blades much of the swarf was thrown forward at the operater.Does the Kapex + CTL make any significant difference?.
Any other advice on how it handles ali would be much appreciated especially now Ive seen the cost of the
n-f blades.
Pav
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I only used my kapex once for cutting aluminum, I used a nf blade I had for my makita ls1013, which has the same arbour holesize, but a slightly smaller diameter. The dust extraction worked fairly well, but there were still little chips on the table, which I had to brush away after every cut, for not scratching the powdercoating on the next piece.
The kapex has variable speed, so you can cut at a slower speed and avoid the need for cutting lubricant.
But I prefer using my CS70 if I only need to make straight cuts, the table is easier to clean, (I was scared that the chips would get in between the turntable mechanism of the kapex); and the cs saw has an airfilter for the cooling air, so no chips can get into the motor.
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Thanks Frank-Jan
I already had a few reservations about the waste getting into the turntable and also the tilt mechanism. [crying] Might just have to give it a try as my cutting is split
50/50 between ali and timber.
Thanks
Pav
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[welcome] to the fog.
i presume you are cutting small cross section extrusions like a window frame etc.
i wouldnt use the kapex , for 2 reasons.
1 st price of it , you dont want to ruin it.
2 nd you say you are 50 / 50 aluminium wood, so you swap blades regularly, i would use your old dewalt or buy another saw dedicated to the aluminium.
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You don't have to worry about ruining your Kapex by cutting aluminium, that's highly improbable. These things are made with such use in mind. But dust extraction doesn't work so well on aluminium as it does on wood. Wood chips are very light, aluminium chips are a lot heavier for their size so the air stream of the extractor won't catch them as easily.
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I have cut quite hefty aluminium profile (45x90mm) and lots of it with the Festool aluminium blade with any problems, I didn't use extration, just a paint brush to wipe the swarf off the cutting deck and then hoevered up at the end. No lubricant used, just took it slowly and used 3 as the blade speed