Thread: How good is Festool Kapex dust extraction?

Yep it's very good at 90% . I still want to make box for other 10%.

Stop in and check mine with some cuts Mick.

I wouldn't give it anything like 90%, but it is regarded as better than most, as far as I can tell. I've not had another to be able to compare it to.

First things first - forget trying to use the 27mm hose. It has a 19mm chokepoint because it is inserted into the dust port. I use a 36mm hose which goes over the dust port, and that yields almost 4x the cross sectional area.

Next, if I am doing more than one cut on smaller profiles, or even a single cut on a big profile, then I also use the big Dusty as well, and that makes a significant difference to collection.

Here is some evidence. First pic was after 16 cuts of 90x20 Cypress with just the 36mm hose (800mm length before going into smooth hard wall ducting for about 2 metres to the CTM 26 AC Shop Vac).



I wouldn't say that was 90% efficient. Prolly more like 70-75%.

Here are the same cuts repeated but using the 2HP DE as well as the Shop Vac.



Note that on the right there are only some crumbs left which I'd estimate to be about 98% efficient at a guess. Note also that there is nothing on the saw at the back of the cut either.


I have no idea how much fine dust was sprayed around, but I'd be pretty sure that using the big dusty as well would capture more of it.

Mick, if you search through the DE sub forum you will see what I built, put simply it works with the messiest saw I have had. I can't smell MDF while I am cutting if the cyclone is running but if it is not even the smallest cut does not pass the smell test. The Festool takes a different path in how it operates extracting direct from the blade guard whereas my Bosch for instance tries to catch the debris after it has been ejected from under the blade guard. Doing it this way requires a very capable DE flowing a lot of air. Give me a call and have a chat.

It works ok but would never claim 90%, maybe half of that. The problem you have is as soon as you do a wide cut most of the waste goes backwards not upwards into the hose area so it is not able to capture all the waste.
If used as a drop saw then it gets better but would not say any where near 90%
As others indicate use the 36mm hose as better than the 27mm.

Other than that a great saw.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

.

Note that on the right there are only some crumbs left which I'd estimate to be about 98% efficient at a guess. Note also that there is nothing on the saw at the back of the cut either.
I have no idea how much fine dust was sprayed around, but I'd be pretty sure that using the big dusty as well would capture more of it.

you should know better than tp post pics like that 2nd one up....Bell mouth would improve that dramatically

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Stop in and check mine with some cuts Mick.

Good call, Brett. Thanks, I'll take you up on that. The Makita does a great job if it wasn't for the dust. I'm looking closely at Chris Parks' solution before committing 2,000 hard earned for the Kapex.

mick