This is a great thread/poll.

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The crux of the matter, gathered from the various comments, plus my own experience:

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1. A Kapex or similar compound angle mitre saw is a very useful machine. It can do precise, repetitive work, and it can break down long boards with ease. (Personally I sold my Kapex as it took up too much space and was not accurate enough for anything other than breaking down boards – like Joe said). If you have the space, it’s a no-brainer to keep it for this purpose alone.

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2. The problem is that most of us could use the space for something else. The sliding table saw is an excellent stand-in for a Kapex, both for precision repetition, and for breaking down long boards. But some people just don’t have their sliders configured in a way that allows for breaking down long boards (like me).

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3. Like others here, I use a 6” or 8” (if required) hand-held circular saw to break down long boards, laid out on Euro-horses. Very effective and quick.

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4. So in the end, my Kapex was not suitable for precision work (slider is better), but excellent at breaking down long boards (slider is just as good unless not configured for that), in which case a hand held circular saw works very well.

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Conclusion: If you have the space, then keep your Kapex (or equivalent). But if you can use the space for anything else, anything else at all, ditch it. You’ll miss it every once in a while, but then you’ll be happy that you have space for that third bandsaw, or second sander, or multi-router, or whatever.

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Dr David Luckensmeyer

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