Reading an article on various vendors' aftermarket miter stands.  The Fe$tool one for the Kapex  goes for $1058.94 (no discounts allowed).  Couple that with the Kapex at $1800.94.  With that and sales tax, you've got an almost  $3000.00 set up.

 

Nope, nope, nope....

That's a negative Red Rider, bank account is empty.

 

😀

You guys are being a little harsh on that saw. I saw an episode of American Woodshop where Scott Phillips was extolling the virtues of his (he has the stand as well. Declaring it a "foundation tool" in the shop. (insert head knocking emoji here, if we had one) Somewhere in there he implied every shop needs one (miter saw). Maybe, I don't have a miter saw in my shop.....it sits parked in a storage room waiting for home improvement projects (Dewalt, BTW).

Edited November 5, 2025Nov 5 by Fred W. Hargis Jr

3 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I saw an episode of American Woodshop where Scott Phillips was extolling the virtues of his (he has the stand as well. Declaring it a "foundation tool" in the shop.

Not familiar with him.  Could he be extolling the virtues of a setup he got for free?  The cynical side of me is wondering.

24 minutes ago, JimM said:

Not familiar with him.  Could he be extolling the virtues of a setup he got for free?  The cynical side of me is wondering.

He claims (and it's a widespread conception) that he pays for all his own tools. But Woodcraft is one of his sponsors and if he does pay for his own tools my guess is he gets a fairly good discount. It is (or was, not sure he's on anymore) a PBS show so there's no advertising in the episodes.

Not sure about a foundation tool, but like others I have a miter saw station for cutting down stock then moving elsewhere in shop for final fitting.  One of the few tools I don't have 2 of set up in shop.  Not because I think everyone should have 2, mostly because I'm lazy and if one is already set up I use the other one.🤣

57 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

It is (or was, not sure he's on anymore

He is still on in our (Indiana) three PBS stations. Currently the series is in re-airs of previous seasons, but earlier this year shows were shown as 2025.

 

One thing I've noticed, all of his tools are either positioned so brands don't show or brand labels are covered with painters tape. I'm guessing that's more a PBS thing versus Scott thing. Likely similar to the whole fiasco Bob Vila got into with his use and promotion of Craftsman stuff in the early years of TOH. I think Norm and Russ had issues too during the earlier years of NYW when Norm was using Craftsman almost exclusively.

Edited November 5, 2025Nov 5 by Grandpadave52

6 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

He is still on in our (Indiana) three PBS stations. Currently the series is in re-airs of previous seasons, but earlier this year shows were shown as 2025.

 

That's interesting. The PBS my cable carries is WBGU, which is his home/sponsoring PBS station.....and it doesn't seem to show it anymore.

Let me correct what i said above. I just searched the WBGU site for American Woodshop and found it is on, Saturday mornings at 7A. I believe that is the longest running woodworking show ever produced (don't misconstrue that, I'm not a fan).

Edited November 5, 2025Nov 5 by Fred W. Hargis Jr

Our three PBS stations on DISH (or OTA) are (1) Indiana University, ch 49, Bloomington IN, (2)Ball State University, ch 30, Muncie, IN, (3) WFYI, ch 20, Indianapolis.

 

His show is on one of the channels every Tuesday at 12:30P, Eastern. It re-airs on the same channel on Saturday afternoons. A different broadcast (usually week behind) airs on one of the other stations later afternoon.

 

Monday's at 12:30P, Eastern, Wood Smith airs, then again ahead of Scotts on Saturdays. Same scenario, a different episode also airs on another PBS station later on Saturdays.

 

I don't know if this makes any sense or not? Hurts my head to read it now. In my defense, just got home from haircut, several errands and my brain is melted.

I've met Scott several times and he did a seminar for the club just before he started the show.  At one time, he worked for Shopsmith.

 

Someone once called him the Fred Rogers of woodworking.   I see his show once in a while, but get irritated with Suzy showing up and getting some screen time.

 

All that said, it's good there is someone out there (and someone willing to sponsor) a woodworking show to encourage beginners.

 

If there's one tool I could do  without, it  would be a miter saw.  My table saw with a couple of crosscut jigs can do everything a miter saw can, plus a lot of things it can't.  Same thing said for track saws.  But I don't do a lot with sheet goods.

Edited November 6, 2025Nov 6 by kmealy

One has to be skeptical at all times.  I have a couple 25 year old Festool products that I still use and like a lot.  But I wouldn't buy that stand - ever.  Looks wobbly. 

 

Miter saws are a huge convenience, but I sure wouldn't call them foundational.  I'm not sure I would call any machine foundational - you can always do it another way if you have to.  All machines are simply time savers to me.  Hand tools are truly foundational, but you pay for them in time required.

I'm reading the latest issue of Wood Magazine and they have a page on using a circular saw for woodworking (and a link to their videos on related subjects).

 

A year or so ago, I bought the Kreg Crosscut Station that I found for a ridiculously low price of $10.   My plan was to take it along on the year's mission trip, but that fell thru, so I haven't used it much.  Upon looking at the Wood Magazine stuff, I realized it can do about everything a miter saw can do, with the exception of bevel cuts (well, you probably could, but you's chew up your end stops.  And it will cut wider pieces than my non-sliding miter saw will do.

 

I've also seen a lot of (probably third world) videos with shop-made equivalents from some plywood and L-beams.

In short, I think it's a pretty neat tool for a beginner (or someone that doesn't have a miter saw)  But I just found out it's been discontinued, but may be still available some places

 

I bought a couple of Kreg Crosscut Stations as well when Menards had them. One for me; one for my SIL. Figured $20 for the pair plus 11% cash back, what the hey? I've wasted more on donuts than that and they're all long gone. Still haven't opened mine yet. SIL has used his a few times. Actually I'd forgotten I had one until I read Keith's post above. Wonder where I put that? Hmmm?

It's in a place where you can remember you put it, ready for use.