rong>Update: We first wrote about the Festool KAPEX KSC 60 when it was announced in 2022, back when nobody knew if or when it would come to the U.S. It’s here now: Festool USA sells the KSC 60 EB-Basic as item 576848. We’ve updated this post with the current U.S. specs and what to look for, and kept the short history of the launch below.
The KSC 60 runs on two 18V batteries with an EC-TEC brushless motor. It uses an 8-1/2″ blade and crosscuts up to 12″ x 2-3/8″ at 90°. The compact rails, carry features, and cordless power are aimed at trim, flooring, and interior finish work on the move. It’s a smaller saw than the corded KAPEX KS 120, so compare the cut chart below to the stock you actually cut.
From the 2022 announcement to the U.S. saw
Festool’s original release had the saw reaching European dealers in September 2022, and at the time we noted there was no U.S. date. Now there’s a Festool USA listing with the U.S. model number and specs, so the guessing is over.
In the original post we also said we planned to buy one and review it. We haven’t done that review yet, so the details below come from Festool’s specs and other published sources, not our own testing.
KAPEX KSC 60 specs
| Specification | Festool KSC 60 |
|---|---|
| Battery voltage | 2 x 18 V |
| No-load speed | 1,300-1,800/3,500 RPM |
| Blade diameter | 8-1/2 in. (216 mm) |
| Maximum cut at 90°/90° | 12 x 2-3/8 in. (305 x 60 mm) |
| Cut at 45°/90° | 8-15/32 x 2-3/8 in. (215 x 60 mm) |
| Cut at 45°/45°, left | 215 x 40 mm |
| Cut at 45°/45°, right | 215 x 20 mm |
| Cut at 60°/90° | 150 x 60 mm |
| Miter range | 60° left / 60° right |
| Inclination | 47° left / 46° right |
| Dust-extraction connection | 27/36 mm |
| Dimensions | 25-5/32 x 18-1/16 x 17-13/32 in. (639 x 459 x 442 mm) |
| Weight | 38.14 lb (17.3 kg) |
These are from Festool USA’s current listing, which replaces the global-catalog weight we used in 2022. What comes in the box differs between the Basic version and the sets, so check the exact item number before you assume batteries, a charger, or a stand are included.
Cutting capacity, miter range, and bevel range
The headline number is a 12″ wide by 2-3/8″ tall crosscut with the head square to the fence and table. At a 45° miter, the width drops to 8-15/32″ and the height stays at 2-3/8″. Compound cuts aren’t the same on both sides: Festool lists 215 x 40 mm at 45/45 to the left and 215 x 20 mm to the right. At a 60° miter with no bevel, it cuts 150 x 60 mm.
Those numbers matter more than the idea that the KSC 60 is a KS 120 in a smaller body. It does miter 60° both ways and bevels 47° left and 46° right, but check its cut chart against tall baseboard, nested crown, framing stock, or whatever else you plan to cut. For finish work that fits inside those numbers, the smaller saw is a plus. For bigger stock, it’s the wrong saw.
Festool lists a twin-column guide that keeps the saw compact, an LED that shows the blade’s shadow on the cut line, a groove/depth stop, and an angle transfer tool for copying inside and outside angles to the saw. The LED shows where the blade will actually cut, so there’s no laser to keep aligned.
Batteries and portability
The KSC 60 runs on two 18V batteries. Festool says the EC-TEC motor and two-battery setup give it corded-like performance and enough runtime for a workday. How many cuts you actually get will depend on your batteries, the blade, the material, the size of the cuts, the temperature, and how often you’re cutting.
Portability is more than losing the cord. The guide rods stay inside the saw’s body instead of sticking out the back, so it can sit closer to a wall. Festool also lists a transport lock, built-in handles, and feet that raise the table to the height of certain Systainers, so you can use them as quick supports for the right workpieces. There’s an optional stand to turn it into a full mobile station, but don’t count on it being in every kit.
Dust collection: bag or extractor
You’ve got two options. Festool’s SB-KSC chip bag lets you collect dust without dragging an extractor along. Festool says it cuts down on airborne dust and cleanup; it won’t catch everything, so empty it regularly and wear a dust mask.
For an extractor, the KSC 60 has a 27/36 mm port. According to Festool’s hose guidance for KAPEX ports, a 27 mm hose goes inside it and a 36 mm hose goes over it. Our Festool hose size guide explains when to use each. How much you actually catch still depends on the blade, the material, the extractor, the filter, the hose, and the saw’s shroud.
If you’re hooking it up to a different brand of hose, pick an adapter by the exact hose and port, not by how it looks. You can browse all our Festool hose adapters. Two examples: our DeWalt Quick Connect adapter for 27/36 mm tool ports connects that DeWalt hose system, and our 36 mm hose to 27 mm tool adapter steps between the two sizes. Read each listing before you buy; “27” or “36” in the name doesn’t mean it fits everything.
Who the KSC 60 is for
Cordless power, a roughly 38 lb saw, built-in carry features, and a 12″ crosscut make the KSC 60 a natural fit for trim, flooring, remodeling, and interior finish work. If you move from room to room, you don’t need an outlet nearby, and you can use the bag for a few quick cuts or an extractor when you set up a proper station.
Know its limits before you buy. If you regularly cut stock taller or wider than the chart, look at a bigger saw; a different blade or technique won’t get you capacity Festool doesn’t list. And going cordless doesn’t change the basics: solid support, the right blade, guards in place, eye and hearing protection, and following the manual.
The reason to buy the KSC 60 isn’t that it does everything the big KAPEX does. It’s a pro-level cut range in a compact sliding saw, with dual-18V power, angle transfer, a depth stop, and flexible dust collection. That’s a specific setup for working on the move, and now that the U.S. specs are out, you can judge it on the real numbers.
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