5
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
a.
Miter saws are intended to cut wood or
wood-like products, they cannot be used
with abrasive cut-off wheels for cutting fer-
rous material such as bars, rods, studs, etc.
Abrasive dust causes moving parts such as
the lower guard to jam. Sparks from abrasive
cutting will burn the lower guard, the kerf in-
sert and other plastic parts.
b.
Use clamps to support the workpiece when-
ever possible. If supporting the workpiece
by hand, you must always keep your hand
at least 100 mm (4”) from either side of the
saw blade. Do not use this saw to cut pieces
that are too small to be securely clamped
or held by hand.
If your hand is placed too
close to the saw blade, there is an increased
risk of injury from blade contact.
c.
The workpiece must be stationary and
clamped or held against both the fence and
the table. Do not feed the workpiece into
the blade or cut “freehand” in any way.
Un-
restrained or moving workpieces could be
thrown at high speeds, causing injury.
d.
Push the saw through the workpiece. Do
not pull the saw through the workpiece. To
make a cut, raise the saw head and pull it
out over the workpiece without cutting,
start the motor, press the saw head down
and push the saw through the workpiece.
Cutting on the pull stroke is likely to cause
the saw blade to climb on top of the work-
piece and violently throw the blade assembly
towards the operator.
e.
Never cross your hand over the intended
line of cutting either in front or behind the
saw blade.
Supporting the workpiece “cross
handed” i.e. holding the workpiece to the
right of the saw blade with your left hand or
vice versa is very dangerous.
f.
Do not reach behind the fence with either
hand closer than 100 mm (4”) from either
side of the saw blade, to remove wood
scraps, or for any other reason while the
blade is spinning.
The proximity of the spin-
ning saw blade to your hand may not be ob-
vious and you may be seriously injured.
g.
Inspect your workpiece before cutting. If
the workpiece is bowed or warped, clamp
it with the outside bowed face toward the
fence. Always make certain that there is no
gap between the workpiece, fence and
table along the line of the cut.
Bent or
warped workpieces can twist or shift and
may cause binding on the spinning saw blade
while cutting. There should be no nails or for-
eign objects in the workpiece.
h.
Do not use the saw until the table is clear
of all tools, wood scraps, etc., except for
the workpiece.
Small debris or loose pieces
of wood or other objects that contact the re-
volving blade can be thrown with high speed.
i.
Cut only one workpiece at a time.
Stacked
multiple workpieces cannot be adequately
clamped or braced and may bind on the
blade or shift during cutting.
j.
Ensure the miter saw is mounted or placed
on a level, firm work surface before use.
A
level and firm work surface reduces the risk
of the miter saw becoming unstable.
k.
Plan your work. Every time you change the
bevel or miter angle setting, make sure the
adjustable fence is set correctly to support
the workpiece and will not interfere with
the blade or the guarding system.
Without
turning the tool “ON” and with no workpiece
on the table, move the saw blade through a
complete simulated cut to assure there will
be no interference or danger of cutting the
fence.
l.
Provide adequate support such as table ex-
tensions, saw horses, etc. for a workpiece
that is wider or longer than the table top.
Workpieces longer or wider than the miter
saw table can tip if not securely supported.
If the cut-off piece or workpiece tips, it can
lift the lower guard or be thrown by the spin-
ning blade.
m. Do not use another person as a substitute
for a table extension or as additional sup-
port.
Unstable support for the workpiece can
cause the blade to bind or the workpiece to
shift during the cutting operation pulling you
and the helper into the spinning blade.
n.
The cut-off piece must not be jammed or
pressed by any means against the spinning
saw blade.
If confined, i.e. using length
stops, the cut-off piece could get wedged
against the blade and thrown violently.
o.
Always use a clamp or a fixture designed to
properly support round material such as
rods or tubing.
Rods have a tendency to roll
while being cut, causing the blade to “bite”
and pull the work with your hand into the
blade.
p.
Let the blade reach full speed before con-
tacting the workpiece.
This will reduce the
risk of the workpiece being thrown.
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