DeWalt DCS391-XE Instruction Manual Download

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Cutting

Place the wider portion of the saw shoe on that part of the workpiece which is solidly

supported, not on the section that will fall off when the cut is made. As an example,

Figure 10 illustrates the RIGHT way to cut off the end of a board. Always clamp

work. Don’t try to hold short pieces by hand! Remember to support cantilevered and

overhanging material. Use caution when sawing material from below.
Be sure saw is up to full speed before blade contacts material to be cut. Starting saw with

blade against material to be cut or pushed forward into kerf can result in kickback. Push

the saw forward at a speed which allows the blade to cut without laboring.
Hardness and toughness can vary even in the same piece of material, and knotty or damp

sections can put a heavy load on the saw. When this happens, push the saw more slowly,

but hard enough to keep working without much decrease in speed. Forcing the saw can

cause rough cuts, inaccuracy, kickback, and over-heating of the motor.
Should your cut begin to go off the line, don’t try to force it back on. Release the trigger

switch and allow blade to come to a complete stop. Then you can withdraw the saw, sight

anew, and start a new cut slightly inside the wrong one. Withdraw the saw if you must

shift the cut. Forcing a correction inside the cut can stall the saw and lead to kickback.
IF SAW STALLS, RELEASE THE TRIGGER SWITCH AND BACK THE SAW UNTIL IT IS

LOOSE. BE SURE BLADE IS STRAIGHT IN THE CUT AND CLEAR OF THE CUTTING

EDGE BEFORE RESTARTING.
As you finish a cut, release the trigger switch and allow the blade to stop before lifting

the saw from the work. As you lift the saw, the spring-tensioned lower blade guard

will automatically close under the blade. Remember the blade is exposed until this

occurs. Never reach under the work for any reason. When you have to retract the

lower blade guard manually (as is necessary for starting pocket cuts), always use

the retracting lever.

WARNING:

When cutting thin strips, be careful to ensure that small cutoff pieces

don’t hang up on the inside of the lower blade guard.

RIPPING (FIG. 13)

Ripping is the process of cutting wider boards into narrower strips – cutting grain

lengthwise. Hand guiding is more difficult for this type of sawing and the use of a

WALT CS390FNC rip fence is recommended.

INSTALL RIP FENCE

IN THIS DIRECTION

FIG. 13

POCKET CUTTING (FIG. 14)

WARNING:

Never tie the lower blade guard in a raised position. Never move the

saw backwards when pocket cutting. This may cause the saw to raise up off the work

surface, which could cause injury.
A pocket cut is one that is made in a floor, wall or other flat surface.
  1. Adjust the saw shoe so the blade cuts at desired depth.
  2. Tilt the saw forward and rest front of the shoe on material to be cut.
  3. Using the lower blade guard retracting lever, retract the lower blade guard to an

upward position. Lower the rear of the shoe until the blade teeth almost touch the

cutting line.

4. Release the lower blade guard

FIG. 14

(its contact with the work will

keep it in position to open freely

as you start the cut). Remove

your hand from the lower blade

guard retracting lever and firmly

grip the auxiliary handle, as

shown in Figure 14. Position your

body and arm to allow you to