DeWalt DWE560-XE, Instruction Manual

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12
RIPPING (FIG. 20)
Ripping is the process of cutting wider
FIG. 20
W
boards into narrower strips – cutting
grain lengthwise. Hand guiding is more
difficult for this type of sawing and the
use of D
E
WALT DW3278-XE rip fence
(W) is recommended.
POCKET CUTTING (FIG. 21)
WARNING: Never tie the blade
guard in a raised position. Never move
the saw backwards when pocket
cutting. This may cause the unit 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 foot plate so the blade cuts at desired depth.
2. Tilt the saw forward and rest front of the foot plate on material to be cut.
3. Using the lower guard lever, retract lower blade guard to an upward position.
Lower rear of foot plate until blade teeth almost touch cutting line.
4. Release the blade guard (its contact with the work will keep it in position to
open freely as you start the cut). Remove hand from guard lever and firmly grip
auxiliary handle (E), as shown in Figure 21. Position your body and arm to allow
you to resist kickback if it occurs.
5. Make sure blade is not in contact
FIG. 21
E
with cutting surface before starting
saw.
6. Start the motor and gradually lower
the saw until its foot plate rests flat
on the material to be cut. Advance
saw along the cutting line until cut is
completed.
7. Release trigger and allow blade to stop
completely before withdrawing the
blade from the material.
8. When starting each new cut, repeat as
above.
Kickback
When the saw blade becomes pinched or twisted in the cut, kickback can occur. The
saw is thrust rapidly back toward the operator. When the blade is pinched or bound
tightly by the kerf closing down, the blade stalls and the motor reaction drives the unit
backward. When the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the
back edge of the blade can dig into the top surface of the wood causing the blade to
climb out of the kerf and jump back toward the operator.
Kickback is more likely to occur when any of the following conditions exist.
1. IMPROPER WORKPIECE SUPPORT
A. Sagging or improper lifting of the cut off piece can cause pinching of the
blade and lead to kickback (Fig. 17).
B. Cutting through material supported at the outer ends only can cause kickback.
As the material weakens it sags, closing down the kerf and pinching the
blade.
C. Cutting off a cantilevered or overhanging piece of material from the bottom up
in a vertical direction can cause kickback. The falling cut off piece can pinch
the blade.
D. Cutting off long narrow strips (as in ripping) can cause kickback. The cut off
strip can sag or twist closing the kerf and pinching the blade.
E. Snagging the lower guard on a surface below the material being cut
momentarily reduces operator control. The saw can lift partially out of the cut
increasing the chance of blade twist.
2. IMPROPER DEPTH OF CUT SETTING ON SAW
To make the most efficient cut, the blade should protrude only far enough to
expose 1/2 of a tooth as shown in Figure 6. This allows the foot plate to support
the blade and minimizes twisting and pinching in the material. Refer to Cutting
Depth Adjustment .
3. BLADE TWISTING (MISALIGNMENT IN CUT)
A. Pushing harder to cut through a knot, a nail, or a hard grain area can cause
the blade to twist.
B. Trying to turn the saw in the cut (trying to get back on the marked line) can
cause blade twist.
C. Over-reaching or operating the saw with poor body control (out of balance),
can result in twisting the blade.