17
GB
Cutting Technique
The main objectives are to avoid overheating the
wheel, and to prevent it from being pinched or
trapped or stressed in any way.
z
Adjust position of wheel guard to direct the
discharge away from you.
z
Prepare to make straight cuts only. Use a snap-
line to mark long cuts, and follow the marked
line carefully.
z
Take a balanced, comfortable stance on the left
side of the cutter. Hold cutter fi rmly with both
hands.
z
Always throttle up to cutting speed before letting
the wheel make contact. The cutter may be
jerked forward, causing loss of control, if wheel
is in contact during throttling up. Carefully let
cutting edge of wheel make light contact with
the work. Do not push or bounce the wheel onto
the work. Hold cutter steady. Do not let it tilt or
wobble.
z
Do not let the wheel stop in one place, but keep
it moving - in one direction, or back and forth,
along the line of cut. Cutting in one spot causes
heat build-up which can damage or glaze the
wheel. Too much cutting pressure also causes
overheating.
z
Cut as shallow and straight a groove as you can.
If you cut a curve, the wheel will start to bind as
the cut deepens.
z
Go over and over the groove you have started
until the cut is completed.
z
On cuts of long duration, remove cutter from cut
often to let the wheel cool.
z
Never put any side pressure on a cutter wheel,
grind on the side of it or use it to fl ick away
debris.
z
When cutting large diameter pipe, cut 360
degrees around and try not to cut through. If a
large segment of the wheel breaks through, the
wheel may catch and kick out at lightning-fast
speed.
z
Before cutting materials which are not supported
along their entire length, provide support to
prevent binding. Also be aware that the top
section will settle on the wheel if a column is cut
in two.
NOTE
Always cut at full throttle. Cutting at less than full
throttle may harm the clutch as it will overheat
during slippage.
DANGER
Do not cut with the portion of the wheel
running from just below horizontal to just
past top dead center. This is the zone of
contact where the cutter is likely to be kicked
upward and backward towards you.
Kickback
Danger Zone
Follow Snap Line
Keep Wheel
Moving
Cut in a
Straight Line
Cutter will Bind
in Crocked Cut
Roll Pipe to Cut 360° Around
Try not to Let Wheel Break
Through in One Place
CM14E̲WE̲all.indb 17
CM14E̲WE̲all.indb 17
2008/02/05 21:09:32
2008/02/05 21:09:32
