Kobalt 4913883, Manual

Page: 9 / 48

9
SAFETY INFORMATION
• Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolt. The blade washers and bolt
were specially designed for your saw, for optimum performance and safe of operation.
Further Safety Instructions for All Saws
Kickback causes and related warnings
– Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, jammed or misaligned saw blade, causing an
uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.
– When the blade is pinched or jammed tightly by the kerf closing down, the blade stalls
and the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator.
– If 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 the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and
can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
• Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your arms to resist
kickback forces. Position your body to either side of the blade, but not in line with
the blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump backwards, but kickback forces can be
controlled by the operator if proper precautions are taken.
• When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for any reason, release the trigger
and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade comes to a complete stop.
Never attempt to remove the saw from the work or pull the saw backward while the
blade is in motion or kickback may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to
eliminate the cause of blade binding.
• When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade in the kerf so that the
saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If the saw blade binds, it may walk up or
kickback from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
• Support large panels to minimize the risk of blade pinching and kickback. Large
panels tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel on
both sides: near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel.
• Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce
narrow kerf, causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
• Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before
making a cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding and kickback.
• Use extra caution when sawing into existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding
blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.
Lower Guard Function
• Check the lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if
the lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower
guard into the open position. If the saw is accidentally dropped, the lower guard may be
bent. Raise the lower guard with the retracting handle and make sure that it moves freely
and does not touch the blade or any other part, in all angles and all depths of cut.
• Check the operation of the lower guard spring. If the guard and the spring are not
operating properly, they must be serviced before use. Lower guard may operate
sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of debris.
• The lower guard may be retracted manually only for special cuts, such as “plunge
cuts” and “compound cuts.” Raise the lower guard by the retracting handle and as
soon as the blade enters the material, the lower guard must be released. For all other
sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically.