Skil 3601, Owner'S Manual

Page: 25 / 92

25
Rip Cutting
RIPPING is known as cutting a piece of wood
with the grain, or lengthwise.
RIPPING is performed using the RIP FENCE
together with the PUSH STICK.
A push stick is included with your flooring saw.
If your push stick has become lost or damaged,
you can make a push stick using a piece of
1 x 2, as shown in figure 18.
Use a push stick whenever the fence is 1-3/4
inches or more from the blade. Use a scrap
wood piece when the operation is too narrow
(less than 1-3/4”) to allow the use of a push
stick.
Both a push stick or scrap wood piece should
be used in the place of the user’s hand to
guide the material only between the fence and blade.
When using a push stick or scrap wood piece, the trailing end of the board must be square.
A push stick or scrap wood piece against an uneven end could slip off or push the work away
from the fence.
For your own safety, always observe the following safety precautions in addition to the safety
instructions on Pages 3-9.
Never make these cuts FREEHAND (without using the rip fence because the blade could bind
in the cut and cause a KICKBACK.
Always lock the rip fence securely when in use.
Frequently check the action of the ANTIKICKBACK PAWLS by passing the workpiece
alongside of the spreader while saw is OFF.
Pull the workpiece TOWARD you. If the PAWLS do not DIG into the workpiece and HOLD it,
the anti-kickback pawls must be REPLACED. See “Maintenance” on Page 27.
Do not stand directly in front of the blade in case of a KICKBACK. Stand to either side of the
blade.
Keep your hands clear of the blade and out of the path of the blade.
If the blade stalls or stops while cutting, TURN SWITCH OFF before attempting to free the
blade.
Do not reach over or behind the blade to pull the work piece through the cut … to support
long or heavy workpieces … to remove small cut-off pieces of material or FOR ANY OTHER
REASON.
Do not pick up small pieces of cut-off material from the table. REMOVE them by pushing them
OFF the table with a long stick. Otherwise they could be thrown back at you by the front of the
blade.
Do not remove small pieces of cut-off material that may become TRAPPED inside the blade
guard while the saw is RUNNING. THIS COULD ENDANGER YOUR HANDS or cause a
KICKBACK. Turn the saw OFF. After the blade has stopped turning, lift the guard and remove
the piece.
If workpiece is warped, place the CONCAVE side DOWN. This will prevent it from rocking
while it is being ripped.
1
Fig. 18
WORKPIECE
END
1-1/2
1/4
1/4
3/4
15 45
o
NOTCH
1/4