Skil 3601 Owner'S Manual Download Page 5

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Do not use the saw until the table is clear of all tools, wood scraps, etc., except the

workpiece . Small debris or loose pieces of wood or other objects that contact the revolving

blade can be thrown with high speed at the operator.
Cut only one workpiece at a time. Multiple workpieces cannot be adequately clamped or

braced and may bind on the blade or shift during cutting.
Be certain the flooring saw is mounted or placed on a level, firm work surface before

using . A level and firm work surface reduces the risk of the flooring saw becoming unstable.
This tool is not equipped with provisions for attaching an auxiliary fence. Insure that the

work piece is supported by the fence before cutting.
Plan your work. Provide adequate support accessories such as tables, saw horses,

table extension, etc. for workpieces wider or longer than the table top. Workpieces longer

than the flooring saw table can tip if not securely supported. If the cutoff piece or workpiece

tips it can lift the lower guard or be thrown by the spinning blade.
Do not use another person as a substitute for a table extension or as additional

support . Unstable support for the workpiece can cause the blade to bind or the workpiece to

shift during the cutting operation pulling you and the helper into the spinning blade.
The cutoff piece must not be jammed against or pressured by any other means against

the spinning saw blade. If confined, i.e. using length stops, it could get wedged against the

blade and thrown violently.
Let the blade reach full speed before contacting the workpiece. This will help avoid

thrown workpieces.
If the workpiece or blade becomes jammed or bogged down, turn flooring saw “OFF”.

Wait for all moving parts to stop and unplug the flooring saw, then work to free the

jammed material. Continued sawing with jammed workpiece could cause loss of control or

damage to flooring saw.
After finishing the cut, turn flooring saw “OFF” and wait for blade to stop before

removing work or cutoff piece. If blade does not stop within ten (10) seconds, unplug

the saw and follow the instructions in the Troubleshooting section. REACHING WITH

YOUR HAND UNDER A COASTING BLADE IS DANGEROUS
CROSSCUT OPERATION
Use clamps to support workpiece whenever possible. If supporting the workpiece by

hand, you must always keep hand outside of the intended line of cutting. Do not use

this saw to cut pieces that are too small to be securely clamped.
Do not feed workpiece into the blade or cut “freehand” in any way. Workpiece must be

stationary and clamped or braced by your hand. Saw must be fed through the workpiece

smoothly and at a rate which will not overload the saw’s motor.
Do not reach in back of the saw blade behind the fence with either hand to hold down

or support the workpiece, remove wood scraps, or for any other reason. The proximity of

the spinning saw blade to your hand may not be obvious and you may be seriously injured.
Inspect your workpiece before cutting. if workpiece is bowed or warped, clamp it

with the outside bowed face toward the fence. Always make certain that there is no

gap between the workpiece, fence and table along the line of the cut. Bent or warped

workpieces can twist or rock and may cause binding on the spinning saw blade while cutting.

Also, make sure there are no nails or foreign objects in the workpiece.
Always use a clamp or a fixture designed to properly support round material such as

dowel rods, or tubing. Rods have a tendency to roll while being cut, causing the blade to “bite”

and pull the work with your hand into the blade.
When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your work so it will not slip and pinch

the blade and be torn from your hand. A piece of molding, for example, must lie flat or be

held by a fixture or jig that will not let it twist, rock or slip while being cut.