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damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a buildup of debris.
•
Lower guard should be retracted manually only for special cuts
such as “Pocket Cuts” and “Compound Cuts.” Raise lower guard
by Retracting Handle. As soon as blade enters the material, lower
guard must be released. For all other sawing, the lower guard should
operate automatically.
•
Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade before
placing saw down on bench or floor. An unprotected, coasting blade
will cause the saw to walk backwards, cutting whatever is in its path.
Be aware of the time it takes for the blade to stop after switch is
released.
•
NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. It is
important to support the work properly to minimize body exposure,
blade binding, or loss of control.
•
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an
operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring.
Contact with a “live” wire will also make exposed metal parts of the tool
“live” and shock the operator.
•
When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This
improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for blade
binding.
•
Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond vs.
round) arbor holes. Blades that do not match the mounting hardware
of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.
•
Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolts. The blade
washers and bolt were specially designed for your saw, for optimum
performance and safety of operation.
Causes and Operator Prevention of
Kickback
•
KICKBACK is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound 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 bound 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 operator.
•
Kickback is the result of tool 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 body
and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces. 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 into 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 and check that the saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If
saw blade is binding, 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. Support
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 blade. 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 cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it
may cause binding and KICKBACK.
• Use extra caution when making a “Pocket Cut” into existing walls or
other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause
kickback.
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