1.
DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and blade. Keep your second
hand on auxiliary handle or motor housing.
If both hands are holding the saw,
they cannot be cut by the blade.
Keep your body positioned to either side of
the
saw blade, but not in line with the saw blade
. Kickback could cause the saw
to
jump backwards. (See
Safety Instruction #
10. Causes and Operator Prevention of
Kickback:
)
Do not reach underneath the work.
The
guard cannot protect you
from the blade below the work.
2.
Check lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate saw if
lower guard does not move freely and close instantly
.
Never clamp or tie the
lower guard into the open position
. If saw is accidentally dropped, lower guard
may be bent. With the power to the saw disconnected, raise the lower guard with
the Retracting Handle and make sure it moves freely and does not touch the blade
or any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
3.
Check the operation and condition 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
buildup of debris.
4
L
.
ower 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.
5.
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.
6.
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. Use vises, clamps, or other appropriate supports to securely hold the
workpiece.
7.
When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.
This improves the
accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for blade binding.
8.
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.
9.
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.
10.
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 the 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 on the saw and position your body and arm in a way that
allows 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 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 and
check that 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. 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 blade.
Unsharpened or improperly set blades
produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding, and kickback.
4
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR CIRCULAR SAWS
