7
2. Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard
cannot protect you from the blade below the
workpiece.
3. Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of the
workpiece. Less than a full tooth of the blade teeth
should be visible below the workpiece.
4. Never hold the workpiece in your hands or across
your leg while cutting. Secure the workpiece to a
stable platform. It is important to support the work
properly to minimise body exposure, blade binding, or
loss of control. (Fig. 1)
5. Hold the power tool by insulated gripping
surfaces, when performing an operation where the
cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or its own
cord. Contact with a “live” wire will also make exposed
metal parts of the power tool “live” and could give the
operator an electric shock.
6. When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight
edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and
reduces the chance of blade binding.
7. Always use blades with correct size and shape
(diamond versus round) of arbour holes. Blades
that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw
will run off-centre, causing loss of control.
8. Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or
bolt. The blade washers and bolt were specially
designed for your saw, for optimum performance and
safety of operation.
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre the
saw blade in the kerf so that the saw teeth are not
engaged into the material. If a saw blade binds, it
may walk up or kickback from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.
4. Support large panels to minimise 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. (Fig. 2 & 3)
5. Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened
or improperly set blades produce narrow kerf causing
excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
6. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers
must be tight and secure before making the cut. If
blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause
binding and kickback.
7. Use
extra caution when sawing into existing walls
or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut
objects that can cause kickback.
8. ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands.
NEVER place your hand, leg or any part of your
body under the tool base or behind the saw,
especially when making cross-cuts. If kickback
occurs, the saw could easily jump backwards over
your hand, leading to serious personal injury. (Fig. 4)
9. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at a
speed so that the blade cuts without slowing.
Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of
accuracy, and possible kickback.
Lower guard function
1. 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 it moves freely and
does not touch the blade or any other part, in all
angles and depths of cut.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Always observe that the lower guard is covering
the blade before placing the 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.
5. To check lower guard, open lower guard by hand,
then release and watch guard closure. Also check
to see that retracting handle does not touch tool
housing. Leaving blade exposed is VERY
DANGEROUS and can lead to serious personal injury.
Additional safety warnings
1. Use extra caution when cutting damp wood,
pressure treated lumber, or wood containing
knots. Maintain smooth advancement of tool without
decrease in blade speed to avoid overheating the
blade tips.
