c) 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.
d) Never hold piece being cut in your hands or across
your leg. Secure the workpiece to a stable plat-
form. It is important to support the work properly to
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minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of
control.
e) Hold power tool by insulated gripping surfaces
only, when performing an operation where the
cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or its own
cord. Contact with a "live" wire will also make ex-
posed metal parts of the power tool "live" and shock
the operator.
When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight
f)
edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and
reduces the chance of blade binding.
g) 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 eccentrically, causing loss of control.
h) 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.
5.2.2 Further safety instructions for all saws
Kickback causes and related warnings
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 saw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided
by taking proper precautions as given below.
a) 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.
b) 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 re-
move the saw from the work or pull the saw back-
ward while the blade is in motion or kickback
may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions
to eliminate the cause of blade binding.
c) When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre
the saw blade in the kerf and check that 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.
6
d) 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.
e) Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened
or improperly set blades produce narrow kerf causing
excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
f)
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.
g) Use extra caution when sawing into existing walls
or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut
objects that can cause kickback.
5.2.3 Safety instructions for circular saws with
outer pendulum guard
Lower guard function
a) Check lower guard for proper closing before each
use. Do not operate the 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.
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.
b) 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.
c) Lower guard should be retracted manually only
for special cuts such as "plunge cuts" and "com-
pound cuts." Raise lower guard by retracting han-
dle and as soon as blade enters the material, the
lower guard must be released. For all other sawing,
the lower guard should operate automatically.
d) 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.
5.3 Additional safety instructions
5.3.1 Personal safety
a) Wear ear protectors. Exposure to noise can cause
hearing loss.
b) Always hold the power tool securely with both
hands on the grips provided. Keep the grips dry,
clean and free from oil and grease.
c) Breathing protection must be worn if the power
tool is used without a dust removal system for
work that creates dust.
d) Do not operate the power tool without the protec-
tive devices that belong to it.
e) Operate the power tool only as intended and when
it is in faultless condition.