• Keep your body positioned to either side of the blade, but not in line
with the saw blade. KICKBACK could cause the saw to jump
backwards. (See KICKBACK)
• Do not reach underneath the work. The guard can not protect you
from the blade below the work.
• Check lower guard for proper closing before 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. 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.
• 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.
• 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 the 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 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 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.
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