English / USA
Pull-away, climbing, pinching and
rotational forces
The most common reactive forces are
pull-away and climbing. If the contact is
at the bottom of the wheel, a cut-off
machine will try to pull away from the
operator (pull-away). If the contact is at
the front of the wheel, the wheel may
attempt to climb the object being cut
(climbing). Pinching occurs when the
piece being cut closes on the wheel. If
the wheel is severely pinched at the
front, especially in the upper quadrant,
the wheel may be instantly thrown up
and back towards the operator with a
great force in a rotational motion.
The greater the force generated, the
more difficult it will be for the operator to
control the cut-off machine. Any of the
reactive forces can, in some
circumstances, cause the operator to
lose control of a cut-off machine,
allowing the rotating wheel to come into
contact with the operator. Severe
personal injury or death can result.
16
Reducing the Risk of Reactive Forces
!
Warning!
Avoid cutting with the upper quadrant of
the wheel where possible. If you must
cut with this part of the wheel, be
especially cautious for reactive forces
and pinching.
Be alert to potential movement of the
work piece or anything else that could
cause the cut to close and pinch the
wheel. In order to reduce the risk of
pinching, support the work piece in such
a way that the cut remains open during
the cutting process and when the cut is
finished.
!
Warning
Use only cutting attachments authorized
by STIHL. Never use chipped abrasive
wheels, circular saw blades, carbide-
tipped blades, rescue blades or wood-
cutting or toothed blades of any nature
on a cut-off machine. The use of such
wheels or blades will greatly increase
the risk of loss of control and severe
personal injury or death from reactive
forces, since the chipped section of an
abrasive wheel, or the teeth of a saw
blade may catch in the material being
cut and generate substantially greater
reactive forces.
TS 700