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g) Do not use a damaged accessory. Before each use inspect the
accessory such as abrasive wheels for chips and cracks, backing
pad for cracks, tear or excess wear, wire brush, wire, wire brush for
loose or cracked wires. If power tool or accessory is dropped, inspect
for damage or install an undamaged accessory. After inspecting
and installing an accessory, position yourself and bystanders away
from the plane of the rotating accessory and run the power tool at
maximum no-load speed for one minute. Damaged accessories will
normally break apart during this test time.
h) Wear personal protective equipment. Depending on application, use
faceshield, safety goggles or safety glasses. As appropriate, wear
dust mask, hearing protectors, gloves and workshop apron capable
of stopping small abrasive or workpiece fragments. Eye protection
must be capable of stopping flying debris generated by various operations.
The dust mask or respirator must be capable of filtrating particles
generated by your operation. Prolonged exposure to high intensity noise
may cause hearing loss.
i) Keep bystanders a safe distance away from the work area. Anyone
entering the work area must wear personal protective equipment.
Fragments of workpiece or of a broken accessory may fly away and cause
injury beyond immediate area of operation.
j) Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces only, when
performing an operation where the cutting accessory may contact
hidden wiring or its own cord. Cutting accessory contact a 'live' wire
may make exposed metal parts of the power tool 'live' and could give the
operator an electric shock.
k) Position the cord clear of the spinning accessory. If you lose control,
the cord may be cut or snagged and your hand or arm may be pulled into
the spinning accessory.
l) Never lay the power tool down until the accessory has come to a
complete stop. The spinning accessory may grab the surface and pull the
power tool out of your control.
m) Do not run the power tool while carrying it to your side. Accidental
contact with the spinning accessory may snag clothing, pulling the
accessory towards your body.
n) Regularly clean the power tool's vents. The motor's fan will draw the
dust inside the housing and excessive accumulation of powdered metal
may cause electrical hazards.
o) Do not operate the power tool near flammable materials. Sparks could
ignite these materials.
p) Do not use accessories that require liquid coolants. Using water or
other liquid coolants may result in electrocution or shock.
Kickback and Related Warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or snagged rotating wheel, backing
pad, brush or any other accessory. Pinching or snagging causes rapid stalling
of the rotating accessory which in turn causes the uncontrolled power tool
to be forced in the direction opposite of the accessory's rotation at the point
of the binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or pinched by the workpiece, the
edge of the wheel that is entering into the pinch point can dig into the surface
of the material causing the wheel to climb out or kick out. The wheel may
either jump towards or away from the operator, depending on direction of the
wheel's movement at the point of pinching. Abrasive wheels may also break
under these conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or incorrect operating
procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper precautions
as given below.
a) Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and position your body an arm
to allow you to resist kickback forces. Always use auxiliary handle,
if provided, for maximum control over kickback or torque reaction
during start up. The operator can control torque reactions or kickback
forces, if proper precautions are taken.
b) Never place your hand near the rotating accessory. Accessory may
kickback over your hand.
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c) Do not position your body in the area where power tool will move if
kickback occurs. Kickback will propel the tool in the direction opposite to
the wheel's movement at the point of snagging.
d) Use special care when working corners, sharp edges etc. Avoid
bouncing and snagging the accessory. Corners, sharp edges or
bouncing have a tendency to snag the rotating accessory and cause loss
of control or kickback.
e) Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving blade or toothed saw blade.
Such blades create frequent kickback and loss of control.
Safety Warnings Specific for
Grinding and Abrasive Cutting-Off
Operations
a) Use only wheel types that are recommended for your power tool and
the specific guard designed for the selected wheel. Wheels for which
the power tool was not designed cannot be adequately guarded and are
unsafe.
b) The grinding surface of the centre depressed wheels must be
mounted below the plane of the guard lip. An improperly mounted
wheel that projects through the plane of the guard lip cannot be
adequately protected.
c) The guard must be securely attached to the power tool and
positioned for maximum safety, so the least amount of wheel is
exposed towards the operator. The guard helps to protect the operator
from broken wheel fragments, accidental contact with wheel, and sparks
that could ignite clothing.
d) Wheels must be used only for recommended applications. For
example: do not grind with the side of the cut-off wheel. Abrasive
cut-off wheels are intended for peripheral grinding; side forces applied to
these wheels may cause them to shatter.
e) Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are of correct size and
shape for your selected wheel. Proper wheel flanges support the wheel,
thus reducing the possibility of wheel breakage. Flanges for cut-off wheels
may be different from grinding wheel flanges.
f) Do not use worn down wheels from larger power tools. Wheels
intended for larger power tools are not suitable for the higher speed of a
smaller tool and may burst.
Additional Safety Warnings Specific
for Abrasive Cutting-Off Operations
a) Do not 'jam' the cut-off wheel or apply excessive pressure. Do not
attempt to make an excessive depth of cut. Overstressing the wheel
increases the loading and susceptibility to twisting or binding of the wheel
in the cut and the possibility of kickback or wheel breakage.
b) Do not position your body in line with and behind the rotating wheel.
When the wheel, at the point of operation, is moving away from your body,
the possible kickback may propel the spinning wheel and the power tool
directly at you.
c) When wheel is binding or when interrupting a cut for any reason,
switch off the power tool and hold the power tool motionless until the
wheel comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the cut-off
wheel from the cut while the wheel is in motion otherwise kickback may
occur. Investigate and take corrective action to eliminate the cause of
wheel binding.
d) Do not restart the cutting operation in the workpiece. Allow the wheel
to reach full speed and carefully re-enter the cut. The wheel may bind,
walk up or kickback if the power tool is restarted in the workpiece.
e) Support panels or any oversized workpiece to minimise the risk of
wheel pinching and kickback. Large workpieces tend to sag under their
own weight. Supports must be placed under the workpiece near the line of
cut and near the edge of the workpiece on both sides of the wheel
f) Use extra caution when making a 'pocket cut' into existing walls
or other blind areas. The protruding wheel may cut gas or water pipes,
electrical wiring or objects that can cause kickback.