and excessive accumulation of powdered metal
may cause electrical hazards.
• Do not operate the power tool near flammable
materials. Sparks could ignite these materials.
• Do not use accessories that require liquid coo-
lants. 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, sanding band, brush or
any other accessory. Pinching or snagging cau-
ses rapid stalling of the rotating accessory which
in turn causes the uncontrolled power tool to be
forced in the direction opposite of the accesso-
ry's rotation. 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 toward or away from the opera-
tor, depending on direction of the wheel's move-
ment 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 precauti-
ons as given below.
• Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and po-
sition your body and arm to allow you to resist
kickback forces. The operator can control kick-
back forces, if proper precautions are taken.
• 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.
• Do not attach a toothed saw blade. Such blades
create frequent kickback and loss of control.
• Always feed the bit into the material in the same
direction as the cutting edge is exiting from
the material (which is the same direction as the
chips are thrown).
• Feeding the tool in the wrong direction causes
the cutting edge of the bit to climb out of the
work and pull the tool in the direction of this
feed.
• When using cut-off wheels, always have the
work securely clamped. These wheels will grab
if they become slightly canted in the groove,
and can kickback. When a cut-off wheel grabs,
the wheel itself usually breaks. When the rotary
file, high-speed cutter or tungsten carbide cut-
ter grab, it may jump from the groove and you
44
could lose control of the tool.
• Safety warnings specific for grinding and abrasi-
ve cutting-off operations
• Use only wheel types that are recommended
for your power tool and only for recommended
applications. For example: do not grind with the
side of a cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels
are intended for peripheral grinding, side forces
applied to these wheels may cause them to
shatter.
• For threaded abrasive cones and plugs use only
undamaged wheel mandrels with an unrelie-
ved shoulder flange that are of correct size and
length. Proper mandrels will reduce the possibi-
lity of breakage.
• Do not "jam" a 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
snagging of the wheel in the cut and the possibi-
lity of kickback or wheel breakage.
• Do not position your hand in line with and be-
hind the rotating wheel. When the wheel, at the
point of operation, is moving away from your
hand, the possible kickback may propel the spin-
ning wheel and the power tool directly at you.
• When wheel is pinched, snagged or when in-
terrupting 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 cutoff wheel from the cut
while the wheel is in motion otherwise kickback
may occur. Investigate and take corrective acti-
on to eliminate the cause of wheel pinching or
snagging.
• Do not restart the cutting operation in the
workpiece. Let the wheel 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.
• Support panels or any oversized workpiece to
minimize the risk of wheel pinching and kick-
back. 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.
• Use extra caution when making a "pocket cut"
into existing walls or other blind areas. The pro-
truding wheel may cut gas or water pipes, elec-
trical wiring or objects that can cause kickback.
• Safety warnings specific for wire brushing ope-
rations
• Be aware that wire bristles are thrown by the