Use And Care Manual

Page 6
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
KICKBACK CAUSES AND
RELATED WARNINGS
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched,
jammed 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 jammed
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. When restarting a saw in the workpiece,
center the saw blade in the kerf so that
the saw teeth are not engaged into the
material. If a saw blade binds, it may walk
up or kickback from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.
4. Support large panels to minimize 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.
5. Do not use dull or damaged blades.
Unsharpened or improperly set blades
produce narrow kerf causing excessive
friction, blade binding and kickback.
6. Blade depth and bevel adjusting
locking levers must be tight and secure
before making the cut. If blade adjustment
shifts while cutting, it may cause binding
and kickback.
7. Use extra caution when sawing into
existing walls or other blind areas. The
protruding blade may cut objects that can
cause kickback.
LOWER GUARD FUNCTION
1. Check the lower guard for proper
closing before each use. Do not operate
the saw if the lower guard does not move
freely and close instantly. Never clamp or
tie the lower guard into the open position.
If the saw is accidentally dropped, the 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.
2. 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.
3. The lower guard may be retracted
manually only for special cuts such as
“plunge cuts” and “compound cuts”.
Raise the lower guard by the retracting
handle and as soon as the blade enters the
material, the lower guard must be released.
For all other sawing, the lower guard should
operate automatically.
4. Always observe that the lower guard is
covering the blade before placing the 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.
DANGER:
People with electronic
devices, such as pacemakers, should
consult their physician(s) before using this
product. Operation of electrical equipment
in close proximity to a heart pacemaker
could cause interference or failure of the
pacemaker.