Operator`s manual

11
Good Personal Safety is a Must
Following good safety practices when using circular
saws is a must. Make a habit of including safety in all
your activities.
Always read and understand the tool’s opera-
tor’s manual, tool markings and the instructions
packaged with the accessory before starting any
work.
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses
with side shields complying with current national
standards, and a full face shield when needed.
Use the appropriate mask or respirator in dusty
work conditions.
• Wear proper hearing protection, as needed.
• Dress right. Do not wear gloves, loose clothes or
jewelry. Contain long hair. Loose clothes, gloves,
jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving
parts.
• Crowded, cluttered work areas that can cause
tripping or loss of balance are particularly dan-
gerous.
Choose the Right Tool and Blade
Choosing the correct tool and the proper saw blade
for your application can help to reduce the risk of seri-
ous injury. When used according to the manufacturer’s
instructions, the proper tool and accessory will do the job
safer and faster.
• Do not use a circular saw that is too heavy for
you to easily control.
Use sharp blades. Damaged or dull blades could
throw teeth, posing a serious injury risk. A sharp
blade will tend to cut its way out of a pinching
condition.
Use the correct blade for your tool. Check this
carefully: Does it have the proper size and
shape arbor hole?
Make sure the speed marked on the blade is at
least as high as the no load RPM marked on the
tool.
• Use clean saw blades. A buildup of pitch or sap
on the surface of the saw blade increases blade
thickness and also increases blade friction and
the likelihood of kickback.
Know your Workpiece
Take time to review your work and make sure that all
necessary precautions have been taken before making a
cut. Circular saws are used to cut a variety of materials,
each having its own specic setup requirements.
Know what is behind a workpiece before you do
the job. Do not cut into existing walls or other
blind areas where electrical wiring, water, or gas
pipes may exist. If this situation is unavoidable,
disconnect all fuses/circuit breakers, and shut off
any water and gas lines feeding this work site.
• Support large panels (as illus-
trated) so they will not pinch
the blade.
• Use a straight edge
or rip fence as a
guide for ripping.
• Avoid cutting small workpieces that can’t be
properly secured, and workpieces on which the
base of the saw (shoe) can not properly rest. In-
jury could result from small pieces being thrown
back at the operator if the blade pinches and
binds.
Portable circular saws are not designed for cut-
ting logs, roots, trimming trees or shrubs.
Be very cautious of stock which is pitchy, knotty
or warped. These are most likely to create pinch-
ing conditions and possible kickback.
Before Cutting...
Before working with a circular saw, make sure the tool
and its accessories are in proper working order. Failure
to do so can increase your risk of injury and result in
blade pinching, binding or stalling, kickback and loss
of control. These situations can cause the saw to jump
back at the operator and result in a serious injury.
Check blades carefully before each use for
proper alignment and possible defects. Never
use a bent, broken or warped saw blade.
• Make sure the blade has ad-
equate blade set. Blade set
provides clearance between
the sides of the blade and the
workpiece, thus minimizing the
probability of binding. Some saw
blades have hollow ground sides
instead of blade set to provide
clearance.
Circular Saws
Among professional tradesmen, on the farm, around the house and in the vocational shop, the circular saw is probably the
most commonly used power saw and perhaps the most commonly abused. Familiarity should not lead to carelessness.
The following are specic safety ‘musts’ when using any portable circular saw. Failure to follow these safety rules can
result in serious injury.
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