OPERATOR’S MANUAL 12 in. COMPOUND MITER SAW with Laser MS1250LZA - Double Insulated Your miter saw has been engineered and manufactured to our high standard for dependability, ease of operation, and operator safety. When properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance. WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator’s manual before using this product. Thank you for buying a RIDGID® product.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 General Safety Rules......................................................................................................................................................3-4 Specific Safety Rules.............................................................................................................
GENERAL SAFETY RULES SECURE WORK. Use clamps or a vise to hold work when practical, it is safer than using your hand and frees both hands to operate the tool. WARNING: Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow all instructions listed below, may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury. DO NOT OVERREACH. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. MAINTAIN TOOLS WITH CARE. Keep tools sharp and clean for better and safer performance.
GENERAL SAFETY RULES USE ONLY CORRECT BLADES. Do not use blades with incorrect size holes. Never use blade washers or blade bolts that are defective or incorrect. The maximum blade capacity of your saw is 12 in. NEVER USE IN AN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE. Normal sparking of the motor could ignite fumes. Inspect TOOL CORDS periodically. If damaged, have repaired by a qualified service technician at an authorized service facility.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES Never hand hold a workpiece that is too small to be clamped. Keep hands clear of the cutting area. make sure the work area has ample lighting to see the work and that no obstructions will interfere with safe operation BEFORE performing any work using your saw. NEVER reach behind, under, or within three inches of the blade and its cutting path with your hands and fingers for any reason.
SYMBOLS Some of the following symbols may be used on this tool. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the tool better and safer.
SYMBOLS The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product. SYMBOL SIGNAL MEANING DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
ELECTRICAL DOUBLE INSULATION EXTENSION CORDS Double insulation is a concept in safety in electric power tools, which eliminates the need for the usual three-wire grounded power cord. All exposed metal parts are isolated from the internal metal motor components with protecting insulation. Double insulated tools do not need to be grounded.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS Anti-Kickback Pawls (radial arm and table saws) A devise which, when properly installed and maintained, is designed to stop the workpiece from being kicked back toward the front of the saw during a ripping operation. Arbor The shaft on which a blade or cutting tool is mounted. Bevel Cut A cutting operation made with the blade at any angle other than 90° to the table surface. Chamfer A cut removing a wedge from a block so the end (or part of the end) is angled rather than at 90°.
FEATURES Product Specifications Cutting Capacity with Miter at 0°/Bevel 0°: Maximum nominal lumber sizes: . . . . . . . . . . 2 x 8, 4 x 4 Blade Diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 in. Arbor Hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 in. No Load Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 r/min. (RPM) Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 V, 60 Hz, AC Only, 15 Amps Net Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FEATURES KNOW YOUR COMPOUND MITER SAW Lock Pin See Figure 1. The safe use of this product requires an understanding of the information on the tool and in this operator’s manual as well as a knowledge of the project you are attempting. Before use of this product, familiarize yourself with all operating features and safety rules. 10 50 15 AMP MOTOR 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 Carrying Handle This saw has a powerful 15 amp motor with sufficient power to handle tough cutting jobs.
FEATURES LASER GUIDE ELECTRIC BRAKE For more accurate cuts, a laser guide is included with your miter saw. When used properly, the laser guide makes accurate, precision cutting simple and easy. An electric brake has been provided to quickly stop blade rotation after the switch is released. POSITIVE STOPS ON MITER TABLE See Figure 5. The Repeat-A-Cut™ feature on both the left and right side miter fences can be used when making repetitive cuts.
LOOSE PARTS The following items are included with your Compound Miter Saw: Miter Lock Handle Dust Bag Dust Guide Work Clamp Table Extension Socket Head Screw (2) Washer (2) Blade Wrench Hex Key, 1/16 in. Laser Blade Bolt Operator’s Manual (not shown) DUST GUIDE blade bolt laser SOCKET HEAD SCREWS washer table extension HEX KEY, 1/16 in. DUST BAG BLADE WRENCH MITER LOCK HANDLE WORK CLAMP Fig.
ASSEMBLY UNPACKING WARNING: This product requires assembly. Carefully lift saw from the carton by the carrying handle and the saw base, and place it on a level work surface. NOTE: This tool is heavy. To avoid back injury, lift with your legs, not your back, and get help when needed. This saw has been shipped with the saw arm secured in the down position. To release the saw arm, push down on the top of the saw arm, cut the tie-wrap, and pull out on the lock pin. Lift the saw arm by the handle.
ASSEMBLY Table Extension See Figure 9. The table extension can be used on the left side of the miter saw. To assemble and install the table extension: Insert socket head screw and washer into the two holes in the side of the miter saw base. Tighten securely. MITER LOCK HANDLE See Figure 10. To install the miter lock handle, place the threaded stud on the end of the miter lock handle into the threaded hole in the control arm under miter table. Turn clockwise to tighten. DUST GUIDE See Figure 11.
ASSEMBLY DUST BAG See Figure 12. A dust bag is provided for use on this miter saw. It fits over the dust guide on the upper blade guard. To install it, squeeze the two metal clips to open the mouth of the bag and slide it on the dust guide. Release the clips. The metal ring in the bag should lock in between the grooves on the dust guide. dust bag To remove the dust bag for emptying, simply reverse the above procedure. WORK CLAMP See Figure 13.
ASSEMBLY LASER GUIDE or outer blade washer WARNING: In some operations, the work clamp assembly may interfere with the operation of the blade guard assembly. Always make sure there is no interference with the blade guard prior to beginning any cutting operation to reduce the risk of serious personal injury. SCREW blade BOLT Blade Inner Blade Washer To Install Blade See Figure 14. Blade BOLT cover WARNING: Lower blade guard A 12 in. blade is the maximum blade capacity of the saw.
ASSEMBLY WARNING: Make sure the spindle lock button is not engaged before reconnecting saw into power source. Never engage spindle lock button when blade is rotating. Danger: Laser radiation. Avoid direct eye contact with light source. 4 aligning the laser guide line 1 See Figure 15. The laser guide will generate a laser line on the work surface when the saw blade is spinning.
ASSEMBLY CAP HEAD SCREWS Cutting A Slot In The Zero Clearance Throat Plate In order to use your compound miter saw, you must cut a slot through the zero clearance throat plate to allow for blade clearance. To cut the slot, set your saw at 0° miter, turn saw on and allow the blade to reach full speed, then carefully make a straight cut as far as it will go through the throat plate. Turn your saw off and allow the blade to come to a complete stop before raising the saw arm.
ASSEMBLY SLIDING mITER FENCE CAUTION: To keep from losing control of the unit, steady the base with one hand while loosening the two bolts with the other hand. With the unit securely resting on a large stable surface, tilt the unit by lifting up on one side of the base. 10 Using a combination wrench, loosen the two cap head screws on the underside of the saw table. Return the saw to its normal resting position. Make sure the miter lock knob is loose but do not release the miter lock plate.
ASSEMBLY BEVEL LOCK KNOB SQUARING THE BLADE TO THE MITER TABLE See Figures 22 - 25. Unplug the saw. Blade miter FENCE WARNING: Failure to unplug your saw could result in accidental starting causing possible serious personal injury. Pull the saw arm all the way down and engage the lock pin to hold the saw arm in transport position. Loosen the miter lock handle approximately one-half turn.
ASSEMBLY PIVOT ADJUSTMENTS BEVEL LOCK KNOB NOTE: These adjustments were made at the factory and normally do not require readjustment. TRAVEL PIVOT ADJUSTMENT BEVEL STOP ADJUSTMENT SCREW The saw arm should rise completely to the up position by itself. If the saw arm does not raise by itself or if there is play in the pivot joints, have saw repaired at your nearest AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER.
OPERATION CUTTING WITH YOUR Compound MITER SAW When cutting long pieces of lumber or molding, support the opposite end of the stock with a roller stand or with a work surface level with the saw table. See Figure 32. Align cutting line on the workpiece with the edge of saw blade. Grasp the stock firmly with one hand and secure it against the fence. Use the work clamp or a C-clamp to secure the workpiece when possible.
OPERATION TO Bevel Cut See Figures 27 - 29. A bevel cut is made by cutting across the grain of the workpiece with the blade angled to the workpiece. A straight bevel cut is made with the miter table set at the zero degree position and the blade set at an angle between -2° and 47°. BEVEL SCALE scale indicator 0 NOTE: It may be necessary to adjust the sliding miter fence to assure proper clearance prior to making the cut. Pull out the lock pin and lift saw arm to its full height.
OPERATION Slowly lower the blade into and through the workpiece. Release the switch trigger and allow the saw blade to stop rotating before raising the blade out of workpiece. Wait until the electric brake stops blade from turning before removing the workpiece from miter table. Compound Miter Cut TO Compound Miter Cut A compound miter cut is a cut made using a miter angle and a bevel angle at the same time.
OPERATION Align the cutting line on the workpiece with the edge of saw blade. Grasp the stock firmly with one hand and secure it against the fence. Use the work clamp or a C-clamp to secure the workpiece when possible. See Figure 30. Before turning on the saw, perform a dry run of the cutting operation just to make sure that no problems will occur when the cut is made. Grasp the saw handle firmly. Depress the switch lock with thumb then squeeze the switch trigger.
OPERATION CUTTING COMPOUND MITERS To aid in making the correct settings, the compound angle setting chart below has been provided. Since compound cuts are the most difficult to accurately obtain, trial cuts should be made in scrap material, and much thought and planning made, prior to making your required cut. PITCH OF SIDE 0° 5° 10° 15° 20° 25° 30° 35° 40° 45° 50° NUMBER OF SIDES 4 5 6 7 8 M- 45.00° B- 0.00° M- 44.89° B- 3.53° M- 44.56° B- 7.05° M- 44.01° B- 10.55° M- 36.00° B- 0.00° M- 30.
OPERATION cutting crown molding When cutting crown molding by this method the bevel angle should be set at 33.85°. The miter angle should be set at 31.6° either right or left, depending on the desired cut for the application. See the chart below for correct angle settings and correct positioning of crown molding on miter table. Your compound miter saw does an excellent job of cutting crown molding. In general, compound miter saws do a better job of cutting crown molding than any other tool made.
OPERATION MAKING A CROWN MOLDING SUPPORT JIG Bevel Angle Setting A crown molding support jig will need to be made when cutting crown molding with no required bevel setting. The support jig holds the crown molding in place during the cutting operation. When using this method, the saw can be quickly adjusted for corners that are not 90° square. 0 ° NOTE: A separate support jig must be made for different widths. Left side, inside corner 1. Top edge of molding against fence 2. Miter table set right 45° 3.
OPERATION clamping wide workpieces See Figure 36. When cutting wide workpieces, such as 2 in. x 6 in., boards should be clamped with a C-clamp as shown in figure 36. WRONG Fig. 35 10 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 WARNING: To avoid a kickback and to avoid serious personal injury, never position the concave edge of bowed or warped material against the fence. WIDE BOARD Fig. 36 ADJUSTMENTS NOTE: When properly aligned, the laser should be on the left edge of the kerf.
MAINTENANCE Brush REPLACEMENT WARNING: See Figure 38. The saw has externally accessible brush assemblies that should be periodically checked for wear. When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. Use of any other part may create a hazard or cause product damage. Proceed as follows when replacement is required: Unplug the saw. warning: WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields during power tool operation or when blowing dust.
MAINTENANCE Changing the Batteries in the laser See Figure 38. Unplug the saw. Rotate and hold lower blade guard up. Using the hex key (1/16 in.) provided, loosen and remove the screw from the battery compartment then separate the cover from the laser guide. Lower the blade guard. Remove the three button cell batteries. Note: Replace the batteries with button cell batteries that have a rating of 1.5 volt and 100 mAh (milliampere hour) minimum (number 76 series or equivalent).
WARRANTY RIDGID® HAND HELD AND STATIONARY POWER TOOL 3 YEAR LIMITED SERVICE WARRANTY WHAT IS NOT COVERED Proof of purchase must be presented when requesting warranty service. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser at retail and may not be transferred.
OPERATOR’S MANUAL 12 in. COMPOUND MITER SAW with Laser MS1250LZA - Double Insulated Customer Service Information For parts or service, contact your nearest RIDGID authorized service center. Be sure to provide all relevant information when you call or visit. For the location of the authorized service center nearest you, please call 1-866-539-1710 or visit us online at www.ridgid.com. The model number of this tool is found on a plate attached to the motor housing.