OPERATOR’S MANUAL 6-1/2 in. 18 VOLT CIRCULAR SAW R8452 Your circular saw has been engineered and manufactured to our high standards 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 ..................... 4-5 Safety Rules for Charger ................... 6 Symbols ......................................... 7-8 Features ....................................... 9-10 Assembly ................................... 10-11 Operation ................................... 12-21 Maintenance ...................................
GENERAL SAFETY RULES Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing and balance enable better control of the tool in unexpected situations. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be drawn into air vents. Do not use on a ladder or unstable support.
GENERAL SAFETY RULES SERVICE When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a risk of shock or injury. Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified personnel may result in a risk of injury. SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and blade.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES 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. breakage of parts, mounting, and any other conditions that may affect its operation. A guard or other part that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced by an authorized service center.
SAFETY RULES FOR CHARGER WARNING! READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS. Failure to follow all instructions listed below, may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury. Before using battery charger, read all instructions and cautionary markings in this manual, on battery charger, battery, and product using battery to prevent misuse of the products and possible injury or damage.
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.
FEATURES PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Blade Diameter .......................................................6-1/2 in. Blade Arbor ............................................................... 5/8 in. Cutting Depth at 0º.................................................2-1/8 in. Cutting Depth at 45º...............................................1-5/8 in. No Load Speed .................................................. 2,500/min. Motor ..................................................................
FEATURES KNOW YOUR CIRCULAR SAW ERGONOMIC DESIGN 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. This tool is designed for comfort and ease of operation in different positions and at different angles.
ASSEMBLY ATTACHING THE BLADE See Figure 2. INNER BLADE WASHER WARNING: A 6-1/2 in. blade is the maximum blade capacity of the saw. Never use a blade that is too thick to allow outer blade washer to engage with the flats on the spindle. Larger blades will come in contact with the blade guard, while thicker blades will prevent blade screw from securing blade on spindle. Either of these situations could result in a serious accident. SPINDLE LOCK BUTTON Remove the battery pack from the saw.
OPERATION WARNING: Do not allow familiarity with your tool to make you careless. Remember that a careless fraction of a second is sufficient to inflict severe injury. WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating tools. Failure to do so could result in objects being thrown into your eyes resulting in possible serious injury. WARNING: Do not use any attachments or accessories not recommended by the manufacturer of this tool.
OPERATION LED FUNCTION OF CHARGER See Figure 5.
OPERATION TO INSTALL BATTERY PACK See Figure 6. Place the battery pack in the saw. Align the raised rib inside the saw with the groove on the battery pack. RAISED RIB Make sure the latches on each side of the battery pack snap in place and the battery pack is secured in the saw before beginning operation. TO INSTALL BATTERY PACK CAUTION: When placing battery pack in the tool, be sure raised rib on battery pack aligns with the groove inside the tool and latches into place properly.
OPERATION KICKBACK KICKBACK - BLADE SET TOO DEEP See Figures 8 - 11. Kickback occurs when the blade stalls rapidly and the saw is driven back towards you. Blade stalling is caused by any action which pinches the blade in the wood. WARNING: To avoid kickback, release switch trigger immediately if blade binds or saw stalls. Kickback could cause you to lose control of the saw. Loss of control can lead to serious injury. Fig.
OPERATION LOCK-OFF BUTTON LOCK-OFF BUTTON See Figure 12. The lock-off button reduces the possibility of accidental starting. The lock-off button is located on the handle above the switch trigger. The lock-off button must be depressed before you pull the switch trigger. The lock resets each time the trigger is released. SWITCH TRIGGER NOTE: You can depress the lock-off button from either the left or right side. STARTING/STOPPING THE SAW See Figure 12. To start the saw: Depress the lock-off button.
OPERATION OPERATING THE SAW See Figures 14 - 15. It is important to understand the correct method for operating the saw. Refer to the figures in this section to learn the correct and incorrect ways for handling the saw. DANGER: When lifting the saw from the workpiece, the blade is exposed on the underside of the saw until the lower blade guard closes. Make sure the lower blade guard is closed before setting the saw down. WARNING: To make sawing easier and safer, always maintain proper control of the saw.
OPERATION CROSS CUTTING/RIP CUTTING TOP VIEW OF SAW See Figures 16 - 17. When making a cross cut or rip cut, align your line of cut with the outer blade guide notch on the saw base. GUIDELINE FRONT OF SAW Since blade thicknesses vary, always make a trial cut in scrap material along a guideline to determine how much, if any, the guideline must be offset to produce an accurate cut. NOTE: The distance from the line of cut to the guideline is the amount you should offset the guide. Secure the workpiece.
OPERATION WIDTH OF CUT SCALE See Figure 19. A width of cut scale has been provided on the base of the saw. When making straight cross cuts or rip cuts, the scale can be used to measure up to four inches to the right side of the blade. It can be used to measure up to one inch to the left side of the blade. BASE ASSEMBLY BEVEL CUTTING See Figures 20 - 21. The angle of cut of the saw may be adjusted to any desired setting between zero and 50°.
OPERATION POSITIVE 0° BEVEL STOP BLADE See Figure 22. The saw has a positive 0° bevel stop that has been factory adjusted to assure 0° angle of the saw blade when making 90° cuts. CARPENTER’S SQUARE TO CHECK Remove the battery pack from the saw. ADJUSTMENT SCREW WARNING: Failure to remove battery pack from saw could result in accidental starting, causing possible serious personal injury. 0 Place the saw in an upside down position on a workbench.
OPERATION POCKET CUTTING See Figure 23. WARNING: Always adjust bevel setting to zero before making a pocket cut. Attempting a pocket cut at any other setting can result in loss of control of the saw, possibly causing serious injury. 50 6 45 5 30 4 3 2 1 0 3 Adjust the bevel setting to zero, set the blade to the correct blade depth setting, and swing the lower blade guard up using the lower blade guard handle. 2 45 1 0 Always raise the lower blade guard with the handle to avoid serious injury.
MAINTENANCE GENERAL MAINTENANCE WARNING: Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most plastics are susceptible to damage from various types of commercial solvents and may be damaged by their use. Use clean cloths to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, etc. When servicing use only identical RIDGID replacement parts. Use of any other parts may create a hazard or cause product damage. WARNING: WARNING: Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-based products, penetrating oils, etc.
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 6-1/2 in. 18 VOLT CIRCULAR SAW R8452 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. Please record the serial number in the space provided below.