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sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a buildup of
debris.
• Lower guard should be retracted manually only for special
cuts such as “Pocket Cuts” and “Compound Cuts.” Raise
lower guard by Retracting Handle. As soon as blade enters the
material, lower guard must be released. For all other sawing,
the lower guard should operate automatically.
•Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade
before placing 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.
• NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands or across your leg.
It is important to support the work properly to minimize body
exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
• Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an
operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or
its own cord. Contact with a “live” wire will also make exposed
metal parts of the tool “live” and shock the operator.
• When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.
This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for blade
binding.
• Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond vs.
round) arbor holes. Blades that do not match the mounting
hardware of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.
• Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolts. The
blade washers and bolt were specially designed for your saw, for
optimum performance and safety of operation.
CAUSES AND OPERATOR PREVENTION OF KICKBACK
•Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound 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 bound 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
operator.
• Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating
procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below.
a. Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position
your body and arm to allow you to resist KICKBACK forces.
Kickback forces can be controlled by the operator, if proper
precautions are taken.
b. When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for any
reason, release the trigger and hold the saw motionless in
the material into 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.
c. When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw
blade in the kerf and check that the saw teeth are not
engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it may walk
up or KICKBACK from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
d. Support large panels to minimize the risk of blade pinching
and KICKBACK. Large panels tend to sag under their own
weight. Support must be placed under the panel on both sides,
near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel.
e. Do not use dull or damaged blade. Unsharpened or improperly
set blades produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade
binding, and KICKBACK.
f. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be
tight and secure before making cut. If blade adjustment shifts
while cutting, it may cause binding and KICKBACK.
g. Use extra caution when making a “Pocket Cut” into existing
walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut
objects that can cause KICKBACK.