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e. Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the cutting tool may
contact hidden wiring
. Contact with a “live” wire will also
make exposed metal parts of the power tool “live” and could
give the operator and electric shock.
f. When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.
This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of
blade binding.
g. Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond
versus round) of arbour holes.
Blades that do not match the
mounting hardware of the saw will run off-centre, causing loss of
control.
h.
Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolt.
The
blade washers and bolt were specially designed for your saw,
for optimum performance and safety of operation.
Kickback causes and related warnings
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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:
a.
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.
b.
When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for
any reason, release the on/off switch 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 piece 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, centre 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.
d.
Support large panels to minimise 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.
e.
Do not use dull or damaged blades.
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 the cut.
If blade adjustment
shifts while cutting, it may cause binding and kickback.
g.
Use extra caution when sawing into existing walls or other
blind areas.
The protruding blade may cut objects that can
cause kickback.
