Adjusting Lower Blade Guard, Cutting Aluminum

ADJUSTING LOWER BLADE GUARD

After an extended period of use, the movable lower blade guard

(A)Fig. 39 may not operate smoothly when the cuttinghead is lowered. You can correct this by adjusting the nut (B) until the lower blade guard (A) moves freely.

Do not over-tighten the nut as this can make the guard hard to move.

Fig. 39

TYPICAL OPERATIONS AND HELPFUL HINTS

1.Before cutting, make certain that the cutting arm and table area are at their correct settings and firmly locked in place.

2.Before cutting, determine that the workpiece is the right size for the saw.

3.Place the workpiece on the table and hold or clamp it firmly against the fence.

4. If the size of the workpiece would cause your hand to be inside the table hazard zone (see section “TABLE HAZARD ZONE” FIG. 26), use a clamp to secure the workpiece.

5.For best results, cut at a slow, even cutting rate.

6.Never attempt any freehand cutting (wood that is not held firmly against the fence and table).

AUXILIARY WOOD FENCE

When performing multiple or repetitive cut-off operations that result in small cut-off pieces (one inch or less), the saw blade can catch the cut-off pieces and project them out of the machine or into the blade guard and housing, possibly causing damage and/or injury. In order to limit the possibility of personal injury or blade guard damage, an auxiliary wood fence can be mounted to your saw.

Holes are provided in the fence to attach an auxiliary fence (A) and

(B)Fig. 40. This auxiliary fence is constructed of straight wood approximately 1/2” thick by 3” high by 16 inches long as shown at (B); and 1/2” thick by 5” high by 17” long (A) Fig. 40.

NOTE: The auxiliary fence (A) is used only with the saw blade in the 0° bevel position (90°) to the table. The auxiliary fence must be removed for all bevel cuts (blade tilted).

Fig. 40

CUTTING ALUMINUM

Aluminum extrusions (aluminum screens and storm windows) can easily be cut with your miter saw. When cutting aluminum extrusions, or other sections that can be cut with a saw blade and are within the capacity of the machine, position the material so that the blade is cutting through the smallest cross-section (Fig. 41). The wrong way to cut aluminum angles is illustrated in Fig. 42). Be sure to apply a stick wax (similar to Johnson’s stick wax #140) to the blade before cutting any aluminum stock. This stick wax is available at most industrial mill supply houses. The stick wax provides proper lubrication and keeps chips from adhering to the blade.

Never apply lubricant to the blade while the blade is running.

CORRECT

FENCE

BLADE

Fig. 41

INCORRECT

FENCE

BLADE

Fig. 42