Safety Instructions for Basic Band Saw Operation
Before Each Use
Inspect your saw.
•To reduce the risk of injury from accidental starting, turn the switch off, unplug the saw, and remove the switch key before changing the setup, removing cov- ers, guards or blade.
•Check for alignment of moving parts, binding of mov- ing parts, breakage of parts, saw stability, and any other conditions that may affect the way the saw works.
•If any part is missing, bent or broken in any way, or any electrical part does not work properly, turn the saw off and unplug the saw.
•Replace damaged or missing parts before using the saw again.
•Maintain tools with care. Keep the saw clean for best and safest performance. Follow instructions for lubri- cating.
•Remove adjusting keys and wrenches. Form a habit of checking for and removing keys and adjusting wrenches from table top before turning it on.
To Reduce The Risk Of Injury From Jams, Slips Or Thrown Pieces Or Broken Blades
Inspect your blade.
•Choose the right blade size, style and cutting speed for the material and the type of cutting you plan to do.
•Make sure the blade teeth point downward, toward the table.
•Make sure the blade guides and thrust bearings are properly adjusted.
•Make sure the blade tension is properly adjusted.
•Make sure the bevel clamp is tight and no parts have excessive play.
•To reduce the risk of accidental blade contact, mini- mize blade breakage and provide maximum blade support, always adjust the upper blade guide and blade guard to just clear the workpiece.
Inspect your work area.
•Keep work area clean.
•Cluttered areas and benches invite accidents. Floor must not be slippery from wax or sawdust.
•To reduce the risk of burns or other fire damage, never use the saw near flammable liquids, vapors or gases.
Plan your work.
•Use the right tool. Don’t force tool or attachment to do a job it was not designed to do.
•Use this band saw to cut only wood, wood like prod- ucts and plastics.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of blade breakage, personal injury, fire or other damage to the saw, NEVER use this band saw to cut metals.
•Know your saw. Read and understand the operator’s manual and labels affixed to the tool. Learn its applica- tion and limitations as well as the specific potential
hazards peculiar to this tool.
•To reduce the risk of injury from accidental contact with moving parts, don’t do layout, assembly, or set up work on the saw while any parts are moving.
•Reduce the risk of accidental starting. Make sure switch is “OFF” before plugging saw into a power outlet.
Inspect your workpiece.
Make sure there are no nails or foreign objects in the part of the workpiece to be cut.
Use extra caution with large, very small or awkward workpieces:
•Use extra supports (tables, saw horses, blocks, etc.) for any workpieces large enough to tip when not held down to the table top.
•NEVER use another person as a substitute for a table extension, or as additional support for a workpiece that is longer or wider than the basic saw table, or to help feed, support or pull the workpiece.
•When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your work so it will not slip and pinch the blade. A piece of molding for example, must lie flat or be held by a fix- ture of jig that will not let it twist, rock or slip while being cut.
•Properly support round material such as dowel rods, or tubing. They have a tendency to roll during a cut, caus- ing the blade to “bite”. To reduce the risk of this, always use a “V” block or clamp the work to the miter gage.
•Cut only one workpiece at a time.
•Clear everything except the workpiece and related support devices off the table before turning the saw on.
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands, Face and Ears
Dress for safety
•Any power saw can throw foreign objects into the eyes. This can result in permanent eye damage. Always wear safety goggles, not glasses, complying with ANSI Z87.1 (or in Canada CSA
goggles are available at many local retail stores.
•For dusty operations, wear a dust mask along with safety goggles.
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