TO REDUCE RISK OF KICKBACK
Kickback can occur when the blade stalls or binds, kicking the workpiece back toward you with great force and speed. If your hands are near the saw blade, they may be jerked loose and thrown into the blade. Obviously, kickback can cause serious injury,
and it is weUworth using precautions to avoid the risks.
Kickback can be caused by any action that pinches the blade in the wood, such as the following:
making a cut with incorrect blade depth sawing into knots or nails in the workpiece
•twisting the wood while making a cut making a cut with a dull,
•failing to support work forcing a cut
•cutting warped or wet lumber misusing the saw
not following correct operating procedures
•failing to use the
•using the wrong blade for the type of cut
TO AVOID KICKBACK
Use these guidelines to avoid kickback:
•Always use the correct blade depth setting. The top point of the blade teeth shouldclear the work,piece, 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch.
•Inspect the work for knots or nails before beginning
a cut. Knock out any loose knots with a hammer. Never saw into a loose knot or nail.
•Make straight cuts. Always use the rip fence when rip cutting. This helps prevent twisting the wood in the cut.
•Always use clean, sharp, and
•To avoid pinching the blade, support the work properly before beginning a cut.
•When making a cut, use steady, even pressure. Never force cuts.
•Do not cut wet or warped lumber.
•Always hold your workpiece firmly with both hands or use push blocks, push sticks, and featherboards to keep your body in a balanced position to be able to resist kickback should it occur. Use featherboards and push sticks to control non- through cuts on small workpieces.
PAWLS IN PLACE BLADEDEPTH
BLADE GUARD
IN PLACE
PUSHSTICK
NOKNOTS,NAILSORWARPSINWOOD,
WOODFEDANDSUPPORTEDCORRECTLY
Figure 33
PUSHSTICK
PUSHBLOCKS
Figure 34