Ryobi BS903 Applications, Basic Operation of the Band SAW, Cutting Procedures, Relief Cuts

OPERATION

WARNING:

Do not allow familiarity with tools to make you care- less. Remember that a careless fraction of a second is sufficient to inflict serious injury.

WARNING:

Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating power tools. Failure to do so could result in objects being thrown into your eyes resulting in possible serious injury.

WARNING:

Do not use any attachments or accessories not recommended by the manufacturer of this tool. The use of attachments or accessories not recommended can result in serious personal injury.

WARNING:

To avoid blade contact, adjust the blade guide assembly to just clear the workpiece. Failure to do so could result in serious personal injury.

APPLICATIONS

You may use this tool for the purposes listed below:

Scroll cutting and circle cutting of wood and wood composition products

Various straight line cutting operations in wood and wood composition products

BASIC OPERATION OF THE BAND SAW

A band saw is basically a “curve cutting” machine that can also be used for straight-line cutting operations like cross cutting, mitering, beveling, compound cutting, and resaw- ing. When using the band saw for straight line cutting, the user can install a fence using an appropriately sized piece of wood clamped to the table with “C” clamps. It is not capable of making inside or non-through cuts.

This band saw is designed to cut wood and wood composi- tion products only.

Before starting a cut, watch the saw run. If you experience excessive vibration or unusual noise, stop immediately. Turn the saw off, remove the switch key, and unplug the saw. Do not restart until locating and correcting the problem.

CUTTING PROCEDURES

Hold the workpiece firmly against the saw table.

Use gentle pressure and both hands when feeding the work into the blade. Do not force the work; allow the blade to cut.

The smallest diameter circle that can be cut is determined by blade width. A 1/4 in. wide blade will cut a minimum diameter of 1-1/2 in.; a 1/8 in. wide blade will cut a minimum diameter of 1/2 in.

Keep your hands away from the blade. Do not hand hold pieces so small your fingers will go under the blade guard.

Avoid awkward operations and hand positions where a sudden slip could cause serious injury from contact with the blade. Never place hands in blade path.

Use extra supports (tables, saw horses, blocks, etc.) when cutting large, small or awkward workpieces.

Never use a 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.

When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your work so it will not pinch the blade. For example, a piece of molding must lay flat on the saw table. Workpieces must not twist, rock or slip while being cut.

When backing up the workpiece, the blade may bind in the kerf (cut). This is usually caused by sawdust clogging the kerf or when the blade comes out of the guides. If this happens:

Place the switch in the OFF position. Wait until the saw has come to a full and complete stop, then remove the switch key from the switch assembly. Store key in a safe place.

Unplug the saw from the power source.

Wedge the kerf open with a flat screwdriver or wooden wedge.

Open front cover and turn the upper wheel by hand while backing up the workpiece.

RELIEF CUTS

Relief cuts are made when an intricate curve (too small a radius for the blade) is to be cut. Cut through a scrap section of the workpiece to curve in pattern line then carefully back the blade out. Several relief cuts should be made for intricate curves before following the pattern line as sections are cutoff of curve “relieving” blade pressure.

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