material. If saw blade is binding, it may walk
up or kickback from the workpiece as the saw
is restarted.
Support large panels to minimize 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.
Do not use dull or damaged blade.
Unsharpened or improperly set blades
produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction,
blade binding and kickback.
Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking
levers must be tight and secure before
making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while
cutting, it may cause binding and kickback.
Use extra caution when making a “Plunge
Cut” into existing walls or other blind
areas. The protruding blade may cut objects
that can cause kickback.
The blade washers and the bolt on your
saw have been designed to work as a
clutch to reduce the intensity of a kickback.
Understand the operation and settings of
the VARI-TORQUE CLUTCH. The proper
setting of the clutch, combined with firm handling
of the saw will allow you to control kickback.
Never place your hand behind the saw
blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump
backwards over your hand.
Do not use the saw with an excessive
depth of cut setting. Too much blade
exposure increases the likelihood of the blade
twisting in the kerf and increases the surface
area of the blade available for pinching that
leads to kickback.

Lower guard function

Check lower guard for proper closing
before each use. Do not operate saw if
lower guard does not move freely and
close instantly. Never clamp or tie the
lower guard into the open position. If saw is
accidentally dropped, lower guard may be
bent. Raise the lower guard only with the
Lower Guard Lift Lever and make sure it
moves freely and does not touch the blade or
any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
Check the operation of the lower guard
spring. If the guard and the spring are not
operating properly, they must be serviced
before use. Lower guard may operate
sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy
deposits, or a buildup of debris.
Lower guard should be retracted manually
only for special cuts such as “Plunge
Cuts” and “Compound Cuts”. Raise lower
guard by lower guard Lift lever and as soon
as blade enters the material, lower guard
must be released. For all other sawing, the
lower guard should operate automatically.
Always observe that the lower guard is
covering the blade before placing saw
down on bench or floor. An unprotected,
coasting blade will cause the saw to walk
backwards, cutting whatever is in its path. Be
aware of the time it takes for the blade to stop
after switch is released.
Do not run the tool while carrying it at your
side. Lower guard may be opened by a
contact with your clothing. Accidental
contact with the spinning saw blade could
result in serious personal injury.
Periodically remove the blade, clean the
upper, lower guards and the hub area with
kerosene and wipe it dry, or blow it clean
with compressed air. Preventive maintenance
and properly operating guard will reduce the
probability of an accident.
Some dust created by
power sanding, sawing,
grinding, drilling, and other construction
activities contains chemicals known to
cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Some examples of
these chemicals are:
•Lead from lead-based paints,
•Crystalline silica from bricks and cement and
other masonry products, and
•Arsenic and chromium from chemically-
treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies,
depending on how often you do this type of
work. To reduce your exposure to these
chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and
work with approved safety equipment, such as
those dust masks that are specially designed
to filter out microscopic particles.
-5-
!
WARNING
KICKBACK
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