Functional Description, Foreword, Kickbacks

TERMS: The following terms will be used throughout the manual. Become familiar with them.

THROUGH-SAWING- refers to any cut that completely severs the workpiece.

PUSH STICK - refers to a wooden stick, usually homemade, that is used to push a small workpiece through the saw and keeps the operator's hands clear of the blade.

KICKBACK - occurs when the saw blade binds in the cut and violently thrusts the workpiece back toward the operator.

FREEHAND - refers to cutting without the use of a miter gauge or rip fence or any other means of guiding or holding the workpiece other than the operator's hand.

SAW BLADE GUARD AND SPREADER

Your radial arm saw is equipped with a blade guard and spreader assembly that covers the blade and prevents accidental contact. The spreader is a flat plate that fits into the cut made by the saw blade and effectively fights kickback by lessening the tendency of the blade to bind in the cut. Use the spreader only when making through cuts that sever the wood. When making dadoes, rabbets, and other cuts that make less than through cuts, the blade guard and spreader assembly must be removed from the saw. Two anti- kickback pawls are located on the sides of the spreader that allow the wood to pass through the blade in the cutting direction, but lock if the wood tries to move backward toward the operator.

KICKBACKS

How to avoid them and protect yourself from possible injury.

a.Keep saw blade guard, splitter, and anti-kickback teeth in place and operating properly. Keep teeth sharp. If teeth are not operational, return your unit to the nearest authorized Delta service center for repair. The splitter must be in alignment with the saw blade and the teeth must stop a kickback once it has started. Check their action before ripping by pushing the wood under the anti-kickback teeth. The teeth must prevent the wood from being pulled toward the front of the saw.

b.Plastic and composition (like hardboard) materials may be cut on your saw. However, since these are usually quite hard and slippery, the anti-kickback pawls may not stop a kickback. Therefore, be especially attentive to following proper set-up and cutting procedures for ripping.

c.Use saw blade guard and splitter for every operation for which it can be used, including all through-sawing.

d.NEVER rip a workpiece that is twisted or warped, or does not have a straight edge to guide along the fence.

e.NEVER saw a large workpiece that cannot be controlled.

f.NEVER saw a workpiece with loose knots, flaws, nails, or other foreign objects.

g.NEVER rip a workpiece shorter than 10".

Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities contains chemicals know to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these are:

Lead from Lead-based points,

Crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and

Arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber (CCA).

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.

Avoid prolonged contact with dust from power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities. Wear protective clothing and wash exposed areas with soap and water. Allowing dust to get into your mouth, eyes, or lay on the skin may promote absorption of harmful chemicals.

Use of this tool can generate and/or disburse dust, which may cause serious and permanent respiratory or other injury. Always use NIOSH/OSHA approved respiratory protection appropriate for the dust exposure. Direct particles away from face and body. Always operated tool in a well-ventilated area and provide for prober dust removal. Use dust collection system wherever possible.