Philips Signature Series manual P O R T a N T R E a D F I R S T

I M P O R T A N T : R E A D F I R S T !

Thank you for your purchase of the Jointmaker Pro!

Your experience with this innovative new tool should be nothing but positive. Towards that objective we are asking you to contact us with any questions regarding assembly or use of the Jointmaker Pro. We can be reached by either phone or email:

1.800.253.3332

John Economaki: john@bridgecitytools.com (JM-P inventor)

Michael Berg: michael@bridgecitytools.com (Production Manager/Designer/Woodworker)

We have also created a forum dedicated to the Jointmaker Pro for fellow owners to share and exchange ideas; http://www.bridgecitytools.com/discussion/

We recommend you visit this forum periodically for exciting new ideas, tips and tricks. NOTE: This is a moderated forum and we will do our best to keep it positive, exciting and a useful re- source.

OVERVIEW

The Jointmaker Pro is the world’s first stationary hand cross- cut saw and will accurately allow you to make most of the cuts required in wood joinery plus a myriad of other sawing applica- tions.

Consisting primarily of two independent linear tables mounted over specially designed, fine-toothed saw blades, the Jointmak- er Pro redefines the meaning of “cut by hand.” Using no electri- cal power, the Jointmaker Pro is designed specifically to make precision cuts for the most demanding craftspeople with as little noise as possible, and without the need for dust collection. Un- derstanding how this tool works—what it can and cannot do—is your key to a successful and fruitful experience.

Cutting wood accurately by hand requires a great deal of prac- tice and is difficult for many, particularly those new to the craft. With the Jointmaker Pro, people of all ages and experience lev- els can achieve results that are MORE ACCURATE than cuts made with power equipment. Furthermore, the cuts are unparal- leled in quality creating opportunities for new and exciting ideas not possible with traditional techniques.

At this time, please take a few minutes and peruse the assembly section of this guide to become familiar with the nomenclature of the Jointmaker Pro. This will make the remainder of this section much easier to understand.

SAFETY

Your Jointmaker Pro is no different than any other sharp tool— use common sense!

Although it may seem safe to take risks because the saw blade is stationary—and the only motion is provided by YOU—safety should never be taken for granted.

Etched on the top of each sliding table is a graphic element that is designed to remind you of the risk to your fingers. It may seem obvious, but we strongly recommend keeping your fingers out of this zone, especially when the blade is tilted.

After you have spent an hour or two using the Jointmaker Pro we hope you share your new found ability with other members of your family—this tool can be enjoyed by many who like making gallery quality cuts in a noise free environment!

SAW RIGIDITY AND ERGONOMICS

Under all circumstances, the Jointmaker Pro needs to be firmly anchored to a work surface or attached to a stand. If the saw moves while cutting your accuracy and enjoyment of the tool will be less than optimal.

The front table height of the Jointmaker Pro should be an inch or so below your belt line. At this height, you will be able to make a full stroke without undue stress on your back or arms. If pos- sible, we recommend that the rear of the Jointmaker Pro be approximately three inches higher than the front. This incline shortens the stroke of your arms, increases your ability to see your work and reduces strain on your lower back during long work sessions.

WORK HOLDING REQUIREMENTS

Traditionally when cutting wood with a hand saw you clamp the material to be cut to a workbench or hold your stock in a vise. With either method, the stock should always be firmly anchored in order to achieve optimal, and accurate, results.

The same work holding requirements are true when making most cuts with the Jointmaker Pro. The sliding table is analogous to a workbench surface and the angled trap clamps act as a vise. These elements become particularly crucial with the Jointmaker Pro because unlike any other hand sawing experience, you are cutting from the bottom up as opposed to top down. Without your stock firmly anchored to the sliding tables, the negative feed (the tendency of the wood to ride up over the top of the blade) becomes difficult to manage with hand strength alone. In almost all cases, we strongly recommend that you utilize these work holding aids for accuracy and blade longevity. When using the blade in a tilted position, trap clamping is mandatory.

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