SAW BLADE GUARD ASSEMBLY, ANTI-KICKBACK ASSEMBLY AND RIVING KNIFE
Your table saw is equipped with a blade guard assembly, anti-kickback assembly and riving knife that covers the blade and reduces the possibility of accidental blade contact. The riving knife 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. The blade guard assembly and anti-kickback assembly can only be used when making through cuts that sever the wood. When making rabbets and other cuts that make non through cuts, the blade guard assembly and anti-kickback assembly must be removed and riving knife lowered to the non through cut position marked on the riving knife. Two anti-kickback pawls are located on the sides of the riving knife that allow the wood to pass through the blade in the cutting direction but reduce the possibility of the material being thrown backwards toward the operator. Use all components of the guarding system (blade guard assembly, riving knife and anti- kickback assembly) for every operation for which they can be used including all through cutting. If you elect not to use any of these components for a particular application exercise additional caution regarding control of the workpiece, the use of push sticks, the position of your hands relative to the blade, the use of safety glasses, the means to avoid kickback and all other warnings contained in this manual and on the saw itself. Replace the guarding systems as soon as you return to thru-cutting operations. Keep the guard assembly
in working order.
KICKBACKS
KICKBACKS: Kickbacks can cause serious injury. A kickback occurs when a part of the workpiece binds between the saw blade and the rip fence, or other fixed object, and rises from the table and is thrown toward the operator. Kickbacks can be avoided by attention to
the following conditions.
How to Avoid Them and Protect Yourself from Possible Injury:
a. Be certain that the rip fence is parallel to the saw blade. b. Do not rip by applying the feed force to the section of
the workpiece that will become the cut-off (free) piece. Feed force when ripping should always be applied between the saw blade and the fence; use a push stick for narrow work, 6 in. (152 mm) wide or less.
c.Keep saw blade guard assembly, riving knife and anti- kickback assembly in place and operating properly.
If anti-kickback assembly is not operational, return your unit to the nearest authorized service center for repair. The riving knife must be in alignment with the saw blade and the anti-kickback assembly must stop a kickback once it has started. Check their action before ripping by pushing the wood under the antikickback assembly. The teeth must prevent the wood from being pulled toward the front of the saw.
d.Plastic and composite (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.
e.Use saw blade guard assembly, anti-kickback assembly and riving knife for every operation for which it can be used, including all through-sawing.
f.Push the workpiece past the saw blade prior to release.
g.Never rip a workpiece that is twisted or warped, or does not have a straight edge to guide along the fence.
h.Never saw a large workpiece that cannot be controlled.
i.Never use the fence as a guide or length stop when crosscutting.
j.Never saw a workpiece with loose knots, flaws, nails or other foreign objects.
k.Never rip a workpiece shorter than 10 in. (254 mm).
l.NEVER use a dull blade – replace or have resharpened.
m.NEVER use a rip fence and miter gauge together.
n.Keep hands out of saw blade.
